Design of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems

Catalog description

The purpose of this course is to provide a practical engineering approach to the design of land-based, recirculating aquaculture systems. The course includes an introductory background on the state of our global seafood industries and the need for sustainable production approaches in fresh, brackish, and saltwater environments with various types of systems presently in use. With a focus on recirculating aquaculture systems, this course will include topics such as environmental chemistry and water quality, stoichiometric analyses, nitrification, the potential of hydrogen, temperature, dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, the carbonate cycle and alkalinity. A systems design approach will then be covered to include developing plans for assessing biomass growth, system oxygen consumption and total nitrogen and carbon dioxide production. System design will consider processes associated with tank hydrodynamics, waste settling, solids removal, biofiltration, UV treatment, temperature control, aeration, degassing, pumps, and piping systems. Mass balance approaches through control volumes will be examined. A hands-on, student led system design project will be required and examined using engineering economic principles such as the time value of money, inflation, taxes, and internal rates of return. Use of computer tools will be necessary.