Analysis of economic and energy utilization aspects for waste heat aquaculture

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:6647334

Olszewski, M.; Wilson, J. V.

A waste heat aquaculture system using extensive culture techniques to produce fin and shellfish is currently under investigation at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The system uses nutrients in waste water streams to grow algae and zooplankton which are fed to fish and clams. A tilapia polyculture association and the freshwater clam Corbicula are the animals cultured in the system. The investigations were performed to determine the economic feasibility of the system and examine energy utilization in the system. A net energy analysis was performed to identify the energy saving potential for the system. This analysis includes all energy costs (both direct and indirect) associated with building and operating the system. The results of the economic study indicated that fish production costs of $0.55/kg ($0.25/lb) were possible. This cost, however, depends upon the fish production rate and food conversion efficiency and could rise to as much as $1.65/kg ($0.75/lb). Clam production costs were found to be in the neighborhood of $0.37/kg of clam meat ($1.24/bushel). The energy utilization study results indicated that, when all energy costs are included, fish from the aquaculture system may require only 35% of the net energy now required for fish products from the ocean. However, the energy requirements also depend on system parameters and could be as large as the energy required for ocean caught products. Clams can be produced in the aquaculture system using only about 25% of the net energy required by traditional means. The results of the analysis indicate that the system appears to be economically feasible. They also indicate that significant energy savings are possible if waste heat aquaculture products replace ocean caught products.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 6647334
• Report Number(s): CONF-780367--1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
200105 -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Heat Utilization
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320304* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Waste Heat Recovery & Utilization
ANIMALS
AQUACULTURE
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY
ENERGY ANALYSIS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY DEMAND
ENERGY SOURCES
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FISHES
HEAT
INVERTEBRATES
LIQUID WASTES
MOLLUSCS
NET ENERGY
POWER PLANTS
PRODUCTION
THERMAL EFFLUENTS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
VERTEBRATES
WASTE HEAT
WASTE HEAT UTILIZATION
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION
WASTES