Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Process Control and Monitoring Options James M. Ebeling, Ph.D. Environmental Engineer Aquaculture Systems Technologies, LLC New Orleans, LA

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Fundamental Design Strategies The most sophisticated monitoring and alarm system is an attentive human operator! Routine Monitoring of Important Water Quality Parameters

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Fundamental Design Strategies If Anything can go wrong, IT WILL! Imagine the WORST!! Imagine the WORST!! Then Prepare for it! Then Prepare for it!

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course What Processes Do I Have In Place to Respond to Emergencies Ready Phone List Ready Phone List Plumbers Plumbers Electricians Electricians Staff Staff Fire/Emergency Fire/Emergency Trained Staff Trained Staff Logical Troubleshooting Procedures Logical Troubleshooting Procedures Triage Triage Call for addition HELP! Call for addition HELP! Safety Safety System Designed to Fail Reliably System Designed to Fail Reliably

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Response Times High (fast response time – minutes) electrical power electrical power water level in tank water level in tank dissolved oxygen –aeration system/ oxygen system dissolved oxygen –aeration system/ oxygen system Medium (moderate response time – hours) temperature temperature carbon dioxide carbon dioxide Low (normally slowly changing – days) pH pH alkalinity alkalinity ammonia-nitrogen ammonia-nitrogen nitrite-nitrogen nitrite-nitrogen nitrate-nitrogen nitrate-nitrogen

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Design Strategies Basic System - critical parameters Basic System - critical parameters Intermediate System Intermediate System Computer Based System Computer Based System Three Levels of Monitoring and Control

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Basic System - Critical Parameters Basic Parameters – Digital (On/Off)Basic Parameters – Digital (On/Off) Electric PowerElectric Power Tank water levelTank water level Sump water levelSump water level Water flow through pumpsWater flow through pumps Air pressureAir pressure

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Basic System - Sensors Basic Parameters – (On/Off)Basic Parameters – (On/Off) Electric PowerElectric Power Tank water levelTank water level Sump water levelSump water level Water flow through pumpsWater flow through pumps Air pressureAir pressure

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Electric Power System Designed to Fail Reliably to Fail Reliably Power goes out, these normally open solenoid values open and oxygen is sparged into the production tanks

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Basic System - Sensors Basic Parameters – (On/Off)Basic Parameters – (On/Off) Electric PowerElectric Power Tank water levelTank water level Sump water levelSump water level Water flow through pumpsWater flow through pumps Air pressureAir pressure

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Water Level – Float Switches

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Water Level – Float Switches High Water Level Low Water Level

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Water Level – Float Switches Sump Level Alarm Inexpensive Reservoir Alarm

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Basic System - Sensors Basic Parameters – (On/Off) Basic Parameters – (On/Off) Electric Power Electric Power Tank water level Tank water level Sump water level Sump water level Water flow through pumps Water flow through pumps Air pressure Air pressure

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Water Flow – Flow Switches

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Water Flow – Flow Meters Paddlewheel Sensor Turbine Flow Meters

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Water Flow – Flow Meters Electromagnetic / Ultrasonic Flow Meters

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Basic System - Sensors Basic Parameters – (On/Off) Basic Parameters – (On/Off) Electric Power Electric Power Tank water level Tank water level Sump water level Sump water level Water flow through pumps Water flow through pumps Air pressure Air pressure

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Air Pressure – Pressure Switches

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Physical Plant Security Intrusion alarms, smoke, and fire alarms!

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Basic System – Phone Dialer MonitorsMonitors ElectricityElectricity TemperatureTemperature Digital alert inputs - switch open/closedDigital alert inputs - switch open/closed High sound levelHigh sound level Battery conditionBattery condition Alarm ResponseAlarm Response Announces the alarm condition locallyAnnounces the alarm condition locally Telephones four numbers with an alarm messageTelephones four numbers with an alarm message

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course The Basic System

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course The Basic System Basic Systems Disadvantage Basic Systems Disadvantage Limited Expansion Limited Expansion Difficult to Disable Alarm Inputs Difficult to Disable Alarm Inputs Difficult to Check Alarm and System Status Difficult to Check Alarm and System Status

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Design Strategies Basic System - Digital (On/Off) Basic System - Digital (On/Off) Intermediate System – Analog Sensors Intermediate System – Analog Sensors Computer Based System Computer Based System

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Intermediate System- Sensors Parameters - Analog (mV) Dissolved Oxygen Dissolved Oxygen high/low DO alarm relayshigh/low DO alarm relays low DO control relayslow DO control relays data displaydata display data transmissiondata transmission

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Intermediate System- Dissolved Oxygen

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Intermediate System- Sensors Parameters - Analog (mV) Temperature Temperature high/low temperature alarm relays high/low temperature alarm relays set point control relays set point control relays data display data display data transmission data transmission

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Intermediate System- Sensors Parameters - Analog (mV) pH pH data displaydata display data transmissiondata transmission

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Intermediate System- pH Control Dosing for pH Control Controls Degassing of CO 2

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Intermediate System- Sensors Parameters - Analog (mV) Other Water Quality Parameters Other Water Quality Parameters AmmoniaAmmonia Carbon DioxideCarbon Dioxide AlkalinityAlkalinity OthersOthers

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Intermediate System- Laboratory A water quality lab doesn’t have to be large, but it should be dedicated only to that task.

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Intermediate System

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Design Strategies Basic System - Digital (On/Off)Basic System - Digital (On/Off) Intermediate System – Analog SensorsIntermediate System – Analog Sensors Computer Based SystemComputer Based System

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Computer Based System Design Strategies Closed Loop Controller (PLC) Closed Loop Controller (PLC) Distributed Control System Distributed Control System Centralized Microcomputer Centralized Microcomputer

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Closed Loop Controller (PLC) Sensors, Valves, Actuators

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Distributed Control System Supervisory Computer Microcomputer Multiplexer Sensors, Valves, Actuators Programmable Logic Controller Sensors, Valves, Actuators

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Computer Based System Centralized Microcomputer Microcomputer Multiplexer Sensors, Valves, Actuators

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Computer Based System Centralized Microcomputer Microcomputer operates as the primary controller, monitoring, recording data, and controlling alarm functions

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course System Design choose sensors carefully, use the fewest possible, label everything and include expansion capability in all components.choose sensors carefully, use the fewest possible, label everything and include expansion capability in all components. aquaculture facilities are now included under the National Electric Code, it may not be of concern to you, but it is to your insurance agent.aquaculture facilities are now included under the National Electric Code, it may not be of concern to you, but it is to your insurance agent.

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course System Design mount sensors and equipment where they are visible and easily accessible for service and calibration.mount sensors and equipment where they are visible and easily accessible for service and calibration. remember that water and electricity make for a fatal combination, so use low signal voltages (5 VDC, 12 VDC or 24 VDC or AC) to protect you and the fish.remember that water and electricity make for a fatal combination, so use low signal voltages (5 VDC, 12 VDC or 24 VDC or AC) to protect you and the fish. clearly label the sensor's armed and unarmed modes preferably with LED's at each station to show sensor status.clearly label the sensor's armed and unarmed modes preferably with LED's at each station to show sensor status.

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course System Maintenance Have a well prepared maintenance manual accessible to the staff.Have a well prepared maintenance manual accessible to the staff. Maintain a weekly/monthly/yearly maintenance scheduling plan and files of major service records and equipment manuals.Maintain a weekly/monthly/yearly maintenance scheduling plan and files of major service records and equipment manuals. Maintain daily/weekly/monthly instrument check lists.Maintain daily/weekly/monthly instrument check lists.

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course System Maintenance Perform regular (and some unannounced) system checks, including triggering of each sensor and checking operation of the automatic backup systems and phone dialer.Perform regular (and some unannounced) system checks, including triggering of each sensor and checking operation of the automatic backup systems and phone dialer. Provide staff training to handle routine alarms.Provide staff training to handle routine alarms. Ensure staff familiarization with the complete operating system, including water supply, aeration and emergency backup systems.Ensure staff familiarization with the complete operating system, including water supply, aeration and emergency backup systems.

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Safety! Electricity and water make a fatal combination!Electricity and water make a fatal combination! National Electric CodesNational Electric Codes Low voltage - 24 VAC or 12 or 24 VDCLow voltage - 24 VAC or 12 or 24 VDC Maintenance schedule & regular system checksMaintenance schedule & regular system checks Staff trainingStaff training

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course Questions?