Integration of process design and control of a pilot-scale recirculating aquaculture system

This work presents an optimization formulation to integrate design and control for Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS). The key is to find a feasible and dynamically operable RAS with the optimal equipment sizing, control strategies, and batch time that maximizes the annual profit. Fish welfare was explicitly considered by enforcing limits on toxic components and taking into consideration the effects of water quality on the dynamic fish growth and mortality rates. A dynamic optimization control strategy was employed to ensure an optimal rearing environment. A pilot-scale rainbow trout RAS farm was selected as our case study. The proposed simultaneous design and control scheme was able to significantly enhance RAS profitability by running shorter batches in larger fish tanks with optimal control actions. Temperature effects and a disturbance scenario involving the feeding rate were investigated to gain further insights and advance the adoption of these emerging systems in aquaculture.