Research and Experimentation Project for Horticulture and Fish Production Using Renewable Energies

摘要

In this paper it will be presented the aims and some of the results obtained in the project entitled"Development of Solutions for Instrumentation, Control and Management Applied to Agricultural and Fish Production Using RenewableEnergies", sponsored by the Agriculture Ministry of Portugal. The experimental sett-up is composed of three demonsttration greenhouses and six aquaculture tanks for production of green beans, tomatoes and tilapias. Several actuators and sensors are connected to an acquisition and control nettwork developed at the Engineering Department of the University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro,Vila Real. The environmental factors controlled are: greenhouse inside air temperature and humidity, CO_2 concentration, and soil moisture. Dissolved 0_2, pH, temperature and water nitrate concentration are also controlled in the fish tanks. Three types of heating systems are being used on the greenhouse and aquaculture tanks: a geothermal water source, a solar heat pump and a wood-gas combined heater. At the enf of this project it is expected to achieve an efficient control in order to maximize the ratio production/costs. This implies the use of a supervisory module to perform high level management decisions. At this level, a decision supportt system helps the producer to establish the chemical treatment plans. This will also help to reduce environmental contamination as well production costs.