Chapter 11 Aquaponics Systems Modelling

Karel J. Keesman, Oliver Körner, Kai Wagner, Jan Urban, Divas Karimanzira, Thomas Rauschenbach, and Simon Goddek

Abstract Mathematical models can take very different forms and very different levels of complexity. A systematic way to postulate, calibrate and validate, as provided by systems theory, can therefore be very helpful. In this chapter, dynamic systems modelling of aquaponic (AP) systems, from a systems theoretical perspective, is considered and demonstrated to each of the subsystems of the AP system, such as fish tanks, anaerobic digester and hydroponic (HP) greenhouse. It further shows the links between the subsystems, so that in principle a complete AP systems model can be built and integrated into daily practice with respect to management and control of AP systems. The main challenge is to choose an appropriate model complexity that meets the experimental data for estimation of parameters and states and allows us to answer questions related to the modelling objective, such as simulation, experiment design, prediction and control.

Keywords Modelling · Recirculating aquaculture system · Anaerobic digestion · Hydroponic greenhouse · Multi-loop aquaponic system · Tools

Contents

• 11.1 Introduction
• 11.2 Background
• 11.3 RAS Modelling
• 11.4 Modelling Anaerobic Digestion
• 11.5 HP Greenhouse Modelling
• 11.6 Multi-loop Aquaponic Modelling
• 11.7 Modelling Tools
• 11.8 Discussion and Conclusions
• References

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K. J. Keesman · S. Goddek

Mathematical and Statistical Methods (Biometris), Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

O. Körner

Leibniz-Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ), Grossbeeren, Germany

K. Wagner

Institut für physikalische Prozesstechnik, University of Applied Sciences Saarbrücken, Saarbrücken, Germany

J. Urban

Laboratory of Signal and Image Processing, Institute of Complex Systems, South Bohemian

Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Faculty of Fisheries and

Protection of Waters, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Nove Hrady, Czech Republic

D. Karimanzira · T. Rauschenbach

Fraunhofer IOSB-AST, Ilmenau, Germany

© The Author(s) 2019 267

S. Goddek et al. (eds.), Aquaponics Food Production Systems, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15943-6_11

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