ADCP's Application to Ocean Current Measurement in Kalundborg Port

1. Where is Kalundborg Port?

Kalundborg Port is located on the west coast of Zealand in Denmark. It is a major port with various features that make it important for the region.

Port Scale and Throughput

It is a port of considerable size, which is pivotal in the transportation of cargoes of various forms. A remarkable amount of industrial products and raw materials constitutes the annual throughput within the port. For instance, oil transportation takes place, as well as chemicals and heavy machinery. Because of this strategic position and efficient management, there has been constant growth in its throughput for some time.

Routes and Business

Kalundborg Port has many domestic and international shipping lanes passing through it. It is one of the important contributors in the country's import and export business. Its business portfolio encompasses everything related to bulk cargo handling for energy and manufacturing industries to containerized general cargo. It also works as a transit for goods moving across regions in Europe and beyond.

Port Management and Operation

The port is run by a professional and well-experienced team. They are assigned to prepare the berth schedule, plan with shipping companies to ensure the vessel's arrival and moving is on time, and oversee cargo handling properly. Monthly checks and maintenance are performed to ensure the port facilities, safety, and productivity standards remain high.

Port Facilities

The port is built with modern and very well-maintained facilities. It has a range of berths to accommodate any size of ship, from small coastal vessels to the large ocean-going tankers and cargo ships. There is advanced equipment for loading and unloading, including cranes with high-capacity lifting for heavy and bulky cargo. The storage facilities are designed to handle various types of goods, including hazardous materials, with appropriate safety measures.

Channel and Direct Shipping

Kalundborg Port is dredged and its channel is maintained properly so that no risk of accident may take place while entering or leaving the port. It has direct shipping links to some important and key ports in neighboring countries and regions, enabling quicker transportation of goods and helping in furthering international trade and economic cooperation.

2. Why should we measure the ocean currents in the Kalundborg Port?

Safety of Navigation

The measurement of ocean currents in the Kalundborg Port is indispensable with regard to the safety of ships. The port is one of the busy places with a continuous traffic flow of vessels. Ocean currents have considerable effects on a ship's course and speed. For instance, while a ship is approaching a port, a high-intensity cross-current may shift it from its normal course and hence increase the chances of collision either with other ships or with port structures. Precise measurement of the current helps captains of ships to take appropriate measures in navigating the vessel for safe docking.

Improved Operational Efficiency

Knowledge of ocean currents has various benefits related to the overall operational efficiency of the port. Using favorable currents could minimize the cost of fuel and time for ships. For instance, with the aid of a current push upon exit, they get to their destinations faster, economically. A further benefit pertains to the efficiency in scheduling the arrival and departure of vessels based on current patterns, thus maximizing the utilization of port resources.

Infrastructure Maintenance and Planning

In long-term maintenance and planning of the port infrastructure, understanding currents is quite essential. Currents can cause erosion and, over time, affect the stability of structures like piers and breakwaters. By continuously monitoring the currents, port authorities will be able to predict potential damage and thus take proactive measures in respect of timely maintenance and reinforcement. It also assists in designing future infrastructure projects to more competently resist the forces the ocean currents will apply to them.

The Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP）is a more advanced, convenient way of current measurement. In comparison with the traditional method of current measurement, it gives in detail the real-time velocity and direction of the currents at different depths, thus giving a full understanding of water flow conditions at the port.

3. How do ADCPs using the Doppler principle work?

The working of Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) is based on the principle of Doppler. ADCPs emit an acoustic signal into the water. These signals interact with moving particles in the water, which can include suspended sediments or small organisms. When the acoustic waves are reflected back from the moving particles, the frequency of the reflected waves changes due to the Doppler effect.

Shipborne ADCP: A shipborne ADCP is installed in a vessel operating within Kalundborg Port. During the voyage of the ship in the port area, it continuously emits acoustic signals downwards and sideways. Accordingly, due to the motion of the ship in different directions within the port, the ADCP flow meter current meter performs the measurement of the ocean current velocity at various positions within the depth range. This can actually give the survey of water currents over a wide area during the ship operation.

Fixed ADCP: Fixed ADCPs are installed in specific locations in the port, like in the underwater structure near the entrance or along the quay walls. These ADCPs remain in fixed positions and constantly monitor the ocean currents at this one place. Long-term and consistent information about the current condition at that particular location is given by them. This is of great worth for understanding the regular patterns and variations of the currents in key areas of the port.

4. What is required to achieve high-quality measurement of currents at Kalundborg Port?

Reliability of Material Used

The current-measuring equipment, particularly the casing of ADCP meter, should be made of reliable materials. The casing should be made from titanium alloy because it is one of the most preferred materials. Corrosion resistance is high in the case of a titanium alloy, essential for holding out in harsh marine conditions. Seawater will definitely cause damage to equipment with lesser resistant material in a very short period. Titanium alloy's high strength - to - weight ratio means that it can provide strong protection for the internal components of the ADCP profiler while keeping the equipment relatively lightweight. This facilitates installation, whether on a ship or at a fixed underwater location. Additionally, it has good thermal stability, which is beneficial in the variable temperature conditions of the marine environment.

Size, Weight, and Power Consumption

Equipment should be small in size and light in weight. A compact and lightweight ADCP flow meter is easier to install and less likely to interfere with the water flow during measurement. It also simplifies the installation process, whether on a ship or at a fixed position in the port. The consumption of low power is also very important. The low power consumption allows the equipment to run without the replacement of batteries or problems in power supply for long-term monitoring, especially using fixed ADCPs.

Cost-Effectiveness

Cost is a critical factor for large-scale measurement. If the equipment is too expensive, it will limit how many ADCPs can be deployed in a port. Cost-effectiveness will allow higher coverage of the current measurements and hence better understanding of the ocean currents throughout the port area.

5. How to Select the Appropriate Equipment for Current Measurement?

Based on Use

Shipborne ADCP: If the purpose is to carry out current measurements during the ship's movement in the port area, then shipborne ADCP is appropriate. It would cover a fair area when the ship moves around within the port area, hence enabling a wide view of the current situation at every part of the port.

Bottom - mounted ADCP: The bottom-mounted ADCP is relevant for fixed-point monitoring in the port at some specific locations, such as near critical infrastructure or areas with unique current characteristics. It will stay steady at one position and record continuously the current conditions there, which is of importance for the long-term behavior of the currents.

Buoy-mounted ADCP: In cases where currents need to be monitored within a specific surface area, mostly open waters within the port. Buoy-mounted ADCP floats on the water surface, monitoring the currents in the near region, to give a view of the current trends in the surface.

Based on Frequency and Depth

The different frequencies of ADCPs will be chosen according to the water depth. For water depths less than 70m, 600kHz ADCPs are recommended due to their accuracy in measuring current in relatively shallow water. For a depth up to 110m, 300kHz ADCPs are better. And for larger water depths up to 1000m, 75kHz ADCPs are also fitted.

There are well - known ADCP brands such as Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. However, a Chinese brand, China Sonar PandaADCP, stands out. It is made of all - titanium alloy material, ensuring high durability and reliability in the marine environment. Moreover, it offers an incredible cost - performance ratio. You can learn more about it through its official website: https://china - sonar.com/.

In summary, Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) plays a vital role in ocean current measurement in Kalundborg Port. Choosing the proper equipment for specific needs may provide the best way to obtain current data accurately and usefully for the efficient operation and management of the port.

Here is a table with some well known ADCP instrument brands and models.