Aquatic EnvironmentStudents of EngineeringThe University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

December 8, 2015

Dr. Trevor Elliott Professor, 4850 Interdisciplinary Design Project I & IIUniversity of Tennessee at Chattanooga615 McCallie AvenueChattanooga, TN 37403-2598

Dr. Elliott,

The Aquatic Environment team submits the following report on automating and renovating the aquaponics system. The system is located on the campus of The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in the Engineering Mathematics and Computer Science building Room 104.

Changes have been made to automate the system. This automation was focused on reading the concentration levels for ammonium, ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites. The automation also focused on reading the levels of the pH and the temperature. After recording these levels the system will decide if the levels fall within a set of parameters that are safe for the system. If the levels fall outside the specific parameters, the system will then automatically implement the sub systems that will be set in place to correct the spike. The design, construction, and installment of these sub systems have been completed by the group. An apparatus to feed the fish has been designed, constructed, installed, and automated. The designs of the sub systems, the feeding apparatus, and the sensors used to determine the chemical levels are discussed in full in this report. The total budget for this project was $1056.50. The physical renovations to the existing system are also presented in the report. The safety of the fish and plants in the system has been the main priority of the group.

This report addresses the final design for many aspects of the aquatic environment project. If you have any questions, please contact Anna Nelson at nwz216@mocs.utc.edu or at (931) 629-3597.

Sincerely,

Anna NelsonAquatic Environment Team Manager

Michael Adcock

Courtney Branson

Daniel Kelly

William Mahn

Anna Nelson

Hussnain Javid

Michael Thelen

December 8, 2015

Aquatic Environment 2015

SummaryPrevious teams have established an aquaponics system in the fluids lab on the first floor of the EMCS.

This project builds on the existing system with a primary objective of stabilizing and automating the

system. A secondary object is to install an alert system that will alert individuals both locally and

remotely of any spikes in system parameters.

An aquaponics system is the combination of hydroponics and aquaculture. These systems involve

growing plants in an environment without soil and produces fish or other aquatic animals while

maintaining healthy conditions for both. The relationship between the plants and the aquatic animals

facilitates filtration and fertilization through the nitrogen cycle.

The nitrogen cycle begins with the introduction of nitrogen to the system by means of food for the fish.

Ammonia then comes into the system by way of the excrement from the fish. Bacteria convert this

ammonia to nitrite. The nitrite is then converted to nitrate by a different bacteria group. The plants then

use the nitrate as food to grow. It is important to maintain each chemical within certain limits to ensure a

healthy environment for both the plants and fish. This environment can be created naturally, but an

electrical monitoring system is necessary to monitor and automatically correct any parameter spikes.

The electrical subsystem has been reconfigured to monitor the parameters of the system. Sensors have

been placed in the water to monitor the various chemical levels. If any of the chemical levels spike, the

system activates self-correcting methods to compensate for the spike. The system contains a zeolite

scrubber to correct ammonia levels while using a pH buffer for the pH level. Additionally, the system

feeds the fish every 2.5 days. Finally, the system has been equipped with an alert system. This system

will alert both locally and remotely of any system spikes.

The project has been completed by December 7, 2015. Exactly $1056.50 was required to complete this

design.

The team working on the project consists of Michael Adcock, Cthetney Branson, Hussnain Javid, Daniel

Kelly, William Mahn, Anna Nelson, and Michael Thelen.

IntroductionProblem StatementPrevious teams have established an aquaponics system in the ECMS. The client has stated the aquaponics system should produce fish and vegetation suitable for human consumption while requiring little human interaction to maintain the system stable. The system currently consists of a fish tank, plants beds, filtration systems, and other subsystems. The primary objective is to stabilize and automate the system so that it is self-sustaining with minimal human interaction. The secondary objective is to setup an alert system with local and remote alerting in the event of system spikes. The current system is inadequate in meeting the objectives set by the client.

To achieve the development of healthy fish, the water environment must be closely monitored to ensure the levels of pH, ammonia/ammonium, nitrite, and nitrate are within a determined acceptable range. The automated subsystem will need to measure and record these levels. Additionally, it should adjust the system by responding to spikes in the measured levels without the use of harmful reagents to either the fish or the plants. The team decided the best method to do this during the project.

Design Objectives: Production of healthy fish and plants Self-sustaining environment System stability Automation to control system parameters Local and remote alerts of system spikes

Meeting the objectives set by the client has produced an aquaponics system that is naturally balanced but contains the systems necessary to correct any spike in chemical levels. This will benefit the client by producing a system that needs minimal oversight as well as being alerted in the event of a spike.

BackgroundAquaponicsHydroponics involves growing plants in a mostly soil-less environment on a substrate or in an aqueous medium with bare roots. Aquaculture is the production of fish and other aquatic animals and plants under controlled conditions. Aquaponics is the combination of both hydroponics and aquaculture. There are many benefits of Aquaponics systems. Plants that are grown in aquaponics systems have faster growth than traditional soil farming, which leads to faster crop maturity and higher yields [1]. Pests are very difficult to control in an aquatic environment, because pesticides and fertilizers cannot be used, however this means the produce grown in aquaponics systems are completely organic. Because the grow bed media is mostly soil free, aquaponics systems are also able to avoid many soil diseases and pest issues. However, a productive aquaponics system heavily relies on the symbiotic relationship of plants and animals as a means of filtration and fertilization facilitated through the nitrogen cycle. Therefore the nitrogen cycle plays a vital role in aquaponics systems, as it provides ntheishment for the plants and converts ammonia into useful chemical compounds. The main goal is to monitor and control the spikes of the nitrogen elements left behind from the nitrogen cycle and also the pH level.

Nitrogen CycleNitrogen is introduced to the system in the form of fish food. The fish eat the food, and their excrement mostly consists of ammonia (NH3). Ammonia is lethal to fish in levels above 3 parts per million (ppm) and can cause long-term central nervous damage in levels in excess of 2 ppm. Bacteria belonging to the group nitrosomonas convert the ammonia to nitrite (NO2

-). Nitrite is also harmful to fish in levels above 1 ppm. The nitrite is finally converted to nitrate (NO3

-) by the bacteria group nitrobacter. Plants use the nitrate as fuel to grow [1]. Figure 1 is a visual representation of the nitrogen cycle.

Figure 1: Nitrogen Cycle in an Aquaponics System [2]

pH LevelThe balance of hydronium cations (H3O+) and hydroxide anions (OH-) in the system is given by the following balanced equation:

2 H2O ↔ H3O+ + OH- (1)The equilibrium of this reaction is represented by:

KW = [H3O+] [OH-] (2)Where [H3O+] and [OH-] are the concentrations of the hydronium and hydroxide ions respectively. It is common practice to take the negative log base 10 of equilibrium values. This is known as pK. In the specific case of water, it is pKW. The equilibrium varies with temperature. For water between the temperatures of 0 and 50 degrees Celsius the pKW is calculated using Equation 3.

pKW = 1.7184*10-4 T2 - 4.2094*10-2 T + 14.941 (3)Where T is the temperature in Celsius [3].

Ammonia/Ammonium EquilibriumAmmonia and the ammonium cation (NH4

+) are in balance based on the following stoichiometry:NH3 + H2O ↔ NH4

+ + OH- (4)The concentrations of ammonia and ammonium rely on the pH and temperature of the water in the system. The equilibrium of this reaction is given by the equation:

(5)KA and KB are related to KW by the equation [4]:

KAKB = KW (6)The pKA for Equation 4 is given by:

(7)Where TK is the temperature in Kelvin [5].

Equations 3, 5, 6, and 7 allow for the calculation of the ratio of ammonia to the amount of the ammonium cation present in the water [4].

Plants and FishWhen selecting fish and plants for an aquaponics system it is desirable to select fish and plants that have similar water chemistry needs. A system containing plants and fish with the exact same needs is virtually impossible so compromises will have to be made, but the closer the match the larger the likely hood for success. Generally, warm, fresh water fish and leafy crops such as lettuce, kale, and herbs do best. However, in a system heavily stocked with fish, fruiting plants such as tomatoes and peppers will also thrive. Tilapia is the number one choice for fish in aquaponics systems. A few reasons for the success rate of Tilapia are because they are a hearty species of fish, and they grow at a rapid rate. These assets allow for a higher turnover rate than other fish. While there are ranges that Tilapia prefer to grow in, they can survive in water conditions that would be considered toxic for other fish. This allows time for chemical spikes to be fixed without causing irreversible damage to an entire crop of fish. As far as growth rates with Tilapia, the exact rate of the fish will be dependent upon water chemistry, food consumption, and fish genetics. In the best of environments, a Tilapia can grow to 2.5 lbs. in seven months. Table 1 shows acceptable chemical levels while Table 2 lists important conversions.

Table 1: Plants and Fish Chemical Levels

Table 2: Conversions TableConversionsmg/L to ppm Conversion Temperature Conversion1 mg/L => 1.001142303 ppm 18°C => 64.4°F5 mg/L => 5.005711515 ppm 30°C => 86°F150 mg/L => 150.17134545 ppm

SensorsA system must receive some type of input before performing a function. Input is gathered from the environment and may be a change in the environment or a characteristic change. Sensors detect a physical change in the surroundings and covert it to an electrical signal which is used by the system to perform the intended function. There are different types of sensors, for example there are active and passive sensors. Active sensors require an external power supply while a passive sensor does not. Physical quantities, such as temperature, are typically measured using analogue sensors since they produce a continuous output signal. A digital sensor produces a discrete value. [10].

ActuatorsActuators are devices that convert one form of energy to another. An electrical actuator converts electrical energy into mechanical energy to turn valves; an electrical motor is an example of this type of actuator. Electrical motors are not the only types of actuators. In fact, actuators come in various forms and are used for a wide variety of actions. Actuators are used in systems as a means to control the system by using the real-world measurements obtained from the sensors [13].

Description of Design

Overall Description

The aquaponics system contains three types of plant beds. Two raft beds, one ebb and flow bed, and one wicking bed. The raft bed system consists of two square tubs with one sheet of foam per tub. Each foam sheet has 24 holes cut into it that hold porous rock grow media that the plants are grown in. Water is pumped from the sump tank into the top of raft bed then is gravity fed to the bottom bed which is then gravity fed back to the sump tank. The reason these beds have the name “raft bed” is because the water level never completely empties from the beds so the foam sheets float like a plant raft on the top of the water. The second type of plant bed used in the system is an ebb and flow bed. Water is pumped from the sump tank to the ebb and flow bed and the bed fills with water, also called ebbing. Once the water level reaches a certain height a bell siphon located in the bed creates a vacuum and pulls all the water from the ebb and flow bed back into the sump tank. The grow media in the ebb and flow bed is also porous rock. The third plant bed in the aquaponics system is a wicking bed. Wicking beds depend on the capillary action of the grow media to pull water from a reservoir located underneath the growth media up through the media to the plants in the bed. With the addition of the wicking bed root vegetables can now be grown in the system where before they couldn’t be. One of the advantages of a wicking bed is the minimal water consumption of the bed itself. Typically the only task presented with a wicking bed is to make sure the water reservoir is capped off once a week, but this step has been removed. A float switch located in the water reservoir is activated when the water level gets too low and turns on a pump in the sump tank to pump water into the wicking bed from the sump tank. However, because the grow media in the wicking bed is soil as oppose to porous rock any water overflow for the wicking bed must be sent to the drain because the small soil particles otherwise would flow with the excess water into the sump tank and then into the system thus muddling the water and causing stress to the fish living in it.

Below in Figures 2-5 a detailed schematic shows the plant type, spacing, and location of each plant in each of beds in the system can be seen. Special time was taken to consider the landscaping in each of the

bed systems. The figures begin with the raft beds, then move to the ebb and flow bed, then to the wicking bed. In the raft beds it was decided that one herb garden would be grown and one lettuce patch would be grown. Due to plant spacing requirements of the loose leaf lettuce chosen for this project the lettuce patch has a lettuce patch ever other available space and fthe types of basil are grown in the in-between spaces. In the ebb and flow bed 5 types of climbing plants as well as two Swiss chard plants and one loose leaf lettuce plant were planted. The climbing plants were placed alone the outer edges so that they could grow and frame the ebb and flow bed. The wicking bed is host to the newest type of plants to the system. Root vegetables have been planted in the wicking bed to add even more diversity to the aquaponics system.

Top Raft Bed

Cilantro Parsley Sage Oregano Cinnamon Basil Dill

Cilantro Parsley Sage Oregano Cinnamon Basil Dill

Cilantro Parsley Sage Oregano Cinnamon Basil Dill

Cilantro Parsley Sage Oregano Cinnamon Basil Dill

Figure 2: Top Raft Bed Plants

Middle Raft Bed

Loose Leaf Lettuce Lemon Basil Loose Leaf

Lettuce Lemon Basil Loose Leaf Lettuce Lemon Basil

Dark Opal Basil

Loose Leaf Lettuce

Dark Opal Basil

Loose Leaf Lettuce

Dark Opal Basil

Loose Leaf Lettuce

Loose Leaf Lettuce Italian Basil Loose Leaf

Lettuce Italian Basil Loose Leaf Lettuce Italian Basil

Sweet Basil Loose Leaf Lettuce Sweet Basil Loose Leaf

Lettuce Sweet Basil Loose Leaf Lettuce

Figure 3: Middle Raft Bed Plants

Ebb and Flow Bed

Cucumbers Tomatoes Eggplant

Loose Leaf Lettuce

Beans Swiss Chard Swiss Chard Zucchini

Figure 4: Ebb and Flow Bed Plants

Wicking Bed

Chives Chives Chives Chives

Chives Chives Chives Chives

Carrots Carrots Carrots Carrots

Carrots Carrots Carrots Carrots

Figure 5: Wicking Bed Plants

SubsystemsLighting SystemSince this project is a continuation of a previous project, one of the requirements of the projects not explicitly expressed is to ensure the continued success of the system as a whole. After watching plants go through a few growth cycles, it was decided to take out one of the three raft beds to allow the remaining plants more room to grow. After moving the shelves to accommodate this change, the lighting system that was already in place was no longer safe for the plants, team members working on the system, or students working in close proximity to the system. With the removal of a raft bed, there was also now an extra light now available. It was decided this extra light would be best suited replacing the large bulb that was sitting over the ebb and flow bed. The lighting structure needed to be updated to accommodate all of these changes and ensure the continued safety of students.

After looking at the design already in place, it was decided a brand new structure would need to be constructed. The wood that was being used was not in good shape and was not viable to be reused. The first step in creating a new design was to determine the needs of the system. The structure would need to fit around the current infrastructure and safely hold up the lights over the three beds currently in service as well as the future planned wicking bed. After discussions with the team, the lights needed to be easily removed in the future and be adjustable to allow the lights to be lowered or raised depending on the height of the plants.

The installation instructions for the lights were researched to determine the manufacture’s recommendation for hanging requirements. The only recommended option for mounting the lights was to use the wires attached to the top of the lights and hang them. The lights are hung from bolts attached to a 1” x 10” board. This board is then sat in the desired location above the lights. There are multiple levels in place the boards for the boards to sit. The design allows the lights to be stable, but able to be taken down without any bolts or screws. The final design for the system can be seen in Figure 17 below. A detailed drawing with dimensions can be found in Appendix A.

Figure 6, Final Design for New Lighting Structure

The materials listed below were purchased to implement the new design. The new design needed to be 10ft tall, so a 2ft frame was attached to the bottom of the structure to gain the necessary height.

2”x2”x8’ Furring Strips (12) 10”x1”x8’ Pine Board (2) 2 ½” Wood Screws (50 ct) 2 ½” Bolts (8) Nuts for Bolts (8)

The lights are hung using a bolt system that allows the bolts to be positioned at different locations to allow the light to be moved up and down. The lights over the ebb and flow bed have three different positions that they can be hung from to allow for the growth of the plants up to 5.5ft.

The team met on Saturday, September 26th and Monday, September 28th to implement the lighting system. All of the wood was cut to the appropriate dimensions, and then it was assembled following the proposed design. The side supports were secured to the shelving unit that holds the raft beds to improve stability. After having the lighting structure in place for two months it has been a sound design and worked without incident for the needs. Figure 18 shows the team while working on the light structure. Figure 19 shows the before and after set-up of the lighting system.

Feeder SystemThe design engineered in the midterm report proved to be too problematic for the current feeder needs and qualifications. There were fish in the bottom sump tank throughout half of the semester and therefore needed a way to receive proper nutrition other than the plant roots they were currently feeding on. Half of the design from the beginning of the semester that included a 12V solenoid valve, 45 degree elbow, wye fitting, and approximately 3 ft of piping was scrapped. This took $25.83 out of the feeder budget which is 57% of the original cost. Other aspects of the design would become flawed as research broadened and experimentation failed. The solenoid valves could not be programmed from the DAQ system. Figure 7 shows the Visio schematic of the feeder design constructed at midterm.

Figure 7: Midterm Feeder DesignThe new design involves much of the existing structure with replacing features that would be much more durable than the last design. Figure 9 shows the before and after picture and there is new wood that stabilizes the drill bit and will not move horizontally and disconnect from the motor. The existing drill bit was rotating in an oval path rather than a circle; therefore, a quick connect was welded to the auger, causing a straight uniform bit that would efficiently turn in a circular path and dig the food out of the inside of the pipe as seen in Figure 8. Holding the new 12V DC motor in place is a U-connector with foam padded on the inside as to not damage the motor. The independent controller will be placed on the bottom of the horizontal wood to ensure dryness and ease of removing it if any programming issues arise.

Figure 8: Welded Quick Connect

The current piping structure is still in place with a minor adjustment that allowed 2 inches to be cut off where the food was cycling off of and that is why the end of the drill is hanging over the water. Since the motor only provided enough power to travel a certain distance in the pipe given its new length with the quick connect. For the levels to coincide with the feeding schedule, the fish are to be fed approximately 2.5 times per week with 1/4 cup given with each feeding. The motor was programmed to run for 90 seconds every 2.8 days. This will adequately keep the levels from rising under normal circumstances.

Figure 9: Final Feeder System Design

Scrubber System

For this system to be safe for the fish with no human interaction, an emergency filtration system has been implemented. It will include three stages which require three different liquids and, therefore, different pumps. For clarification the pump supplying the sump water will be called the main pump, the pump supplying the saltwater recharge solution will be called the salt pump, and the pump supplying the freshwater cleanse will be called the fresh pump.

The current setup is a CHIFT PIST or “constant height in fish tank, pump in sump tank”. The fish tank is kept at constant height by use of an overflow pipe. To ensure this is constant and too much overflow does not occur we do not want to disturb the flow to the fish tank. The sump tank is the safest area to remove the contaminated water and replace with filtered water. The water will be pumped from one side of the sump tank and dumped at the other side, near the pump that supplies the fish tank. This increases the chances of the filtered water moving to the fish tank fast

enough and for the sensors to detect appropriate levels of ammonium. If the ammonium levels reach 1.8ppm or greater, the seneye software will cause the Arduino uno to send a signal to energize a normally closed solenoid valve that blocks the main supply from entering the scrubber. The water enters the scrubber and ammonium then binds to the zeolite. Once the levels reach 1.0ppm the solenoid valve will be de-energized and flow will be cut to the scrubber. A short delay will be implemented before the salt pump is energized and the cleansing process begins. A solenoid valve is energized at the main supply that drains into the sump tank so that no undesired water will enter the sump and the rinse will exit to the drain. Again a short delay is implemented before the fresh rinse occurs.

The scrubber, depicted in Figure 10, is made from 2 inch PVC pipe. It includes a 2 to 1.5 inch reducer followed by a 1.5 inch union for easy removal and finally a 1.5 to 0.75 inch reducer all on both sides. Three Jebao 1000 GPH adjustable flow rate fountain pumps were purchased to supply the three different solutions to the scrubber using a 0.75 inch PVC pipe. Check valves (C.V.) were installed between each pump and the scrubber so that no backflow contamination can occur in the sump, ROI, and salt water tank. A compression coupling was installed close to each pump for easy removal for to access the pump for maintenance. Solenoid valves were installed to allow (1) the ROI water to enter the salt tank to begin the salt water mixture process (S.V #1) and (2) to allow the filtered water to enter the sump tank (S.V. #2). The pipe from the salt tank will allow flow into the tank when the valve is opened and travel through the salt pump into the tank. When the salt tank is ready, the salt pump will be energized and allow flow to the scrubber. When fresh water is needed to the scrubber S.V. #1 will be shut and rerouted to the scrubber. The actual pump system with these components is shown in Figure 11. It is shown in a simplified manner and is not to scale. It does not show the measurements for head loss or take into account the length of the pipe because there is less than 50 feet of piping and only a few 90 degree turns are used. A head loss estimate was performed before the purchase of the pump to determine if it will supply enough head pressure to feed the scrubber.

1.5 – 0.75” reducer

2” – 1.5” reducer

2” PVC pipe

1.5” PVC union516 X 3½” sleeve anchor

2” pipe strap

#10 x 1 58

” screw

#2 square bit

Figure 10: Scrubber Deisgn

Figure 11: Pump System Components

AutomationCurrently, the system is using an Adruino Uno to control the feeder system, the scrubber system, and using the 5V output, the primary and secondary pumps. The Uno is one of many microcontrollers

From ROI

From saltwater tank

From sump

S.V. #1

C.V. #1 C.V. #2

C.V. #3 Scrubber

To drainTo sump

S.V. #2

readily available to perform a variety of programmed tasks. Arduino is perhaps one of the most widely used microcontrollers on the market and as such as a wide birth of both periphery and code bases. With this device, it became possible to both actuate the feeder motor and determine the logic for cycling through the various phases of the scrubber system. The schematic below provides a better look at how many pins the Arduino can provide and with a little working can turn into an endless array of possibilities.

Figure 12: Arduino Uno Schematic

First and foremost, the data acquisition is the most important part of this process. To that end, a new sensor device has been purchased called the Seneye Home. This sensor collects data about the temperature, the pH levels, and the ammonia levels currently in the system and sends them directly to a computer program through a USB port. The system has the added benefit of measuring light levels, which is part of the way it functions. From the Seneye Support team: “The seneye device is a colorimetric reader. It looks at the colour of the slide and calculates the reading using a digital colour sensor. You can look at the colour of the slide to get a visual indication of the NH3 level.” The “slides” are 1 month replaceable cartridges that also serve to calibrate the device. As another added bonus, these slides also provide online access to their cloud service, which has a free and open API to live broadcast this information to their phone application or website. This means that we can pull this information, through web service calls, to any computer with an internet connection. After some calibration, it was found that the device can be adjusted to accommodate for certain levels of ionic strength and the readings have begun to line up almost exactly with what the reliable strip method of testing was producing for PH. However, since the device only measures NH3 levels, this will need to be compensated for in the future and actual testing will need to confirm these levels.

In conjunction with the Uno, an Adafruit Motor Shield is being used to handle the more complicated feedback requirements of cutting on some of the electrical components. This shield provides 4 ports for “motors” or any device that can utilize an incoming voltage of between 6 to 12 volts. The feeder system utilizes one of these motor ports in order to easily provide power to the primary feeding motor. This can be easily seen in the schematic below. This shield has the added benefit of reducing the overall need for true electrical component understanding by providing a more plug and play dynamic to development of design ideas. These pin outs directly correspond to the pin outs on the Arduino and only require a small

amount of soldering directly to the corresponding connection to “plug and play” as mentioned previously.

Figure 13: Adafruit Motor Shield

Perhaps the greatest challenge of our project is the zeolite scrubber. In an ideal world, there would be no reason to ever use the scrubber as it is indicative of a wild system swing which is in need of correction. The zeolite scrubber will function in 4 distinct phases which will all need to be automated in order to truly function as intended. To that end, a relay system has been put in place using the SainSmart 8 Channel Solid State Relay which can be seen in the schematic below. By activating a pin on the Uno and setting it to logic HIGH and plugging it into a desired channel, it allows the output connection to the corresponding wall outlet to be effectively turned on. In essence, using programmed logic and delays, the team can now turn on a desired outlet for either a set amount of time or during a series of logical steps. In addition to the solid state relay, a simple wiring harness has been built such that each of the 8 channels corresponds directly to one of the 8 outlets. 4 of the outlets are currently being used for the scrubber system, which can only be cut on by a switch that has been placed in a lock box for safety reasons. Once the Seneye+ sends an alert that the levels are potentially dangerous and a team member verifies this result with the test strips, simply turning the switch on will start the scrubbing cycle. Once the switch is turned off, the cycle will start over. In the future, this could easily be tied to the Seneye+’s web services which returns the pH and ammonia values. This has been left out of this design as both the Seneye and scrubber system have yet to be reasonably error tested.

Figure 14: SainSmart 8 Channel Relay Schematic

Figure 15: Programmable Outlets, Top Four used for Scrubber (Not Plugged in Here)

Figure 16: Top Switch for Pumps, Bottom Switch for Scrubber Lockbox

Detailed Cost EstimateThe approximate expenses incurred from August 17 to December 4 by the aquaponics project

total to just under $1000, as detailed in Table 3. A major part of the expenses was acquiring new seeds to restore plant life to the system. Since the tilapia promptly ate some of these young plants, more seeds were acquired. Lumber and fasteners were obtained to improve the stability of the lighting structure and the flexibility of the shelves holding the plants. The ebb and flow bed needed to be completely rebuilt to improve its durability to sustain plant life. The sensor will automate the reading of chemical levels in the system.

Table 3 lists all of the costs incurred from August 17, 2015 to December 4, 2015.

The ongoing operational costs are not included. However, since they consist of only the electricity and water changes needed to run the system, these recurring costs are substantially less than the cost of the improvements to the system. The cost of fish food is also negligible: twenty pounds of fish feed costs approximately $50 and lasts so long that we have not needed to order more yet.

The team has 25 adult tilapia, each weighing approximately 2 kg and worth approximately $3 to $8 per pound. Thus, the total value of the tilapia is between $330 and $880. Since this is less than the total cost of all of the modifications made to the system over the tilapias’ life, a more sustainable design or fewer improvements will be required for profitability.

Conclusions and RecommendationsConclusionsOverall we consider this project to be a success. We accomplished our main goal of automating the system to decrease daily interaction requirements, while also having to complete many additional maintenance projects that were not initially anticipated. During the past year we have added an automatic feeder, installed a chemical sensor, installed a scrubber system, and completed various upgrades to maintain the safety of the students,

Date Team Member

Description Amount

27-Aug Elizabeth seneye slides and home sensor $205.872-Sep Michael Zeolite $7.79

24-Sep Elizabeth pipes $13.221-Oct Elizabeth plant seeds and materials for wicking bed $88.821-Oct Elizabeth curtain materials $55.271-Oct Elizabeth PEX tube $4.101-Oct Elizabeth plant seeds $42.561-Oct Courtney materials for light support $78.46

13-Oct Elizabeth Water level test chemicals $32.7613-Oct Elizabeth Glass roof for main tank $109.2528-Oct Elizabeth Filtration system for goldfish $70.001-Dec Daniel Materials for constructing ebb and flow bed $95.641-Dec Daniel Lots of wood screws for ebb and flow bed $15.521-Dec Daniel Gorilla glue and cement for ebb and flow bed $13.091-Dec Daniel Drill components $41.341-Dec Daniel Arduino Uno/ Shield/ Components $72.241-Dec Daniel Sainsmart 8 Channel Solid State Relay $29.497-Dec Daniel Scrubber Pump Relay Supplies $81.01

TOTAL $1056.50

plants, and fish, as well as allow the overall process of aquaponics to continue. We believe we have left the system looking and working better than we got it by utilizing the skills we have acquired throughout our years of schooling.

RecommendationsAfter three years having the Aquatic Environment as a senior design project, there is still plenty of work that can be done on this system to keep it running and make improvements. The systems that were not updated this semester, including the sand filter, the raft bed piping, and the connections in and out of the fish tank) will need upgrading/replaced soon to maintain the system. With the recently hatched fry the system also can be adapted to be ready for any additional fry that may be born in the future. We are looking forward to seeing where the next group of seniors takes this project in the future.

References1. Christopher Somerville, Moti Cohen, Edoardo Pantanella, Austion Stankus, and Alessandro

Lovatelli.  Small-Scale Aquaponics Food Production: Integrated Fish and Plant Farming.  Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.  Rome.  2014.

2. Peter Atkins and Julio de Paula.  Elements of Physical Chemistry.  Fifth Edition.  Oxford University Press.  Oxford.  2009.

3. Ralph Petrucci, Geoffrey Herring, Jeffry Madura, and Carey Bissonnette.  General Chemistry. Tenth Edition.  Pearson Prentice Hall.  Toronto.  2011.

4. Florida Department of Environmental Protection Chemistry Laboratory Methods Manual, Tallahassee.  Calculation of Un-Ionized Ammonia In Fresh Water – Storet Parameter Code 00619.  Revision 2.  2001.

5. Kwannate Sombatsompop, Then Jeensawak, Pongsachan Sompai, Adithep Wangbooncong, Jeatama Wongwichien, and Suwimol Asavapisit.  Adsorption of Ammonium Sulfate Using Fabricated Zeolite From Waste Sludge of Water Treatment Plant.  Advanced Material Research. Volume 4.  Trans Tech Publications.  Switzerland.  2012.

Appendix

Courtney Branson, EIT501 E 5th St Apt 310, Chattanooga, TN, 37403, (614) 448-6834, bransoncourtney@yahoo.com

EducationUniversity of Tennessee at Chattanooga – Chattanooga, TNCivil Engineering, Spring 2012-Fall 2015

♦ 3.5 GPA at UTC

Case Western Reserve University – Cleveland, OHCivil Engineering, Fall 2010- Spring 2011

Teays Valley High School – Ashville, OHDegree with Honors, Class of 2010, 4.25/4.0 GPA, 4th/256 students

Activities UTC ASCE Student Member, 2014-2015 Steel Bridge Team

Chattanooga Sports League

o Participated in various sports since 2013

Varsity Softball, Case Western Reserve University, Fall 2010-Spring 2011

WISER (Women In Science and Engineering Roundtable), Case Western Reserve University

ExperienceTennessee Valley Authority, Chattanooga, TN, January 2015-Present(Contracted through Johnson Service Group)

Intern, Project Management-Civil Projects, Generation Construction

o Duties included: assisting project managers with project approval presentations and paperwork (project charters, project management plans, risk registers, cost estimates, capital project initiation requests, etc.), shadowing project managers during meetings in the office and at various fossil plants, reading and reviewing project documents

o Projects

Assistant Project Manager for Watts Bar Slag Pile Maintenance Project- Participated in all aspects of project from discussions with other team members to cost estimating to project documentation

Assistant Project Manager for Paradise Office Trailer Complex Project- Participated included me in all aspects of project from discussions with other team members to project scope to cost estimating to project documentation

Created a presentation for senior management showing benchmarking trends for CCR (Coal Combustion Residual) pond and stack closure projects

o Combined data into a master spreadsheet showing location and monitoring information for all groundwater monitoring wells at Fossil Plants across TVA

o Skills Developed: better understanding of the project management role and responsibilities, familiarity with the EPA CCR Rule, project cost estimating and scheduling, creating excel spreadsheets for efficient data interpretation

Courtney Branson501 E 5th St Apt 310, Chattanooga, TN, 37403, (614) 448-6834, bransoncourtney@yahoo.com

Experience (con’t)Lectrus, Chattanooga, TN, August 2013-January 2015

Intern, Structural Design

o Duties included: Incorporating red line changes into all structural as-built drawings, leading structural design for smaller electrical enclosures, observing construction of enclosures, assisting other structural designers when needed

o Projects

Designed new steel platform from leftover steel beams to store containers with liquid foam to reduce risk of injury during replacement

Designed structural components for approximately 15 smaller electrical enclosures

Created ~100 cable tray model configurations from manufacturer’s drawings

Updated approximately 200 Solidworks blocks for designers to use for new drawing and construction standards

o Skills Developed: Solidworks proficiency, experience with engineering design and build process from start to finish, reading and interpreting design drawings, better understanding of relationships between disciplines, understanding steel structural design concepts

Cold Stone Creamery, Chattanooga, TN, May 2011-January 2014

Assistant Manager, Nov 2012-Jan 2014

o Duties included: Running shifts, creating weekly employee work schedule, monitoring labor costs, ordering and organizing supplies and money, hiring/training employees, cake decorating, planning demand needs for busy weekends, preparing and delivering catering – all functions required to keep the store running day-to-day

o Skills Developed: management, cash management, utilizing a POS system, scheduling, teamwork, organization, planning, problem solving, customer service, ice cream throwing

Shift Leader, Aug 2011-Oct 2012

2012 Cold Stone Crew Member of the Year

o 1 of 20 selected in the international company, given to employees nominated by their store owner for going above and beyond to deliver the “Ultimate Ice Cream Experience”

2013 “US Creamery Cup” Top-12 Contestant

o The Creamery Cup is a Cold Stone-hosted competition to find the most talented crew member across the company. Videos were submitted showing an employee’s best tricks and 12 were selected to compete in the national competition hosted at the world headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. I showed my skills throwing and catching ice cream and became the only female selected for the inaugural competition.

*References Available Upon Request

Hussnain Javid411 May street

Chattanooga, TN 37405tsj391@mocs.utc.edu (423)933-8485

Objective: U.S. Citizen seeking to obtain an internship or part time job in a Chemical Engineering related field.

Education: Bachelor of Science in Chemical/Environmental EngineeringMinors: Chemistry, Math, STEM (Education)The University of Tennessee of ChattanoogaOverall GPA: 3.301 Institutional GPA: 3.372

Relevant Coursework: Two & Three Dimensional Modeling - Engineering Computations - Thermodynamics - Fluid Mechanics - Organ Chemistry - Chemical Process - Heat Transfer

Experience: Erlanger Summer 2010Volunteer Chattanooga, TN

Served as project team leader in a competitive health care enhancing program.

Walgreens May 2009- 2011Service Clerk Chattanooga, TN

Customer Service In charge of counting drawers Stocking

Raceway November 2010-2012Store Mangaer Chattanooga, TN

Customer service Employment scheduling Managing finances Ordering merchandise

Skills: Management (Finances, Labor, etc.) Computer hardware and software Microsoft (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio)

Activities and Honors: Muslim Students Association UTC, Vice President, 2013 Dean’s List, Fall 2012-Present HOPE Scholarship, Fall 2012- Present Together We Can Scholarship, Fall 2012- Present

William F. Mahn III1974 Amberley Tr.Chattanooga, TN 37421(423)883-4663wsf769@mocs.utc.edu

Summary

Demonstrated achiever with a wide-range knowledge of engineering. Strong academic background with scholarship awards. Skilled at multi-tasking, working well under pressure, and communicating ideas clearly and effectively. Exhibits strong organizational and leadership abilities.

Education

Enrolled in Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering ProgramUniversity of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN

Expected graduation date of December 2015 Increasing grades with progressing semesters Senior design project associated with aquaponics system

Career History & Accomplishments

Grocery ClerkPublix Super Market5928 Hixson Pike #112, Hixson, TN 37343

Organize shipment orders Worked in third and first shifts combined Communicated with co-workers on different placement strategies Assisted customers with pressing shipment needs Organized co-workers when asked to close

Mover/ DriverTwo Men and a Truck5961 Pinehurst Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37421

Use hand and electronic tools to take apart furniture. Communicate with house owners on strategic moves to get furniture into the truck and house. Work long hours to get the job done. Involves patience when moving three story houses with thousands of pounds of furniture.

Engineering Intern

Manufacturers Chemicals4325 Old Tasso Rd NE, Cleveland, TN 37312

Used AutoCAD and SolidWorks to modify and create piping systems Calculated forces on man ways, sized pumps, and areas. Surveyed plant and measured for specifications on drawings. Filled out pricing sheets and called vendors about future products for the reactor. Used Microsoft Access to fill out databases for approved equipment. Communicated with welders on design specifications. Programmed a nanodac controller for temperature control on reactor. Built a model of the new plant they had started with piping systems in SolidWorks.

Additional Skills and Experience

Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Visio, and PowerPoint Four year experience with Visual Basic, AutoCAD, Solid Works, and most lab-testing equipment Member of Knights of Columbus Risk Manager, Intramural Chair, and Community Service Chair in Phi Delta Theta Fraternity Team Captain at Notre Dame High School for football. Over 200 hours of community service in high school. Hopeful of getting my certification in LabVIEW through my Control Systems class.

Anna Nelson1920 Gunbarrel Road Apt.705 Chattanooga, TN 37421

(931) 629-3587 ▪ nwz216@mocs.utc.edu

ObjectivesSeeking a chemical engineering position where I can use the skills I currently have as well as develop new skills to help improve my work as well as myself. Using what I have and will learn, I would like to work to improve and maintain environments and living conditions for both humans and animals.

ExperienceVisitor Services Representative ▪ May 2014 – Current (Seasonal)Tennessee Aquarium ▪ 1 Broad Street Chattanooga TN 37402

Main responsibilities revolved around the River George Explorer. Such responsibilities included greeting river boat guest, taking tickets as guest boarded the vessel, making sure coast guard capacity was not breached on any voyage, keeping the boat stocked with drinks and snacks between daily trips and maintaining communication between the River George Explorer and the Tennessee Aquarium throughout the day.Minor responsibilities revolved around the Tennessee Aquarium. Such responsibilities included taking tickets at both aquarium buildings and helping maintain guest satisfaction throughout both aquarium buildings.

Furniture Refurbisher ▪ May 2012 – August 2012Hootieroo & Company ▪ 351 Mattoxtown Road Lawrenceburg TN 38464

Main responsibilities included repairing, painting and applying other finishing work to furniture pieces.Minor responsibilities included sales clerk and providing an extra hand to the company artist as needed.

Extra Circulars 2015 ASCE Southeast Conference Committee Secretary August 2014 – CurrentUniversity of Tennessee at ChattanoogaSkillsUSA Chapter Business Proceture Competition National Champion June 2011Lawrence County High SchoolSkillsUSA Secondary Chapter 145 OfficerPresident August 2008 – May 2009Vice President August 2010 – May 2011Lawrence County High School

Skills Proficient in: Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint SolidWorks Visual Basic Scigress

Familiar with: Autodesk Inventor Auto CAD Maple Basic

EducationLawrence County High SchoolMay 2011 ▪ High School DiplomaUniversity Of Tennessee at ChattanoogaWill Graduate Spring 2016 ▪ BS Chemical Engineering

Minor in Chemistry

ReferencesPaul Kersey TeacherLawrence County High School1800 Springer Road, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464(931) 762-9412

Gene Dwyer Visitor Services Manager Tennessee Aquarium Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad StreetChattanooga, TN 37402(423) 785-4013ejd@tennis.org

Captain Kyle Payne River George Explorer Head CaptainHosemann Marine Services396 Pleasant View Circle,Jasper, TN 37347(423) 316-0001captkyle@hosemannmarine.com

MICHAEL THELEN8 Saint Ives Way | Signal Mountain, TN 37377 | (423) 517-9297 | Michael-Thelen@mocs.utc.edu

ObjectiveTo obtain an engineering internship

EDUCATIONUniversity of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Bachelor of Science: Chemical Engineering (Expected Graduation: December 2015)

Bachelor of Science: Mechanical Engineering (Expected Graduation: December 2015)

GPA: 3.85/4.00

Relevant Coursework:

ENCH 4330 Chemical Process Operations

ENIE 3580 Manufacturing Processes

ENME 4430 Thermal Component Design

AWARDS AND HONORSTau Beta Pi (Engineering Honor Society), December 2013-Present

Pi Mu Epsilon (Mathematics Honor Society),April 2013-Present

Dean’s List: All semesters at UTC, Fall 2012-Present

Recipient of Chancellor’s Scholarship all semesters at UTC, Fall 2012-Present

National AP (Advanced Placement) Scholar, July 2012

SkillsApplications: Visual Basic, Maple, SolidWorks, Minitab, LabView

Traits: Strong time management and planning skills, high level of organizational skills, excellent attention to detail

Computer Knowledge: Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint

Employment HistoryLandscaper, self-employed (Signal Mountain, TN), Aug 2009 – Present

Construct an irrigation ditch as part of a team

Mow lawns

Plant and care for plants including windmill palm trees

Use teamwork to accomplish larger tasks

Maintenance Manual

Scrubber

Feeder To disconnect drill bit from system, unfasten the quick connect from motor. For motor removal, bolts on U-connector must be unfastened from underneath and U-connect

will come off. Piping removal will consist of simply pulling apart individual pieces. For re-supplying the water jug of food, unscrew the circle brackets from the connector on the

bottom of the jug and it will be removed.

1

2

1

2

1 – Remove the two 1.5” PVC unions by bracing the top portion and fully unscrewing the large threaded fittings clockwise. Once these are removed, the pipes entering and leaving should slightly be free to move for step 2.

2- It may require two people to firmly hold the scrubber and proceed to remove the screws holding the 2” pipe strap.

3- Replace contents inside as needed remembering to insert a type of filter at the lower portion to keep large materials from exiting the scrubber but not too small to clog the scrubber.

Lighting StructureThe lighting structure is designed to move with the height of the plants in two ways. If the lights

only need a slight adjustment higher or lower, the bolts attached to the wires holding up the light can be loosened and moved within the channel. If the lights need to be moved more drastically, they can be raised or lowered to a different level already in place by lifting up on the board the light is hanging from and placing it in another slot. To remove the lights for maintenance, take down both the light and the board it is hanging from at the same time. Always have more than one person handle the lights while removing and replacing, and never use the ladder if it is unstable.