MXPA98005675A - Molus fluidized bed production - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for the cultivation of ground-based bivalve molluscs using fluidized bed technology in which oysters are fed tadpole or shrimp pond water, which is filled with the appropriate types of seaweed for molluscs . The fluidized bed can incorporate a structure column constructed in a base tank that serves as a water container for the tadpole or shrimp pond. The base tank is connected to a tadpole or shrimp pond water source through a series of tubes. Pumps draw water from a tadpole or shrimp pond and force it into the base tank. Alternatively, the force of gravity can be used to feed the base tank of the tadpole or shrimp pond. Additionally, a drain pipe is attached to the tank to eliminate wastewater depleted in nutrients. A regulator is also provided to regulate the flow of fluid from the base tank into the vertical column at a rate to suspend the adult bivalve molluscs in the flow of fluid in the column.

Description

MOLLUSC FLUIDIZED BED PRODUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The current methods of production of oysters and bivalve molluscs are of extensive labor, adding to the cost of production. They have to produce algae to feed the oysters. The oysters also have to be cleaned and moved. At present two different systems are used: traditional farming systems, which maintain oysters in natural environments; and land-based farming systems, which maintain oysters in artificial environments. Traditional oyster farming systems include the bottom method, the balsa method, the long line method and the shelf method. The background method is the simplest and the least expensive. Developed for 200 years, oysters are placed in the bottom of fishing areas near the banks. The bottom should be hard to prevent the shells from being buried. That method is hampered by low productivity. The method of the raft uses rafts made of trunk, for example, from 10 to 15 meters in length, which lie parallel to each other approximately 1.5 m. of separation "and are attached by tie wires to lateral beams. The side beams suspend the oyster seed or spawn of the raft. The rafts are held end to end in series, with one end anchored to prevent them from traveling far away.

/? "'The long line method is a modification of the raft method, using a series of floats anchored at each end.The ropes connecting the floats and the chains are suspended from the ropes and hold the oysters. uses sticks or wooden trunks nailed to the bottom, the poles support a shelf structure joined by horizontal sticks, from which the chains are held to suspend the oysters in seed.The land-based cropping systems consist of four components plO These include: obtaining water, growing algae, cultivating oysters and removing residual water, however, no land-based oyster aquaculture system has achieved commercially viable companies in the U.S . 15 The upward flow of water in a cylinder or tank for the suspension of solid particles has been used for the growth of oyster seed or spawn. Typically a large tank has cylinders attached to its side. A pump extracts water mixed with food from the tank and force inside the cylinders that hold the seed of oyster or spawn. After reaching a specific size, the oyster seed or spawn should be removed and placed in an alternate aquaculture system. Existing methods are constantly treated for disease, such as MSZ and dermo. The time and cost of the food make the low cost of effective production difficult. It has been estimated that 40% to 50% of the cost of oyster aquaculture is in the production of food, and the other 30%, it takes the job. Using traditional methods takes approximately 3 years to develop an oyster from seed to market size. The meat-shell ratio for an oyster of that type is approximately 12%. This presents shortage problems and supply fluctuations. The present invention solves the problems inherent with current oyster culture processes. In addition, traditional farming systems spend almost 30% of labor production costs, including cleaning and moving oysters. Previous land-based aquaculture systems spend 40 to 50% of the cost of production on food. Using traditional methods it takes approximately 3 years to develop a seed oyster at market size. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present production process for oyster culture uses fluidized bed technology that feeds oysters with tadpole or shrimp pond water, which is filled with the right types of algae for vivalves. While the new method has been perfected with the cultivation of oysters, can be used with another filter that feeds bivalve molluscs, such as clams, cockles, mussels, etc. Fluidized bed technology is used to grow oysters in a column of upward flow of water. 5 In fluidized bed technology, fluidization is observed when a bed of solid particles, in this case, adult oysters makes contact with an ascending vertical flow, at an intermediate interval of flow rates. At low flow rates or ratios, the solid particles are lying on top of each other and on the porous bottom of the column; it is said that they are in a fixed state. At high speeds or ratios, the solid particles are transported out of the column and this is known as hydraulic transport. For intermediate values, in a sufficient interval large for practical purposes (of the order of 1:10 at least), each particle becomes suspended individually in the fluid bed, while in the whole the bed remains mf without movement in relation to the walls of the column; it is said that the bed is fluidized. Using bed technology fluidized, one can produce young oysters of 2 grams in six weeks, and the oysters of half shell premiun of commercial size of 55 grams in less than seven months. Additionally, oysters help reduce the effluent problem of shrimp farms, which has been identified by the seafood aquaculture industry as one of the biggest problems that must be solved to establish a greater J ^ shrimp hatchery industry in many areas. Fluidized bed processes require little work. It is estimated that six people can produce 2 million 5 oysters of commercial size per year. This can reduce labor costs by almost 20%. Because tadpole or shrimp pond water is used to feed, food is almost free, saving another 40-50% in production costs. The disease poses less of a threat when the fluid bed technology is used, because the bed can be drained and fresh water can be introduced to kill the bacteria without threatening the lives of the molluscs or significantly altering their environments. The present invention provides half shell oysters premium grade per year. Using the fluidized bed method, an oyster can grow to commercial size in approximately 7 months and has a meat-shell ratio of 16%, thus establishing the supply. The fluidized bed may incorporate a structure column constructed on a base tank that serves as a container for tadpole or shrimp pond water. The base tank is connected to a tadpole pond water source through a series of tubes. Pumps draw water from a tadpole or shrimp pond and force it inside the base tank. Alternatively, can the force of gravity be used to feed the base tank of the pond of * Éj? tadpole or shrimp. The flow of water from the shrimp farm is measured, thus enabling valves to be adjusted to control the flow in the base tank and in the column. Shut-off valves are provided at the source of the tadpole or shrimp pond and at the base of the tank with the flow sensor and the flow control valve provided between them. An alternative means of varying the flow can be provided between the base tank and the vertical column, in this case a pump could force the water coming from the base tank up into the vertical column. Both the first medium and the second medium can be used in conjunction. In any case, the water is forced from the base tank up into the vertical column at a velocity where the oyster beds are suspended individually in the water of algae, bacteria, and water rich in other nutrients supplied from the source. Together, the bed remains without * * movement in relation to the walls of the column. A fluidization detector means is incorporated in the column to detect the environment in which the oysters are being cultivated. In a preferred embodiment, the column incorporates a vertical inspection window and a visual manometer used to determine the pressure of the fluid flow in the column. An overflow valve drains any excess water at the top of the column. In this way, an operator can manually adjust the fluid flow by varying the flow through the flow control valve or by varying the output of the pump from the base tank. An alternate mode could provide an automatic pressure sensor within the 5 column, which could detect deviations within the column and inform the operator of deviations, and automatically alter the fluid flow in the column by adjusting the base tank pump or the flow control valve. The overflow serves to drain any excess jj &; Or water away from the column. The valve can be activated manually or automatically from a sensor and can again lead in the base tank to a drain pipe leading away from the fluidized bed, or both. In the latter case, a valve could be selectively enabled to where the overflow could go. Through these various modalities, various trajectories of circulation can be selected. In a Wtf modality, the culture water could be pumped through the open valves of the inlet tube inside the tank base closed and up in the column, out of the overflow valve and in the drain outlet in a continuous mode to continuously feed the oysters with fresh nutrients. Alternatively it may be possible to replenish or replenish the base tank by opening the inlet pipe and subsequently close the inlet and outlet tubes. A pump in the base tank could extract water from the tank and f > pump it into the column to circulate the nutrients in the water column at the desired speed, while the overflow valve could continuously recycle the overflow back to the tank until nutrients, bacteria and algae are depleted. At that point, the depleted water is drained while the oysters are provided with water loaded with tadpole or shrimp pond nutrients or are discharged with clean water to inhibit or kill any 'JkS.0 bacteria development. Exhausted water exiting through the drain or overflow channel and / or base tank can be diverted back into the shrimp hatchery where it can serve as a replenishment for shrimp aquaculture. This way, an ecosystem is created between the culture of oyster and shrimp. The system can be replenished through the fresh water access pipeline. jf It is not beyond the scope of the present invention to control the entry and exit of water within the bed fluidized through the use of a computer. Sensors linked to several critical points in the system, such as the shrimp hatchery source, the inlet pipe, the vertical column or the base tank, could provide data related to the flow velocity, pressure within the vertical column, pH values, nutrient impregnation and other relevant aspects of the hatchery. The data could be compiled by the computer and compared to know the desired values, thus allowing the immediate instruction for the operators or automatically adjusting pumps, valves, medicines or other nutrient jets, pH balancers, etc. to achieve the desired environment for oysters. The values desired to vary the aspects of the environment can differ on the seed cycle or spawn at maturity, the evolution values provided in a program allow automatic alterations in several stages by means of the computer. The provision of a computerized system could also eliminate the labor cost, and could minimize or eliminate costs of human error. In a preferred embodiment, the column is a cylindrical structure built on a base tank that circulates the water of the shrimp farmer rich in algae, bacteria and other nutrients through a system of tubes and valves. When an oyster bed is fluidized in this way, the oysters are suspended individually in the feedwater and do not touch each other. These conditions are maintained continuously, oysters grow from seed or spawn at 55 grams in less than 7 months. Although sprouting has been used in hatcheries for seed or oyster spawn, the fluidized bed technology differs significantly and has not been applied to hatcheries or oyster culture. The invention discloses a closed facility based on land for the production of bivalve molluscs in a fluidized bed using tadpole or shrimp pond water. The facility comprises a vertical column built on a base tank 5 that circulates tadpole or shrimp pond water from a pipeline and pump system. The base tank pumps the tadpole or shrimp pond water upward into the vertical column at certain speeds, allowing the solid particles in the column to be suspended individually in the fluid flow. In the set, the bed remains without relative movement with the walls of the column. At low speeds, the solid particles in the vertical column lie one on top of the other and at the bottom of the column, and at high speeds the fluid becomes a hydraulic transport, pushing the solid particles out of the column. The column itself has a vertical inspection window and an overflow valve that drains excess water in the column. Attached to the base tank is a site manometer used to determine the flow pressure of fluid inside the column. Preferably, the tube that carries tadpole or shrimp pond water to the base tank has two shut-off valves, one located near the base tank and the other located near the main water supply. The The pipe also has a flow control valve and a flow sensor located between the two shut-off valves. 'wj Attached to the opposite side of the base tank is a drain. The tadpole or shrimp pond water contains the algae, bacteria and other nutrients necessary for the growth of oysters in the fluidized bed column. These and other objects and features of the invention are apparent in the disclosure, which includes the foregoing and following written specification, with the claims and drawings. J THE BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a typical ground-based system. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the ease of the fluidized bed. Figure 3 is a side view of the column showing the bed in a fluidized state. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the ease of the fluidized bed and pond of tadpole or shrimp. Figure 5 is a side view of the base tank and the vertical column with fluidized oysters in the vertical column. DESCRIPTION DETAIL OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to Figure 1, a land-based aquaculture system is shown using a windmill 1 power generator to energize the pumps (B 3, which draws water from the ocean 15. Pumps 5 send seawater through the gutters 7 to the algae nursery 5.

The algae nursery 5 mixes the algae grown in the nursery 5 with the ocean water. The algae-rich water from the algae nursery 5 is then sent through a system of gutters 7 mixed with water pumped directly from the ocean through the gutters 7. Seawater rich in algae and seawater are emptied from the gutters in a storage tank 11 of the oysters. The water rich in algae is distributed through the accommodation tank 11 by means of the gutters in the channels. The water rich in algae runs on the oysters kept in the trays 9 housed in the accommodation tank 11. The oyster trays 9 are stacked one envelope the upper part of the other and the water is filtered through the trays 9 to the bottom of the housing tank 11. The water in the bottom of the housing tank 11 is emptied into a tank ^ É of wastewater disposal 13. The wastewater disposal tank 13 uses seaweed to filter seawater Extra rich in algae and returns the water to the ocean 15 through the pumps 17. Referring to Figure 2, in the present invention the base tank is shown at 2 with the vertical column 4 secured to the roof of the base tank by means of Bolts He The large base tank is closed and pressurized to provide uniform flow to the fluidized bed column 4. A visual pressure fS meter 6 is placed on the roof of the base tank, near the vertical column 4. The water supply pipe 8 is connected to the base tank 2. A drain 10 is attached to the base tank 2 opposite the water supply pipe 8.

The water supply tube 8 comprises two shut-off valves 12, a flow control valve 14, and a flow sensor 16 between the two shut-off valves 12. The column of the fluidized bed 4 further comprises an inspection window 20 and '^ L0 an overflow valve 18. The tadpole or shrimp pond water is pumped from the source directly or indirectly via a pressurization tank through the water supply pipe to the base tank 2. A flow control valve 14 is set to send a predetermined amount of tadpole or shrimp pond water necessary to maintain a sufficient amount of water in the base tank 2 for the fluidization of the bivalve molluscs in the vertical column 4.

* A flow sensor 16 monitors the water flow through the water supply pipe 8. The shutoff valves 12 are located adjacent to the base tank and on the other side for the flow control valve to stop the flow to base tank 2 when desired. The pump or pressure source provides the pressure differential shown on the visual manometer inside the base tank 2 forces the tadpole or shrimp pond water upward into the vertical column 4 at predetermined average flow rates. A low speed could allow the bivalve molluscs to rest one on the other and on the bottom of the vertical column, while a high settling velocity could push the bivalve molluscs out of the vertical column 4, acting as a hydraulic transport. As shown in Figure 3, a medium velocity settlement suspends bivalve molluscs in fluid flow. The bivalve molluscs 21 remain motionless in relation to the walls of the vertical column 4 while the algae, bacteria and nutrients in the pond water of tadpole or shrimp flow around the molluscs, allowing them to feed. Mollusks can be touched randomly to each other or touch the sides of the vertical column 4 while in the fluidized state, but the animals can not bear the weight of their neighbors. The flow is facilitated, suspension is provided and the shells are easily opened to feed as a filter. Referring to Figure 4, an inspection window 20 allows bivalve molluscs to be monitored and monitored by the workers. The visual pressure meter 6 monitors the water pressure from the base tank 2 inside the vertical column 4. An overflow 18 maintains the water level of the vertical column 4 by releasing the constantly flowing water. The tank roof can be opened or closed. A removable enclosure is preferred to allow harvesting and cleaning. The harvest can be carried out by lifting a stainless basket disposed in the column, or by increasing the flow rate to hydraulically transport the commercial size oysters through an overflow. The bottom of the column is foraminous to provide uniform flow in a preferred embodiment. Alternatively diverter or funnel shapes can be used to divert and promote flow throughout the entire bed. An outlet 10 allows the base tank 2 and the vertical column 4 to drain for ease of cleaning, for the introduction of fresh water into the vertical column 4 to clean the bivalve molluscs for disease prevention, or for removal of bivalve molluscs. A raised tadpole or shrimp pond 22 feeds pond water from tadpole or shrimp 23 to base tank 2 through the water supply pipe 8. 20 The flow of tadpole or shrimp pond water through the pipeline Water supply 8 is controlled by two shut-off valves 12, a flow control valve 14 and a flow sensor 16. Figure 5 shows a side view of the base tank 25 2 and the vertical column 4. The inspection window 20 in the vertical column 4 shows the oysters in a fluidized state. The tadpole or shrimp pond water in the base tank 2 flows downwardly into the vertical column 4 at a constant pressure, causing the oysters in the vertical column to be suspended independently without resting on top of each other or on the base of the vertical column 4, and remaining motionless relative to the walls of the vertical column 4. The surface of the pond water of tadpole or shrimp in the vertical column 4 is shown in 24. The pond water of tadpole or shrimp in the base tank it is maintained at a certain pressure, as shown schematically in the visual manometer. The tadpole or shrimp pond water from the base tank 2 is pumped up into the vertical column 4. The suspended oysters 15 are fed into the tadpole or nutrient-rich shrimp pond water as it flows around them. Fresh shrimp nursery water is pumped continuously from tank 2 into vertical column 4, and the water used is discarded through the overflow valve 18. While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, modifications and variations of the invention can be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the following clauses.

Claims (20)

1. What is claimed is: CLAIMS 1. - An apparatus for the production of ground-based bivalve molluscs, comprising: a closed and pressurizable base tank; a vertical column of fluidized bed connected to the upper part of the base tank; a water fountain tadpole or shrimp pond; a source of pressure connected to the water source; a water supply pipe attached to the pressure source and to the base tank to carry the tadpole or shrimp pond water from the pressure source to the base tank, - a drain attached to the base tank, - and a regulator to regulate the Fluid flow from the base tank into the vertical column at a rate to suspend the adult bivalve molluscs in the fluid flow in the column.
2. 2. - The invention according to claim 1, further comprising an inspection window in the vertical column and further comprising an overflow valve near the top of the vertical column.
3. 3. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the pressure source comprises a pump for circulating tadpole or shrimp pond water through the base tank and through the vertical column.
4. 4. - The invention according to claim 1, - further comprising two first and second closing valves in the main water supply pipe, the first between the regulator and the base tank and the second between the regulator 5 and the inlet of the tank. water supply, the regulator comprises a flow control valve in the main water pipe, and further comprising a flow sensor between the two shut-off valves.
5. 5. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the drain for the release of water in the base tank is located at the bottom of the base tank opposite the water supply line.
6. 6. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the pressure source comprises a pump for circulating water from the source to the base tank by means of the water supply line.
7. 7. - The invention according to claim 1, wherein the pressure source comprises a pump for circulating water from the base tank in the vertical column, and in which the regulator is a flow control valve for supplying a Stationary fluid flow in the fluidized bed column to suspend the bivalve molluscs in the vertical column.
8. 8. The invention according to claim 7, further comprising a pressure gauge for determining the pressure in the base tank under the vertical column. B ^
9. 9.- The invention according to claim 1, wherein the fresh water can be replaced by pond water of tadpole or shrimp to rinse and clean the 5 bivalve molluscs for the prevention of diseases.
10. 10. A method for the production of bivalve molluscs in an earth-based facility, comprising: circulating tadpole or shrimp pond water from a base tank upward into a vertical column containing adult bivalve molluscs; pipe the water from a tadpole or shrimp pond source to the base tank; suspend the bivalve molluscs in the vertical column; 5 measure the pressure in the base tank; drain the water through a drain attached to the side of the base tank; . release excess water from the vertical column through an overflow attached to the vertical column; 0 regulate the flow of pond water from tadpole or shrimp to the base tank; and measuring the flow of pond water from tadpole or shrimp to the base tank by means of a flow sensor located between the regulator and the base tank.
11. 11. The method according to claim 10, comprising producing bivalve molluscs in pond water jA of tadpole or nutrient-rich shrimp.
12. 12. The method according to claim 10, substituting tadpole or shrimp pond water with fresh water in the base tank and in the vertical column to rinse and clean the mollusks.
13. 13. - A fluidized bed production facility of land-based consumable bivalve molluscs, comprising a vertical fluidized bed to cultivate and ta.O individually suspend the mollusks to make them mature, a tadpole or shrimp pond water source to feed the mollusks, and a flow control means to regulate the flow of tadpole or shrimp pond water upwards in the fluidized bed.
14. 14. The fluidized bed according to claim 13, further comprising a closed column of sufficient size to maintain the mature molluscs, a | tank attached to the bottom of the column to feed tadpole pond water or shrimp to the column, an inlet for 20 supplying tadpole or shrimp pond water to the base tank from the tadpole or shrimp pond water source, and an outlet attached to the tank for removal of nutrient-depleted nursery water.
15. 15. The apparatus according to claim 14, 25 further comprising an inspection window in the closed vertical column to view the mollusks individually suspended wk, a visual manometer connected to the base tank, and a flow control connected to the fluidized bed, said control comprises a regulator for regulating the flow of fluid within the vertical column at a rate to suspend the bivalve molluscs with water currents within the column, and an overflow near the top of the vertical column.
16. 16. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a flow sensor within the apparatus for measuring the velocity of the water flow within the column, and a flow control connected to the inlet to control the water velocity at through the column.
17. 17. The apparatus according to claim 16, 15 where the flow sensor is connected to a pipe that feeds the base tank below the vertical column, and the flow control is a regulator in the pipeline that feeds the BM base tank and vertical column.
18. 18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the flow sensor is positioned in said inlet between the pond water source of tadpole or shrimp and the base tank, and the flow control means incorporates a valve. of adjacent flow control or a drain at the base tank outlet.
19. 19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the inlet further comprises two shut-off valves, one in the base tank and the second in the tadpole or shrimp pond water source, the flow sensor and the Flow control valve between the two shut-off valves.
20. 20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the water is fed from the tadpole or shrimp pond and is forced through gravitation to the supply inlet and out through the base tank and the vertical column. DISCLOSURE OF THE DISCLOSURE A method and apparatus for the cultivation of bivalve molluscs based on soil that uses fluidized bed technology in which oysters are fed with water from 5 tadpole or shrimp pond, which is filled with the right kinds of algae for molluscs. The fluidized bed can incorporate a structure column constructed in a base tank that serves as a water container for the tadpole or shrimp pond. The base tank is connected to a source 10 pond water tadpole or shrimp through a series of tubes. Pumps draw water from a tadpole or shrimp pond and force it into the base tank. Alternatively, the force of gravity can be used to feed the base tank of the tadpole or shrimp pond. 5 Additionally, a drain pipe is attached to the tank to eliminate waste water depleted in nutrients. A regulator is also provided to regulate the flow of fluid from the base tank into the vertical column at a rate to suspend the adult bivalve molluscs in the fluid flow or in the column. GIVES?