Cable length optimization for trawl fuel consumption reduction

Type Article
Date 2013-01
Language English
Author(s) Khaled Ramez1, Priour DanielORCID1, Billard Jean-Yves2
Affiliation(s) 1 : IFREMER, Hydrodynam & Metocean Serv, F-29280 Plouzane, France.
2 : Ecole Navale, IRENAV, F-29240 Brest, France.
Source Ocean Engineering (0029-8018) (Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd), 2013-01 , Vol. 58 , P. 167-179
DOI 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2012.10.001
WOS© Times Cited 14
Keyword(s) Bottom trawl, Modeling, Optimization, Fuel consumption, Drag, Swept area, Mouth surface, Fish distribution
Abstract A numerical method for optimization of the cable lengths in trawls with respect to the ratio between the estimated trawl drag and the predicted catch efficiency is developed and applied. The trawl cables of interest are warps, bridles, headline and footrope. The optimization algorithm applies an ordered sequential process changing one cable length at the time. It is assumed in the predictions that the catch efficiency of the trawl is proportional with the trawl mouth area. In a case study optimizing a bottom trawl used on a research vessel by applying the new method it is predicted that it would be possible to reduce the ratio between trawl drag and catch efficiency by up to 46% by optimizing the cable lengths. Thus this would enable a considerable reduction in fuel consumption to catch a specific amount of fish. Moreover, we predict an increase in the value of the trawl mouth area leading to better catching efficiency without increase in otter door drag. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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