Background

The goal of this project is to design and build an automated system for the controlled heating of an inland aquaculture farm. The design of this system must be such that the final product has the lowest life cycle cost, maximizing the profitability of any commercial venture in which it is employed. Other important design considerations are the system must be simple to operate and repair, and be reliable.

The design criteria mandate the use of inexpensive renewable energy sources, such as solar power, and utilization of commonly available plumbing and pumping system parts. The final design shall be serviceable by an individual with modest plumbing skills and common tools.

To achieve these goals, the system will be based on a low temperature, low efficiency pool type solar heater as well as pumps and valves for common commercial applications such as irrigation. The system will consist of two separate pumping systems: 1) heat storage and 2) aquaculture. The two systems will be linked by a heat exchanger, and a series of valves will be employed to control fluid flow through the various subsystems. A controller that monitors system temperatures with thermistors and a thermocouple will operate the valves.

            This project includes the design, construction, testing and iterative repairs and improvement necessary to develop a marketable and self-contained aquaculture system capable of maintaining the aquatic life at a predetermined temperature. The system is broken down into two primary components, a thermo-fluids aspect and a system controls aspect.

            The thermo-fluids portion of the project includes the heating and the pumping and plumbing of the system. This entails design of a solar collection and energy storage system, an energy balance of all related components to determine the losses that will be encountered, as well as the method of exchanging stored heat with the aquaculture tank to maintain its internal temperature. The thermo-fluids section of the project will also include the design and layout of the pumps and the valves that will be used to direct the flow of the fluids through these systems.