Research and Application of Airlift Pump to Operate Aquaponics

This paper presents the results of a study on use an airlift pump in aquaponics, model that has been applied and developed for organic food production. Airlift pumps, which are commonly used mining industry pumping liquids such as water oil, have recently adopted aquaponics systems. Airlifts offer several advantages over other types including simple compact design with no moving parts, making them suitable hanging systems shallow water. also play dual role transporting saturating dissolved oxygen content water, is essential organisms system to thrive. To promote these benefits, it crucial choose correct mode operation aeration pump; otherwise, may decrease efficiency increase operating costs. In this study, pump, combines aquaponic aerator, duct into one unit, was used. The experiment conducted using riser pipe different diameters (D = 24, 30, 36, 48 mm), height (h + H) 2000 mm, air diameter 15 compressed pressure ranging from 0.5 4.0 kg/cm2, gas consumption (V) between 0.1 1.0 m3/h, capacity (Q) 5-39 L/min. show greatest lifting can be achieved 30-36 mm. At airflow rate 0.8-0.9 m3/h various compression pressures, dip coefficient 0.285 produces maximum 25-30