Teaching Teaching Engineering Engineering
Principles Using an Principles Using an AquariumAquarium
Dr. Kauser JahanAssociate Professor of Civil and Environmental EngineeringRowan UniversityGlassboro NJ 08028U.S.A
Introduction to AquariumsIntroduction to Aquariums An aquarium is an exquisite combination of interacting
systems which can be analyzed using multidisciplinary engineering principles.
Children typically have personal aquariums for their pet fishes and visit some large aquarium as part of a school field trip or as part of their family outing.
While these activities apparently raise the knowledge base in terms of nature and the environment, children seldom make a connection to the engineering principles playing out in the maintenance of a commercial or personal aquarium.
An AquariumAn AquariumWater Quality
Water Treatment
Gas Transfer
Materials
Heat Transfer
Fluid Mechanics
Fish Health
Online Instrumentation
Data Acquisition
Digital Imaging
Toxicology
Biology
Ethics
Sustainability
Pollution Prevention
OutlineOutline How engineering is applied towards the design, How engineering is applied towards the design, operation and maintenance of an aquarium.operation and maintenance of an aquarium.
Water quality parametersWater quality parameters
Water TreatmentWater Treatment
Heat Transfer and EvaporationHeat Transfer and Evaporation
Material PropertiesMaterial Properties
EthicsEthics
Pollution PreventionPollution Prevention
BiologyBiology
Physical Water Quality Physical Water Quality ParametersParameters
TurbidityTurbidity ColorColor OdorOdor TemperatureTemperature
Chemical Water Quality Chemical Water Quality ParametersParameters
Dissolved OxygenDissolved Oxygen
pHpH
NitratesNitrates
NitritesNitrites
AmmoniaAmmonia
ChlorineChlorine
HardnessHardness
SalinitySalinity
AlkalinityAlkalinity
Redox PotentialRedox Potential
ConductivityConductivity
Dissolved OxygenDissolved Oxygen Dissolved oxygen is one of
the most important water quality parameters for aquariums.
DO needs to be maintained at 4mg/L or above in order for fish to survive
Some pictures of diffusersSome pictures of diffusers
Pad Diffuser
Wood Diffuser
Tube Diffuser
Fine Bubble Diffuser
Figure 3: Dissolved Oxygen Comparison
-2
-1.5
-1
-0.5
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Time (sec)
ln(C
*-C
t)
Stone Green Diffuser
Wooden Air Diffuser Wooden Air Diffusery = -0.0028x + 1.7454
Stone Green Diffusery = -0.0047x + 2.1133
GAS TRANSFER KINETICS
SalinitySalinity
Salinity is the measure of the salt content Salinity is the measure of the salt content of water.of water.
Affects the pH and the Dissolved Oxygen Affects the pH and the Dissolved Oxygen contentcontent
Measured by the Specific GravityMeasured by the Specific Gravity
Freshwater – Specific Gravity of 1.000-1.005Freshwater – Specific Gravity of 1.000-1.005
Salt Water – Specific Gravity of 1.020-1.025Salt Water – Specific Gravity of 1.020-1.025
Biological Water Quality Biological Water Quality ParametersParameters
MicrobesMicrobes
Beneficial bacteriaBeneficial bacteria
The role of spongesThe role of sponges
Nitrogen-fixing
NitrosomonasNitrobacter
Nitrogen CycleNitrogen Cycle
Nitrosomonas bacteria
Nitrobacter bacteria
Nitrogen fixing bacteria
Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrate
Nitrogen
Water Treatment in AquariumsWater Treatment in Aquariums
ChemicalChemical MechanicalMechanical PhysicalPhysical
GACGAC PACPAC ZeolitesZeolites Sponge FiltersSponge Filters
GAC and PACGAC and PAC GACGAC PACPAC
Granular Activated Carbon
Powdered Activated Carbon
Scanning Microscopic View
ZeolitesZeolites
A picture of a Zeolite using a scanning electron microscope
Granulated Zeolites
Heat Transfer and EvaporationHeat Transfer and Evaporation
Surface AreaSurface Area
VolumeVolume
HumidityHumidity
PressurePressure
TemperatureTemperature
Heat Transfer via ConvectionHeat Transfer via Convection
y = -0.0117xR2 = 0.9968
-2
-1.8
-1.6
-1.4
-1.2
-1
-0.8
-0.6
-0.4
-0.2
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180
Tim e (M inutes)
Insulated Row an Cup
ln
Students cool hot water in two different types of closed coffee mugs.
t
mC
AU
TT
TT
p
oo
roominitial
roomliquidexp
Uo = overall heat transfer coefficient
MaterialsMaterialsGlass – aquariums made out of glass are harder to Glass – aquariums made out of glass are harder to
scratch then acrylic tanks. Glass is also heavier scratch then acrylic tanks. Glass is also heavier than acrylic and less force is required to break a than acrylic and less force is required to break a glass tank. For an equal amount of volume, a glass tank. For an equal amount of volume, a glass tank would be much thicker than an acrylic glass tank would be much thicker than an acrylic tank.tank.
Acrylic – aquariums made out of acrylic tanks are Acrylic – aquariums made out of acrylic tanks are lighter but are easily scratched. Unlike glass lighter but are easily scratched. Unlike glass tanks, acrylic tanks can be molded to form tanks, acrylic tanks can be molded to form almost any shape desired. almost any shape desired.
Material PropertiesMaterial Properties Elasticity, Stress, Strain, Modulus of Elasticity, Stress, Strain, Modulus of
ElasticityElasticity
Compression and TensionCompression and Tension
Refraction and Reflection of LightRefraction and Reflection of Light Refractive IndexRefractive Index
Ethics and Pollution PreventionEthics and Pollution Prevention
Testing the WatersTesting the Waters
Toxic waste in our Toxic waste in our water - the attempted water - the attempted clean-up of the clean-up of the Niagara River.Niagara River.
Empty Oceans, Empty Nets
Examines the global marine fisheries crisis and the efforts to implement sustainable fishing practices.
Data Acquisition and ImagingData Acquisition and Imaging
Real time data Real time data acquisition via pH, acquisition via pH, DO probesDO probes
Real time image Real time image acquisition to post on acquisition to post on webweb
R-QUARIUM
WebsiteWebsite
Field TripField TripOn April 12 and 13, the Freshman Engineering Clinic Students went onOn April 12 and 13, the Freshman Engineering Clinic Students went on
a field trip to Cumberland County College Aquaculture Technologya field trip to Cumberland County College Aquaculture Technology
Program to see there Fish Barn and demonstration/training facility. Program to see there Fish Barn and demonstration/training facility.
At the facility, the students witnessed first hand the engineering that had been implemented to aquariums on a much larger scale than just a simple home aquarium.
ConclusionsConclusions
Engineering plays a large role in the Engineering plays a large role in the upkeep of an aquariumupkeep of an aquarium
Aquariums lend life and excitement for Aquariums lend life and excitement for studentsstudents
Acknowledgement Acknowledgement
Freshman Engineering ClassFreshman Engineering Class
College of EngineeringCollege of Engineering
Rowan UniversityRowan University
Glassboro, New JerseyGlassboro, New Jersey