Assignment 14

Assessment Briefing Document

Course code & name: EC100 Design in Engineering

Course Section: 8

Course Instructor: Dr Salah Elaskari

Assessment Title: Design Concept Ideas

Assessment Weighting: 20%

Assessment Set Date: 02 May 2021

Assessment Due Date: Tuesday 11th May 2021 at 23:59

Assessment Feedback Date: 20th May 2021

Method of Submission (Turnitin, Canvas Quiz etc): Upload to Canvas

Student Learning Outcomes Covered:

Design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs.

Identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.

Apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering.

Analyze and interpret dataand other information relating to an engineering design challenge.

Targeted Soft Skills Development:

Creativity

Design sketching

Teamwork

Problem solving

Assessment Brief:

For this assessment, you are required to produce a minimum of 3 design concept ideas for your chosen design challenge. You should then evaluate your design ideas to decide which of your ideas you will take forward using a systematic method, as shown in Session 5 of the course.

Marking Criteria:

A variety of design concept ideas produced (10%)

Systematic evaluation of ideas to determine final design to be taken forward (10%)

OFFICIAL USE ONLY

PASS/FAIL__________________REVIEWED BY COORDINATOR____________________

DATE REVIEWED AND SIGNED________________________________________________

Bachelor of Science in _Engineering

DESIGN IDEA PROJECT :

AQUAPONICS SYSTEM

25th February 2021- 5th June 2021.

Contents
ABSTRACT

2
INTRODUCTION 4
TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES 5
JUSTIFICATION OF AN IDEA 5
UNIQUENESS OF IDEA/PROJECT 7
POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTION OF IDEA/PROJECT 8
TECHNICAL APPROACH 9

APPLICABLE STANDARDS

9

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

9
FLOWCHART 9
WORK STATEMENT/PLAN 10

MILESTONES

10

HIGH-LEVEL OBJECTIVES

12

REQUIREMENTS

13

TASK CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS

14

CONSTRAINTS

15
APPLICATION OF PROJECT/IDEA 15

ABSTRACT

The 7th UNDP sustainable goal is all about sustainable cities and communities. But to achieve this sustainability, it is vital to end poverty, solve food security challenges, and provide affordable energy. Aquaponics is a combination of fish and vegetable farming. Modernizing this ancient technique with upcoming technologies, especially related electricity, reduces operational costs and makes such a system sustainable for use. Farmers abstain from fish farming because of the electrical heating and power needed to run Aquaponics. Or a more straightforward way to state it, electricity, the same challenge faced by modern-day homes and industries given the changing electrical usage patterns caused by the rising demand.

Recall, Vehicle-to-the-Grid project how about introducing Aquaponics-to-the-Grid. Not only does the system provide every consumer with food but also with affordable electrical energy. This Project’s implementation will touch on four UNDP sustainable goals; Industry & Infrastructure, Sustainable Cities & Communities, Affordable & Clean Energy, and Climate Action.

Greenhouses or controlled crop environments arguably are the solution to achieve sustainable achieve food production. What if this changes? Global current urbanization rate is 27.51%, while fishing to the G.D.P is 0.5% in 2019. Suppose each urban and peri-urban house has a backyard aquaponics unit, e.g., in the balcony and the fishing contribution now becomes 27.51%. It would surpass the G.D.P growth rate of 6.32% recorded in 2017.

Figure 1 showing the statistical report of the cumulative Gross Domestic Product

INTRODUCTION

Aquaponics is the combination of Vegetables and Fish for a symbiotic relationship. It works such that the only input is the fish feed consumed by the fish that produce ammonia as their excrete. The water moves into the growth beds, which contain nitrifying-bacteria that convert this ammonia to nitrates. The plants then consume these nitrates, therefore cleaning the water that goes back to the fish. Aquaponics system has the advantage of being an intensive and sustainable food production system in terms of soil usage, water efficiency, bio-contamination, and minimal wastes.

The ideal crops suitable for such an Aquaponics system include Tomatoes, Lettuce, Spinach, Mustard, while Tilapia and Catfish are the most suitable fish. Aquaponics relies on the technique that fish waste produces organic nutrients for growing vegetables.

Figure 2: Aquaponics setup with the sump, Plant Growing area, and Fish Tank, adapted from the Amsha Africa Foundation website.

TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES

The main objective is to solve an economic and technical challenge facing the community by designing, analyzing, and implementing an Aquaponics project that gives consumers food and electrical energy. It will involve extensive research and implementation to develop this Project from a technical and entrepreneurial perspective sustainably. The Project will also include coming up with the minimum viable product that contains the fish tanks, sump, plant growing beds, and the electronic circuit for the automation process.

JUSTIFICATION OF AN IDEA

The Ministry of Agriculture highlighted a need for upscale food production and Nutrition Security (Sammy and Grace, 2020). The report indicated the need to diversify the agricultural output by adopting mixed farming techniques that optimize scarce resources. Additionally, it argued a gap between the demand of 475,000 metric tons and the production of 165,000 metric tons of fish, presenting an opportunity for Technologies, Innovation, and Management Practices in the aquaculture sector. The report concluded with the proposal being to establish Aquaponics units in backyards to boost nutrition and food security.

Organic foods are rare nowadays, with the rising demand for fast-foods. Fortunately, Aquaponics offers organic-like foods since it doesn’t use pesticides and fertilizers since the recirculating water would harm the fish. The system is also water-efficient since it uses nearly 10% of the actual water used in conventional fish ponds (Sammy and Grace, 2020).

Globally, there is a concern about Food Security, and the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (F.A.O.) noted that the prevalence of undernourishment (PoU) increased starting from 2014. The statistics report indicated that 9.7% of the total global population stood vulnerable to food insecurity. Africa has a severe food insecurity index that affected nearly 50% of the people in 2019, followed by Latin America, Asia, Northern America, Oceania, and Europe.

Figure 3: Food Insecurity Index by Gender and Region from F.A.O, 2019.

The Amsha Africa Foundation illustrated that Aquaponics was the solution to financial, social, and environmental problems the continent faces with its economies categorized as follows

1.
Water usage.

Drought is a challenge, particularly in the Sub-Saharan continent. Additionally, the increase in population, especially in urban areas, concerns water and sewage companies. Apart from the recycling, it is vital to conserve water effectively. The Aquaponics system takes care of this by using the recirculating technique that minimizes the need to add water into the system continually. Different from the conventional aquaculture systems that use ponds, the Aquaponics system uses tanks with a fish capacity closer to those in these fish ponds. Not to mean that the system is water efficient since leakages in tanks and plants’ water absorption reduce the water capacity in the system. However, in rearing fish, the Aquaponics system is the sustainable way of using very little water.

2.
Pollution.

Traditional farms depend on dwindling fossil fuel products, unlike the Aquaponics case that combats global warming challenges by minimizing carbon dioxide emissions. For instance, in vegetable farming, where farmers need to farm tomatoes, the soil preparation process using tractors consume diesel, unlike in this backyard aquaponics system. Apart from air, noise pollution does occur in industries in fish processing and manufacturing. Generally, to solve pollution issues, it is vital to bring farms in the domestic household.

3.
Population growth.

The World’s population continues to grow from the current 6.8 Million to 9 Billion in the coming 30 years; therefore, to feed this growing population, there is a need to provide the population by bringing the food closer sustainably. This backyard Aquaponic unit brings the food closer to the consumer’s backyard. By tapping into the urbanization rate and the real-estate sector’s growth, these aquaponic units solve the food security, energy, climate change, and population growth problem.

4.
Energy.

In Aquaponics, food becomes “decentralized,” eliminating the tremendous electrical energy needed for fish processing, manufacturing, and refrigeration.

UNIQUENESS OF IDEA/PROJECT

Unlike the normal Aquaponics, this system will include a renewable energy monitoring system to supply the consumer’s electrical power. The solar panel connected will run the pump on normal operations while also storing electrical ability to act as electrical back-up electrical power. In simpler terms, it will serve as a generator only that this time it will supply your daily groceries under regular operation, and in-case your lights run out; you can use the stored energy to power your electrical appliances. The fact that it still has some fish also means that consumers can generate some small income to acts as a side-hustle.

Aquaponics is another unique idea since it’s a mixed farming technique that integrates animals, i.e., fish and plants, i.e., vegetables, e.g., tomatoes. These two symbiotically relate with each other to diversify the consumer’s plate of food. In a typical household, the supper is simply a plate of ugali and Sukumawiki/Spinach with the system; one can quickly grow the latter plus fish. The result is that the consumer will eat a balanced diet of fish (protein), tomatoes and spinach (Vitamins), and Ugali (Carbohydrate).

POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTION OF IDEA/PROJECT

The implementation of this idea opens an opportunity to attaining food security or resolving the food insecurity challenge. The latter originates with a lack of sufficient supply of food caused by the shortage and climatic changes.

The system fills in the gap between production and demand for fish. The Ministry of Agriculture indicated a need for 475,000 metric tons and the production of 165,000 metric tons of fish (Sammy, and Grace, 2020). The inclusion of backyard aquaponic units fills this deficit of 360,000 metric tons. Currently, the real-estate sector is on the rise. With the introduction of the government’s affordable housing program, the idea will contribute to a general improvement in the agricultural industry.

Also, the system utilizes the space in balconies in Urban and Peri-Urban areas. Real estate is a growing sector, and urbanization is again rising, which means that balconies will sustainably contribute to attaining food security. The backyard aquaponics units tap into the urbanization and smart cities of the future by proposing that instead of developing standard residential units, it is reliable to introduce farms in these futuristic cities.

The system addresses the fishery contribution to the Nation’s (G.D.P) Gross Domestic Product. Currently, the fishery department is the least funded by the Ministry of Agriculture because of its small economic growth contribution. But with the implementation of the system significantly enhance the national progression.

The Backyard Aquaponics unit also cuts down the operational costs of electricity since it introduces the renewable energy concept. By addressing farmers’ complaints about high electricity costs needed to run the pumps or heating equipment, introducing such a system assures them higher profits. On the other hand, customers in the urban and peri-urban areas complain of regular electricity outages; therefore, presenting a generator that works as an alternative source of food (proposed Backyard Aquaponics system) is nothing but hitting two birds with one stone.

TECHNICAL APPROACH

APPLICABLE STANDARDS
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

ISO 23016-1:2019. Fine Bubble technology. Test methodology for evaluating growth hydroponically grown lettuce.

ISO/TC 234: Aquaculture and Fisheries. Characterization of aquaculture sites, physical biological and chemical conditions.

ISO 21782-6:2019 and ISO 21782-3:2019. Operating load testing and test criteria of Inverter and Motor.

ISO 2277:1973. Test requirements and General design of inverters. Modulation, voltage, balance, stability & Response, efficiency, output voltage, supply characteristics and ratings.

FLOWCHART

The following is the proposed work flowchart for developing the Aquaponics system.

Figure showing the working flowchart for the Backyard Aquaponics system.

WORK STATEMENT/PLAN

MILESTONES

These are the main milestones involved in the Project.

S/No

Activities

Start Date

Expected Date of Completion

Milestone 1:
General Proposal (This Document)

· Technical proposal
· Cost Estimations
· Applicable Standards
· Work Statement/Plan

25th February 2021

21st April 2021

Milestone 2:
Technical Methodology

· Electronics circuit design
· Automation setup (Integration
· Software code using P.I.C. microcontrollers

30th April December 2020

14th May 2021

Milestone 3
Plumbing Work

· Pipes and Tank setup

21st May 2021

30th May 2021

Milestone 4
Assembly of Minimum Viable Product.

· Hardware and Software compiling
· Verification of Project document by Stakeholders

1st June 2021

5th June 2021

Figure: Gantt Chart representation of Milestones, as shown using Ms. Project 2016.

HIGH-LEVEL OBJECTIVES

The main objectives of this system will be to develop the Minimum Viable Product of the Aquaponics system that can sustainably incorporate the mixed farming technique. In terms of precedence, the goals of this are to;

1. Write a general proposal that clearly illustrates the importance of coming up with such a project, aims, and methodology associated with this Aquaponics system.

2. Develop the relevant electronic circuits that control the pumping operation and the solar panel monitoring process, including the appropriate software codes where applicable.

3. Implement the plumbing-related work by combining the tanks, pumps, and grow beds.

4. Assemble the entire hardware and Software project elements to come up with the Minimum Viable Product.

Other objectives of the Project that will come after include;

1. Project’s documentation through a technical report.

2. Documents’ verification by the relevant stakeholders within and outside the Institution.

3. Cost-Estimations and Financial viability of this Project in a real-life scenario.

4. Vertical Aquaponics farm using industrial automated systems.

REQUIREMENTS

The Bill of Materials needed for this Project are as follows.

MATERIAL NAME

DESCRIPTION

IMPORTANCE

QUANTITY

PRICE IN $

Plumbing Work

1000L Fish Tank

LDPE Plastic

· Supports fish growth

1

$150

3m x 2m x 30cm Growth Bed

LDPE Plastic

· Hold the growth media for vegetable production.

1

$600

Growth Media

Limestone, Volcanic Gravel Tuff

· Supports root growth of these vegetables

10kg

$500

1000L Sump Tank

LDPE plastic

· Holds the water from the plant before pumping to the fish tank

1

$100

Electrical/Electronic Circuit

12V 100rpm center shaft motor

Pump

· Acts as the pumping mechanism

1

$100

PIC 16F628A

Microcontroller

· P.W.M. Motor control
· S.P.W.M. Inverter

1

$2.50

Solar Panel

12V 30W

· Photovoltaic Energy Generation.

1

$45

Total

$41.50

ACCOMPANYING SCREENSHOTS

Figure with the PIC-based P.W.M. controller Bill of Materials, Adapted from www.picproject.org

TASK CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS

The following are some of the activity’s current under-review

1. SPWM (Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation) Inverter design using PIC Microcontroller

2. PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) Motor controller using PIC microcontroller.

3. Renewable Energy Monitoring system with Liquid Crystal Display.

CONSTRAINTS

The following are the applicable constraints that the Backyard Aquaponics Units is vulnerable to;

1. FUNCTIONAL CONSTRAINTS

2. SAFETY CONSTRAINTS

3. MANUFACTURING CONSTRAINTS

4. ECONOMIC CONSTRAINTS

5. QUALITY CONSTRAINTS

6. AESTHETIC CONSTRAINTS

7. LEGAL & ETHICAL CONSTRAINTS

8. SUSTAINABILITY

9. TIMING CONSTRAINTS

As mentioned, the objective of this proposal is only to highlight some of the challenges and through research its possible to clearly outline the particular constraint in each category

APPLICATION OF PROJECT/IDEA

In summary, this Project will serve the community by creating a source of food and electrical energy. It means that the consumers’ income will increase since they will have a side-hustle (after selling the fish) while supplementing their household foods through the grown vegetables. In the case of electrical outages, the system will act as a back-up system for electrical power. Generally, the idea is sustainable in all-ways from Aquaponics and renewable energy through the integrated solar panel.

The system will play a role in the upcoming smart cities by acting as a backyard farm for the inhabiting communities. Ultimately, the system will achieve sustainable development goals by solving the inherent social, financial, and environmental challenges from water usage, pollution, and climate changes to population growth.

REFERENCES

Mali, P.S., Patil, A.B., Patil, P.P, Patil, A.A., Patil, P.S. (2017). Single Phase Inverter using P.I.C. Controller. I.J.A.R.I.E., 3(2). ISSN(O) 2395-4396. Accessed from

Single_phase_Inverter_using_PIC_controller_ijariie4471

Practical P.I.C. projects (July 2018). PWM DC Motor Controller for PIC12F683. Accessed on 20th December 2020, Retrieved from

PWM DC Motor Controller (picprojects.org.uk)

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