Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
  • A01K61/00—Culture of aquatic animals
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
  • A01K61/00—Culture of aquatic animals
  • A01K61/10—Culture of aquatic animals of fish
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
  • A01K63/00—Receptacles for live fish, e.g. aquaria; Terraria
  • A01K63/04—Arrangements for treating water specially adapted to receptacles for live fish
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A40/00—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production
  • Y02A40/80—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production in fisheries management
  • Y02A40/81—Aquaculture, e.g. of fish

Definitions

• the invention relates to a closed submersible fish farm with a fluid retention mechanism, more specifically a collapsible water supply nozzle.
• waste in the aquaculture industry have increased, and the industry accounts for large amounts of seabed waste along coastal areas.
• the waste largely consists of waste from feed and faeces, but also waste from medical treatments and delousing.
• the environmental impact because of the waste is largest below or in the immediate vicinity of the fish farms, and the discharges could potentially affect life on the seabed and affect the environmental conditions near the sites.
• the environment from which the fish is sought to be separated from is mainly the upper water layer to avoid lice and other pathogens, while the waste substances are released into the bottom as in traditional cages. Disadvantages of these solutions include that they are cumbersome to operate, and they do not sufficiently reduce sea-bed pollution. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an easy to transport, energy efficient, closed, submersible fish rearing facility with low weight and that is cost efficient, easy to deploy and easy to maintain. It is also an object of the invention to provide a facility that is adapted to be submerged below the upper water layers of the sea to avoid sea-lice, harsh weather conditions and floating debris. It is also an object of the invention to provide controlled water treatment, evenly distributed water flow within the facility, and controlled waste discharge to obtain ideal fish rearing conditions and environmentally friendly production.
• the invention relates to a water supply nozzle for conducting a water flow into a closed submersible fish rearing tank including a first nozzle portion connectable to an inside surface of the tank, a second nozzle portion connected to and extending from the first nozzle portion.
• the second nozzle portion is made of a flexible material which is adapted to collapse if the water flow stops or is reduced to prevent reverse flow through the nozzle.
• the invention further relates to said water supply nozzle, wherein the first nozzle portion is curved to redirect the water flow.
• the invention further relates to said water supply nozzle, wherein the second nozzle portion is elongated.
• the invention further relates to said water supply nozzle, wherein the second nozzle portion is tunnel shaped and attached to an inside surface of the tank.
• the invention further relates to said water supply nozzle, wherein in the first nozzle portion is made of a rigid material.
• the invention further relates to said water supply nozzle, wherein in the first nozzle portion is made of a flexible material.
• the invention also relates to a submersible fish rearing tank including an exterior enclosure including water supply means adapted to pump water into the tank for providing a pressure inside the submersible fish rearing tank exceeding a pressure acting on the outside of the submersible fish rearing tank.
• the water supply means is in fluid connection with at least one nozzle according to any of the preceding claims.
• the invention relates to said fish rearing tank, wherein the exterior enclosure is made of a flexible material.
• the invention relates to said fish rearing tank, wherein the water supply means comprises at least one inlet water supply column adapted to provide water into the submersible fish rearing tank and at least one pump unit adapted to pump water into the tank through the water supply column via the nozzles.
• the invention relates to said fish rearing tank, wherein the nozzles are arranged in a vertical array in fluid connection with the water supply column.
• the invention also relates to a water supply device including a water supply column, a pump unit connected to an upper or lower end of the water supply column, a vertical array of said nozzles connected to the water supply column, wherein the nozzles are in fluid communication with the inner volume of the water supply column.
• Fig. 1 is a transparent perspective view of a submersible fish farm according to the invention deployed in water;
• Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a plurality of nozzles according to the invention during operation
• Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a nozzle according to the invention in an inflated state
• Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a nozzle according to the invention in a collapsed state
• Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a nozzle according to an embodiment of the invention in an inflated state
• Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a nozzle according to Fig. 5 in a collapsed state. Detailed description of embodiments
• Fig. 1 is a transparent perspective view of a submersible fish farm according to the invention deployed in water.
• the submersible fish farm includes an underwater fish rearing tank 100.
• the exterior enclosure 17 is preferably a membrane made of a flexible material such as PE, PVC, latex, nylon or any impermeable or semi-permeable, flexible plastic or fabric material.
• the exterior enclosure 17 may have elastic properties.
• the exterior enclosure 17 may also be made of a rigid material forming a rigid tank structure.
• the tank 100 may receive seawater (fresh or saline), fluids such as air and oxygen, feed, and furthermore discharge used water and waste.
• seawater fresh or saline
• fluids such as air and oxygen
• feed feed
• furthermore discharge used water and waste The term “closed” used in this application does therefore not exclude the presence of inlets and outlets, but is used to distinguish the invention from fish farms with permeable net cages, open-air basins etc.
• Intake and discharge may be autonomously controlled by a controller connected to a plurality of sensors and cameras installed in the tank 100, thereby allowing controlled water treatment and flow for achieving optimal fish rearing conditions and optimal power usage.
• the pressure inside the tank 100 prevents ingress of unwanted elements in the event of a leak.
• Incoming and outgoing water may be filtered to prevent sea lice from entering the tank 100, and from polluting the surrounding environment, although the tank water may be replaced in such a rate that sea lice would not be able to latch on to the fish.
• the exterior enclosure 17 is fixed to the upper utility transition element 110 and to the lower utility transition element 111.
• the utility transition elements 110, 111 may be rigid and preferably made of metal, plastic or composite materials.
• the exterior enclosure 17 may be equipped with a zipper (not shown) for opening the enclosure 17 for accessing the inside of the tank 100, e.g. for cleaning, replacing or performing maintenance on internal components.
• the submersible fish farm may be deployed and operated offshore, in coastal areas or in freshwater lakes.
• Fig. 1 further shows that the underwater fish rearing tank 100 includes a first water supply column 103 and a second water supply column 103’ attached to the exterior enclosure 17 on diametrically opposite sides.
• Each water supply column 103, 103’ can be a rigid or flexible tubular and elongated structure, preferably cylindrical but may have a rectangular or elliptical cross-section, extending vertically along the exterior of the tank 100 in parallel with the vertical centre axis Z1 of the tank 100.
• the first water supply column 103 and a second water supply column 103’ attached to the exterior enclosure 17 may be curved to accommodate the shape of the submersible fish rearing tank 100 and may be integrated into a wall exterior enclosure 17.
• the upper utility transition element 110 includes a buoyancy element (not shown), such as a dynamic ballast tank, keeping the tank afloat at a desirable depth.
• the lower utility transition element 111 may include a weight element, such as a heavy solid material.
• the upper utility transition element 110 provides buoyancy while the lower utility transition element 111 provides gravity, counteracting any tilting movement and ensures that the tank always returns to an upright position aligned in parallel with a vertical axis Z.
• the tank 100 may also be moored to the sea-bed without the need for a lower utility transition element 111.
• the upper utility transition element 110 is coupled with the lower utility transition element 111 via the flexible enclosure 17 thereby providing a submersible spar structure.
• the utility transition elements 110, 111 may additionally be connected by means of a column or a flexible element such as wire, chain or rope (not shown).
• Each water supply column 103, 103’ is attached and sealed onto the outside of the exterior enclosure 17 by ways of being sown, glued or melted into the exterior enclosure 17 over an attachment length.
• the attachment length is shorter than the distance between the utility transition elements 110, 111. Consequently, as shown in Fig. 1, the exterior enclosure 17 forms a cylindrical mid-section along the said attachment length, a conical top-section and a conical bottom -section. At least one hole in the exterior enclosure 17 is provided to ensure fluid communication between each water supply column 103 and the tank 100 volume via nozzles 122.
• Each water supply column 103, 103’ may include a lower water inlet pump unit 101 located on its lower end. Each water supply column 103, 103’ may also include an upper water inlet pump unit (not shown).
• Each water inlet pump unit 101 , 10T includes a water inlet (see Fig. 1 ) and a water pump mechanism for drawing clean ambient water into the water supply column 103 and into the underwater fish rearing tank 100 via nozzles 122 in the water supply column 103 with nozzle outlets inside the tank 100.
• the pump may be actuated by a topside controller (not shown) manually or autonomously based on data retrieved from sensors included in the tank 100.
• the lower water inlet pump unit 101 serves to increase hydrodynamical pressure within the tank and to create a rotational fluid flow inside the tank 100 and allow water replacement so that the fish is provided with clean water.
• the lower utility transition element 111 includes a water outlet 112 for discharging water from the tank 100.
• the water outlet 112 may include a passive or actuatable flow restrictor/reducer or throttle to reduce or restrict or completely close the outlet water flow from the water outlet 112 to maintain the pressure inside the submersible fish rearing tank 100 above the pressure acting on the outside of the submersible fish rearing tank 100.
• the pressure difference between the outside and the inside of the tank allows the water outlet 112 to passively expel water from inside the tank 100.
• the utility transition elements 110, 111 may provide a transition for at least one of a water inlet, a water outlet, a gas outlet, an air inlet, and connections for instrumentation, fixed to the exterior enclosure 17.
• Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a plurality of nozzles 122 according to the invention during operation.
• the nozzles 122 are impermeably fixed to each water supply column 103, 103’.
• the nozzles 122 are oriented at an angle with a tangential component to create rotational flow inside the tank.
• the nozzles of each of the supply columns 103, 103’ are oriented in the same direction to create the rotational flow inside the tank.
• the nozzles 122 may however be directed in any direction to obtain a desired flow within the tank 100.
• the nozzles 122 may be placed above each other, preferably with a constant distance between each other.
• Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a nozzle 122 according to the invention in an inflated state.
• Fig. 3 shows a nozzle 122 seen from a side.
• the nozzle 122 includes a first nozzle portion 800.
• the first nozzle portion 800 may be of a rigid material (e.g. plastic, composite or metal) or a flexible material such as the material of the second nozzle portion 801 .
• the first nozzle portion 800 may be curved and semi-circular to redirect water flowing inside the nozzle 122.
• the first nozzle portion 800 may be cubical or cylindrical or any other tubular or annular shape.
• first nozzle portion 800 is rigid
• the nozzle 122 further includes a second nozzle portion 801 connected to the first nozzle portion 800 as an extension of the first nozzle portion 800.
• the second nozzle portion 801 may have a cross-sectional shape of a semi-circle and fixed to the inside of the tank 100 at two sides of the nozzle 122 forming a tunnel.
• the second nozzle portion 801 may also have a rectangular cross section.
• the second nozzle portion 801 may be elongated or oblong.
• the second nozzle portion 801 is made of a flexible material such as PE, PVC, latex, nylon or any impermeable and flexible plastic or fabric material.
• the first nozzle portion 800 is curved, slanted, or skewed to orient the fluid flowing within the nozzle 122 at an angle so that the fluid is dispensed at an angle into the tank 100 volume.
• the nozzles 122 may be directed with a tangential component inside the tank to generate a circular or spiral shaped waterflow inside the tank 100.
• the first nozzle portion 800 is extended by the second nozzle portion 801 which extends in parallel with the inside of the tank 100 and/or the enclosure 17.
• the second nozzle portion 801 may be substantially longer than the first nozzle portion 800.
• the pump unit 101 (see Fig. 1) is operational and water flows at a normal rate through the nozzle 122.
• the hydrodynamic pressure acting on the inside the nozzle 122 is thereby higher than the pressure acting on the outside of the nozzle 122 by immediate surrounding water.
• the second nozzle portion 122 is held completely stretched out and water inflated, thereby providing its maximum cross-sectional flow area.
• Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a nozzle 122 according to the invention in a collapsed state.
• Fig. 4 shows the nozzle 122 in operation in a situation where the accommodating water pump unit 101 (see Fig. 1 ) shuts down. This situation may be caused intentionally by shutting down the water pump 101. In another situation the pump unit 101 may malfunction and stop completely, or water may otherwise be prevented from entering the nozzles 122 from the outside. Both situations result in reduced or zero flow through the nozzle 122, and since hydrodynamic water pressure inside the tank 100 during operation is constantly higher than the hydrodynamic pressure acting on the tank 100 from the outside, the internal water will seek to flow out of the tank 100 through a water outlet 112 (see Fig. 1 ).
• the tank 100 normally receives water which is more saline than its surrounding water. Therefore, the water inside the tank 100 is more dense than the water outside the tank 100. The density differential puts pressure on the inside of the tank 100, causing the internal water to seek a out of the tank 100 even with no water supply.
• any water outlet present in the tank 100 must be closed or restricted.
• a water pump unit 101 may at least partly shut down, while another pump unit 10T may still be functioning.
• the hydrodynamic water pressure acting on the inside of the nozzle 122 is lower than the hydrodynamic water pressure acting on the outside of the nozzle 122.
• the pressure differential causes at least the second nozzle portion 801 to collapse, preferably against an inner surface if the tank 100. This flattens the second nozzle portion 801 and reduces its cross-sectional flow area, preferably to zero. Also, the mentioned salinity difference may create yield a force, also causing at least the second nozzle portion 801 to collapse.
• the nozzles 122 are adapted to automatically collapse and prevent flowback when water supply is shut down or reduced.
• the enclosure 17 may have some elastic properties, which facilitates keeping the tank 100 completely water inflated even after water supply shuts down.
• the nozzles 122 would automatically collapse in this situation.
• the tank 100 may also stay water inflated in situations where the water supply is not completely shut down.
• the second nozzle portion 801 will collapse when the water supply shuts down due to pressure loss within the nozzle 122.
• the hydrodynamic pressure within the tank 100 therefore forces the second nozzle portion 801 to collapse, and therefore completely preventing water from flowing back through the nozzle 122 and out to the ambient water.
• the second nozzle portion 801 may be elongated to provide a long flat part in the collapsed state, which ensures that the risk of flowback is reduced.
• Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a nozzle 122 according to an embodiment of the invention in an inflated state.
• both the first and second nozzle portions 800, 801 may be made of flexible materials.
• both the first and second nozzle portions 800, 801 are made of flexible materials adapted to collapse to prevent reverse water flow through the nozzle 122.
• water flow is active and flows through the water supply column 103, 103’, the nozzle 122, the first nozzle portion and the second nozzle portion 801 , and lastly into the tank 100 volume.
• Fig. 5 water flow is active and flows through the water supply column 103, 103’, the nozzle 122, the first nozzle portion and the second nozzle portion 801 , and lastly into the tank 100 volume.
• the hydrodynamical pressure acting on the inside of the first nozzle portion 800 is named p2, while the hydrodynamical pressure acting on the external surface of the first nozzle portion 800 is named p1 .
• p2 is greater than p1 , thereby keeping the first and second nozzle portions 800, 801 open for transporting fluid into the tank 100.
• the tank 100 may include a plurality of nozzles 122 according to the embodiment of Fig. 5.
• Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a nozzle 122 according to Fig. 5 in a collapsed state.
• water supply is shut down or reduced substantially, and thereby leaving p1 greater than p2, thereby forcing the flexible first and second nozzle portions 800, 801 to collapse preventing reverse flow out of the tank 100.
• the first nozzle portion 800 is introverted and forced a distance inside the water supply column 103, 103’.
• the second nozzle portion 801 is collapsed and forced against the inside surface of the tank 100 preventing water from flowing in reverse.
• the first nozzle portion 800 abuts and seals against the perimeter of the opening 1221. This provides an additional sealing effect compared to the embodiment of Fig. 4 where only the second portion 801 collapses and seals against the inside surface of the tank 100.

Landscapes

• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Marine Sciences & Fisheries (AREA)
• Animal Husbandry (AREA)
• Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
• Zoology (AREA)
• Farming Of Fish And Shellfish (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=87424130

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 2022
  • 2022-07-11 NO NO20220790A patent/NO347220B1/en unknown
• 2023
  • 2023-07-10 EP EP23754883.9A patent/EP4554373A1/en active Pending
  • 2023-07-10 WO PCT/NO2023/060018 patent/WO2024014963A1/en active Application Filing

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