Using computer simulation to reduce costs at a recirculating aquaculture facility

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dc.contributor.authorSimon, Johnen
dc.contributor.committeechairBoardman, Gregory D.en
dc.contributor.committeecochairTaaffe, Michael R.en
dc.contributor.committeememberMcLean, Ewen W.en
dc.contributor.committeememberTaylor, Daniel B.en
dc.contributor.committeememberKoelling, C. Patricken
dc.contributor.departmentIndustrial and Systems Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T21:35:40Zen
dc.date.adate2005-05-24en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T21:35:40Zen
dc.date.issued2005-04-26en
dc.date.rdate2008-05-24en
dc.date.sdate2005-05-06en
dc.description.abstractThe Recirculating Aquaculture System can be considered as a dynamic system in which the system variables change instantaneously during the growing period. This effort uses a combination of discrete and continuous simulation to model this system. Changing the values of a certain set of variables (regressors) result in changes to another set of variables (responses). So the inter relationship between the regressors and responses are first defined. Then the changes to the regressors are defined as a function of time. The computer program then simulates time from the beginning to the end of the growing period. By attaching cost factors, the cost of running the system during the growing period can be obtained. In a real facility, some of the regressors can be changed by the operator, affecting the overall cost. So, in this model, different values for this subset of regressors are tried out using a proprietary heuristic called "Optquest" to arrive at a low cost configuration. Some of the responses are also constrained while trying to minimize the cost, e.g., ammonia level. The output of the model gives a cost savings of about $10,000 over a period of 8 months for a facility with 12 tanks by suggesting optimal values for the water replenishment rate, water recirculation rate, oxygen supply rate and feeds per day.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.identifier.otheretd-05062005-000324en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-05062005-000324/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/42510en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartThesis.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectaquacultureen
dc.subjectSimulationen
dc.titleUsing computer simulation to reduce costs at a recirculating aquaculture facilityen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineIndustrial and Systems Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen
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