Automation of Tambaqui Fish Pond Aeration for Energy Efficiency in the Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

The increase in the demand for fish highlights the aquaculture potential of the Brazilian Amazon. The high cost of electric energy, lack of technical staff, and the absence of continuous control of water quality parameters are some of the factors that hinder the growth of this activity. This study evaluated two opportunities for automation and optimization in commercial tambaqui farms in ponds in Amazonas, Brazil. The first is the manual control and recording of physical-chemical properties of the water, and the second is the high consumption of electricity by the aerators. Thus, we developed continuous monitoring of water quality parameters through automatic gauging, using a floating platform with onboard sensors, called the Autonomous Experimental Station (AES), which controls the startup and shutdown of the aerators according to established parameters, providing the oxygen necessary for maintaining fish life, eliminating electricity waste, and recording the evaluated parameters. As a result, after integrating the AES in excavated tanks, it was possible to reduce 26% in electric energy consumption for adult fish and 52% for juvenile fish, besides registering the values of DO, pH, and temperature, generating savings for the producer and contributing to the sustainability of the activity in the Amazon.