Application of ADCP to Ocean Current Measurement in Valencia Port

1. Where is Valencia Port?

Valencia Port is located on the eastern coast of Spain, facing the Mediterranean Sea. It is one of the most important harbors in the country and a key hub in the Mediterranean region.

Port Scale and Throughput

The Valencia Port is a large-scale port with impressive tonnage. It is one of the busiest container ports in Europe. The port handles a wide variety of cargo, including containers filled with a wide range of manufactured goods, agricultural products, and industrial raw materials. It also manages significant amounts of bulk cargo such as grains, ores, and chemicals. Cargo comes to around many millions of tones every year. Many thousands of different types of vessels arrive and depart in one year. This place is important, connecting a lot of the international shipping routes, connecting Spain with the rest of Europe and other regions like North Africa, Middle East, and the Americas. Business The commercial activity in this harbor is very heterogeneous. It is not only a cargo handling center, but it also encompasses shipbuilding, ship repair, and logistics services. The port has huge warehousing facilities and a well-developed network of transportation connections to the hinterland, which allows for efficient distribution of goods.

Port Management and Operation

The management of the port is very efficient and fully concerned with smooth operations. A sophisticated traffic control system regulates the movement of ships, including large container vessels, tankers, and bulk carriers. The port authority is responsible for maintaining and constantly upgrading the infrastructure, including the construction and upkeep of deep - water berths, quays, and modern cargo - handling equipment. They also have strict safety and environmental regulations to protect the port and its surroundings.

Port Facilities

Valencia Port is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. There are multiple deep-water berths that can accommodate the largest container ships in the world. The port has an extensive range of cargo-handling equipment, such as high-capacity cranes, automated stacking cranes for containers, and conveyor systems for bulk cargo. The facilities also include large-scale storage areas, with temperature-controlled warehouses for perishable goods and secure storage for hazardous materials.

Channel and Direct Navigation

There is a well-maintained and wide-enough channel to allow for the safe passage of ships. The depth of the channel is sufficient to allow for the deep-draft vessels frequenting the port. Advanced navigation equipment such as radars, buoys, and lighthouses help in guiding vessels in and from the port. The movement of vessels is directly possible to and from every other major port; the geographical positioning of the facility has made it a crucial reference point for ships crossing the Mediterranean.

2. Why do we need to measure the ocean currents of the Valencia port?

Measuring Ocean Currents: Valencia Port. First, it serves the safety and efficient navigation of ships. The knowledge of the current patterns aids the captains in route planning more precisely. The direction and speed of the currents can be used to optimize speed and course for ships, saving fuel and time. It could facilitate, for example, a large container vessel, upon approaching the port, through this knowledge of currents, to enter the harbor more precisely and speedily.

Precise current measurement is of cardinal importance to current commercial activities on the ports as well for effective cargo operation. Current situations are of particular need from tugboats, allowing them to actively assist both during and after the berthing/unberthing of vessels. Of high importance is preventing moored vessels from drifting because information on currents acts to protect Port facilities or any other ships moored there.

From an environmental point of view, knowledge of the currents is important for waste disposal and sediment management in the port area. Currents definitely affect the behavior of pollutants through dispersion and movement of sediments. With such current measurements, the port will effectively dispose of more waste and can avoid sediment dumping, which tends to reduce channel and berth depth over time. As compared to traditional methods, measuring these currents by ADCP profiler is relatively more accurate and efficient.

3. How do ADCPs using the Doppler principle work?

ADCPs work on a principle known as the Doppler principle: they send out acoustic pulses through the water column. These pulses are scattered by in-water particles-for example, suspended sediments, plankton, or any other small object. Due to the water current that transports these particles, the frequency of the reflected sound waves is changed by the Doppler effect.

The ADCP measures the frequency difference between the emitted and received signal. Using the Doppler equation it calculates the velocity of the particles, which is proportional to the velocity of the water current. An ADCP current meter can measure the current velocity in several layers in the water column and therefore it provides a vertical profile of the current.

Ship-borne ADCP

The steps would involve installing a ship-borne ADCP on a boat, which would make the rounds at several instances around the areas constituting the perimeter and vicinity of the port. By constantly sending out acoustic signals through the ADCP current profiler while in motion, it covers a wide swath to amass data-in a very real sense, painting how currents move over the specific part of the port area. It is found helpful for general survey purposes of large areas for real current data.

Fixed ADCP

Fixed ADCPs are installed in fixed locations within the port - at the bottom of the sea floor or attached to a pier, for example. These instruments continuously measure currents at that location. They can be very useful for long-term measurements in locations with heavy vessel traffic or around critical port infrastructures, such as channel entrance or berth areas.

4. What is required for the good measurement of currents in the Valencia port?

The following are some desirable characteristics that are preferred for equipment intended for high-quality current measurement at Valencia Port. To begin with, the material of the equipment should be of a type that can withstand the harsh marine environment. The size of the equipment should be small in size to allow for easy installation, especially at sites where space is limiting such as on ships and in crowded port facilities.

The weight of the ADCP flow meter shall be light to simplify the installation work and to give less load to the supporting structures. It is also required that the power consumption is low because continuous operation is necessary and a large power supply cannot be installed. Cost-effectiveness It is important because the port has to deploy a number of units to conduct comprehensive current measurement.

The casing of the ADCP meter is preferably made of titanium alloy. The titanium alloy is very resistant to corrosion, which will be highly important in a salty marine environment. Besides, this alloy is strong enough and light, fulfilling the requirements of durability and easiness of installation.

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

Based on Usage Purpose

• Ship-borne ADCP: This is fit for mobile measurement. It is good to go for ships that make several rounds within the port area, for instance, container ships, tankers, and bulk carriers. Ship-borne ADCP provides the method for current measurements along the ship's track, which is useful for the proper understanding of the overall current pattern in the port area.
• Bottom-mounted ADCP: These are perfect for fixed-point measurements. They are installed on the bottom of the ocean's surface near the wharves, channels, or another infrastructure that is considered critical in the ports. Bottom-mounted ADCPs make available a steady flow of information about the currents at a given site. These instruments will be vital in monitoring local current conditions.
• Buoy-based ADCP: Buoy-based ADCPs can be used where it is inconvenient to install fixed-bottom or ship-borne ADCPs. They can provide current measurements in open water areas of the port and are relatively easy to deploy and maintain.

Based on Frequency

The choice of frequency depends on the water depth. For instance, in the case of Valencia port, a 600kHz ADCP is appropriate for water depths up to 70m; this could be used in shallower areas near the shore or inner parts of the port. A 300kHz ADCP is suitable for water depths up to 110m and could, therefore, serve a wider range of depths. The ADCP with a 75kHz inshore type, good to go for deeper waters in the port area to water depths up to 1000 m, would do well in places such as the approach channels.

There are well-known ADCP brands like Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. However, a Chinese brand, China Sonar PandaADCP, is also a great option. It is made of all-titanium alloy material, providing excellent durability and a high level of corrosion resistance. It also offers an attractive cost -performance ratio. You can visit their website (https://china-sonar.com/) for more details.

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