Mathematical model and experimental validation for the prediction of dissolved oxygen saturation in aquaculture ponds

Abstract

Fluid mechanics is one of the oldest areas of physics with the greatest number of applications in everyday life. This area became more versatile when mass and energy transport equations were incorporated. Together, these equations allow describing a wide variety of case studies with great precision. Among cases available in the open literature, aquaculture is one of the most important due to the growing need for food sources for human consumption, the nutritional value of many fish varieties, the low cost of the maintenance of fish farms. Dissolved oxygen is one of the most relevant parameters ensuring water quality in fish farming. Many fish farms use permanent artificial aeration systems for maintaining the oxygen level within the recommended range used, causing an increasing energy consumption. Therefore, this work proposes an equation and validation, based on equations hydraulics and transport phenomenon, capable of determining the maximum concentration of dissolved oxygen in the body from the operating parameters of the tilapia rearing pond.