JP2012213379A - Apparatus for multistage continuous cultivation of marine alga - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for multistage continuous cultivation of marine algae, surely performing transfer of the marine algae between multistage culture tanks, improving productivity per unit area or unit volume, lowering the total facility height of the multistage culture tanks, reducing the apparatus cost, installation cost and operation cost, and producing the marine algae in high productivity at a low cost.SOLUTION: The multistage culture apparatus is provided with multistage culture tanks comprising a plurality of culture tanks having an areal ratio or volume ratio between the front and rear culture tanks successively increasing according to the growth ratio of the cultured marine algae and lowering the installation level of the each culture tank stepwise, and a transfer pipe connecting the bottom part of the each culture tank to the latter stage culture tank and having an on-off valve. Transfer of the marine algae between the front and rear culture tanks is carried out by opening and closing the on-off valve of the transfer pipe to cause natural flow down of the culture seawater by gravitational force. The areal ratio and the height of each culture tank are adjusted in a manner that the total installation height of the multistage culture tanks is decreased when forming steps to keep the bottom face level of the front stage culture tank to be not lower than the water level of the latter stage culture tank when transferring the marine algae in the front stage culture tank.

Description

  The present invention relates to a multistage continuous aquaculture apparatus for seaweeds, and more specifically, as a seaweed, especially a relatively large seaweed terrestrial aquaculture apparatus, the required area is small, equipment costs and operation costs are low, and production efficiency is high. The present invention relates to a multistage continuous aquaculture device for high-seaweed algae.

Traditionally, seaweeds, including large seaweed such as seaweed, have been cultivated and collected using the coastal waters, but because of natural cultivation, they are affected by the weather and temperature, and production and quality are subject to fluctuations due to climate. It was difficult to obtain stable production every year.
Moreover, since the temperature range in which seaweeds can grow and the range of seawater temperatures are relatively narrow, the cultivatable period is several months of the year, and it was difficult to increase the production amount.

For this reason, as a method for solving these problems, terrestrial aquaculture that manages and cultivates the seaweed growth environment on land in an appropriate state has been proposed, tried, and partially implemented (patent document) 1 and 2).
According to the aquaculture methods disclosed in these publications, the growing environment is prepared without being influenced by natural weather, so that year-round harvesting is possible, and production stability and mass production can be expected.
As a culture device for carrying out such a culture method, Patent Document 3 proposes a multistage land-type seaweed continuous culture device.

FIG. 4 shows a conventional multistage land-type seaweed continuous culture device disclosed in Patent Document 3.
A multi-stage land-type seaweed continuous culture device (hereinafter referred to as a land-type culture device) 60 shown in FIG. 4 includes three culture tanks 62a, 62b, and 62c arranged in order from the top to the bottom. The overflowing seawater and seaweed from the stage culture tank 62 and the upper culture tanks 62a, 62b, and 62c are transferred to the lower culture tanks 62b and 62c, and the rear culture tank or drainage pipe 63 (not shown), respectively. Transfer pipes 66a, 66b and 66c with electric valves 64 are provided. From these transfer pipes 64a, 64b and 64c, drain pipes 68a, 68b and 68c with electric valves 64 are branched, respectively, and the drain pipes 68b and 68c join the drain pipe 68a. Seawater containing fresh nutrient salts is supplied to the uppermost culture tank 62a from a water supply pipe 70 with a flow rate adjusting valve 69.

  The onshore aquaculture technique using the onshore aquaculture device 60 disclosed in Patent Document 3 is a method of cultivating seaweed in a floating manner. At the time of aquaculture, only the seawater that overflows from the upper aquaculture tank due to the supplied seawater is the latter stage. The seaweed is transferred to the aquaculture tank. At the time of the transfer of seaweed, the seaweed is transferred from the first stage culture tank (first tank) 62a of the multistage culture tank to the last stage culture tank (final tank; 3 tanks 62c (shown up to 3 tanks 62c) are sequentially transferred and cultured in each tank. In this aquaculture technology, seaweed grows with seawater containing nutrients, but when the density of seaweed exceeds a certain value with respect to the volume of the aquaculture tank, the growth rate decreases. Has been devised to increase production efficiency by sequentially transferring to a rear culture tank having a volume approximately 10 times larger than that of the previous culture tank.

Patent No. 3072469 JP 2002-176866 A JP 2004-113226 A

  However, the movement (transfer) of seaweeds between the aquaculture tanks in the land-type aquaculture device disclosed in Patent Document 3 is “using transfer pipes installed in each tank, connecting a daily timer and a computer, Although it is described that the motorized valve is installed in the pipe and automatic operation has been described, the transfer pipe is the overflow pipe. If this is used, it is mixed with the overflow seawater and transferred. Therefore, some seaweeds may remain in the same culture tank for a long time, and it is difficult to reliably transfer seaweeds. In other words, in the case of overflow, seaweeds do not come out at a uniform concentration, and it is not possible to put out seaweeds with a long culture period from seaweeds mixed in old and new in the culture tank. However, there was a problem that the productivity of seaweed aquaculture could not be increased effectively.

Moreover, although the Example of patent document 3 is disclosing the change for every week, since the size of a culture tank is based on the seaweed which grew just before transfer, it is the initial stage of transfer. However, there is a problem that the area and the volume are too large to be wasted, and the productivity in terms of the production volume per unit area or volume of the aquaculture tank is not always sufficient.
Increasing productivity per unit area or volume will reduce the size of the equipment culture tank and reduce construction and operating costs, leading to improved profitability and an important factor in new construction. It becomes.

  The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to solve the problem, by reliably transferring seaweed between the multi-stage culture tanks, and by reducing the area or volume of the culture tanks, Productivity per unit area or volume can be improved, the equipment height of the entire multi-stage aquaculture tank can be lowered, and the multi-stage type of economical and highly productive seaweed that is low in equipment cost, construction cost and operation cost It is to provide a continuous aquaculture device.

  In order to achieve the above object, a multistage continuous culture apparatus for seaweeds according to the present invention comprises a plurality of culture tanks for storing cultured seawater and cultivating seaweeds. The area ratio or volume ratio with respect to the tank is composed of the plurality of culture tanks that are sequentially expanded at a ratio defined by a function of the growth rate of the seaweed to be cultivated, and each of the culture tanks from the first tank to the final culture tank Seaweed between the front and rear aquaculture tanks, equipped with multi-stage aquaculture tanks whose installation level has been lowered in stages, and transfer pipes with open / close valves that connect the bottom of each culture tank to the rear culture tank It is configured to use the natural flow of cultured seawater by gravity by opening and closing the valve of the transfer pipe connecting between them, and the bottom level of the previous culture tank is set to the previous culture tank The water surface of the rear aquaculture tank when the seaweed was transferred The front and rear stages of the multi-stage aquaculture tank are smaller when the level difference between the front and rear aquaculture tanks is set equal to the bell or higher than the water level by a predetermined height. It is characterized by adjusting the area ratio between the culture tanks and the height from the bottom surface to the full water surface of each culture tank.

  Here, the installation level of the plurality of culture tanks is such that the bottom level of the preceding culture tank is equal to or higher than the water level of the rear culture tank, and the bottom level of the previous culture tank is the water level of the rear culture tank When the step between the front and rear aquaculture tanks is a required minimum step, the step between the front and rear aquaculture tanks is higher than the required minimum step by the predetermined height, and the predetermined height is It is preferable to reduce the equipment height of the entire multi-stage culture tank as a level difference of 2% or less with respect to the direction of drainage of the cultured seawater provided on the bottom surface of the previous culture tank.

  Furthermore, it comprises a discharge pipe that is connected to the aquaculture tank and whose pipeline is opened and closed, and a seaweed collection basket that is installed at the lower part of the outlet side tip of the discharge pipe. It is preferable that the discharge pipe is opened, the seawater drained from the final culture tank is received by the seaweed collection basket, and seaweeds are collected and harvested.

  In addition, with respect to one rear tank, the previous tank is composed of n (n is an integer) tank or divided n chambers, each of the rear tank and the previous tank. Connected between the tank or between the rear culture tank and each chamber of the previous culture tank with the above-mentioned transfer pipe with an open / close valve, the number of culture days until the transfer of seaweed in the previous culture tank, and the latter stage Seaweeds in the rear culture tank from each tank of the previous stage culture tank or each room of the previous stage culture tank so that the ratio of the number of days of cultivation until the transfer of the seaweed in the previous culture tank becomes n: 1 The operation of the transfer tank is switched between a plurality of culture tanks with different culture days by sequentially switching the opening and closing valves of the transfer pipe according to the number of days of the previous culture tank. Is preferred.

The capacity of each tank of the plurality of culture tanks may be adjusted so that the number of seaweed cultivation days in at least the first culture tank of the plurality of culture tanks is 2 days or more and 6 days or less. Preferably, in particular, adjustment is made so that the seaweed culture days in at least the first culture tank of the plurality of culture tanks are two days, and at least the seaweed culture days in the last culture tank are one day. Is more preferable.
In addition, it is preferable to provide a water gradient on the bottom surface of each of the plurality of culture tanks with respect to the direction of draining the cultured seawater, and to transfer seaweeds when transferring between the previous and next culture tanks.
In addition, the height from the bottom of the i-th tank to the full water level is H _i , the daily growth rate of seaweed is g, and the number of days in the i + 1 tank (i + 1) tank is k _{i + 1} , i The predetermined height that is higher than the water level of the (i + 1) -th stage culture tank is δ _{i + 1} (0 ≦ δ _{i + 1} ), and the number of stages of the multi-stage culture tank is m. When the overall equipment height is TH, the area ratio between the front and rear aquaculture tanks and the height of each aquaculture tank are adjusted so that the equipment height TH given by the following formula is minimized. It is preferable.

According to the present invention, seaweeds such as Aonori can be stably performed on the land regardless of the season, regardless of the season, and seaweed can be produced more efficiently with a small facility area than the conventional method. be able to.
Further, according to the present invention, the equipment height of the entire multi-stage aquaculture tank can be further reduced, and the equipment height of the entire apparatus can be kept relatively low, so that the installation cost is reduced in addition to the small installation area. Costs and operating costs can be reduced, and profitability can be improved.

It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the multistage continuous culture apparatus of the seaweed concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A) And (b) is sectional drawing and a top view which show typically schematic structure of the multistage continuous culture apparatus of the seaweed which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, respectively. It is sectional drawing which shows typically schematic structure of the multistage continuous culture apparatus of the seaweed concerning the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows typically schematic structure of the conventional conventional multistage type land-type seaweed continuous culture apparatus.

  Hereinafter, a multistage continuous culture apparatus for seaweed according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an example of a seaweed multistage continuous culture apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The seaweed multistage continuous aquaculture apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as a continuous aquaculture apparatus) 10 shown in the figure includes a three-stage aquaculture tank 12 including three aquaculture tanks 12a, 12b, and 12c from the front stage to the rear stage. A transfer pipe 14a connecting the bottom surface of the culture tank 12a and the culture tank 12b, a transfer pipe 14b connecting the bottom surface of the culture tank 12b and the culture tank 12c, and an electric valve 16 provided on each of the transfer pipes 14a and 14b, Water supply pipes 18a, 18b and 18c with electric valve 16 for supplying fresh seawater to each of the aquaculture tanks 12a, 12b and 12c, a recovery tank 20 provided at the rear stage of the final final aquaculture tank 12c, and the final aquaculture tank 12c has a recovery pipe 22 with an electric valve 16 provided on the downstream side, and a drain pipe 24.

The aquaculture tanks 12a, 12b, and 12c of the three-stage aquaculture tank 12 are for aquaculture of seaweeds having different growth degrees by storing seawater.
For seaweeds, seeds and seedlings are placed in the first (first stage) culture tank 12a of the first tank and grown for the required number of days, and then the second tank (second stage) of the next tank by batch operation or automatic operation. Eye) aquaculture tank 12b and transferred from this aquaculture tank 12b to the final (final stage) aquaculture tank 12c of the next tank in order and grown. Growing is completed and harvested. The seaweed is harvested by discharging seawater from the recovery pipe 22 together with the seaweed to a recovery basket 26 installed in the recovery tank 20 by opening the electric valve 16 of the recovery pipe 22 of the final aquaculture tank 12c of the third tank. To be recovered. When all the seaweeds in the final aquaculture tank 12c are collected in the collection basket 26, the collection basket 26 is suspended by a hook 28a at the tip of a wire 28 of a hoist (not shown) and carried to a predetermined collection place.
The seawater flowing down from the collection basket 26 is drained to the outside from the drainage pipe 24.

The seaweed grown for the required number of days in each of the aquaculture tanks 12a and 12b is transferred to the aquaculture tanks 12b and 12c, respectively, but between the aquaculture tanks at the front and rear stages, that is, between the aquaculture tanks 12a and 12b, The transfer of the seaweed between 12b and 12c can be performed by opening the electric valve 16 of the transfer pipes 14a and 14b respectively connected to the bottom of the previous stage, that is, the bottom of the culture tanks 12a and 12b. it can.
First, the electric valve 16 of the recovery pipe 22 is opened and drained from the final culture tank 12c to the recovery tank 20, and after the final culture tank 12c is emptied, the electric valve 16 of the previous culture tank 12b is opened, Seawater and seaweed in the aquaculture tank 12b are transferred to the rear aquaculture tank 12c. Next, after emptying the rear culture tank 12b, the electric valve 16 of the front culture tank 12a is opened, and the seawater and seaweed in the front culture tank 12a are transferred to the rear culture tank 12b. In this way, the transfer of the front and rear aquaculture tanks is repeated.

Here, in the present embodiment, in order to transfer the seawater and seaweed in the previous culture tank to the rear culture tank substantially completely or completely, the water level after the transfer is the same as the tank bottom of the previous culture tank. Since it is necessary to make it lower or lower than the bottom of the tank, the level difference h between the front and rear culture tanks is determined from this condition. That is, the level difference h is determined so that the storage capacity (hereinafter simply referred to as capacity) of the seawater in the preceding culture tank is equal to or less than the capacity of the level difference portion of the subsequent culture tank. For example, the capacity of the culture tank 12a is V ₁ , the area is A ₁ , the capacity of the culture tank 12b is V ₂ , the area is A ₂ , and the capacity V ₂₀ of the step h or less (the one-dot chain line or less) of the culture tank 12b. And when the capacity of the culture tank 12c is V ₃ , the area is A ₃ , and the capacity V ₃₀ of the step h or less (one-dot chain line or less) of the culture tank 12c is V ₂₀ ≧ V ₁ , V ₃₀ ≧ V ₂ Therefore, the step h needs to satisfy the following formula (1).
h = V ₂₀ / A ₂ ≧ V ₁ / A ₂ , or
h = V ₃₀ / A ₃ ≧ V ₂ / A ₃ (1)

Note that this step h affects the overall height of the equipment, and hence the equipment cost, so the level h is as much as possible so that the water level after transfer is as equal to the bottom of the previous culture tank, i.e., the previous culture tank. It is desirable that the storage capacity of the seawater be close to a value equal to the volume of the step portion of the rear culture tank. That is, the step h preferably satisfies the following formula (2).
_{h = V 1 / A 2 =} V 2 / A 3 ...... (2)
Further, in order to ensure that the seawater and seaweed in the previous culture tank are reliably and completely transferred to the subsequent culture tank, the level difference h between the front and rear culture tanks is greater than the level difference h obtained by the above formula (2). Most preferably, it should be slightly larger.

  In addition, the shortage of the seawater level of each culture tank after transfer, that is, each culture tank 12a, 12b and 12c after transfer, is replenished with fresh seawater from water supply pipes 18a, 18b and 18c, respectively. In addition, necessary nutrients during aquaculture are also supplied by being dissolved in fresh seawater from the water supply pipes 18a, 18b and 18c. When the transfer of the final culture tank 12c to the collection tank 20 is completed, the previous culture tanks 12b and 12a are sequentially transferred in the same manner, and the transfer of the culture tank 12a of the first tank is completed in three stages. Complete transfer of the entire aquaculture tank 12.

The capacity of each culture tank 12a, 12b and 12c of the multi-stage culture tank, that is, the three-stage culture tank 12, is the seaweed on the last day of the culture period when the growth rate (average growth rate) of the seaweed begins to decrease. It is determined by the limit density of the class. For example, in the case of Suea Onori, the wet weight of Suea Onori is 1 kg for a culture tank capacity of 1 t (1 m ³ ). If this depth, for example, the depth of the culture tank is 1 m, it will be 1 kg for a tank area of 1 m ² of the culture tank. That is, the limit capacity of the aquaculture tank is 1 m ³ or 1 m ² in terms of the tank area with respect to 1 kg of the wet weight. This value is not limited to the culture tank 12a of the first tank, but also the culture tanks 12b and 12c after the second tank are the limit values common to each stage. In addition, since the depth of 1 m of the aquaculture tank is a depth at which sunlight of an amount necessary for the growth of seaweeds reaches in various types of well-known aquaculture systems, a conventional depth is used in the cultivation of seaweeds. This depth is also used in commercial production of other systems. Therefore, in this invention, it is preferable that the depth of a culture tank shall be 1 m or less.

From this, the capacity _V 2 of the second tank aquaculture tank 12b ^{(m 3),} to the volume _V 1 of the farming tank 12a of the first vessel ^{(m 3),} is determined by the following formula (3).
V ₂ = V ₁ · g ^k (3)
Where, g: Daily growth rate of seaweed (in the case of Sugioonori, 1.4)
k: Number of days of cultivation in the aquaculture tank (in this case, the second tank) Further, in the above formula (3), the capacity V of the aquaculture tank was used as a reference, but the same applies to the area A (m ² ) as a reference. It is obtained by multiplying the growth rate g ^k . In this case, the height from the bottom surface of the first and 2 tank farming tank 12a and 12b to the water surface (full level surface) the capacity of each tank is V ₁ and V _2, respectively (bath height) equal There is a need to.
That is, the tank area A ₂ (m ² ) of the culture tank 12b of the second tank is obtained by the following formula (4) with respect to the tank area A ₂ (m ² ) of the culture tank 12a of the first tank.
A ₂ = A ₁ · g ^k (4)
Similarly to the capacity and the bath area of the farming tank subsequent third tank is also determined by multiplying the growth rate g ^k seaweed in capacity and bath area of the previous aquaculture tank.

  In the continuous culture apparatus 10 of this embodiment, by controlling the electric valves 16 of the transfer pipes 14a and 14b between the culture tanks before and after the culture tanks 12a, 12b and 12c, and the recovery pipes 16, Since the transfer of seaweeds and the transfer of seaweeds to the recovery tank 20 can be performed as an automatic operation, the transfer and automatic operation of these transfers can be performed. Further, by controlling the electric valves 16 of the water supply pipes 18a, 18b, and 18c, water can be automatically supplied to the culture tanks 12a, 12b, and 12c, so that automatic operation of water supply is also possible.

The transfer pipes 14a and 14b, the recovery pipe 16, and the electric valves 16 of the water supply pipes 18a, 18b, and 18c may be controlled by a manual switch and performed as a batch operation.
Furthermore, a manual valve may be used in place of each electric valve 16, transfer between tanks, transfer to the collection tank 20, and water supply to each tank may be performed by a manual batch operation.
The continuous aquaculture apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a three-stage culture tank 12, but includes a two-stage culture tank if the level difference between the tanks, the volume of each tank, and the tank area satisfy the above-described conditions. It may be a thing, and may consist of a multistage system of four or more stages.

  That is, the continuous aquaculture apparatus of the present invention is a plurality of aquaculture tanks that are sequentially expanded at a ratio defined by a function of the growth rate of seaweed to be cultivated, in which the area ratio or the volume ratio of the aquaculture tank to the latter aquaculture tank is If it consists of multi-stage culture tanks that are configured and the level of each culture tank from the first tank to the final culture tank is lowered in stages, the ground level of this multi-stage culture tank is the bottom level of the previous culture tank Is equal to the water level of the rear culture tank when the seaweed in the previous culture tank is transferred, or is higher than this water level by a predetermined height, i.e., higher than or equal to this water level. From the ratio of the area between the front and rear culture tanks and the bottom of each culture tank so that the equipment height of the entire multi-stage culture tank when the step between the culture tanks is provided is smaller, preferably minimum Adjust the height to the full water surface (tank height) There is a need.

For example, when the continuous culture apparatus of the present invention comprises an m-stage culture tank having m (an integer greater than or equal to 2) stages of culture tanks, the bottom of the i-th tank (i-th stage) culture tank to the full water surface. The height of the tank is H _i , the daily growth rate of seaweed is g, the number of culture days in the culture tank of the (i + 1) th tank (i + 1 stage) is k _{i + 1,} and the bottom level of the i-th tank is (i + 1) When the predetermined height higher than the water level of the stage culture tank is δ _{i + 1} (0 ≦ δ _{i + 1} ) and the equipment height of the entire multi-stage culture tank is TH, it is given by the following formula (5) It is necessary to adjust the area ratio between the front and rear culture tanks and the height of each culture tank so that the facility height TH to be obtained is smaller, and preferably minimized.
That is, the level difference between the preceding and following aquaculture tanks when the bottom level of the preceding aquaculture tank is the water level of the following aquaculture tank when the cultured seawater and seaweeds in the preceding aquaculture tank are transferred to the subsequent aquaculture tank _{Is the} required minimum step h _{0i + 1} , the bottom level difference between the i-th culture tank and the (i + 1) -th culture tank is set to a predetermined height δ as a margin from the required minimum step h _{0i + 1. Even when i + 1} (0 ≦ δ _{i + 1} ) is set to a level difference, the area ratio between the front and rear aquaculture tanks and each of the following formulas (5) are set so that the equipment height TH becomes smaller. It is necessary to adjust the height of the aquaculture tank.

Here, the predetermined height δ _{i + 1} , which is a margin, is the difference between the bottom surface of the previous culture tank and the water surface of the rear culture tank when all the cultured seawater and seaweed in the previous culture tank have been transferred. It is a difference and is a predetermined value of 0 or more that is set in advance, and may be a different value in each culture tank, for example, a different value according to the area and capacity (volume) of each culture tank, It may be a constant value in the culture tank. When the predetermined height δ _{i + 1} can be set to 0, the equipment height TH can be made smaller, preferably minimized.
The predetermined height δ _{i + 1} is, for example, a level difference of 2% or less with respect to the drainage direction of the cultured seawater provided on the bottom surface of the previous culture tank in order to promote drainage from the previous culture tank. Is preferable.

As described above, in the continuous culture device of the present invention, in order to transfer the seawater and seaweed in the previous culture tank to the subsequent culture tank almost completely or completely, the water level after the transfer is changed to the previous culture tank. Since it is necessary to be the same as or lower than the bottom surface of the tank, the above formula (1) representing the level difference h between the front and rear culture tanks in the three-stage culture tank 12 of the continuous culture device 10 shown in FIG. ) And (2) are the above-mentioned m-stage culture tanks, the capacity of the _i-th culture tank is V _i , the bottom area is A _i , the i-th culture tank and the i + 1-th culture tank If the level difference is h _{i + 1} , it is necessary to satisfy the following formula (6), and therefore it can be expressed by the following formula (7) using the predetermined height δ _{i + 1} .
h _{i + 1} ≧ V _i / A _{i + 1} = (A _i / A _{i + 1} ) · H _i (6)
h _{i + 1} = (A _i / A _{i + 1} ) · H _i + δ _{i + 1} (7)
The necessary minimum step h _{0i + 1} between the i-th culture tank and the i + 1-th culture tank is the case where δ _{i + 1} = 0 in the above formula (7), so the following formula (7 ′) Can be expressed as
h _{i + 1} = h _{0i + 1} = (A _i / A _{i + 1} ) · H _i (7 ′)

In this case, when the daily growth rate of seaweed is g and the number of days of cultivation in the i + 1 tank (i + 1 stage) culture tank is ki + 1, the above expression (3) is expressed by the following expression (8).
g ^{ki + 1} = V _{i + 1} / V _i = A _{i + 1} · H _{i + 1} / (A _i · H _i ) (8)
Therefore, the above formulas (7) and (7 ′) can also be expressed by the following formulas (9) and (9 ′), respectively.
h _{i + 1} = (H _{i + 1} / g ^{ki + 1} ) + δ _{i + 1} (9)
h _{i + 1} = h _{0i + 1} = H _{i + 1} / g ^{ki + 1} (9 ′)
Therefore, the facility height TH of the entire multi-stage culture tank is the tank height H ₁ of the first stage culture tank and the previous stage culture of each tank of the second to m-th culture tanks. Since it is the sum of the difference in level with the tank, it can be expressed by the above equation (5), and if the margin δ _{i + 1} is not taken into account, the minimum necessary equipment height of the entire multi-stage culture tank TH ₀ can be represented by the following formula (5 ′).

The facility heights TH and TH ₀ of the entire multi-stage culture tank represented by the above formulas (5) and (5 ′) are the tank height H _{1 of} the first-stage culture tank and the second-stage culture tank. To the m-th stage of the aquaculture tank, and the sum of the steps with the previous stage of the aquaculture tank, the above formulas (10) and (7) are used using the above formulas (7) and (7 ′). (10 ′).

Incidentally, equal tank height H _i of each aquaculture tanks aquaculture tanks m stages, when represented by H _i = H, the above formula (8) can be represented by the following formula (11).
g ^{ki + 1} = A _{i + 1} / A _i (11)
Therefore, the above formulas (5) and (10) representing the equipment height TH of the entire multistage culture tank can be represented by the following formula (12).

As described above, the facility height TH of the entire multistage culture tank that can be expressed by the above formula (5), (10), or (12) is determined depending on the environment in which the continuous culture apparatus of the present invention is installed. The level difference h _{i + 1} (= (H _{i + 1} / g ^{ki + 1} ) + δ _{i + 1} ) between the front and rear aquaculture tanks, or the area ratio between the front and rear aquaculture tanks so as to be low and preferably minimized By adjusting the tank height (for example, H _i ) from the bottom surface of each culture tank to the full water level (for example, A _{i + 1} / A _i ; accordingly, including the culture days k of each culture tank) The equipment height of the entire aquaculture tank can be made lower than the installation environment, the equipment can be made compact, and the equipment cost and the construction cost can be reduced. In the present invention, when the predetermined height δ _{i + 1} can be reduced to 0, the overall equipment height TH can be reduced, but it cannot be reduced to 0 due to the installation environment and the structure of the aquaculture tank. Of course, it is preferable to make it as small as possible.

By the way, in order to reduce the facility height TH of the entire multi-stage culture tank, the level difference h _i between the preceding and following stage culture tanks represented by the above formulas (6), (7) and (9) is reduced. Of course, the step h _i can be expressed as the sum of the necessary minimum step h _0i and the margin δ _i , so that the step h _i is defined as the minimum required range, for example, By making δ _i as a necessary minimum step h _0i and a margin to be added to this step, for example, below the step where the water gradient with respect to the drainage direction of the cultured seawater provided on the bottom surface of the aquaculture tank is 2% or less, It is preferable to reduce the equipment height.
Here, the water gradient with respect to the drainage direction of the cultured seawater provided on the bottom surface of the previous stage culture tank is set to a predetermined range, that is, a margin δ _i to be added to the minimum required level difference h _0i between the front and rear stage culture tanks. The reason why the level is limited to a level difference of less than or equal to% is to promote drainage or discharge of cultured seawater and seaweed from the previous culture tank without increasing costs.

A water gradient of 1-2% is sufficient for the drainage of water itself. In the present invention, seaweeds are mixed, so even if a significant gradient of 2% or more is actually applied, it cannot be said that some seaweeds remain unaffected by natural flow alone. However, there is no problem in practical use. Of course, complete discharge of seaweed requires human intervention or an intervention device, but the intervention device is not necessary because it increases costs.
That is, when attaching a step water gradient is 2 percent, it becomes difficult to reduce the overall equipment height, the water gradient to the minimum necessary level difference h ₀ which is 0%, the bottom surface of the preceding aquaculture tank This is because it takes a lot of manpower to completely discharge the remaining seaweed, or an intervention device or the like is required, resulting in an increase in cost.

In addition, as a result of conducting various experiments on the tank height H _i of each aquaculture tank, the present inventor has found that a water depth of about 1 m is the limit in the case of normal aquaculture, that is, each aquaculture It has been found that the tank height H _i of the tank is preferably 1 m or less. This is because the seaweed density at which seaweeds have a high growth rate is considered to be caused by a significant decrease in the growth rate because the amount of light is less than that required for photosynthesis in the region where the water depth exceeds 1 m.
Accordingly, in the present invention, to obtain a predetermined volume, and deep water depth, i.e. by increasing the tank height H _i of each aquaculture tanks, but can also be reduced bottom area, the above findings, It is preferable and effective to fix the water depth (tank height) to about 1 m and increase the tank area of each culture tank according to the growth rate. In the present invention, an interrelationship between the sizes of the respective culture tanks may be used as a volume reference, but it can be said that it is preferable to fix the water depth (tank height) and use the area reference.

From the above, in the continuous aquaculture apparatus of the present invention, the following aquaculture tank shape is preferable for improving the aquaculture efficiency.
The height of each culture tank is fixed (for example, about 1m as described above), and by determining the type of seaweed, and hence the growth rate, and the number of culture days, the area of each culture tank and the level difference between tanks (tank height) It is preferable to determine the total height of the equipment.
The continuous aquaculture apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is basically configured as described above.

(Second Embodiment)
FIGS. 2A and 2B are a cross-sectional view and a top view, respectively, schematically showing the schematic configuration of the seaweed multistage continuous aquaculture apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
2 (a) and 2 (b), the seaweed multistage continuous culture apparatus 30 has two culture tanks 12a1, 12a2 and 2nd tanks arranged in parallel in the first tank from the front to the rear. A four-stage aquaculture tank 32 comprising four stages of two aquaculture tanks 12b1 and 12b2, a third tank aquaculture tank 12c, and a fourth tank aquaculture tank 12d, and a first tank aquaculture tank 12a1 A transfer pipe 14a1 for connecting the bottom surface and the second culture tank 12b1, a transfer pipe 14a2 for connecting the bottom surface of the culture tank 12a2 and the culture tank 12b2, a bottom surface of the second tank 14b1, and a third tank 12c, a transfer pipe 14b1 that connects the bottom surface of the culture tank 12b2 and the culture tank 12c, and a transfer pipe 14c that connects the bottom surface of the culture tank 12c and the culture tank 12d.

The transfer pipe 14a1, the transfer pipe 14a2, the transfer pipe 14b1, the transfer pipe 14b2, and the transfer pipe 14c are provided with electric valves 16, respectively.
2 (a) and 2 (b), as in FIG. 1, the water supply pipes to each culture tank, the recovery tank provided after the final final culture tank 12d, and the final culture tank 12d Although it has the collection | recovery piping provided in the downstream and drainage piping, it is abbreviate | omitted in order to simplify description.

2 (a) and 2 (b) includes a four-stage culture tank 32. Compared to the continuous culture apparatus 10 including the three-stage culture tank 12 illustrated in FIG. Although it is different, the culture period of the first tank at the top is 2 days, it has two culture tanks 12a1, 12a2, the culture period of the second tank is 2 days, and it has two culture tanks 12b1, 12b2 The point is a feature.
As shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), when the culture days of the first tank and the second tank are two days, and the culture days of the third tank and the fourth tank are one day, Since a total of 6 days of cultivation is required until harvesting (collection), when the continuous aquaculture apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 is used as a four-stage culture tank, the third tank and the fourth tank are emptied one day at a time. Therefore, the production volume cannot be improved.

On the other hand, since the continuous culture apparatus 30 has this feature, it has two culture tanks 12a1 and 12a2 and two culture tanks 12b1 and 12b2 in the first tank and the second tank, respectively. Therefore, if the culture start of the culture tanks 12a1 and 12a2 is shifted by one day, the transfer between the culture tanks 12a1 and 12b1 and the transfer between the culture tanks 12a2 and 12b2 can be sequentially performed every two days. Moreover, the transfer between the culture tanks 12b1 and 12c and the transfer between the culture tanks 12b2 and 12c can be performed alternately every day.
For this reason, in the continuous culture apparatus 30, not only the culture tanks 12a1 and 12a2 of the first tank and the culture tanks 12b1 and 12b2 of the second tank, but also the days when the third tank and the fourth tank cannot be cultivated, the production volume is reduced. Can be improved.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 3: is sectional drawing which shows typically schematic structure of the multistage continuous culture apparatus of the seaweed concerning the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.
The seaweed multistage continuous culture apparatus 40 shown in FIG. 3 has a culture tank 12a3, 12a4 divided into two first tanks from the front stage to the rear stage, and a culture tank 12b3 divided into two tanks. , 12b4, a four-stage culture tank 42 comprising four stages of a third tank culture tank 12c and a fourth tank culture tank 12d, a bottom surface of the first tank culture tank 12a1, and a second tank culture tank 12b3 A transfer pipe 14a3 for connecting the bottom surface of the culture tank 12a4 and the culture tank 12b4, a transfer pipe 14b3 for connecting the bottom surface of the second culture tank 12b3 and the culture tank 12c of the third tank, It has a transfer pipe 14b4 that connects the bottom surface of the culture tank 12b4 and the culture tank 12c, and a transfer pipe 14c that connects the bottom surface of the culture tank 12c and the culture tank 12d.

The continuous aquaculture apparatus 40 shown in FIG. 3 is different from the continuous aquaculture apparatus 30 shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b) in that the first tank has two aquaculture tanks 12a1, 12a2 and 2nd tanks. Although it has two culture tanks 12b1 and 12b2 arranged in parallel, the first tank is divided into two culture tanks 12a3 and 12a4 and the second tank. Except for the difference in having tanks 12b3 and 12b4, they have exactly the same structure, so they can be cultivated in exactly the same way, and the production volume can be improved in exactly the same way. .
A continuous aquaculture apparatus 40 shown in FIG. 3 is a modification of the continuous aquaculture apparatus 30 shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b). The first tank and the second tank are made into one tank, and divided into two tanks by a partition. All tanks can be arranged in series. Since the productivity of the continuous aquaculture device 40 is the same as that of the continuous aquaculture device 30, it can be selected according to the restrictions on the site shape of the installation location.

2 and 3, in the four-stage culture tank, the second-stage culture tank in front of the third-stage culture tank 12c is composed of two culture tanks 12b1 and 12b2, or 12b3 and 12b4. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in a multi-stage culture tank, the preceding culture tank is divided into n (n is an integer) tank, or partitioned n with respect to the subsequent one culture tank. And connected between the rear culture tank and each tank of the previous culture tank, or between the rear culture tank and each chamber of the previous culture tank by the transfer pipe with an open / close valve. The volume of each tank of the multi-stage aquaculture tank should be n: 1 so that the ratio of the number of days until the seaweed transfer in the aquaculture tank and the ratio of the days until the seaweed transfer in the rear aquaculture tank are n: 1. You may adjust and comprise.
By doing this, the transfer of seaweed in the rear culture tank from each tank of the previous culture tank or each room of the previous culture tank can be opened and closed according to the number of days in the previous culture tank. By sequentially switching and opening and closing the valves, it is possible to operate by moving between a plurality of aquaculture tanks with different aquaculture days. Therefore, the utilization efficiency of the rear aquaculture tank can be increased, and the continuous aquaculture apparatus 1 The productivity of cultured seaweed per unit can be improved, and at least the seaweed cultivation time in the last stage of the tank can be adjusted to 1 day, producing seaweed continuously every day. can do.

In particular, the volume of each of the plurality of culture tanks in the multi-stage culture tank is adjusted so that the number of seaweed cultivation days in at least the first culture tank of the plurality of culture tanks is 2 days or more and 6 days or less. In particular, it is more preferable to adjust so that the number of seaweed cultivation days in at least the first culture tank is two days and the number of seaweed cultivation days in the last culture tank is at least one day.
By doing this, it is possible to shorten the number of days of cultivation in the same aquaculture tank, improve the yield per area, that is, the production volume, and harvest seaweed continuously every day, Can be produced.

The type of seaweed cultivated by the continuous culture apparatus of the present invention is not particularly limited. For example, laver that can be cultivated by floating in seawater in a culture tank is preferable. For example, non-disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 Implanted seaweeds are preferred, and among them, for example, Susioonori or Hosoeadaonori.
In the continuous culture device of the present invention, a spore conglomerate in which a plurality of spores of seaweeds are connected, or a spore agglomerate entangled with a spore germinated by these spores, or they may be supplied. The agglomerate mass may be cultured in a separate small water tank and grown to an appropriate size before being supplied. The spore agglomerates and germinated agglomerates are preferably used after being pulverized into small agglomerates having a diameter of 5 mm or less. The spore agglomerates and germinated agglomerates are produced, for example, by the method described in Patent Document 1.

In addition, as the aquaculture seawater used in the continuous aquaculture apparatus of the present invention, the type of seawater is not particularly limited as long as it can be used for aquaculture of seaweeds. For example, underground seawater, deep seawater, etc. are used. Is done. In addition, although general seawater can also be used, there are many cases where many impurities are contained, and there exists a possibility that the growth of seaweed may be inhibited. For this reason, when using general seawater, it is preferable to filter and use the contained impurities.
In addition, the seawater in each aquaculture tank of the multi-stage aquaculture tank of the continuous aquaculture apparatus of the present invention is bubbling (aeration) with a jet of seawater flowing down from the water supply pipe of each tank or air, carbon dioxide gas, carbon dioxide-containing air, etc. ), Etc., and is preferably swirled and swirled.

Below, the multistage continuous culture apparatus of the seaweed concerning the present invention is explained concretely based on an example.
(Example 1)
In the three-stage aquaculture tank 12 shown in FIG. 1, cultivation was carried out in a cycle of 6 days in total for 2 days for each tank, using Sujionori. Since the daily growth rate of Sugioonori was 1.4, the growth rate in 2 days was 1.4 ² = 1.96, and the volume ratio between the tanks was 1.96. In addition, the area ratio between the second tank and the first tank is 1.96, the area ratio between the third tank and the second tank is 1.96, and the height of each tank is 1 m. The overall equipment height TH of the tank 12 was kept low at 2.02 m (2.14 m even if the surplus δ of each aquaculture tank was added) compared to 3 m of the conventional method.

That is, in Example 1, the steps h ₂ and h ₃ are h ₂ = h ₃ = 1 / 1.4 ² = 0.510 m, and the overall equipment height TH is TH = 1 + 0.510 × 2 = 2. .02m.
In the conventional method, the overall equipment height TH is TH = 1 × 3 = 3 m.
Therefore, the reduction rate of the overall equipment height TH is 1-2.02 / 3 = 0.327, which is a reduction effect of 33%.
Note that the increase in level difference (level difference increment) δ ₂ and δ _{3 which} are margins are 1.96 × 0.02 = 0.039 m and 3.84 × 0.02 when the water gradient is 2%. = 0.077 m, and the total increase can be 0.116 m.
Assuming that 1 kg (wet weight) of seedlings to be introduced into the first tank, the seaweed weight after two days will be 1.96 kg, so the capacity of the first tank is 1.96 m ^3, and the second tank and the third tank Volume: The amounts were 1.96 × 1.96 = 3.84 m ³ and 3.84 × 1.96 = 7.53 m ³ , respectively. Moreover, the height (water depth) of each culture tank was 1 m, and the area of each tank was 1.96, 3.84, and 7.53 m ² , respectively.

Under these conditions, the culture was carried out for 6 days by changing every 2 days. As a result, 7.53 kg (wet weight) of sushi-onori could be harvested.
The unit area per day in the culture tank in this example was (7.53-1) / 2 / (1.96 + 3.84 + 7.53) = 0.245 kg / m ² / day.
Table 1 shows the size, arrangement, and results of each culture tank in Example 1 above.

For comparison, as a conventional method example, aquaculture with only one tank was also performed. In order to make the harvest amount the same level, the volume was 7.35 m ³ and it was cultured in the same aquarium for 6 days, but the harvest weight was 7.53 kg, which was almost the same as the above example, with respect to 1 kg of seaweed input weight. . As a result, the unit area and the amount of production per day were determined to be (7.53-1) /6/7.53=0.145 kg / m ² / day.
The productivity of Example 1 is 0.245 / 0.145 = 1.69 when compared with the conventional method in terms of unit area and production per day, which is about 1.7 times the productivity according to the present invention. Was found to improve.

(Example 2)
In the 4-stage aquaculture tank shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), using a squirrel, a cycle of 6 days totaling 2 days in the 1st and 2nd tanks and 1 day in the 3rd and 4th tanks. Farmed. The growth rate of Susioonori is 1.4 for 1 day and 1.96 for 2 days, so the volume ratio between tanks is 1.96 between tanks, 1.96, 2nd, 3rd tank, and 3rd, The interval between the 4th tank was 1.4.
In addition, the area ratio of the second tank and the first tank, the third tank and the second tank, and the fourth tank and the third tank is 1.96, 1.4, and 1.4, and the tank of each culture tank All the heights are 1m, and the total equipment height TH of the four-stage culture tank is 2.94m compared to 4m of the conventional system (3.05m even if the margin of each culture tank is added) As low as possible.
Since the transfer pitch is different between the front and rear stages, two tanks are installed in each of the first tank and the second tank so as to correspond to the daily transfer, and the second tank is between the second tank and the third tank. It was made to change alternately from.

In Example 2, the level difference h ₂ is h ₂ = 1 / 1.4 ² = 0.51 m, and h ₃ and h ₄ are h ₃ = h ₄ = 1 / 1.4 = 0.714 m. The equipment height TH is TH = 1 + 0.510 + 0.714 × 2 = 2.94 m.
In the conventional method, the overall equipment height TH is TH = 1 × 4 = 4 m.
Therefore, the reduction rate of the overall equipment height TH is 1-2.94 / 4 = 0.265, which is a reduction effect of 27%.
In addition, as increments (step increments) δ ₂ , δ ₃ and δ _{4 which} are margins, assuming a water gradient of 2%, 0.98 × 0.02 = 0.020 m, 1.92 × 0. 02 = 0.038 m and 2.69 × 0.02 = 0.054 m, and the total increase can be 0.112 m.

Assuming 1 kg (wet weight) of seedlings to be introduced into the first tank, from the same concept as in Example 1, the height (water depth) of each culture tank is 1 m, and the tank capacity is the first tank: 0.98 m ³ (× 2 tanks), 2nd tank: 0.98 × 1.96 = 1.92 m ³ (× 2 tanks), 3rd tank: 1.92 × 1.4 = 2.69 m ³ , 4th tank: 2 .69 × 1.4 = 3.76 m ³ .
Under this condition, it was changed every 1 day and every 2 days, and as a result of carrying out the culture for 6 days, 7.53 kg (wet weight) of sugioonori was almost harvested as targeted.
The unit volume in the aquaculture tank in this example and the production amount per day are (7.53-1) / (0.98 × 2 + 1.92 × 2 + 2.69 + 3.76) = 0.533 kg / m ³ / day. It became.
Compared with the conventional method, this productivity is 0.533 / 0.145 = 3.68 in terms of unit volume and production per day, and it was confirmed that the productivity was improved by about 3.7 times.
Table 2 shows the size, arrangement, and results of each culture tank in Example 2 above.

From the above Examples 1 and 2 shown in Tables 1 and 2, the effect of the present invention is clear.
As described above, the seaweed multistage continuous aquaculture apparatus according to the present invention has been described in detail with reference to various embodiments and examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and examples. It goes without saying that various improvements and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

10, 30, 40 Seaweed multi-stage continuous culture device 12 3-stage culture tank 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d Culture tank 14a, 14b, 14c Transfer pipe 16 Electric valve 18a, 18b, 18c Water supply pipe 20 Recovery tank 22 Recovery Pipe 24 Drainage pipe 26 Collection basket

Claims (8)

It consists of multiple aquaculture tanks that store cultured seawater and cultivate seaweeds, and the area ratio or volume ratio of the preceding culture tank to the latter culture tank is defined as a function of the growth rate of the seaweed to be cultured. A multi-stage aquaculture tank in which the level of each aquaculture tank from the first tank to the final aquaculture tank is lowered in stages,
A transfer pipe with an on-off valve that connects between the bottom of each culture tank and the rear culture tank;
It is configured to perform the transfer of seaweed between the front and rear aquaculture tanks by using the natural flow of the cultured seawater by gravity by opening and closing the valve of the transfer pipe connecting between them,
Make the bottom level of the previous culture tank equal to the water level of the rear culture tank when the seaweed in the previous culture tank has been transferred, or be higher by a predetermined height than the water level. So that the equipment height of the entire multi-stage culture tank becomes smaller when the step between the two culture tanks is provided, and the area ratio between the front and rear culture tanks and the height from the bottom of each culture tank to the full water level A multi-stage continuous aquaculture device for seaweeds, characterized by being adjusted. The installation level of the plurality of culture tanks is such that the bottom level of the preceding culture tank is equal to or higher than the water level of the rear culture tank, and the bottom level of the previous culture tank is the water level of the rear culture tank When the step between the front and rear aquaculture tanks is set as a necessary minimum step, the step between the front and rear aquaculture tanks is higher than the necessary minimum step by the predetermined height, and this predetermined height is set to the front culture. The facility height of the entire multistage culture tank is reduced as a level difference of 2% or less with respect to the direction of drainage of the cultured seawater provided on the bottom surface of the tank. Multi-stage continuous aquaculture equipment for seaweeds. Furthermore, it is connected to the aquaculture tank, and includes a discharge pipe whose pipe is opened and closed, and a seaweed collection basket installed at the lower part of the outlet end portion of the discharge pipe,
2. The seawater algae are collected and harvested by opening the discharge pipe when the seaweeds are transferred, receiving the seawater drainage from the final aquaculture tank with the seaweed collection basket. Or the multistage continuous culture apparatus of the seaweed as described in 2.   For the latter one tank, the first stage tank is composed of n (n is an integer) tank or divided n chambers, and each of the latter tank and the previous tank Or between the rear aquaculture tank and each chamber in the former aquaculture tank with the above-mentioned transfer pipe with an open / close valve, and the number of days for cultivation until the transfer of seaweed in the former aquaculture tank, and the rear aquaculture Transfer of seaweed in the rear culture tank from each tank of the previous stage culture tank or each room of the previous stage culture tank so that the ratio of the number of cultivation days until the transfer of seaweed in the tank becomes n: 1 According to the number of days of cultivation in the previous stage of the aquaculture tank, the opening and closing valves of the transfer pipe are sequentially switched and sequentially performed, thereby moving between a plurality of aquaculture tanks for operation. The multistage continuous culture apparatus for seaweed according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The capacity of each tank of the plurality of culture tanks is adjusted so that the number of seaweed culture days in at least the first culture tank of the plurality of culture tanks is 2 days or more and 6 days or less. Item 5. A multistage continuous culture apparatus for seaweed according to Item 4.   The capacity of each tank of the plurality of culture tanks is such that the number of seaweed cultivation days in at least the first culture tank of the plurality of culture tanks is two days, and the number of days of seaweed cultivation in the last culture tank is one day. The multistage continuous aquaculture apparatus for seaweed according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by being adjusted as described above.   The bottom surface of each of the plurality of culture tanks is provided with a water gradient with respect to the direction of drainage of the cultured seawater, and seaweeds are transferred at the time of transfer between the previous and next culture tanks. The multistage continuous culture apparatus for seaweed according to any one of the above. The height from the bottom of the i-th tank to the full water level is H _i , the daily growth rate of seaweed is g, the number of days in the i + 1 tank (i + 1) tank is k _{i + 1} , and the i- _th tank The predetermined height which is higher than the water level of the (i + 1) -th stage culture tank is δ _{i + 1} (0 ≦ δ _{i + 1} ), and the number of stages of the multi-stage culture tank is m, When the overall equipment height is TH, the area ratio between the front and rear aquaculture tanks and the height of each aquaculture tank should be adjusted so that the equipment height TH given by the following formula is minimized. The multistage continuous aquaculture apparatus for seaweed according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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