NO347667B1

NO347667B1 - Arrangement and method for conveying and processing marine organisms

Info

Publication number: NO347667B1
Application number: NO20220471A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Leif Roger Gjelseth; Børre Haanes Waagan; Helge Birkeland; Asbjørn Tråseth
Original assignee: Mmc First Process As
Priority date: 2022-04-26
Filing date: 2022-04-26
Publication date: 2024-02-19
Also published as: WO2023211289A1; NO20220471A1

Description

ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR CONVEYING AND PROCESSING MARINE ORGANISMS

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an arrangement and method for conveying and processing marine organisms in an aquaculture environment.

Background Art

[0002] Land based farming of live fish, such as farmed salmon, is an increasingly viable method of producing farmed salmon due to land based fish farming facilities can be placed anywhere on solid ground. Whereas traditional farming of live fish are dependent on being located near the coastline.

[0003] However, land based fish farming is a complex operation, which requires adequate control of water quality, wherein mimicking optimal growth conditions for farmed fish on land-based facilities is challenge due to young fish are highly sensitive to variations in water quality.

[0004] In large land based fish farming facilities, moving live farmed fish within a facility, from one tank to another, e.g. for sorting due to different sizes, is a challenge in itself, especially when conducting it in way which prioritizes the fish’s wellbeing, reduces the use of excess water and is energy efficient throughout the process.

[0005] There are prior art disclosing arrangements and methods for transporting and processing marine organisms; such as WO2013108252 which describes a device and method for guiding fish from a reservoir to a desired destination.

[0006] NO3144181B1 describes a device for sorting marine objects, such as live fish, wherein the live fish are fish cage or a container.

[0007] WO2018011744A describes a method for sorting live fish from a holding area through a recording device and identify features of each individual fish for defining the condition of the fish.

[0008] CN112088820A discloses a device and method for sorting fish from a pool of water by taking photos of the fish with a photography conveyor.

[0009] It is therefore coveted a find an arrangement and method for conveying and processing fish prioritizing the wellbeing of marine organisms, such a live fish, as disclosed in accompanied set of claims.

Summary of invention

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide an arrangement and method for conveying and processing marine organisms in a closed aquaculture environment.

[0011] It is further an object of the present invention to improve the welfare of marine organisms during transportation and processing in a closed aquaculture environment.

[0012] It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an arrangement and method for conveying and processing marine organisms in a closed aquaculture environment on land with a reduced water consumption and low usage of energy.

Brief description of drawings

[0013] Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of a schematic overview of the invention,

[0014] Figure 2 illustrates a detailed view of an embodiment of an aquaculture sourcing tank,

[0015] Figure 3 illustrates a detailed view of an embodiment of a sorting unit,

[0016] Figure 4 illustrates a detailed view of an embodiment of a bent section of conduit in communication with a destination tank.

Detailed description of the invention

[0017] As shown in figure 1, an embodiment of the present invention, an arrangement and method for conveying and processing live marine organisms, such as live fish or crustaceans, e.g. farmed salmon, mackerel, herring, smolt, white fish and shrimp, etc.

[0018] Figure 1 illustrates at least one sourcing tank 1 for containing marine organisms made ready for conveying and processing, e.g. marine organisms ready for sorting due to size, culling or in preparation for slaughter, wherein said marine organisms are provided from the at least one sourcing tank 1.

[0019] At least one sourcing tank 1 can be On Growing tanks or Grow Out tanks, which are tanks intended to contain marine organisms for feeding and growth. At least one sourcing tank 1 can also be holding tanks, which are tanks intended to contain marine organisms at the end of their production cycle prior final processing or slaughter.

[0020] As shown in figure 2, said at least one sourcing tank 1 further includes a crowding arrangement 10, including a drain tower 10a, a crowding grid 10b and at least one wiper assembly unit 10c, similar to the one as described in prior art NO20220292A1, for crowding and emptying said marine organisms towards an outlet of said at least one sourcing tank 1. During the crowding and emptying process said at least one sourcing tank 1 maintains its water level throughout said process. Said at least one sourcing tank 1 can also include at least one assembly of jet pipes 11 for providing jet streams of water which circulate the water within said at least one sourcing tank 1, wherein said at least one assembly of jet pipes 11 are located externally on said at least one sourcing tank 1 so not be in obstruction of said crowding arrangement’s 10 operation, as shown in figure 2.

[0021] The outlet of said at least one sourcing tank 1 is in communication with a pumping unit 3 by a section of conduit 2, which said pumping unit 3 provides a water flow velocity typically in the range 1.5 m/s to 2.5 m/s within said conduit 2, for extracting said marine organisms from the outlet of said at least one sourcing tank 1. Said pumping unit 3 can be an Archimedes type pump or a coil pump, such as the known RID-pump, as described in prior art NO20210314. Alternatively, said pumping unit 3 can also be a commercially available vacuum fish pump intended for the aquaculture industry.

[0022] Said pumping unit 3 can also extract marine organisms from more than at least one sourcing tank 1, wherein said at least one sourcing tank 1 can comprise of a first sourcing tank 1a and a second sourcing tank 1b, or additional sourcing tanks 1 as found necessary. In this case said tanks 1a, 1b are in communication with each other and said pumping unit 3 through a plurality of valves 20 and sections of conduit 2, wherein said plurality of valves 20 are open or closed in preterminal manner in order to provide a communication with a sourcing tank 1a, 1b to said pumping unit 3.

[0023] Said pumping unit 3 provides said extracted marine organisms to a sorting unit 4, as shown in figure 3, by another section of conduit 2. Said sorting unit 4 can be a commercially available fish grading machine, as described in the following url https://www.mmcfirstprocess.com/systems/fish-grading-systems-aquaculture/.

[0024] The water from said at least one sourcing tank 1 and accompanying marine organisms is provided to said sorting unit 4, however, as the marine organisms are provided on to the sorting unit 4, said water is provided back to the original water source, which being said at least one sourcing tank 1. This will help maintain the water levels within said at least one sourcing tank 1, in addition this setup would help in preventing any cross contamination between said at least one sourcing tank 1 and a least one destination tank 5, which can comprise of first destination tank 5a and a second destination tank 5b, or additional destination sourcing tanks.

[0025] Said sorting unit 4 can grade and sort said marine organisms dependent on at least two predetermined sizes in a first embodiment. An embodiment of the invention said sorting unit 4 can grade and sort between a large or small marine organism, wherein the marine organisms are provided on to a plurality of rails 40 of the sorting unit 4. The rails 40 are positioned at an angle for allowing the marine organisms to slide down on the rails 40 due to gravity. Said rails 40 are also spaced apart in a predetermined manner for allowing smaller marine to pass through said rails.

[0026] As the larger marine organisms slide down towards the bottom of said plurality of rails 40, they are conveyed towards a first outlet 4a of the sorting unit 4, wherein said first outlet is in communication with a first destination tank 5a by a section of conduit 2. The smaller marine organisms which passed through the spaces of plurality of rails 40, are conveyed towards a second outlet 4b of the sorting unit 4, wherein said second outlet is in communication with a second destination sourcing tank 5b by another section of conduit 2.

[0027] In an alternative in embodiment, as shown in figure 3, the sorting unit 4 can grade and sort said marine organisms dependent on at least three predetermined sizes, e.g. large, medium and small sized marine organisms, wherein the sorting unit 4 includes an additional plurality of angled rails. Wherein the larger marine organisms is conveyed on top a plurality of rails 40, whereas the medium and small sized marine organisms pass through said plurality of rails 40. The medium sized marine organism is conveyed on top the additional plurality of angled rails whereas the small sized marine organisms pass through said plurality of rails 40 on top the additional plurality of angled rails.

[0028] A selection chute unit 41 can also be included to the sorting unit 4, positioned between of the outlets 4a, 4b, and the conduits 2 in communication with the destination tanks 5a, 5b, in which provides an additional option for controlling which destination tanks 5a, 5b different sizes of marine organisms, e.g. larger and smaller, are intended for.

[0029] As the larger and smaller marine organisms each enter their respective outlets 4a, 4b and directed by the selection chute unit 41, the marine organisms are also accompanied by water deriving from their respective destination tanks 5a, 5b, which fills up their respective sections of conduit 2.

[0030] The water flow velocity is also at 1.5 m/s to 2.5 m/s within the sections of conduit 2 between the outlets 4a, 4b and the selection chute unit 41 of the sorting unit 4 and the destination tanks 5a, 5b. Said range of water flow velocity is an efficient and gentle manner of transporting live marine organisms within said sections of conduit 2. This is achieved by having the sorting unit 4 positioned at a predetermined elevation of the arrangement. And said water is released in said outlets 4a, 4b also at a predetermined elevation order to create said water flow velocity. Said water derive from their respective destination tanks 5a, 5b by means of a pump 50 adjacent to the sorting unit 4 and each pump 50 is in communication with an outlet 60 of each destination tanks 5a, 5b by a section of conduit 2. In other terms, said water is being backflushed back to their destination tanks 5a, 5b in order to achieve a predetermined water flow velocity between 1.5 m/s to 2.5 m/s.

[0031] Prior the marine organisms enter their respective destination tanks 5a, 5b, the marine organisms are slowed down by means of a bent section of conduit 2a positioned between the inlet of a destination tank 5a, 5b and a section of conduit 2 as shown in figure 4. Said inlet of a destination tank 5a, 5b is above the water line of the destination tank 5a, 5b. Said bent section of conduit 2a is formed in a way that it directs the water flow in an upward extending manner and reduces the water velocity. Said bent section of conduit 2a comprises a first and second vertically extending parts 2b, 2c and an upper joining part 2d connecting the first and second vertically extending parts 2b, 2c. Said upper joining part 2d also includes an open ended conduit 2e for aeration of the conduit 2 at the top of the bend.

[0032] As the live marine organisms enter the bent section of the conduit 2a it is lead to the peak within the bent section of the conduit 2a, and the marine organisms can from there on drop down or swim down to their respective destination tank 5a, 5b. Another important function of said bent section of conduit 2a is that it contributes to avoid raising the water level within the destination tanks 5a, 5b due to the open ended conduit 2e given that the opening of the open ended conduit 2e is above the water level in the tank 5.

[0033] The vicinity of the destination tanks 5a, 5b, to the sorting unit 4 will also determine size of the curve or height of the peak of bent section of the conduit 2a. This is due to the water flow velocity is higher at destination sourcing tanks which are the most adjacent to the sorting unit 4, thus requiring a larger curve or height of the bent section of the conduit 2a the closer a destination tank 5a, 5b is to the sorting unit 4. The size of the curve or height of the bent section of the conduit 2a will vary in relation to the physical distance between the sorting unit 4 and a destination tank 5a, 5b. If a destination tank 5a, 5b, is close to the sorting unit 4, the higher is the bend of the bent section of the conduit 2a of said destination tank 5a, 5b. The height of said bend of the bent section of the conduit 2a is intended to compensate for the lack of pressure loss in the conduit 2 by reducing the difference in height, so the conduit 2 is filled with water and is not drained. It is the difference in height between the inlet of said destination tank 5a, 5b and water level in said destination tank 5a, 5b which will compensate for the pressure loss.

[0034] Without a crowding arrangement 10 the water within the tank would also have to be emptied from said least one sourcing tank 1 in order to its water and marine organisms to said sorting unit 4. However, due to the elevation, or water lift height, between said sorting unit 4 and said least one sourcing tank 1, said pumping unit 3 would need to work with a higher effect, in comparison to said at least one sourcing tank 1 with a crowding arrangement 10.

As found necessary, said at least one sourcing tank 1 can also be a destination tank 5 and vice versa. E.g. after emptying a sourcing tank 1 of marine organisms it could be used to receive other live marine organisms from other sourcing tanks 1.

In an embodiment wherein said inlet of a destination tank 5a, 5b is below the water line of the destination tank 5a, 5b said bent section of the conduit 2a is not included to the arrangement.

Claims

1. An arrangement for conveying and sorting live marine organisms from at least one sourcing tank (1) to at least one destination tank (5) comprising;

a crowding arrangement (10) for crowding and emptying marine organisms from said at least one sourcing tank (1) filled with water and marine organisms,

a sorting unit (4) for sorting marine organisms by at least two predetermined sizes of marine organisms,

wherein the water of the at least one sourcing tank (1) is removed at the sorting unit (4) and is provided back to the at least one sourcing tank (1) for maintaining a predetermined water level in the at least one sourcing tank (1),

wherein said sorting unit (4) includes a plurality of rails (40) for conveying and sorting marine organisms, a first outlet (4a) and a second outlet (4b) for receiving marine organisms from said plurality of rails (40), a selection chute unit (41) for determining which said outlets (4a, 4b) receives sorted marine organisms from said sorting unit (4),

wherein said outlets (4a, 4b) provide sorted marine organisms to at least a first destination tank (5a) and a second destination tank (5b),

wherein the first destination tank (5a) and the second destination tank (5b) provide water to said outlets (4a, 4b) by a respective pump (50) and said water is provided back to the first destination tank (5a) and the second destination tank (5b),

a pumping unit (3) for providing marine organisms and water from said at least one sourcing tank (1) to said sorting unit (4),

conduits (2) for providing communication between said at least one sourcing tank (1) and said pumping unit (3), said pumping unit (3) and said sorting unit (4), said sorting unit (4) and said first destination tank (5a), and said sorting unit (4) and said second destination tank (5b),

a plurality of valves (20) mounted on the conduits (2) for routing the live marine organisms.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said crowding arrangement (10) includes a drain tower (10a), a crowding grid (10b) and a wiper assembly unit (10c).

3. Arrangement according to claim 1 and 2, wherein said least one sourcing tank (1) includes at least one assembly of jet pipes (11) externally mounted on said at least one sourcing tank (1) for providing water circulation within said at least one sourcing tank (1).

4. Arrangement according to any of the previous claims, wherein said plurality of rails (40) are at angle adapted for allowing marine organisms to slide towards said selection chute (41).

5. Arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said plurality of rails (40) are spaced apart in a predetermined manner adapted for allowing marine organisms of a predetermined size to slip trough said space between said spaced apart rails (40).

6. Arrangement according to any of the previous claims, wherein said pumping unit (3) provides a water flow velocity between 1.5 m/s and 2.5 m/s within the conduits (2) between said at least one sourcing tank (1) and said sorting unit (4).

7. Arrangement according to any of the previous claims, wherein said pumping unit (3) is a vacuum fish pump or a RID-pump.

8. Arrangement according to any of the previous claims, wherein at least one of said conduits is configured for returning water from said at least one sourcing tank (1) received by said sorting unit (4) back to said at least one sourcing tank (1).

9. Arrangement according any of the previous claims, wherein said water is provided to said outlets (4a, 4b) at a predetermined elevation, wherein said elevation provides a water flow velocity between 1.5 m/s and 2.5 m/s within the conduits (2) between said sorting unit (4) and the destination tanks (5a, 5b).

10. Arrangement according to any of the previous claims, wherein the arrangement also includes a bent section of conduit (2a) between a conduit (2) and an inlet of a destination tank (5a, 5b),

wherein said bent section of conduit (2a) comprises a first and second vertically extending parts (2b, 2c) and an upper joining part (2d) connecting the first and second vertically extending parts (2b, 2c).

11. A method for conveying and processing live marine organisms, including at least one sourcing tank (1), a sorting unit (4) and at least one destination tank (5), comprise the following steps;

characterized by;

- crowding marine organisms from said at least one sourcing tank (1);

- pumping and emptying crowded marine organisms from said at least one sourcing tank (1);

- pumping and providing water and marine organisms from said at least one sourcing tank (1) to the sorting unit (4) for sorting the marine organisms;

- removing water from the marine organisms in the sorting unit (4) and provide water back to said at least sourcing tank (1);

- sorting marine organisms on the basis of at least two predetermined size of marine organisms in the sorting unit (4);

- determining and providing a path from the sorting unit (4) to at least one destination tank (5) for sorted marine organisms;

- providing water to the sorted marine organisms from the at least one destination tank (5) to said path;

- reducing the water flow speed in predetermined manner at the end of said path.