Decoupled Aquaponic Bio Reactor for Independent pH Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aquaponics systems face challenges in maintaining optimal nutrient and pH conditions for both fish and plants, as they require different pH ranges, leading to inefficient nutrient distribution and increased operational costs due to the need for additional fertilization and high nitrate levels in recirculating aquaculture systems.
Innovation Solution
A decoupled aquaponic system with a multi-trophic part and a hydroponic part, utilizing a bio reactor unit and distillation unit to process nutrient-enriched water from fish and other aquatic organisms, converting it into usable plant nutrients while maintaining separate pH control for fish and plants, and minimizing water discharge through distillation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the hydroponic cultivation area is made bigger to ensure efficient water flow from recirculating aquaculture system, then water flow efficiency is improved, but nutrient concentration in the hydroponic system decreases and additional fertilization is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate recirculating aquaculture system and hydroponic system with independent control, allowing each subsystem to optimize its own nutrient and pH conditions without being constrained by the other
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts nutrient concentration and pH parameters independently in each subsystem - the aquaculture system maintains nutrient-poor conditions while the hydroponic system receives nutrient-enriched water, solving the contradiction through parameter optimization
2Productivity
If nutrient concentration is increased in the hydroponic system, then plant growth is improved, but fish in the recirculating aquaculture system suffer from high nitrate levels
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and removes excess nutrients and nitrates from the aquaculture water through selective filtration and separation before delivering it to the hydroponic system, preventing harmful nitrate accumulation for fish while providing necessary nutrients for plants
Solution Approach 2:
A bio reactor unit acts as an intermediary between the aquaculture and hydroponic systems, processing and conditioning the water to remove harmful substances for fish while concentrating beneficial nutrients for plants
3Reliability
If pH is adjusted to suit fish requirements (pH 6.5 to 9.0), then fish health is improved, but plant growth is hindered as plants prefer pH less than 6.5
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the pH control function by maintaining separate pH regulation for each subsystem - the aquaculture system maintains pH 6.5 to 9.0 for fish while the hydroponic system maintains pH less than 6.5 for optimal plant growth
Solution Approach 2:
Each subsystem is provided with locally optimized pH conditions tailored to its specific biological requirements, allowing fish and plants to experience their ideal pH ranges simultaneously in the same overall system
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This system achieves balanced nutrient and pH conditions for both fish and plants, reducing fertilization requirements and nitrate levels, enhancing nutrient recycling and water reuse, and optimizing growth conditions for both aquatic animals and vegetation.
Implementation Method 1
converting it into usable plant nutrients
Implementation Method 2
bio reactor unit to process nutrient-enriched water from fish and other aquatic organisms, converting it into usable plant nutrients
Implementation Method 3
minimizing water discharge through distillation
Implementation Method 4
minimizing water discharge through distillation
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A facility for growing vegetation, the facility (1) comprising at least one container (2) for taking aquatic animals and/or aquatic organisms, at least one hydroponic part (13), at least one device for water and/or substance circulation (17) whereby the facility (1) further comprises at least one bio reactor unit (10).