Portable Aquaponics

57 Pages·2012·4.23 MB·English

Portable Aquaponics
Item Type text; Electronic Thesis
Authors Cook, Sarah Ann; Lepage, Jonathan; Guzman, Maria
Publisher The University of Arizona.
Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material
is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona.
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Download date 15/09/2018 04:35:34
Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/243915
PORTABLE AQUAPONICS
By
SARAH ANN COOK

A Thesis Submitted to The Honors College
In Partial Fulfillment of the Bachelors degree
With Honors in
Biosystems Engineering
THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
MAY 2012

Abstract
Increasing demands on our natural resources require unique solutions. Our design
combines an aquaculture subsystem with a hydroponics subsystem to maximize efficiency and
fully utilize all resources with minimal waste and environmental impact. Current aquaponics
designs use either rectangular raceways or circular tanks for the aquaculture subsystem. Circular
tanks are very common and offer the advantage of efficient solid waste removal. Solids can be
pushed down towards a center drain and flushed out of the system easily with rotational flow
within the tank. Raceway designs are also used extensively and offer the advantage of better
utilization of floor space. Our design brings these two configurations together by creating
circular flow in 3 hydraulically separate units within one rectangular raceway. In this way,
solids removal is maximized and floor space is utilized fully. Our system is also designed to be
fully portable on a flatbed trailer so that it can be used as an education exhibit around the region.
Team Member Roles
Sarah Cook-Team Leader
As team leader, I ensured that our project was properly managed and we operated
according to the schedule developed early in the design process. One of the major management
activities I took on throughout the design process included liaising between my team members
and our mentor and client for the project, Peter Livingston. I regularly scheduled team meetings,
and when the team could not meet, I worked with Peter directly through phone interaction.
Further, I consulted with many outside entities throughout the process to ensure that the team had
the materials to continue to make progress on schedule. Finally, I compile and submitted our
weekly progress reports to our mentor and advisor.
The second major responsibility I took on was management of the design budget. I
maintained accurate records and worked within the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
department to ensure that adequate funds were available for the various aspects of our system.
When possible, I coordinated alternate means to obtain materials need to reduce the strain on our
budget.
I also managed the logistics for Engineering Design Day competition. Our system is large
and requires the transport of a 15’ trailer, 5000-gallon water truck, as well as fish and vegetation
to populate the system for the design display. This required much coordination with many people
throughout the campus community.
Throughout the year, I have focused on the hydraulic calculations required for the proper
operation of our system. Our design requires a delicate balance of flow rates, system pressure
and recirculation to ensure the livelihood of the fish housed within the system. This also required
attention for system dynamics including nutrient loading and requirements to create an
appropriate environment for the specific species of fish the system is designed for, Tilapia.
Finally, I played the chief role in the actual construction of the system. The first major aspect of
this task involved purchasing materials and acquiring equipment needed to complete
construction. Secondly, I coordinated the work schedule to ensure that the tank would be
completed in a timely manner.
Jonathan Lepage
Jonathan focused his efforts throughout the year on the system layout and biofilter
design. Our design is meant to be completely portable on 15’ trailer that required a great bit of
attention to the system layout to optimize use of space. He developed many sketches to present
the possible layouts the trailer would be able to accommodate.
The majority of Jonathan’s time was spent working on the biofilter requirements and
calculations. The biofilter design requires the determination of both system outputs and required
inputs in regards to nutrient loading. Many possible biofilter designs are viable for our system,
but Jonathan worked with materials that were already at our disposal to optimize the design and
minimize system cost.
Jonathan also developed the poster that will be used for the Engineering Design Day
competition.
Maria Guzman
Maria focused her attention on the design requirement for the hydroponics portion of our
system. She was interested in the nutrient requirements of the proposed lettuce that would be
used in the system and spent much of the first semester of the design process working through
the calculations and research required to determine the needs of this segment.
Maria also assisted in the construction of the system. Her major contribution was
assembling the system plumbing as well as the system reinforcements required to ensure
adequate strength for transport. She was also instrumental in troubleshooting system problems
that were encountered and assisted in their resolution.
ABE 498B- SENIOR DESIGN
Portable Aquaponics
Final Report

Angy Guzman, Jonathan LePage, Sarah Cook
5/4/2012
Executive Summary
This report will outline the design of a portable aquaponics system. More specifically, the
report will summarize the accomplishments that have been made over the course of two
semesters in terms of design, construction, and evaluation. Over the course of the past eight
months the design team has spent their time researching the dynamics of aquaponics systems,
coming to a final design proposal, constructing, calibrating and evaluating the system based on
the design constraints presented. With input from the team mentor and sponsor, a suitable design
layout was determined, the system was constructed and evaluations show system performance is
in line with design expectations.
The system, as it is constructed, is fully portable and capable of supporting a maximum
fish density of 40 kg/m3 based on system recirculation and 8 kg/m3 based on biofiltration
capacity. The system has been designed to be easily scalable and will certainly meet the
requirements of any application it may be used for following the conclusion of the senior design
process. Overall system performance can be increased with the addition of a pump capable of
greater flow rates and additional biofiltration volume.
The portable aquaponics system’s intended use is as an educational exhibit and as such
the system serves as a valuable tool to inform the general public of the simplicity and scalability
of aquaculture and aquaponics. The system is designed and constructed using easily attainable
plumbing and lumber to show the design’s practical and economic feasibility for residential or
community applications. With society turning more towards sustainable and environmentally
sound practices, a system like portable aquaponics will serve as an excellent illustration of the
viability of small-scale aquaponics systems.
Acknowledgments
The aquaponics team would like to thank Peter Livingston, our client and mentor, for his
help and guidance throughout the design process. We would especially like to thank Charlie
Defer for all of his help, guidance and support. Additionally we would like to thank Dr.
Fitzsimmons for technical support and materials as well as James Ebeling for his guidance and
for providing the conceptual basis and theoretical background for our design.