Testing and Modelling the Oxygenation Potential of a Novel Dual-Injection Airlift Pump for Aquaculture Applications

Abstract

In aquaculture, dissolved oxygen (DO) content of the water is critical, requiring continuous water re-oxygenation. The oxygen transfer efficiency of a novel dual injection airlift pump, with control of axial and radial modes of air injection, was examined and modeled in this thesis. Oxygen transfer was examined at different combinations of airflow rates, axial to radial airflow ratios, pump pipe diameters, and submergence levels. Each parameter significantly affected oxygen transfer (p<0.0001), with pump pipe diameter being most significant. Oxygen transfer was modeled for pumps of different pipe diameters. This oxygen transfer model was combined with a tilapia bioenergetics and oxygen requirement model to predict the DO level change of aquaculture systems stocked with tilapia and aerated with the novel airlifts at different settings. The results suggest this novel airlift design can effectively meet DO demands of fish raised in aquaculture and potentially reduce energy consumption compared to conventional oxygenation technology.