NO324024B1

NO324024B1 - Method and apparatus for simplified operation of wells for use in farming

Info

Publication number: NO324024B1
Application number: NO20052933A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Leif Gjelseth; Steinar Torvik; Arnfinn Hide
Original assignee: Mmc Tendos As
Priority date: 2005-06-15
Filing date: 2005-06-15
Publication date: 2007-07-30
Also published as: NO20052933D0; CL2008001793A1; NO20052933L

Description

Den foreliggende oppfinnelse vedrører en fremgangsmåte og anordning for forenklet drift av en tank for oppdrett eller mellomlagring av akvatiske organismer, som angitt i innledningen av respektive selvstendige krav 1 og 7. The present invention relates to a method and device for simplified operation of a tank for breeding or intermediate storage of aquatic organisms, as stated in the introduction of respective independent claims 1 and 7.

Reservoar, slik som oppdrettsmerd, bur eller lignende anordninger, for oppdrett av fisk eller andre akvatiske organismer, skal tømmes når organismene er klare til det tilsiktede bruk. I denne søknad vil det som et eksempel hele tiden nevnes fisk, mens andre organismer som reker, hummer, krabbe, osv., kan tenkes brukt. Med det tilsiktede bruk menes at fisken kan være stor nok til slakt, at den skal overføres til et annet reservoar eller område, eller andre anvendelser. Når et slikt reservoar skal tømmes for fisk brukes det ofte brønnbåter. En brønnbåt er en båt med et reservoar eller tank for mellomlagring av for eksempel fisk. Vann suges opp fra for eksempel en oppdrettsmerd, hvorved følgelig også fisk i vannet blir sugd opp, og ført til tanken på brønnbåten. Samme prinsippet brukes også for mellomlagring av for eksempel fisk i en tank på land. Reservoirs, such as breeding pens, cages or similar devices, for breeding fish or other aquatic organisms, must be emptied when the organisms are ready for their intended use. In this application, fish will always be mentioned as an example, while other organisms such as prawns, lobsters, crabs, etc., can be used. Intended use means that the fish may be large enough for slaughter, that it is to be transferred to another reservoir or area, or other uses. When such a reservoir is to be emptied of fish, well boats are often used. A well boat is a boat with a reservoir or tank for temporary storage of, for example, fish. Water is sucked up from, for example, a breeding cage, whereby also fish in the water are sucked up, and taken to the tank on the well boat. The same principle is also used for intermediate storage of, for example, fish in a tank on land.

Dagens brønnbåter har vanligvis firkantede brønner som tar vannet inn ved forsiden, og ut ved baksiden. Tankens form og design i slike kjente løsninger er slik at det er vanskelig å oppnå en homogen vannkvalitet, og det er gjerne slik at det beste vannet finnes nærmest inntaket i forkant. Dette fører til at fisken ikke finner et fast van-dringsmønster, men svømmer hele tiden rundt på jakt etter det beste vannet. Når dette befinner seg nær veggen i forkant av brønnen/tanken vil fisken svømmer fremover til den møter veggen og den er nødt til å snu. Ny fisk kommer hele tiden bakfra, og dette fører til unødig mye aktivitet. Fisketankene har gjerne en lengde på over 20 meter, og det er vanskelig å få til en jevn vannfordeling i hele tankens lengde. Today's well boats usually have square wells that take the water in at the front and out at the back. The shape and design of the tank in such known solutions is such that it is difficult to achieve a homogeneous water quality, and it is often the case that the best water is found closest to the intake at the front. This leads to the fish not finding a fixed migration pattern, but constantly swimming around in search of the best water. When this is near the wall in front of the well/tank, the fish will swim forward until it meets the wall and it has to turn. New fish constantly come from behind, and this leads to an unnecessary amount of activity. The fish tanks are often over 20 meters long, and it is difficult to achieve an even distribution of water throughout the entire length of the tank.

Ved mottaks- eller mellomlagringsanlegg for levende fisk er det vanlig at det anordnes ventemerder som fisken oppbevares i før den slaktes. Dette kan være et problem med hensyn på høy temperatur om sommeren, forurensing og plass. Når landbaserte tanker eller brønnbåter skal tømmes åpnes et utløp, som oftest ved bunnen, slik at vann og fisk strømmer ut, på vei til neste steg i prosessen de brukes i. For å få ut all fisk brukes det i noen utførelser av kjente løsninger en vertikal trengeskott som beveger seg horisontalt mot den side der utløpet er anordnet, og som dermed tvinger fiskene til den riktige side av tank/brønn. Ulempen med dette er at fisk kan svømme i den øvre delen av tanken, og ikke komme i nærheten av utløpet, hvorved det ikke oppnås en fullstendig tømming. Død fisk som kan befinne seg i tanken kan også flyte ved vannoverflaten eller ligge på bunnen. En måte å tømme mer fisk på er å bevege en andre, horisontale, trengeskott nedover når den første vertikale trengeskott er flyttet nesten helt fra den ene til den andre siden av tanken, for å så tvinge fisk og eventuelle død fisk eller andre rester nedover. For å få en fullstendig tømming trenges det etterfølgende igjen minst én tredje, vertikal, trengeskott for å tvinge fisk, død fisk, og rester til den side der utløpet er anordnet. Denne prosessen, hvis brukt i det hele tatt, er nokså tungvint og har tendens til å fungere noe unøyaktig og upålitelig på grunn av de mange deler eller delsystemer som trenges for å fungere bra. At reception or intermediate storage facilities for live fish, it is common for waiting cages to be arranged in which the fish is kept before it is slaughtered. This can be a problem with regard to high temperatures in summer, pollution and space. When land-based tanks or well boats are to be emptied, an outlet is opened, most often at the bottom, so that water and fish flow out, on their way to the next step in the process in which they are used. In order to get all the fish out, some versions of known solutions use a vertical bulkhead which moves horizontally towards the side where the outlet is arranged, and which thus forces the fish to the correct side of the tank/well. The disadvantage of this is that fish can swim in the upper part of the tank, and not get close to the outlet, whereby a complete emptying is not achieved. Dead fish that may be in the tank may also float at the surface of the water or lie on the bottom. One way to empty more fish is to move a second horizontal bulkhead down once the first vertical bulkhead has been moved almost all the way from one side of the tank to the other, forcing fish and any dead fish or other debris down. In order to obtain a complete emptying, at least one third, vertical, bulkhead is subsequently needed to force fish, dead fish and remains to the side where the outlet is arranged. This process, if used at all, is rather cumbersome and tends to operate somewhat imprecisely and unreliable due to the many parts or subsystems required to function well.

Fra NO 310131 er det kjent med en fremgangsmåte og anordning for å forflytte levende fisk, hvor det benyttes et horisontalt bevegelig trengeskott. From NO 310131, a method and device for moving live fish is known, where a horizontally movable bulkhead is used.

Formålet med den foreliggende oppfinnelsen er å tilveiebringe en raskere, mer nøyaktig og lettere kontrollerbar tømming av en tank for mellomlagring av levende akvatiske organismer, og å dermed sikre en forbedret måte å losse brønnbåter og lagertanker på. Et ytterligere formål er å tilveiebringe forbedrede vannfordelings forhold i en slik tank, noe som bidrar til en fullstendig uttømming av fisk, død fisk, og andre rester. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a faster, more accurate and more easily controllable emptying of a tank for the temporary storage of living aquatic organisms, and thus to ensure an improved way of unloading well boats and storage tanks. A further purpose is to provide improved water distribution conditions in such a tank, which contributes to a complete depletion of fish, dead fish and other remains.

Formålet oppnås på følgende måter. Når fisken skal losses ut av tanken vil en trengerist føre fisken nedover mot bunnen hvor det er anordnet to profiler på høykant. Når trengeristen kommer ned til overkant av disse, vil det som er igjen av fisk i tanken ligge mellom bunnen og underkant av trengeristen. Den ene profilen på høykant vil da starte å rotere om senterristen og dermed skyve foran seg fisken mot utløpet. Det er mulig å anordne prinsippet på en slik måte at profilene på høykant kan være i toppen av tanken, og lossetrakten plassert oppe. Lossing vil da starte med trengeristen i bunnen, og denne vil trenge fisken oppover mot lossetrakten. På denne måte kan det også oppnås en dobbelvirkende trengerist. Uansett er tanken full av vann hele tiden og det er trengeristen som trenger fisken sammen for optimal lossing. System som fører inn vannet bygges på en slik måte at det oppnås en homogen og god vannkvalitet, samt en rundstrømning. Dette vil sikre maksimal fylling av fisk i forhold til volum på tanken. Ved å bygge tankene sirkulære, eller tilnærmet sirkulære, og sette rotasjon på vannet som strømmer inn, vil all fisken kunne svømme rolig mot strømmen uten å møte veggen, noe som kan bidra til motstanden under tømmingen av tanken blir mindre. The purpose is achieved in the following ways. When the fish is to be unloaded from the tank, a penetration grate will guide the fish downwards towards the bottom, where two profiles are arranged on high sides. When the grating comes down to the upper edge of these, what is left of the fish in the tank will be between the bottom and the lower edge of the grating. The one profile on the high side will then start to rotate around the center grate and thus push the fish in front of it towards the outlet. It is possible to arrange the principle in such a way that the high profile profiles can be at the top of the tank, and the unloading funnel located above. Unloading will then start with the penetration grate at the bottom, and this will penetrate the fish upwards towards the unloading funnel. In this way, a double-acting needling grid can also be achieved. In any case, the tank is full of water all the time and it is the needer who needs the fish together for optimal unloading. The system that brings in the water is built in such a way that a homogeneous and good water quality is achieved, as well as a circular flow. This will ensure maximum filling of fish in relation to the volume of the tank. By building the tanks circular, or nearly circular, and putting rotation on the water that flows in, all the fish will be able to swim calmly against the current without meeting the wall, which can contribute to the resistance during the emptying of the tank being less.

En foretrukket utførelse av fremgangsmåten i følge oppfinnelsen er kjennetegnet ved det selvstendige krav 1, mens foretrukne alternative utførelser er kjennetegnet ved de uselvstendige kravene 2-6. A preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterized by the independent claim 1, while preferred alternative embodiments are characterized by the non-independent claims 2-6.

En foretrukket utførelse av anordningen i følge oppfinnelsen er kjennetegnet ved det selvstendige krav 7, mens foretrukne alternative utførelser er kjennetegnet ved de uselvstendige kravene 8-12. A preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized by the independent claim 7, while preferred alternative embodiments are characterized by the non-independent claims 8-12.

Oppfinnelsen skal nå beskrives ved bruk av de vedlagte figurer, hvori: The invention will now be described using the attached figures, in which:

Figur 1 viser en utførelse av foreliggende oppfinnelse. Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention.

Figur 2 viser tilsvarende utførelse med trengeskottet i en nedre og øvre stilling, respektiv. Figure 2 shows a corresponding design with the bulkhead in a lower and upper position, respectively.

Figur 3 viser et nærmere utsnitt av oppfinnelsen. Figure 3 shows a closer section of the invention.

I bunnen av tanken er det anordnet en første oppadragende profil (8). Det er anordnet en tilsvarende profil (9) som kan rotere om en senterrist, som er anordnet rundt et utløp i midten av tanken. Når trengeristen (10) når sin nedre posisjon vil underkanten av denne ligge veldig nær overkanten av profilene (8 og 9) som i dette øyeblikk ligger tett sammen. Den roterende profilen (9) vil nå begynne å bevege seg i sirkelen og dermed trenge all fisk/organismer, samt død fisk og eventuelle andre rester eller forurensninger, foran seg inntil den når sitt endepunkt på en slik måte at det dannes en kanal (11) mellom profilene (8 og 9). Denne kanalen (11) er tettere på oversiden og sidene på en slik måte at det kan føres vann inn i enden som er nærmest senteret av tanken. Vannet vil da strømme gjennom kanalen (11) og fisken/organismene, samt eventuelle rester, som måtte befinne seg her blir ført ut gjennom utløpet ved enden av kanalen (11). På denne måten kan man oppnå en fullstendig tømming av fisk/organismer, død fisk og rester/forurensninger fra tanken. At the bottom of the tank there is a first upwardly extending profile (8). A corresponding profile (9) is arranged which can rotate around a central grate, which is arranged around an outlet in the middle of the tank. When the crossbar (10) reaches its lower position, the lower edge of this will lie very close to the upper edge of the profiles (8 and 9) which at this moment are close together. The rotating profile (9) will now start to move in the circle and thus need all fish/organisms, as well as dead fish and any other residues or contaminants, in front of it until it reaches its end point in such a way that a channel is formed (11 ) between the profiles (8 and 9). This channel (11) is denser on the top and sides in such a way that water can be introduced into the end which is closest to the center of the tank. The water will then flow through the channel (11) and the fish/organisms, as well as any residues that may be present here, will be taken out through the outlet at the end of the channel (11). In this way, a complete emptying of fish/organisms, dead fish and residues/pollution from the tank can be achieved.

Prinsippet er bl.a. godt egnet til bruk om bord i brønnbåter, landbasert oppdrett, eller til landbaserte lagertanker for fisk/levende organismer. En jevn fordeling av vannet inn i tanken sikrer en homogen vannkvalitet der fisken / organismene har mest plass. Den jevne fordeling av vannet, samt strømningen i vannet bidrar til at fisken er roligere og at vannet er av samme kvalitet gjennom hele tanken, noe som er svært fordelaktig både ved lagring og under uttømming. Tanken er rund eller tilnærmet rund, og det anordnes ett eller flere innløp for vann til en fordelingskanal som kan for eksempel ligge omtrent midt på tanken rundt hele tankens omkrets. Det anordnes én eller flere vertikale kanaler både oppover og nedover fra fordelingskanalen. I de vertikale kanalene anordnes det rister som har tilpasset lysåpning slik at vannet som strømmer inn i tanken opparbeider et mottrykk over risten. Dette sikrer god fordeling av vannet i hele tankens høyde. Vannet vil dermed strømme nokså jevnt inn i tanken fra topp til bunn, og det blir en jevn strøm innover mot senter i tanken der en rist (8) for vannutløp anordnes. På innsiden av én eller flere av ristene kan det anordnes et spjeld som kan reguleres ut og inn, og dermed reguleres farten på vannet som strømmer gjennom ristene. Disse spjeldene vil dermed kunne styre vannstrømmen slik at en rotasjon oppnås i tanken. Rotasjonen kan økes/minkes ved å regulere spjeldene inn og ut, og en optimal strømning kan oppnås i forhold til fisken/ organismenes behov. Utenpå spjeldene anordnes en rist som plasseres slik at full åpning på spjeldene er mulig uten at ristene kommer i veien for spjeldene. Disse ristene sikrer at en fortrengningsrist (10) kan senkes og heves uten at posisjonen til spjeldene har betydning. Trengeristen (10) har som hensikt å trenge sammen fisken/organismene som skai føres ut av tanken i en passelig konsentrasjon for optimal pumping. Dette er mulig selv om tanken er helt full av vann. Risten plasseres slik at fisk ikke kan gå mellom trengeristen (10) og risten når trengeristen (10) beveges oppover eller nedover. De vertikale kanalene uten spjeld kan anvendes til å sikre optimal sirkulasjon dersom vannstrømmen roterer for hurtig. Man kan da åpne ventilen, og dette vil redusere rotasjonen på vannet inne i tanken. Rotasjonen eller hastigheten på vannstrømmen kan også reguleres ved å variere vannstrømmen inn i tankene, for eksempel ved bruk av frekvensstyrte pumper, ventiler, eller andre fagmessige løsninger. The principle is i.a. well suited for use on board well boats, land-based farming, or for land-based storage tanks for fish/living organisms. An even distribution of the water into the tank ensures a homogeneous water quality where the fish / organisms have the most space. The even distribution of the water, as well as the flow in the water, helps the fish to be calmer and that the water is of the same quality throughout the entire tank, which is very beneficial both during storage and during emptying. The tank is round or nearly round, and one or more inlets for water are provided to a distribution channel which can, for example, lie roughly in the middle of the tank around the entire circumference of the tank. One or more vertical channels are arranged both upwards and downwards from the distribution channel. In the vertical channels, gratings are arranged that have adapted light openings so that the water flowing into the tank builds up a counter pressure above the grating. This ensures good distribution of the water throughout the height of the tank. The water will thus flow fairly evenly into the tank from top to bottom, and there will be a steady flow inwards towards the center of the tank where a grate (8) for water outlet is arranged. On the inside of one or more of the grates, a damper can be arranged that can be adjusted in and out, thereby regulating the speed of the water flowing through the grates. These dampers will thus be able to control the water flow so that a rotation is achieved in the tank. The rotation can be increased/decreased by adjusting the dampers in and out, and an optimal flow can be achieved in relation to the needs of the fish/organisms. A grate is arranged outside the dampers, which is placed so that full opening of the dampers is possible without the grates getting in the way of the dampers. These grates ensure that a displacement grate (10) can be lowered and raised without the position of the dampers being important. The purpose of the crowding grid (10) is to crowd together the fish/organisms that are to be taken out of the tank in a suitable concentration for optimal pumping. This is possible even if the tank is completely full of water. The grate is positioned so that fish cannot pass between the grate (10) and the grate when the grate (10) is moved upwards or downwards. The vertical channels without dampers can be used to ensure optimal circulation if the water flow rotates too quickly. You can then open the valve, and this will reduce the rotation of the water inside the tank. The rotation or speed of the water flow can also be regulated by varying the water flow into the tanks, for example by using frequency-controlled pumps, valves or other professional solutions.

Claims

1. Method for emptying a tank for breeding or intermediate storage of aquatic organisms, where a mainly round tank comprises at least one outlet for emptying water with marine organisms, the outlet being arranged at the lower part of the tank and preferably at the center or at the periphery of the tank, and to move a horizontal penetration bulkhead (10), with approximately the same shape as the tank, downwards towards the bottom of the tank, characterized in that the method includes the following steps: a) moving the horizontal penetration bulkhead (10) until the penetration bulkhead is in a position just above a first upwardly projecting profile (8) at the bottom of the tank, which first upwardly projecting profile extends substantially radially from the center of the tank to the outside of the tank and which is arranged just next to the outlet; b) swinging a second upward-extending profile (9) at the bottom of the tank around the center of the tank, which second upward-extending profile also extends substantially radially from the center of the tank to the outside of the tank, starting at a position adjacent to the first upward-extending profile, where the first uplifting profile is located between the outlet and the second uplifting profile, to a position where the outlet is located between the first and the second uplifting profile, whereby remaining fish, dead fish, or other remains or particles are driven around the tank and towards the outlet.

2. Method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a flow of water is provided through the channel which is formed between the bottom of the tank and the two upwardly extending profiles from the center of the tank radially towards the outside of the tank, which channel ends at a funnel-shaped outlet.

3. Method in accordance with claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a further outlet and profiles corresponding to the first upwardly extending profile and the second upwardly extending profile are arranged at the upper part of the tank above the penetration bulkhead, where the horizontal penetration bulkhead acts both downwards and upwards by new aquatic organisms are discharged into the tank while the bulkhead is down or on the way down, which new aquatic organisms are discharged via the outlet in the upper part of the tank.

4. Method in accordance with one or more of the preceding requirements, characterized in that the water level is kept constant at all times during use of the tank.

5. Method in accordance with one or more of the preceding requirements, characterized in that the water is led into the tank through one or more elongated inlets which are arranged vertically at the sides of the tank, where the inflowing water is given a direction which essentially follows the tank's circumference to provide a circular flow in the tank by arranging one or more dampers inclined in front of one or more of the inlets, and where the water is led out of the tank via an outlet which is arranged vertically and centrally in the tank.

6. Method in accordance with claim 5, characterized in that one or more of the inlets are arranged without a damper, in order to provide a better mixing of the water, and/or to reduce the circular flow rate of the water if necessary.

7. Device for tanks for breeding or intermediate storage of aquatic organisms, where a mainly round tank comprises at least one outlet for draining water with marine organisms, where the outlet is arranged at the lower part of the tank, and a horizontal bulkhead (10) with approx. the same shape as the tank, characterized in that the device comprises: a first upward-extending profile (8) at the bottom of the tank, which first upward-extending profile extends mainly radially from the center of the tank to the outside of the tank, and which is arranged just next to the outlet; a second upward-extending profile (9) at the bottom of the tank, which second upward-extending profile also extends mainly radially from the center of the tank to the outside of the tank, where the horizontal penetration bulkhead (10) can be moved downwards towards the bottom of the tank, until the penetration bulkhead is in a position just above the first rising profile (8); where the second rising profile (9) can be swung around the center of the tank, starting in a position next to the first rising profile where the first rising profile is located between the outlet and the second rising profile, to a final position where the outlet is located between the the first and the second uplifting profile, whereby remaining fish, dead fish, or other remains or particles are driven around the tank and towards the outlet.

8. Device in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that it further comprises a device for providing the flow of water through the channel formed between the bottom of the tank and the two upwardly extending profiles from the center of the tank radially towards the outside of the tank, which channel ends at a funnel-shaped outlet.

9. Device in accordance with claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the device comprises a further outlet as well as profiles corresponding to the first rising profile and the second rising profile, which outlet is arranged at the upper part of the tank above the bulkhead, where the horizontal bulkhead acts both downwards and upwards, in that new aquatic organisms are emptied into the tank while the bulkhead is down or on its way down, which new aquatic organisms are emptied via the outlet in the upper part of the tank.

10. Device in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a control to keep the water level constant at all times during use of the tank.

11. Device in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises one or more inlets to lead water into the tank, which inlets are arranged vertically at the sides of the tank, where the inflowing water is given a direction which substantially following the circumference of the tank to provide a circular flow in the tank by arranging one or more dampers inclined in front of one or more of the inlets; and an outlet which is arranged vertically and centrally in the tank and surrounded by an outlet grate.

12. Device in accordance with claim 10, characterized in that one or more of the inlets is arranged without a damper, in order to provide a better mixing of the water, or to reduce the circular flow rate of the water if necessary.