Modelling and Optimization of an Integrated Aquaculture and Halo-agriculture System

Abstract

The growing demand for aquatic and terrestrial products necessitates the development of new alternative methods to meet the global demand. Integrated aquaculture and agriculture system (IAAS) has been proposed as a promising sustainable alternative for the production of aquatic and terrestrial products. In the UAE, an integrated marine aquaculture, halo agriculture, and silviculture system has been planned to sustainably produce commercial fish (giant grouper) as well as byproducts from halo-agricultural systems (aviation biofuel). Since the system will be producing renewable source of energy, it was named the Seawater Energy and Agriculture System (SEAS). In this study, a model that describes and explains the chemical and microbial transformations in SEAS is applied to describe and analyze the water cycle and the system’s performance. The model is evaluated under different operational conditions to determine the effect of each key parameter on the overall system’s performance. In all evaluated scenarios ammoniacal nitrogen concentrations in the fish tanks remain safe for the cultured fish. The simulation results obtained suggest that nitrification rates had the greatest impact on the system’s performance in terms of plant growth. Nitrification rates were significantly influenced by the aquaculture hydraulic retention time and effluent partitioning, which determine the amount of makeup water added to the system. Therefore, optimal operating suggestions were proposed based on the scenario analysis examined. This will provide SEAS operators with several alternative methods to enhance their system’s performance, as well as provide others the ability to test their IAAS performance using the proposed model with minor calibration. Further minor improvements and modifications to the model can be accomplished in order to enhance the accuracy and quality of predictions.

Date of Award	Dec 2022
Original language	American English
Supervisor	Jorge Rodriguez (Supervisor)