JP7085626B2 - Methods of air supply and water circulation in fish farms and fish farms. - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method of supplying air and circulating water in a fish farm and a fish farm. The fish farm is equipped with a float collar equipped with a net. The net is closed at its top by a lice control skirt that extends partially along the net. In addition, the fish farm is provided with an air supply device arranged at the bottom of the net to supply compressed air. As a result, the water flow composed of air bubbles and water inside the net and water sucked into the inside of the net from the surrounding sea rises. Water is sucked into the net from the surrounding sea through the underflow area under the lice control skirt.

There are several challenges in the fish farming industry. Some of them include lice (parasites), fish escape, environmental emissions, sludge, copper net spread, mortality, coverage, health and safety and operating costs.

Also, lack of circulation due to fjord stagnation can lead to oxygen-deficient water in fish farms. Sewage and feed residues from excrement collect under the installation site. Therefore, it is necessary to move the installation location.

Lice outbreaks are a continuing challenge, especially in high water levels. Lice breed most at the upper water level. Lice populations decrease at deeper waters.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1991-154698 shows that it is known to form an ascending stream of water by supplying a gas containing oxygen to the lower part of a fish farm. Oxygen is supplied to the water, and the water circulates in the fish farm. US Pat. No. 4,798,168 refers to closed farms known to extract excess water from the top of closed fish farms. From Norwegian Patent No. 34270, a method of replacing the upper water layer of a fish farm provided with means to prevent water infected with lice from entering the net cage, for example, a fish farm with a lice skirt and The device is known. This method involves removing water from the upper water layer with the help of at least one fixture installed in a fish farm and equipped with a water drainage device. There, the removed water is replaced by fresh water that penetrates the fish farm through or from the underside of the lice control skirt. Norwegian Patent No. 20160386 (corresponding to International Publication No. WO2017155414) discloses fish farms for fish farming. This fish farm has a float collar that floats on the surface of the water, a net that is attached to the float collar to hold the farmed fish, and is also attached to the bottom ring of the water, and surrounds the net and descends into the water of the bottom ring. Equipped with a skirt that extends to the upper area. Multiple tiltable flow setters with float collars are tightly coupled to each other and are placed upright inside the net. Each flow setter has an elongated vertical suction pipe with a lower inlet located in the area under the lower hem of the skirt to suck water, and water, primarily at the top, into the upper water mass of the net water. Is provided with a horizontal outlet for distributing and rotating the upper water mass.

Purpose of the invention

According to the present invention, a semi-closed fish farm is provided in which an air system for generating an ascending water flow is integrated at the bottom of the fish farm. The fish farm has closed sides and bottom, but has a large opening at the bottom, sucking water below the typical lice habitat.

At the top, the fish farm is provided with a fine slit that can be adjusted. The slit can enter the water and close completely opposite the tide and wind. All or part of the slit can be closed automatically in response to prevailing wind and tidal conditions. The pipe effect formed efficiently creates an upward vertical flow. It sucks in the fresh water at the bottom and drains it at the top of the fish farm.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of air supply and water circulation in fish farms and semi-closed fish farms, and to prevent lice from invading the fish farms.

This allows us to find new areas of aquaculture that are not suitable for today's solutions.

The main reason for supplying air is to create a circulation with the secondary effect that oxygen from the air dissolves in the water. According to the present invention, excess oxygen can be supplied to the air or pure oxygen can be used.

A preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention is described in the independent claims. On the other hand, another embodiment is described in the relevant dependent claim.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, a method of supplying oxygen and circulating water in a fish farm is provided. The fish farm has a float collar with a net. The net is partially closed in the upper area by a lice control skirt that extends down along the net. The method comprises the following steps: supply of compressed air at the bottom of the net. The formation of an ascending stream due to air bubbles and water inside the net, and water sucked into the net from the surrounding sea. Water is sucked into the net from the surrounding sea in the permeation area under the lice control skirt. In addition, this method provides compressed air to the bottom of the net in the area adjacent to the bottom ring away from the center of the net and also drains water to the surrounding sea in the area above the lice control skirt. include. Here, the water is drained into the surrounding sea through the slit between the lice control skirt and the float collar.

This slit can extend around the fish farm and under the float collar. There the slits facing the prevailing winds and tidal conditions are closed.

The slit skirt can be raised and lowered to close the portion of the slit facing this prevailing wind and tidal situation.

Alternatively, the slit skirt can be displaced horizontally to close the portion of the slit facing this prevailing wind and tidal situation.

Alternatively, water can be drained into the surrounding sea through one or more drainage pipes located under or in the float collar. This drainage pipe can be opened and closed depending on the prevailing wind and tidal conditions.

Compressed air at the bottom of the net can be supplied in the form of one or more perforated pipes, hoses, or mats connected to the air compressor with the help of an air supply device.

The air supply device can be installed in an area away from the center of the net.

The air supply device can be installed near the wall of the net.

In addition, the air supply device can be installed near the bottom ring fixed to the bottom of the net.

The net should be closed at the bottom.

The water flow of the fish farm can be adjusted by changing the air supply and / or the slit opening at the top of the fish farm. In a further embodiment, the height of the opening in the area of the net under the lice control skirt through which water can flow can be adjusted. Thereby, the water depth for sucking water from the surrounding sea into the inside of the net can be selected.

Desirable embodiments of fish farms according to the invention are described in the independent product claims. On the other hand, another embodiment is described in the relevant dependent claims.

According to the present invention, there is also a fish farm provided with a float collar with a net fixed to the bottom ring at the bottom and the net in the lower region is closed by a funnel-shaped part. In addition, the fish farm is equipped with an air supply device located in an area adjacent to the bottom ring and away from the center of the net. The air supply device is set to supply compressed air to the bottom of the net. Thereby, bubbles and water from the net, and water sucked into the net from the surrounding sea form an ascending stream. Here, water is sucked into the net from the surrounding sea in the area that runs under the lice control skirt. The fish farm also has one or more openings for draining water into the surrounding sea in the area above the lice control skirt.

The air supply device can be one or more perforated pipes, tubes, or mats connected to the air compressor to form rising air bubbles.

The part of the slit facing the prevailing wind and tidal conditions can be closed by raising and lowering the slit skirt with respect to the fish farm.

Alternatively, the portion of the slit facing the prevailing wind and tidal conditions can be closed by horizontally shifting the slit skirt around the fish farm.

In addition, the fish farm can be equipped with a water flow sensor and a wind sensor set for automatic adjustment of the slit skirt.

The fish farm can also be equipped with a large number of sensors in the form of temperature sensors outside and / or inside the fish farm. The sensor is installed to regulate the pumping of water to the fish farm.

The preferred embodiment shall be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The cross-sectional view of the fish farm by this invention seen from the inside of a fish farm is shown. The fish farm according to this invention in an open position is shown. A fish farm according to the present invention in a partially open position is shown.

The present invention provides a fish farm in which air is introduced at the bottom to generate an ascending stream. If there is no permanent bottom and water is drained from the top, the water typically flows into the lower side of the lice control skirt, perhaps the bottom. The lice control skirt creates a pipe effect that facilitates water flow and prevents lice from entering from the top and sides.

FIG. 1 shows a basically traditional fish farm 10 equipped with a float collar 12. If possible, a net 14 for fish farming is hung from this fish farm. The lice control skirt 16 is located around the top of the net 14 to prevent the flow of water that may contain lice. The net 14 may have a bottom ring 22 and a closed funnel-shaped component 28 with a waste outlet 24 attached to the bottom.

The lice control skirt 16 means a skirt or cover that surrounds and closes the top of the net 14 to prevent the passage of water.

The lice control skirt 16 is arranged so that the upper end is mainly located on the same plane or near the surface of the surrounding seawater, and a slit 20 or an opening is formed between the lice control skirt 16 and the float collar 12. .. The net 14 is not covered between the bottom of the lice control skirt 16 and the bottom ring 22 because it is provided by a region that allows for water flow.

The desired area below the area where water can flow between the lice control skirt 16 and the bottom ring 22 is in the form of one or more perforated pipes, hoses or mats provided to release compressed air. There is an air supply device 18. This pipe or hose can consist of compartments formed in a ring or arranged at the bottom of the fish farm. It is desirable that the air supply device 18 is not placed in the center of the net, but also in the area near or adjacent to the bottom ring 22, that is, near the wall of the net 14.

The air supply device 18 is connected to, for example, an air compressor capable of supplying compressed air at a pressure of 2 to 8 bar depending on the water depth.

By supplying compressed air to the lower part of the net 14 with the help of the air supply device 18, the ascending water flow is due to water, bubbles 30, water inside the net 14 and water sucked into the net 14 from the surrounding sea. It is composed. The bubbles 30 are dragged along the rising water. Water is also sucked into the net 14 from the surrounding sea in the penetrating area under the lice control skirt 16 and contributes to the increase in upward water flow, as indicated by arrow A in FIG. The water is then drained into the surrounding sea in the area above the lice control skirt 16, as indicated by arrow B in FIG. In this way, the pipe effect that causes water to flow out from the fish farm 10 is set.

The slit formed between the lower part of the lice control skirt 16 and the opening at the lower part of the net 14 can be adjusted, if necessary, to select the depth at which water is sucked into the net 14. .. This adjustment can be made by fixing the lower part of the lice control skirt 16 or another cloth (not shown) to a rope hanging from the float collar 12 into the sea. With the help of the winch and the rope, the lice control skirt 16 or the bottom of the cloth can be pulled up or down. If a separate cloth is used, this can be a full cover cloth. Alternatively, the cloth that can be raised and lowered can have a ring-shaped groove or slit with an opening for water.

Due to the pressure of the fish farm 10 formed by the supplied compressed air and the rising water flow, the water level in the fish farm becomes sufficiently higher than the surrounding sea water level, and the water in the fish farm flows out through the slit 20.

The flow of water can be adjusted by changing the air supply and / or slit 20 at the top of the fish farm.

On the side of the fish farm 10 facing the prevailing wind and tidal conditions, there is a risk of water entering through the slit 20 from the surrounding sea. Therefore, the slit 20 can be closed for prevailing wind and tidal conditions. This can be done, for example, by using a slit skirt 26 that is attached to the float collar 12 and can be raised and lowered. The slit skirt 26 can include several compartments that can be automatically driven up and down so that the slit 20 is closed in the required area. Alternatively, it can be imagined that the slit skirt 26 is suspended from the float collar 12 and automatically displaced horizontally to cover the portion of the slit 20, ie, the portion facing the prevailing wind and tidal conditions, if necessary. .. The slit adjustment can be done automatically in that the water flow sensor and the wind sensor control which side of the fish farm has the open slit.

Slit skirt means a cover or closure that allows the slit 20 to be closed as needed. The slit skirt 26 can be composed of a cloth, a piece of cloth or a hard plate material arranged so as to be on the outside, the inside, or both sides of the lice control skirt 16.

In another embodiment (not shown), the lice control skirt 16 can be arranged such that the upper edge is fixed to the float collar 12. Under the lice control skirt 16, between the bottom rings 22, the net 14 is not covered, thus forming a region through which water can flow. A large number of drainage pipes are arranged in or under the float collar 12 to drain water from the top of the fish farm 10. If the wind and tide conditions are very stable, only one drainage pipe can be considered. However, in practice, it is more appropriate to use multiple drainage pipes that are spaced apart from each other around the fish farm. These can be opened and closed for prevailing winds and tidal conditions. Otherwise, the function and method are as described above.

Further, the fish farm 10 can be provided with means for adjusting the water temperature of the fish farm. For example, a plurality of sensors in the form of temperature sensors outside and / or inside the fish farm 10 can be used to regulate the pumping of water into the fish farm. In summer, the water on the surface of the sea can get too warm, so cold water can be pumped from the depths. This adjustment can also be performed by pumping colder water and by adjusting the depth at which the water is pumped. In winter, the water on the surface of the sea gets too cold, so warmer water can be pumped from deeper layers. This adjustment can be done by pumping warmer water. This adjustment can also be performed by adjusting the depth at which water is drawn. Such adjustments provide better welfare and better growth conditions for the fish throughout the year in that the temperature is as optimal as possible.

Claims (17)

Oxygen in a fish farm (10) comprising a float collar (12) with said net (14) closed in the upper region by a lice control skirt (16) partially extending downward along the net (14). It is a method of supply and circulation of water.
The method comprises supplying compressed air to the lower part of the net (14).
A step of forming an ascending stream by the water inside the bubbles (30) and the net (14) and the water sucked into the net (14) from the surrounding sea.
A step is provided in which water sucked into the net (14) from the surrounding sea passes through a penetrating area under the lice control skirt (16).
The supply of the compressed air at the bottom of the net (14) is near the bottom ring (22) and away from the center of the net (14).
The drainage of water into the surrounding sea is in the area above the lice control skirt (16) and is routed through the slit (20) between the lice control skirt (16) and the float collar (12). Characterized by being sick
A method of supplying oxygen and circulating water in a fish farm (10). The slit (20) extends around the fish farm (10) under the float collar (12) to close the portion of the slit (20) facing the prevailing wind and tidal conditions. The method according to claim 1, which is characterized. The method according to claim 1, wherein the slit skirt (26) is moved up and down to close the portion of the slit (20) facing the prevailing wind and tidal conditions. The first aspect of claim 1, wherein the slit skirt (26) is horizontally displaced around the fish farm (10) to close the portion of the slit (20) facing the prevailing wind and tidal conditions. the method of. The air supply in the form of one or more perforated pipes, hoses or mats connected to the air compressor so that the supply of compressed air at the bottom of the net (14) forms bubbles (30) that rise upwards. The method of claim 1, characterized in that it is performed with the help of device (18). The method according to claim 5, wherein the air supply device (18) is arranged in a region away from the center of the net (14). The method of claim 5, wherein the air supply device (18) is located near the wall of the net (14). 5. The method of claim 5, wherein the air supply device (18) is located near the bottom ring (22) connected to the bottom of the net (14). The method of claim 1, wherein the net (14) is closed at the bottom. The first aspect of the invention, wherein the water flow of the fish farm (10) is regulated by changing the air supply and / or the opening of the slit in the upper part of the fish farm (10). the method of. The height of the opening of the penetrating region of the net (14) under the lice control skirt (16) is adjusted to allow water to be drawn into the net (14) from the surrounding sea. The method according to claim 1, wherein the water depth can be adjusted. The lower part is connected to the bottom ring (22) and is closed by a funnel-shaped part at the lower part and by the lice control skirt (16) which partially extends downward along the net (14) at the upper part. A fish farm (10) equipped with a float collar (12) provided with the net (14).
Compressed air is supplied to the lower part of the net (14), so that bubbles (30) rising upward and a flow of water inside the net and water sucked into the net (14) from the surrounding sea flow. With an air supply device (18) formed so that the water passes through the permeating area under the sill control skirt (16) and is sucked into the net (14) from the surrounding sea. ,
The air supply device (18), characterized in that it is located in a region close to the bottom ring (22) and away from the center of the net (14).
A ring-shaped, adjustable slit (20) provided beneath the float collar (12) that can close at least one facing prevailing wind and tidal conditions to control lice. A fish farm (10) further comprising one or more openings (20), characterized in draining water into the surrounding sea in the area above the skirt (16). 12. The air supply device (18) is one or more perforated pipes, hoses or mats connected to an air compressor for forming bubbles (30) rising upwards, claim 12. The described fish farm (10). 12. The fish farm (10) is characterized in that the portion of the slit (20) facing the prevailing wind and tidal current conditions can be closed by raising and lowering the slit skirt (26). The fish farm (10) described in. Claims characterized in that the portion of the slit (20) facing the prevailing wind and tidal conditions can be closed by horizontally shifting the slit skirt (26) around the fish farm (10). Item 12 The fish farm (10). The fish farm (10) according to claim 14 or 15, further comprising a water flow sensor and a wind sensor for automatically adjusting the slit skirt (26). Claims comprising a number of sensors in the form of temperature sensors on the outside and / or inside of the stork (10), wherein the sensors are configured to coordinate the pumping of water to the stork. Item 12 The fish farm (10).

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