Design and performance analysis of a standalone floating photovoltaic/battery energy-powered paddlewheel aerator

Abstract

In aquaculture, a paddlewheel aerator is conventionally used to increase dissolved oxygen (DO) in pond water. Occasionally, however, it is driven by a diesel generator, particularly when it is operated in remote areas where an electrical network connection is unavailable. Employing a diesel generator to power a paddlewheel aerator releases carbon monoxide (CO) and increases operational costs. To address these concerns, using a photovoltaic (PV) energy source is a promising option. Although a PV energy source can generate electricity without the need for fossil fuels, its generation is inevitably intermittent owing to weather conditions. This study used battery energy storage (BES) to provide additional energy support to a PV energy source in attempt to power a paddlewheel aerator uninterruptedly. The PV and BES systems were installed on a floating platform of the aerator. The PV and BES capacities were optimized considering techno-economic assessment and weight capacity restrictions. A comparative experiment was conducted over 21 days to investigate the proposed aerator performance compared with that of a standalone floating PV-powered paddlewheel aerator without BES. The results demonstrate that the proposed aerator offered a 10.91% superior DO performance compared with that obtained from the PV-powered paddlewheel aerator without BES.