ADCP's Application to Ocean Current Measurement in Barcelona Port

Explore ADCP's application in Barcelona Port for current measurement, its working, requirements, and equipment selection. Check out popular ADCP brands and models.

1. Where is Barcelona port?

Barcelona is a vibrant city located on the northeastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula, facing the Mediterranean Sea. The Port of Barcelona is among the most crucial ports in the Mediterranean area.

Port Scale and Throughput

The Port of Barcelona is a large-scale port in terms of its huge handling ability. It has all different types of cargoes: containers, bulk cargo, and liquid cargo. The annual container throughput is very significant and places it in the top position among all European ports. Besides this, it provides a means for goods transportation between Europe and other parts of the world and thus helps in trade and economic exchanges.

Courses and Business

It has an extensive network of shipping routes that connects it to almost all the ports in the world. The main business comprises international trade in manufactured goods, agricultural products, and raw materials. It also has a significant role in the cruise industry, with many cruise ships docking at its terminals. Its strategic location allows it to be a key node in the transportation of goods between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean.

Port Management and Operation

The port is managed by a professional team that is "concentrated on effective operation and quality service." They ensure smooth berthing and unberthing of ships, efficient cargo handling, and tight securities and safety. The port authority uses the most modern management systems and technologies to optimize available resources for the purpose of performance enhancement.

Port Facilities

The port has modern facilities, such as several deep-water berths for large container ships and other vessels. It has modern cranes for container handling, as well as storage areas for different types of cargo. Besides these, there are facilities for ship repair, maintenance, and bunkering services.

Channel and Direct Shipping

The channel of this port is well maintained and dredged periodically to provide enough depth for the entry and exit of ships. It has direct shipping links with all the main Mediterranean and Atlantic ports, as well as with those on other continents. This network of direct shipping reduces transport time and minimizes the cost, making this port more competitive.

2. Why should we measure the ocean currents in the Barcelona port?

Measuring ocean currents in the Barcelona port is an issue of great importance for its efficient operation. First of all, it gives captains very important current data with which they are able to better plan routes and speeds when approaching and leaving the port. This would be important to avoid collisions, taking care of the safety of ships and port facilities. Ocean currents may also affect the stability of the floating cranes and other equipment used for loading and unloading operations.

The port can make use of this knowledge in optimizing such activities for added efficiency. Knowledge of the ocean currents plays a very important role in understanding the sediment transport mechanism that governs the depth of the channels and berths of the ports. The regular measurement of ocean currents can provide data on dredging planning and maintenance of port infrastructure.

On the other hand, ADCP current meter is a more advanced and convenient way of current measurement. It is able to give real-time, multi-depth current data, which is essential in the operation and management of the port.

3. How do the ADCPs based on the Doppler Principle work?

Basically, ADCPs are based on the principle of the Doppler effect. They transmit acoustic pulses into the water. These pulses, while coming into contact with particles or any other substance moving along with the water current, change their frequency of reflected acoustic waves. This shift in frequency estimates the speed of the current.

ADCP in Port Ocean Current Measurement

Shipborne ADCP

Shipborne ADCPs are installed on ships. While the ship moves around the port area, the ADCP current profiler sends acoustic signals downwards and sideways. These signals can measure the current velocity at various depths along the path in which the ship has traveled. The data is then transmitted to the ship's control system in real - time, enabling the crew to make informed decisions.

Fixed ADCP

Fixed ADCPs are installed in fixed locations at the port, either on the seabed or on the side of port structures. They continually monitor the currents of the ocean in a given area. Data from fixed ADCPs gives long-term information on current patterns at the port and is useful in port planning and management.

4. What is necessary for the good quality measurement of the Barcelona port currents?

The materials of equipment should be reliable to assure high-quality current measurement in Barcelona's port area. The working conditions in this marine environment will be very aggressive with saltwater corrosion and changes in the pressure. The desirable features include a smaller size, lighter weight, and low power consumption. That allows compactness for easy installation at various sites and low power consumption allows longer-term operation. Another advantage is cost-effectiveness that allows large-scale deployment.

The casing of the ADCP flow meter is best made from a titanium alloy. This will provide very good corrosion resistance, meaning the materials can be continuously used in seawater over quite a long time. It also boasts a high strength-to-weight ratio, which basically means it can withstand very high pressures without adding excess weight to the device. Additionally, it is biocompatible with minimal influence on the marine environment.

5. How to Choose the right equipment for current measurement?

According to the Usage Purpose

  • Shipborne ADCP: It is suited for situations when one has to measure currents while the ship is in motion. It will be able to provide current data in real time during the ship's operation in the port.
  • Sitting-bottom ADCP: Suitable for long - term, fixed - point monitoring of a specific area in the port. It gives a stable view of the current conditions at that location.
  • Buoy-mounted ADCP: In places where it is not feasible to install fixed equipment on the seabed or on ships, the buoy-mounted ADCP can float on the water surface and measure the surrounding currents.

According to Different Frequencies

  • For water depths up to 70m, a 600kHz ADCP is quite suitable, providing accurate data in relatively shallow water.
  • For depths of about 110m, the 300kHz ADCP will be more applicable because it can measure the current at that depth effectively.
  • In deeper waters of up to 1000m, a 75kHz ADCP is recommended for reliable current measurement.
  • There are well-known ADCP brands like Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. However, the Chinese brand China Sonar PandaADCP is also a great choice. It is made of all-titanium alloy material and offers an excellent cost-performance ratio. You can visit its website (https://china-sonar.com/) for more information.

Here is a table with some well known Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler(ADCP) instrument brands and models.

Brand model
Teledyne RDI Ocean Surveyor ADCP, Pinnacle ADCP, Sentinel V ADCP, Workhorse II Monitor ADCP, Workhorse II Sentinel ADCP, Workhorse II Mariner ADCP, Workhorse Long Ranger ADCP, RiverPro ADCP, RiverRay ADCP, StreamPro ADCP, ChannelMaster ADCP, etc.
NORTEK Eco, Signature VM Ocean, Signature ADCP, AWAC ADCP, Aquadopp Profiler, etc.
SonTek  SonTek-RS5, SonTek-M9, SonTek-SL, SonTek-IQ, etc.
China Sonar PandaADCP-DR-600K, PandaADCP-SC-300K, PandaADCP-DR-300K, PandaADCP-SC-600K, PandaADCP-DR-75K-PHASED, etc.
Jack Law October 14, 2024
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