A Geographic Information System to Estimate Aerator Power and Energy Use in Shrimp Farming

Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) farming is the main aquaculture activity in eastern Thailand. To maintain shrimp survivability, aerators are employed to augment dissolved oxygen levels and facilitate water circulation. In the region under study, the commonly utilized aerators are paddlewheel aerators, including both floating and long-arm variants. These aerators are driven by electric motors. However, the capacity of these aerators is traditionally determined based on farmer experiential knowledge, which can lead to either over- or underestimation of the required aerator capacity. Such discrepancies can influence shrimp survivability, impact costs from the farmers’ perspective, and pose challenges in estimating electricity consumption for local grid utilities during grid extension planning. To address this, the present study employs a geographic information system to estimate the optimal aerator capacity (power) and its associated energy consumption in shrimp farms. The study focuses on the Bang Pakong district in Chachoengsao, Thailand. It contemplates various shrimp yield expectations and aerator operation scenarios. The resulting aerator peak power map delineates the necessary aerator capacity for each pond, providing farmers with a tool to optimize shrimp production and curtail costs related to excessive aerator capacity. Moreover, the aerator energy use map showcases the magnitude and pattern of aerator energy consumption, offering valuable insights for future electricity grid-expansion initiatives.