JP5987257B1 - Bioassay water tank system, bioassay device and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a bioassay tank in which dirt is efficiently removed from the entire monitoring tank by a water flow. The first and second switching water inlets 13 and 14 for generating a unidirectional and reverse vortex flow in the tank by water supply discharge are provided on one side of the two opposite sides, and the water outlet 15 is on the other side of the two side surfaces. The water is selectively discharged from the monitoring tank 10 whose bottom surface is inclined downward from one side to the other side of the two side surfaces and the first and second switching water inlets 13 and 14. A vortex flow control means 12 for periodically reversing the vortex flow and a waste tank 11 provided with a drain port 16 and connected to a water outlet 15 are provided.

Description

  The present invention controls a water tank system for a bioassay that judges the quality of water by monitoring the state of small fish released into a water tank that is constantly supplied from a water source, a bioassay device using the water tank system, and the water tank system. It relates to a computer program.

  Conventionally, an inspection method using a chemical reagent or the like is generally used as a method for monitoring the water quality of a water source such as a river, a reservoir, or a dam. However, the hazardous substances that can be detected with the reagent are limited, and specialized knowledge is required for handling the reagent. Therefore, there are various problems in daily monitoring of water quality by this method.

  On the other hand, recently, bioassays using small fish such as medaka have attracted attention as a method that can detect various harmful substances more easily and more easily. In bioassay, the state of fish in a water tank containing water collected from a water source is monitored. For example, in the fish acute toxicity test method stipulated in the OECD Test Guideline 203, fish that are higher-order consumers in the water-based food chain are targeted, and at least 7 fish are affected when exposed to the test substance for 96 hours. The number of deaths is measured from fish, and the half lethal concentration LC50 is obtained. When monitoring fish in a similar manner, it is necessary to periodically remove food waste and excrement from the aquarium to maintain the fish. For example, there are the following patent documents and the like as conventional techniques focused on the removal of such filth.

  Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe a water tank in which the bottom surface is inclined so that the drainage-side water depth is deeper than the inflow-side water depth to promote the discharge of filth from the drainage port. Patent Document 3 describes a water tank in which a sedimentation tank is provided on the bottom surface of the water tank, and the water sucked up from the sedimentation tank by an air lift pump is returned to the incoming water tank.

JP 2002-257815 A JP 2003-139964 A JP 2011-191101 A

  However, in the structure of the water tank as described in Patent Documents 1 to 3, in the strong water flow area, that is, in the vicinity of a straight line connecting the inlet and the drain in Patent Documents 1 and 2, from the vicinity of the precipitation tank in Patent Document 3. In this case, the filth is effectively removed, but the filth tends to remain in other areas. The present invention has been made paying attention to such a problem, and an object thereof is to provide a bioassay water tank, a bioassay apparatus, and a computer program that can remove dirt from the entire monitoring tank by a water flow.

  The bioassay water tank system according to the present invention is provided on one side of the two opposite sides of the first and second switching water inlets that cause a vortex flow in one direction and in the opposite direction in the tank by water supply discharge. A monitoring tank provided on the other side of the two side surfaces and having a bottom surface inclined downward from one side to the other side of the two side surfaces, and water supply and discharge selectively from the first and second switching water inlets It is characterized by comprising eddy current control means for periodically reversing the eddy current and a waste tank provided with a drain outlet and connected to the water outlet.

  The bioassay device according to the present invention comprises a dark box containing the bioassay water tank system, a camera device for photographing the monitoring tank from above, and an LED lamp for illuminating the photographing range of the camera device. Features.

  Further, the computer program according to the present invention is a computer program for controlling the bioassay water tank system, and performs processing for reversing the vortex flow by the vortex control means when filth accumulates in the monitoring tank more than a certain amount. It is characterized by performing.

  In the present invention, since the vortex flow in the monitoring tank is periodically reversed, dirt can be removed from the entire monitoring tank by the water flow.

It is a perspective view which shows the basic composition of the water tank system for bioassays which is an example of embodiment. (A), (b) is a top view which shows the monitoring state of the aquarium system shown in FIG. 1, and the cleaning state. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the basic control of an eddy current control means. (A), (b) is a perspective view which shows the monitoring state of the modification of a water tank system, and a cleaning state. It is a perspective view which shows the monitoring state of the bioassay water tank system which is another example of embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the cleaning state of the water tank system shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the bioassay apparatus comprised using the water tank system shown in FIG.

  FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of a bioassay water tank system as an example of the embodiment. As shown in the figure, the aquarium system 1 includes a monitoring tank 10 that maintains and monitors small fish, a filth tank 11 that communicates with the monitoring tank 10 and accumulates filth such as food residues and excrement, and a monitoring tank 10 that is unidirectional. And eddy current control means 12 for selectively generating a vortex in the reverse direction. The small fish to be monitored is assumed to be, for example, medaka (body length 2.5 cm or more).

  The monitoring tank 10 is a rectangular or elliptical container made of a resin such as acrylic, urethane, or ABS, glass, or metal, and may be integrally formed or a plurality of plates may be joined. The monitoring tank 10 is provided on one side of the two side surfaces where the first and second switching water inlets 13 and 14 that cause one-way and reverse vortex flows in the tank by water supply discharge, and the water outlet 15 It is provided at the bottom of the other side of the two side surfaces. The outlet 15 may be single or plural, and the opening shape is not particularly limited. The bottom surface of the monitoring tank 10 is inclined downward from one side to the other side of the two side surfaces. The first and second switching water inlets 13 and 14 and the water outlet 15 are provided with nets that do not allow passage of fish. The four corners of the monitoring tank 10 are formed with smooth curved surfaces. Here, it is assumed that about 7 to 15 small fishes are maintained in the monitoring tank 10, and therefore, the dimensions of the monitoring tank 10 are, for example, 20 × 30 cm square to 25 × 35 cm square, depth 4 What is necessary is just about centimeters-about 5 centimeters. At this time, the height difference of the inclination of the bottom surface may be about 1 cm. The shape and dimensions of the monitoring tank 10 are not limited to this, and may be freely selected according to the size of the fish and the number of solids.

  The filth tank 11 is also a bowl-shaped container made of a resin such as acrylic, urethane or ABS, glass or metal, and is connected to the monitoring tank 10 by a water outlet 15. The filth tank 11 may have a depth equal to or greater than that of the monitoring tank 10, but the shape and dimensions are not particularly limited. The waste tank 11 is provided with a drain port 16, and the water surface of the monitoring tank 10 and the waste tank 11 is defined by the overflow of the drain port 16.

  The vortex flow control means 12 is configured to periodically reverse the vortex flow in the monitoring tank 10 by selectively supplying and discharging water from the first and second switching water inlets 13 and 14. Although a specific shape and configuration are not particularly limited, for example, a monitoring tank 10 is connected to a tank or the like disposed higher than the monitoring tank 10 through a water channel, and a two-way valve for controlling water supply in the middle, three-way A valve or the like may be provided, or a pump may be provided in each of the water passages connecting the monitoring tank 10 and the tank or the like (not shown).

  A cylindrical eddy current stabilizing column 17 is erected at the center of the bottom surface of the monitoring tank 10. Therefore, when water supply is continuously discharged from either one of the first or second switching water inlets 13 and 14, it rotates clockwise around the vortex stabilizing column 17 corresponding to the first or second switching water inlet. Alternatively, a counterclockwise vortex is stably formed. Moreover, since each corner part of the monitoring tank 10 is a smooth curved surface (cylindrical surface), water does not stay in this part and a turbulent flow does not arise.

  The monitoring tank 10 is provided with a dead fish collection net 18 from the eddy current stabilizing column 17 toward the peripheral wall. The dead fish collection net 18 has a mesh size larger than the vertical area of the fish and smaller than the horizontal area. For this reason, fish are allowed to go swimming, but dead and inoperable fish are caught sideways. This makes it possible to identify dead and inoperable fish based on the position when monitoring fish. The arrangement of the dead fish collection net 18 may be selected from a place where a water flow is generated by water supply from the first or second switching water inlets 13, 14, for example, a place shown in the figure.

  In order to determine the water quality of the water source from the state of fish in the monitoring tank 10, it is necessary to keep the water quality of the monitoring tank 10 substantially equal to the water source. Therefore, the amount of water supplied to the monitoring tank 10 is preferably set to about 1 liter / minute to 2 liter / minute.

  Next, the operation mode of the aquarium system will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b). Elements common to FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals. The water flow is indicated by a broken line.

  FIG. 2A shows a monitoring state for monitoring fish, and the eddy current control means 12 supplies and discharges water from the first switching water inlet 13, and as a result, a clockwise eddy current is formed in the monitoring tank 10. . Fish basically swim in the upstream direction of the water stream. Himedaka, in particular, does not like strong water flow and tends to increase the number of individuals in areas with weak flow. In addition, the dead fish is flowed to the dead fish collection net 18 by the water flow and collected there.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (a), when a clockwise vortex is formed in the monitoring tank 10, the direction of the water flow and the direction in which the bottom surface is inclined downward are the same in the region A1, so Through the waste tank 11 and is kept clean. However, in the area A2, the direction of the water flow and the direction in which the bottom surface is inclined downward are reversed, so that the filth does not flow out into the filth tank 11 and easily remains in the monitoring tank 10. In this embodiment, the filth remaining in the region A2 is intended to flow out into the filth tank 11 by reversing the direction of the vortex flow in the monitoring tank 10.

  FIG. 2B shows a cleaning state in which the vortex flow for cleaning the monitoring tank is reversed, and the vortex flow control means 12 supplies and discharges water from the second switching water inlet 14. The eddy current control means 12 may be temporarily switched to this cleaning state after a predetermined time has passed in the monitoring state (for example, about 10 minutes per day). In the cleaning state, in the region A2, the direction of the water flow and the direction in which the bottom surface is inclined downward are the same, so that the filth remaining from the monitoring state can be poured out into the filth tank 11. In addition, what is necessary is just to remove the filth accumulated in the filth tank 11 suitably with a dropper or the like.

  Thus, if the eddy current in the monitoring tank 10 is periodically reversed, the filth can be removed from the entire monitoring tank 10 by the water flow. Therefore, it is not necessary to manually clean the monitoring tank 10 for a long period of time, and the stress of fish can be reduced. In addition, fish can be continuously monitored even in a cleaning state. The switching of the first and second switching inlets 13 and 14 may be performed automatically or manually.

  Alternatively, a state in which a clockwise vortex is formed in the monitoring tank 10 and a state in which a counterclockwise vortex is formed in the monitoring tank 10 are, for example, a first state in the morning and a second state in the afternoon. It may be switched alternately at regular intervals. Even in such a case, the same effect can be obtained.

  In addition, if the partition provided with the first and second switching water inlets 13 and 14 and the partition provided with the water outlet 15 of the monitoring tank 10 are configured to be removable, a full-scale cleaning operation can be easily performed. become.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of basic automatic control of the eddy current control means for periodically switching the first and second switching water inlets as described above. That is, the computer program for controlling the water tank system executes a process of inverting the vortex by the vortex control means when the filth accumulates in the monitoring tank more than a certain level by such automatic control. The amount of filth accumulated in the monitoring tank may be predicted from the passage of time or may be detected in real time by a sensor or the like. Here, as a simple example, assuming that a fixed amount of filth accumulates in 24 hours, the vortex is reversed every 24 hours.

  Steps 100 to 102 in the flowchart are processes for accepting a setting operation such as a time in advance. Specifically, step 100 accepts an operation for setting the current time (for example, 10:00). In step 101, an operation for setting a cleaning start time is received (for example, 23:45). In step 102, a cleaning end time setting operation is received (for example, 23:55).

  Steps 103 to 106 are automatic control processes based on the settings such as the time. Specifically, in step 103, the first switching water inlet is selected and water supply discharge is started therefrom. Thereby, a clockwise vortex is formed in the monitoring tank. Step 104 is a process of waiting until the cleaning start time comes. In step 105, the second switching water inlet is selected and water supply discharge from the second water inlet is started. This forms a counterclockwise vortex in the monitoring tank. Step 106 is a process of waiting until the cleaning end time is reached. When the cleaning end time is reached, the process returns to step 103 and the same automatic control process is repeated. According to such a control procedure, it is possible to automatically clean the monitoring tank by inverting the vortex of the monitoring tank for a certain time (for example, 23:45 to 23:55) at a fixed time every day.

  4 (a) and 4 (b) are perspective views showing a monitoring state and a cleaning state of a modified example of the water tank system. Elements that are the same as those in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted. This modification is characterized in that the first and second switching water inlets 13 and 14 are shared by a deflectable elbow 13A and that a conical eddy current stabilizing column 17 is provided.

  That is, in the monitoring state shown in FIG. 4A, the elbow 13A is deflected toward the left side of the water outlet 15, so that a clockwise vortex is generated in the monitoring tank 10. On the other hand, in the cleaning state shown in FIG. 4B, the elbow 13 </ b> A is deflected toward the right side of the water outlet 15, so that a counterclockwise vortex is generated in the monitoring tank 10. If the first and second switching water inlets 13 and 14 are configured as described above, the eddy current control means can be easily configured by a motor device M or the like that rotates the elbow 13A. If the conical eddy current stabilizing column 17 is adopted, the flow path of the eddy current near the bottom surface becomes narrow and the flow velocity becomes high. As a result, the filth can be efficiently discharged into the filth tank 11, and the strong water flow such as medaka Fish that don't like it will swim near the surface of the water where the flow is weak, so monitoring will be easier.

  5 and 6 are perspective views showing a bioassay water tank system as another example of the embodiment. 4 and 5 show the same aquarium system, but the former is in a monitoring state and the latter is in a cleaning state. Elements that are the same as those in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  This embodiment is characterized in that it includes a sedimentation tank 19 that precipitates and removes foreign substances from the water before water supply, and the configuration of the eddy current control means 12.

  The settling tank 19 is a four tank type made of resin such as acrylic, urethane or ABS, glass or metal. As shown in the figure, the sedimentation tank 19 is formed integrally with the monitoring tank 10, but may be a separate body, and its shape and dimensions are not particularly limited. A water inlet 26 is formed at the upper end of the first tank 19a of the settling tank 19 for introducing raw water transported from a water source by a pump or the like (not shown). Air bubbles generated when raw water falls from the water inlet 26 to the water surface of the first tank 19a provide sufficient aeration for the fish. The first tank 19a and the second tank 19b communicate with each other at the bottom of the partition wall between them, and the partition wall between the second tank 19b and the third tank 19c is slightly lower in height and the raw water overflows. It has come to get over. The 3rd tank 19c and the 4th tank 19d are connected by the bottom part of the division wall between them. In the upper part of the fourth tank 19d, a high water level overflow port 20 connected to the first switching water inlet 13 and a low water level overflow port 21 connected to the second switching water inlet 14 are formed. In this way, if the multi-tank settling tank 19 is used, sedimentation and floating foreign substances can be effectively removed from the water before being supplied to the monitoring tank 10, so that the monitoring tank 10 is kept clean and the fish There is no risk that monitoring will be hindered by foreign objects.

  The water passages 22 and 23 connecting the first and second switching water inlets 13 and 14 and the high water level and low water level overflow ports 20 and 21 can be constituted by, for example, a PVC pipe or a PV pipe. At this time, the vortex control means 12 may be configured to open and close the water passage 23 by, for example, an electromagnetic valve 24 or the like.

  Briefly explaining the eddy current control, the eddy current control means 12 closes the water passage 23 in the monitoring state, so that the water surface (see the broken line) of the fourth tank 19d becomes higher as shown in FIG. Water that has overflowed from the port 20 is discharged from the first switching water inlet 13 through the water passage 22. As a result, a clockwise vortex is generated in the monitoring tank 10. On the other hand, in the cleaning state, the vortex flow control means 12 opens the water passage 23, so that the water level (see the broken line) of the fourth tank 19 d is lowered as shown in FIG. 6 due to the overflow of the low water level overflow port 21. The overflow from the water level overflow port 20 stops, and the water that has overflowed from the low water level overflow port 21 is discharged from the second switching water inlet 14 through the water passage 23. As a result, a counterclockwise vortex is generated in the monitoring tank 10. Thus, if it is set as the structure which discharges feed water from the 1st, 2nd switching water inlets 13 and 14 using the height difference of the sedimentation tank 19 and the monitoring tank 10, the pump for feed water discharge etc. are not required. So the cost can be reduced. Further, since the vortex flow can be reversed by selecting the first and second switching water inlets 13 and 14 only by the electromagnetic valve 24, the vortex flow control is also easy.

  The waste tank 11 is provided with a plurality of drain ports 16 and 16. The drainage ports 16 and 16 may be overflow drainage ports having different heights, and the maximum drainage amount per hour may be varied according to the water level of the monitoring tank 10. Moreover, the filth tank 11 is good to partition the division 11a close | similar to the water outlet 15 and the remote division 11b by the partition corresponding to the minimum water level of the monitoring tank 10. FIG. At this time, the sample water collection port 25 and the like are suitably provided in the section 11b. This is because even if the sample water collection port 25 is opened accidentally, a problem such as the water level of the monitoring tank 10 being too low does not occur. The sample water collection port 25 may be connected to the sample water tank via a solenoid valve (not shown) or the like. In addition, in order to prevent the overflow from the monitoring tank 10, the filth tank 11, and the sedimentation tank 19, the amount of water introduced per hour from the raw water inlet 26 is determined from the first and second switching inlets 13 and 14. The maximum discharge amount per hour of water supply and the maximum drainage amount from the drain ports 16 and 16 must be kept lower.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a bioassay device configured using the water tank system shown in FIGS.

  The bioassay device 2 has a basic configuration in which the aquarium system 1 and the like are housed in a dark box 30 that can be opened and closed by front doors 30a and 30a. Specifically, the control device 31 is accommodated in the upper stage of the dark box 30, the aquarium system 1 is accommodated in the middle stage, and the sample water tank 32, the raw water supply pump (not shown), the heat exchanger (not shown), etc. are placed in the lower stage. Contained. A camera device 33 for photographing the monitoring tank 10, an LED lamp 34 for illuminating the photographing range of the camera device 33, and an automatic feeding device (not shown) are arranged above the monitoring tank 10. Furthermore, you may provide the fan apparatus etc. (not shown) which blow a cooling wind on the water surface of the monitoring tank 10 when water temperature is high. If LED lamp 34 is used for the illumination for imaging | photography, it will be energy-saving and the water temperature rise of the monitoring tank 10 will also be suppressed. Moreover, since the LED lamp basically irradiates light in one direction, only the monitoring tank 10 can be illuminated.

  If the entire aquarium system 1 is formed so as to exhibit low light reflectivity, reflection of light irradiated by the LED lamp 34 can be suppressed, and generation and growth of algae, phytoplankton, and the like can be suppressed. Specifically, the monitoring tank 10, the filth tank 11, and the sedimentation tank 19 may be formed of a low light reflective resin. Or you may apply | coat a low light reflective coating material to the surface of the monitoring tank 10, the waste tank 11, and the sedimentation tank 19. FIG. If at least the inner surface of the monitoring tank 10 illuminated by the LED lamp 34 is made to have low light reflectivity, the effect of suppressing the generation and growth of algae, phytoplankton, etc. can be obtained. The low light reflective resin or paint is preferably matte black, but may be dark blue or the like. Further, if the upper surface of the precipitation tank 19 is covered, the generation of algae and the like in the precipitation tank 19 can be completely prevented by the light shielding. Although the algae removal work is a serious work, the frequency of the work can be greatly suppressed in this way. Moreover, if the inner surface of the monitoring tank 10 is black, even when the water is contaminated, image processing for the captured image of the camera device 33 is possible, and fish monitoring can be continued.

  The control of the bioassay device 2 is substantially automated by a computer. That is, the control device 31 includes a computer board that executes a predetermined control program, and drives and controls the electromagnetic valve, the raw water supply pump, the automatic feeding device, and the like that constitute the vortex flow control means 12. Further, the temperature of the water in the monitoring tank 10 is monitored by a temperature sensor, and a heat exchanger, a fan and the like are controlled to maintain an appropriate temperature (for example, 21 to 25 degrees). In addition, the camera device 33 and the LED lamp 34 are operated, and a predetermined image processing is performed on the photographed video to accumulate the history of the number of fishes. If a water quality abnormality is judged, an alarm is sounded and transferred to an external device. Anomaly notifications such as For example, when an abnormality occurs such that half of the fish die within 72 hours, sample water is collected from the monitoring tank 10 and stored in the sample water tank 32.

Brief description of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bioassay water tank system 2 Bioassay apparatus 10 Monitoring tank 11 Soil tank 12 Eddy current control means 13 First switching inlet 14 Second switching inlet 15 Outlet 16 Drain outlet 17 Eddy current stabilizing column 19 Precipitation tank 20 High water level Overflow port 21 Low water level overflow port 22 Water conduit 23 Water conduit 30 Dark box 33 Camera device 34 LED lamp

Claims (7)

In a bioassay aquarium system that judges the quality of water by monitoring the state of small fish released to a monitoring tank that is constantly supplied from a water source,
The first and second switching water inlets that produce a unidirectional and reverse vortex flow in the tank by water supply discharge are provided on one side of the two opposite sides, and the water outlet is provided on the other side of the two side surfaces, A monitoring tank whose bottom surface is inclined downward from one side to the other side of the two side surfaces;
Eddy current control means for periodically reversing the eddy current by selectively supplying and discharging water from the first and second switching water inlets;
A bioassay water tank system comprising a waste tank provided with a drain outlet and connected to the water outlet. The bioassay tank system according to claim 1,
A bioassay water tank system, wherein a conical eddy current stabilizing column is erected at the center of the bottom surface of the monitoring tank. The bioassay tank system according to claim 1 or 2,
Further comprising a settling tank for precipitating and removing foreign matter from the water before being fed to the monitoring tank,
The bioassay water tank system, wherein the eddy current control means is interposed in a water conduit between the sedimentation tank and the monitoring tank. The bioassay tank system according to claim 3,
The settling tank is formed with a high water level overflow port connected to the first switching water inlet and a low water level overflow port connected to the second switching water inlet,
The eddy current control means includes an electromagnetic valve in a water conduit between the low water level overflow port and the second switching water inlet. The bioassay tank system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The bioassay water tank system, wherein the monitoring tank exhibits low light reflectivity. A bioassay tank system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A bioassay device comprising: a camera device for photographing the monitoring tank from above; and an LED lamp for illuminating a photographing range of the camera device in a dark box. A computer program for controlling the bioassay tank system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A computer program for executing a process of inverting a vortex by the eddy current control means when filth accumulates in the monitoring tank for a certain amount or more.

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