Feasibility study and optimization of photovoltaic-hybrid energy system for fish farming

Summary

The need of more economic energy source for fish farming is making renewable energy such as solar
energy become more important, as it can be installed in remote area without national power grid. The
panel and battery sizing are the important parameters for the implementation of a feasible photovoltaic
system. This research will evaluate energy usage at fish farming, and identify the most economic sizing
of photovoltaic panel and battery that can match the energy demand. But in some condition, for example
during the raining season, the sizing of the panel and battery can be economically unfeasible for sufficient
energy output. This problem can be solved by introducing a secondary energy source, such as from a
generator or power grid, making it a photovoltaic-hybrid system. By searching the optimal parameters
that operate between pure clean energy and consistent supply, a cost-effective photovoltaic-hybrid
energy source can be realized. By having this photovoltaic-hybrid energy source, fish farm in remote
area can utilize modern electronic monitoring system, agitator, pump, lighting, etc, without having to
continuously burn the fuel for electricity generation. The feasibility of implementing such system in a fish
farm will be studied to provide a better view of how it can benefit the aquaculture sector in Malaysia. In
order to carry out the research, various data will be collected and evaluated, and then a prototype based
on the parameters will be built to give a more accurate view of the technical detail of such system, giving
room for further improvement. This research is expected to provide important data on the power demand
of a fish farm, the technical detail and parameters of the photovoltaic-hybrid energy source, to supply the
energy effectively and efficiently.

Research background including Hypothesis /Research Questions and Literature Reviews.

As the energy demand keeps rising, we now face the challenges of increasing cost due to limited
supply of petroleum and also environment problem cause by the by-product from combustion of fossil
fuel. Renewable energy source, like solar energy can be the solution of the problem. Photovoltaic cell
has been used to directly convert sun light into electrical current. Solar energy can be used by individual
or business entities to power up small electrical equipment, especially in remote or rural area where there
is no reliable electrical supply from a major power plant. To address the problem of intermittent nature of
sun light, various researches has been carried out on energy storage device, like fuel-cell or batteries,
that can be added to complement the photovoltaic panel, so that the whole system can provide steady
and reliable electrical output [1-4].

Renewable energy source can have positive impact in aquaculture sector. For the operation of
intensive fish farming, technology plays an indispensible role. For instance, machinery is used to help to
regulate the dissolved oxygen level, or to pump water in and out. Also, various automated monitoring
system can be installed to reduce human workload. All these equipment need some kind of energy
source, may it be diesel fuel or electrical power. For fish farming that is located remotely, diesel-operated
machinery is often used. But these machines need constant supply of diesel fuel and produce certain
amount of pollution during the operation. By harnessing solar energy, those fish farming operation can
utilize modern machinery, together with modern electronic equipment, making it cleaner and more
productive [5,6].
 To implement the solar energy source into fish farming, these questions arises: what is the
optimal photovoltaic panel size? What battery capacity is suitable? How shall the electrical current been
regulated? This research is proposing to analyze, characterize and optimize the parameters of a
photovoltaic-hybrid energy source to power up a fish farm utilizing modern equipment. The research will
look into fish farming equipment that has been developed, and understand the energy consumption of the
equipment. The characteristic of the photovoltaic panel electrical power generation and battery storage
capability will also be investigated, so that an optimal parameter for the panel and battery sizing can be
determined. The parameters will balance between the cost and the reliability, that the whole system will
be technically and economically feasible. Not only drawing energy supply from solar, the system will also
integrate the ability to draw power from conventional energy sources, such as diesel generator or from
local power distribution grid. The hybrid design of such system can possibly reduce the system cost
substantially without sacrificing reliability. As the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia is facing raining
season at a certain time every year, this hybrid design can keep the fish farming equipment continue to
operate seamlessly all year long, even the fish farm is located remotely. The feasibility of such design will
be studied and compared to pure photovoltaic source design.

For accurate measurement and analysis, an electronic controller board will be developed and
served as the testing platform for various parameters. The most efficient way to accomplish all the task of
regulating and distributing electrical supply to fish farming equipment will be explored by optimizing the
controller board design. The controller board build from various components and parts, will have several
abilities. Among them are voltage conversion and regulation, between direct current (DC) and alternative
current (AC). Battery charging circuit, data acquisition, alarm, and other features will be connected to a
microcontroller, in which an algorithm will be developed to handle the entire task automatically and
reliably. It will able to interpret the data acquired from different inputs, directing the electric current flow in
the system, and etc. With such controller board which automated many monitoring and controlling task, a
fish farming operator can enjoy the benefit of solar energy without deep understanding of the theory
behind its operation. Thus, the fish farming productivity can be increased.

The objective of the research are:

1) To explore and investigate the fish farming equipment energy requirement, in order to determine the
optimal sizing of the photovoltaic panel and battery.

2) To study the feasibility (economically and technically) of implementing a photovoltaic-hybrid energy

source compared to a pure photovoltaic energy source.

3) To determine the optimal parameters of automated photovoltaic-hybrid and its regulatory system to
provide cost-effective and reliable clean energy source in all weather condition.

1. Description of Methodology

The determination and optimization of parameters of photovoltaic-hybrid energy source in fish farming
will be carried out with the following stages:

1. Site and equipment data collection

The equipment that is being used in a fish farm will be studied and the energy consumption will be
evaluated. An existing monitoring and control system in UMT for a fish pond can be used as
reference equipment. To know how much energy a specific photovoltaic panel can generate at local
climate, the solar condition as well as energy generation rate will be collected for different climate
condition, such as sunny, cloudy, or raining. The characteristic of the electrical generation of
photovoltaic panel will be determined as well, by measuring the voltage (V), current (A) or resistance
(R) of the power generated under various load and climate condition.

2. Data characterization and analysis

With the data of fish farm equipment and solar energy generation rate, the average energy demand
can be estimated. Taking account into limited time for solar energy generation in 24 hours period, the
optimal sizing of photovoltaic panel and battery will be determined and characterized in relation to
energy demand, from both technical and economic standpoint. As there might be cases where solar
energy is insufficient in certain condition, a secondary energy source, which can come from power
grid or power generator, is integrated into the system, to possibly eliminate the system down time.
The parameters will be determined so that the main energy source, which is from the photovoltaic,
will be sufficient in normal weather condition, and draw power from generator when primary source
cannot keep up the energy demand. As the primary energy source, the photovoltaic source is
estimated to be able to provide more than 50% of the total energy output of the hybrid energy source.
The impact of using secondary energy source will also be evaluated.

The reliability of the photovoltaic energy source can be seen from the following formulas:

EB(n) = EB(n-1) x (1-ηs) + (EPV(n) – EL(n) / ηinv) x ηbatt

where :

EB(n) and EB(n-1) are the energy stored in the battery on day n and n-1, respectively

ηs is the daily battery self-discharge rate

EPV(n) is the energy generated by the photovoltaic on day n

EL(n) is the load demand on day n

ηinv is the efficiency of the inverter

ηbatt is the charge efficiency of the battery

Using the above formula, we can calculate the energy level remained in the battery, when it fell below
the minimum operating level (EB min), the power source is no longer able to provide any power to the
load. So, the loss of power supply probability (LPSP) can be mathematically defined as:

LPSP = P { EB(n) ≤ EB min ; n ≤ N }

which means the LPSP is the probability of the energy level at any accumulative day n, within a
period of N days, to be less than or equal to the minimum allowable energy level E B min.

3. Optimization of parameters with electrical control circuit.

For all the components to operate seamlessly, the electrical control circuit is the crucial part in the
system. As there are different tasks that need to be accomplished, dedicated circuitry will handle
each task, before being connected to the “brain” of the controller, which is the microcontroller. The
circuitry will incorporate various functions, in which will be optimized to handle all the conditions in fish
farming operation. With the proper circuit working, actual measurement can be taken and the
parameters can be further optimized. Also with this control circuit, the detail of the effect of modifying
the parameters can be more accurately understood.

Some part of the circuitry will be either designed in-house or purchased. The circuitry will be designed
using electronic development and simulation software like Pspice, and then each circuitry will be built
on one or more PCB boards. Firmware and algorithm for the microcontroller will also be developed
that can handle all the task of the automation. The controller board and firmware will be tested and
optimized, to gain maximum power from solar source.

4. Assembling, testing and optimizing the full system

A prototype system will be assembled, tested in laboratory under simulated condition, and optimize it
to desired result. The system will then be tested on-site, and its performance will be evaluated. With
all the detail requirement of power generation and demand has been explored, and a prototype
system function as a test platform, then we can confirm the feasibility of this system and the way we
can get the maximum output from this system (see attached figure of proposed system).

No. Activities Estimated duration

1 Site and equipment data collection 2 months

2 Data characterization and analysis  1 month

3 Optimization of parameters with electrical 17 months

control circuit

  a. Identify, design and develop the circuitry

for each task
b. Integrate all the circuitry to a
microcontroller to form a system
  (including firmware development of the
microcontroller)
  c. Develop simple algorithm to test run the
component in the control circuit
d. Develop full algorithm that can
accomplish all the necessary task (include
optimization and debugging)
 4 Assembling and testing of full system 4 months