Projects:2015s2-206 Solar Aquaponics - Revision history

A1660236: /* Aquaponics System */

2016-05-30T23:49:55Z

‎Aquaponics System

A1660236: /* Mainboard Design */

2016-05-30T23:40:52Z

‎Mainboard Design

A1660236: /* Mainboard Design */

2016-05-30T23:40:33Z

‎Mainboard Design

A1660236: /* Background */

2016-05-30T23:26:16Z

‎Background

A1660236: /* Test & Monitoring */

2016-05-30T11:45:08Z

‎Test & Monitoring

A1660236: /* System Construction */

2016-05-30T11:37:57Z

‎System Construction

A1660236: /* Use of Model */

2016-05-30T11:37:19Z

‎Use of Model

A1660236: /* Practical Ratio */

2016-05-30T11:36:25Z

‎Practical Ratio

A1660236: /* Water Circulation */

2016-05-30T09:30:18Z

‎Water Circulation

A1660236: /* Practical Ratio */

2016-05-30T09:25:29Z

‎Practical Ratio

@@ Line 99: / Line 99: @@
 ==='''Aquaponics System'''===
-The fish tank has a dimension of 39*28*28(cm) which can hold 22L of water. The media bed has a dimension of 39*28*14(cm) with planting area of  0.11m2 and media volume of 4.03 gallon (Figure 13). We establish our system scale according to general experience of aqua-farming: approximately 1-2  of growing area matches for 10 gallons of fish tank water (Chalmers, 2004).
+The fish tank has a dimension of 39*28*28(cm) which can hold 22L of water. The media bed has a dimension of 39*28*14(cm) with planting area of  0.11m2 and media volume of 4.03 gallon (Figure 13). We establish our system scale according to general experience of aqua-farming: approximately 1-2 m2 of growing area matches for 10 gallons of fish tank water (Chalmers, 2004).
 [[File:Practical.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Figure 13.Backyard Model]]

@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 =='''Mainboard Design'''==
 The aquaponics system together with solar supply consists of five subsystems: fish, plants, water cycle, nitric and energy. Key parameters such as daily fish feed, daily water assumption and pump power act as correlations between each subsystem. (See Figure 2.) Fish feeding to recirculating aquaponics system (RAS) and daily adding water are two major system input to aquaponics system. The fish feed and system water volume influence the concentration of TAN (total ammonia of nitrogen) and nitrate nitrogen, which is essential for plants growth. The system input parameters are tank water volume (L) and planting area (m2), the system can be further enriched with other fish/plants species and feed type.
 [[File:Main.png| thumb | center |600px| Figure 2.Mainboard & System Design]]

@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 = '''Software Development & Model Simulation''' =
 =='''Mainboard Design'''==
-The aquaponics system together with solar supply consists of five subsystems: fish, plants, water cycle, nitric and energy. Key parameters such as daily fish feed, daily water assumption and pump power act as correlations between each subsystem. (See Figure 2.) Fish feeding to recirculating aquaponics system (RAS) and daily adding water are two major system input to aquaponics system. The fish feed and system water volume influence the concentration of TAN (total ammonia of nitrogen) and nitrate nitrogen, which is essential for plants growth. The system input parameters are system water volume (L) and planting area (m2), the system can be further enriched with other fish/plants species and feed type.
+The aquaponics system together with solar supply consists of five subsystems: fish, plants, water cycle, nitric and energy. Key parameters such as daily fish feed, daily water assumption and pump power act as correlations between each subsystem. (See Figure 2.) Fish feeding to recirculating aquaponics system (RAS) and daily adding water are two major system input to aquaponics system. The fish feed and system water volume influence the concentration of TAN (total ammonia of nitrogen) and nitrate nitrogen, which is essential for plants growth. The system input parameters are tank water volume (L) and planting area (m2), the system can be further enriched with other fish/plants species and feed type.

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 ===''' Background'''===
 ----
-Aquaponics combines aquaculture and hydroponics, which integrates raising fish and growing plants in one symbiotic system, where water in fish tanks that is rich in nutrients is used for plant growth. As an promising food production system, Recirculating Aquaculture Systems(RAS) has experienced rapid development in Europe and US in the early 20th and it’s gaining popularity within Australia where drought has making it very appealing as it uses 90 percent less water than conventional cultivation method(Diver, 2000). RAS provides better opportunity for recirculating water and management of waste processing and nutrient recycling. The key to success of aquaponics system relies on the symbiosis of fish, microorganisms and plants. Plants and fish species and ratio, hydroponic effluent water flow rate, solid removal efficiency (mechanical filter performance), nitrification efficiency (bio-filter performance), daily feed to fish, food conversion ratio (FCR), water and medium environment etc. are all of key concerns in establishing a complete aquaponics system.
+Aquaponics combines aquaculture and hydroponics, which integrates raising fish and growing plants in one symbiotic system, where water in fish tanks that is rich in nutrients is used for plant growth. As a promising food production system, Recirculating Aquaculture Systems(RAS) has experienced rapid development in Europe and US in the early 20th and it’s gaining popularity within Australia where drought has making it very appealing as it uses 90 percent less water than conventional cultivation method(Diver, 2000). RAS provides better opportunity for recirculating water and management of waste processing and nutrient recycling. The key to success of aquaponics system relies on the symbiosis of fish, microorganisms and plants. Plants and fish species and ratio, hydroponic effluent water flow rate, solid removal efficiency (mechanical filter performance), nitrification efficiency (bio-filter performance), daily feed to fish, food conversion ratio (FCR), water and medium environment etc. are all of key concerns in establishing a complete aquaponics system.
 [[File:Aquaponics cycle.jpg|300px|thumb| right |Figure 1. Aquaponics Cycle]]

@@ Line 110: / Line 110: @@
 ==='''Ammonia '''===
 We collected data for ammonia concentration in fish tank with and without hydroponics treatment. With hydroponics treatment, the ammonia level floats between 0.8 mg/L and 1.2 mg/L, up to 38% more ammonia removal than without hydroponics tank, which the ammonia level increases from 1.25 mg/L to 1.45 mg/L during the experiment. The results indicate a good ammonia removal ability by aquaponics system and an efficient control to keep ammonia concentration within acceptable range.
-[[File:Monitor.png| thumb| 300px|Figure 13.pH & Ammonia Monitor]]
+[[File:Monitor.png| thumb| 300px|Figure 14.pH & Ammonia Monitor]]
 = '''Conclusion''' =

@@ Line 96: / Line 96: @@
 ==='''Solar System'''===
 The solar panels are connected to charge controller to prevent reverse current and overcharge of battery banks. The battery banks balance the power generated by panel and function as power source during cloudy days and nights. In larger scale aquaponics system with AC loads such as heaters or lights needs inverter to convert DC power to AC, it will also act as a switch to protect battery from over discharging. A timer for flood and drain system is attached to the inverter for controlling the running hours for pumps. Our small home yard system is a 12V DC system with battery backup power. We included a 12V 3W brushless DC pump as the only load for the initial stage of system. The solar system in our aquaponics system consists of 10W solar panel, 12V charge controller, 12Ah backup battery and 12V 3W brushless DC pump with a timer. The timer controls the switch of pump to ensure proper water influent to grow bed which matches the bell siphon’s performance. The solar panel is oriented to the true north, fixed to a stand (made in workshop) with a changeable tilting angle.
-[[File:Solar system.png|left|thumb|400px|Figure 10.Solar System]]
+[[File:Solar system.png|left|thumb|400px|Figure 12.Solar System]]
 ==='''Aquaponics System'''===
-The fish tank has a dimension of 39*28*28(cm) which can hold 22L of water. The media bed has a dimension of 39*28*14(cm) with planting area of  0.11m2 and media volume of 4.03 gallon (Figure 12). We establish our system scale according to general experience of aqua-farming: approximately 1-2  of growing area matches for 10 gallons of fish tank water (Chalmers, 2004).
+The fish tank has a dimension of 39*28*28(cm) which can hold 22L of water. The media bed has a dimension of 39*28*14(cm) with planting area of  0.11m2 and media volume of 4.03 gallon (Figure 13). We establish our system scale according to general experience of aqua-farming: approximately 1-2  of growing area matches for 10 gallons of fish tank water (Chalmers, 2004).
-[[File:Practical.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Figure 12.Backyard Model]]
+[[File:Practical.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Figure 13.Backyard Model]]
 =='''Test & Monitoring'''==

@@ Line 84: / Line 84: @@
 Different ratio of planting area and water volume results to the value change of system outputs. Example for battery energy and fish weight in RAS are given in figure 8.
 Stable ratio of planting area and water volume results to proportional change of system outputs, verified the stability of model.
-[[File:Change ratio.png|thumb|300px|left|Figure 8.Change Ratio]]
+[[File:Change ratio.png|thumb|300px|left|Figure 9.Change Ratio]]
-[[File:Proportional ratio.png|thumb|300px|left|Figure 9.Stable Ratio]]
+[[File:Proportional ratio.png|thumb|300px|left|Figure 10.Stable Ratio]]
 ===='''UVI Verification'''====
 Compared with TAN concentration level and nitrate nitrogen (𝑁𝑂3−) level with studies from UVI system, obtained similar trend and value.

@@ Line 77: / Line 77: @@
 ==='''Practical Ratio'''===
 The ratio for planting area and system water volume are roughly 1/145, based on studies of University of Virgin Island commercial aquaponics (with 214 m2 planting area and 31200L fish tank volume). A practical sizing calculator developed by Dr Wilson Lennard is used as reference in the model. [http://www.aquaponic.com.au/calculators.htm] When changing the input parameter based on the ratio, the fish and plants output (kg), daily water consumption (L) and energy consumption are changing proportionally. The TAN and nitrate nitrogen concentration are roughly the same.
 ==='''Significance & Verification'''===

@@ Line 72: / Line 72: @@
 ==='''Water Circulation'''===
 The circulation of water in fish tank and planting bed remain constant in an idealized condition. The daily adding water influence the input and output water in the system.
-[[File:water simulation.png| thumb| center| 600px|Figure 7. Water Circulation]]
+[[File:Water part.png| thumb| center| 600px|Figure 7. Water Circulation]]
 =='''Use of Model'''==