Plantae installs a digital flow meter in aquaculture to monitor the system's circulation rate (RAS), a critical parameter that directly influences water quality, fish welfare, and system efficiency.
Importance of monitoring the system circulation flow rate (RAS)
Flow rate is the volume of water moving through the system per unit of time, expressed in liters per hour (l/h) or cubic meters per hour (m³/h).
This flow ensures that the water passes through the different components of the system, such as mechanical filters, biofilters, degassing and oxygenation units, before returning to the culture tanks.
Some species require more water renewal than others.
The greater the number of fish, the greater the load of nutrients and waste, therefore greater flow is needed.
Digital flowmeter
Plantae technology has been developed since 2014 and applied to crops, monitoring soil humidity, temperature, conductivity, and all atmospheric parameters throughout the crop's phenological development with probes. It also includes a flow meter to control irrigation via a hose or dripper.
Plantae wanted to go further, as explained by Frederic Fonlut, project technician at Ctaqua, and “has adapted this technology and materials to the specific conditions of aquaculture to take advantage of an existing tool and the company's experience,” creating the digital flow meter for aquaculture.
After a trial period, Ctaqua technicians have confirmed that the Plantae technology is adaptable to measuring the system's circulation flow rate (RAS). The goal is to optimize the system, both in terms of flow rate and water quality.
Control with the digital flowmeter allows:
- View the exact flow rate in real time at any time, helping you detect blockages, pump failures, or changes in system performance.
- A constant flow rate ensures adequate filtration and oxygenation, avoiding fluctuations that could stress the animals.
- It helps adjust pumps to work at their optimal setting, reducing unnecessary energy consumption and thus saving energy.
- Get notifications when flow drops below a critical threshold.
- A controlled flow rate prevents dead zones in tanks where waste accumulates, improving water quality.
Advantages of the Plantae flowmeter
- Advanced IoT Technology: Connects to cloud platforms for remote monitoring from any device.
- High precision and sensitivity: Detects small flow changes, useful for controlling pumps, valves or critical recirculation.
- Easy installation: It does not require major engineering works, and it is well compatible with different types of pipes.
- Alarms and intelligent control: Allows you to configure customized alerts for abnormal flows or interruptions.
- Sensor integration: Can be connected to other sensors, such as humidity, temperature, etc.
Aquaculture controlled with a digital flow meter
La acuicultura es la cría y cultivo de organismos acuáticos, como peces, moluscos, crustáceos y algas, en ambientes controlados. El control del sistema, evita el estrés de los organismos, a la vez que ahorra energía. Es un control clave para la producción sostenible de alimentos del mar y puede realizarse en ambientes de agua dulce, salobre o marina.
Technological control in aquaculture with the digital flowmeter seeks to improve efficiency, sustainability, and biosecurity.
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