WO2004071183A1 - Bassins d'aquaculture thermoregules pour la production de poissons - Google Patents

Bassins d'aquaculture thermoregules pour la production de poissons Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2004071183A1
WO2004071183A1 PCT/AU2004/000152 AU2004000152W WO2004071183A1 WO 2004071183 A1 WO2004071183 A1 WO 2004071183A1 AU 2004000152 W AU2004000152 W AU 2004000152W WO 2004071183 A1 WO2004071183 A1 WO 2004071183A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
temperature
water
medium
energy
location
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU2004/000152
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Albert Merryfull
Original Assignee
Heat Recovery Technology Pty Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2003900593A external-priority patent/AU2003900593A0/en
Priority claimed from AU2003900905A external-priority patent/AU2003900905A0/en
Priority claimed from AU2003902990A external-priority patent/AU2003902990A0/en
Application filed by Heat Recovery Technology Pty Limited filed Critical Heat Recovery Technology Pty Limited
Publication of WO2004071183A1 publication Critical patent/WO2004071183A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K63/00—Receptacles for live fish, e.g. aquaria; Terraria
    • A01K63/06—Arrangements for heating or lighting in, or attached to, receptacles for live fish
    • A01K63/065—Heating or cooling devices

Definitions

  • This invention relates to aquaculture and systems for improving their efficiency.
  • Aquaculture, or fish farming involves breeding offish and other aquatic life forms in bodies of captive water. These may be ponds, dams, or large artificial tanks. For each species of animal being grown there is usually an ideal water temperature at which growth rate is highest. Water temperatures above or below the ideal temperature usually result in lower growth rates. Faster growth results in the fish reaching a desired size faster and, accordingly, the quantity offish that may be grown annually may be increased.
  • Fish farm tanks are typically housed in sheds or other large buildings to provide some protection from the environment and predators, such as birds.
  • a typical aquaculture tank has a capacity of about 10,000 litres and a fish fa ⁇ n typically has about one hundred tanks, so having a total capacity of approximately 1 million litres of water.
  • the temperature typically ranges from an average of about 15°C in winter to about 30°C or higher in summer. Without active heating or cooling the temperature of the water in the tanks will tend toward the average temperature for the season. The ideal temperature usually lies between these two ranges.
  • the Murray Cod Maccullochella peelii peelii
  • the Murray Cod grows fastest at a water temperature of about 24 °C.
  • the water temperature will tend to be below the ideal in winter and above it in summer, so affecting the growth rates of the fish being reared.
  • the water in the tanks is constantly pumped through filters remove debris and to aerate the water, which also heats the water. Whilst this is beneficial in winter it is a disadvantage in summer.
  • the invention provides a method of maintaining the temperature of water in an aquaculture system at or near a first temperature, the method including:
  • the system may include at least one aquaculture tank and at least one ring main and the method includes circulating water in the ring main from and to the at least one aquaculture tank.
  • Passing water through the first or second heat exchangers may include diverting at least some of the water flowing in the ring main through the first or second heat exchangers.
  • the water may be diverted from the ring main at at least one first junction and returned to the ring main at at least one second junction.
  • the first location is adjacent to but upstream of said at least one first junction.
  • the method may include sensing the temperature of the water at a second location and passing water through the first or second heat exchangers so that the temperature sensed at the second location is between the second and third temperatures.
  • the second location is adjacent to but downstream of said at least one second junction.
  • the method includes varying the flow rate of water passing through the first or second heat exchangers.
  • the method includes selectively removing energy from the first medium.
  • the method includes selectively adding energy to the second medium.
  • the method includes selectively removing energy from the first medium if the temperature of the first medium rises above a threshold or the amount of energy stored in the first medium falls below a threshold.
  • the method includes selectively adding energy to the second medium if the temperature of the second medium falls below a first threshold.
  • the method includes providing at least one first heat pump configured to remove energy from the first medium and/or add energy to the second medium and selectively operating the at least one first heat pump.
  • the method includes providing at least one secondary heater to add energy to the second medium, the at least one secondary heater having a heating source selected from a group including electricity, gas and solar.
  • the invention provides an aquaculture system for maintaining the temperature of water in the system at or near a first temperature, the system including:
  • At least one aquaculture tank At least one aquaculture tank
  • a temperature control subsystem operable to selectively pass some or all of the water through the first heat exchanger to cool the water or the second heat exchanger to heat the water.
  • the temperature control subsystem includes a first temperature sensor that senses the temperature of the water at a first location and,
  • control unit configured such that if the temperature sensed at the first location is:
  • the water is preferably circulated around a path and including at least one outlet in the path connected to inlets of the first and second heat exchangers and at least one inlet in the path connected to outlets of the first and second heat exchangers.
  • the first location is adjacent to but upstream of the at least one outlet.
  • the temperature control subsystem includes a second temperature sensor that senses the temperature of the water at a second location, the control unit configured to pass water through the first or second heat exchangers until that the temperature sensed at the second location is between the second and third temperatures.
  • the second location is adjacent to but downstream of the at least one inlet.
  • the flow rate of water passing through the first or second heat exchangers is variable.
  • the path includes at least one ring main interconnecting the at least one aquaculture tank.
  • the system may include at least one diverting mechanism for diverting at least some of the water flowing in the ring main through the first or second heat exchangers.
  • the at least one diverting mechanism may include at least one pump or at least one valve or at least one pump and at least one valve.
  • the system preferably includes at least one source of energy for selectively adding energy to the second medium.
  • the system preferably includes a cooling mechanism for selectively removing energy from the first medium.
  • the system may include a source of energy for selectively adding energy to the second medium.
  • the energy source is preferably selected from a group including electricity, gas and solar or a heat pump.
  • the system preferably includes at least one first heat pump configured to remove energy from the first medium and/or add energy to the second medium.
  • the heat pump is preferably selectively configured to remove from the first medium and dissipate the energy from the environment and/or remove from the environment and add energy to the second medium.
  • the first medium is preferably a mixture solid ice and liquid water.
  • Figure 1 shows schematic circuit layout of an aquaculture system according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • the group 10 of tanks 12 has a ring main 14 through which water in the tanks is circulated, by one or more pumps 16.
  • the water circulating in the ring main 14 is referred to as "load water”.
  • One or more filtration and aeration units 18 are located in series in the ring main to maintain the water at an appropriate quality for the fish being bred. If desired the filtration and aeration units 18 may be located in parallel to the ring main 14.
  • the number of filtration and aeration units 18 may range from one upwards; for instance, each tank may have its own unit 18 that treats the water prior to its entry into the respective tank.
  • the system includes a cold water tank 20 and a hot water tank 22.
  • the cold water tank 20 typically has a capacity of about 5,000 litres, whilst the hot- water tank 22 has a capacity of about 5,000 litres.
  • the capacity of the hot and cold tanks 22 and 20 will depend on factors such as the climate of the fish farm location and installed heating and refrigeration capacity.
  • a cooling sub-circuit 24 is connected in parallel to the ring main 14 and takes water from the ring main 14 at 25, passes it through a first heat exchanger 26 located in cold water tank 20 and then returns the water back to the ring main 14 at 46.
  • a pump 28 controls water flow through the sub-circuit 24.
  • a valve 30 may also be provided to prevent unintended water flow through the sub-circuit 24.
  • a heating sub-circuit 34 is also connected in parallel to the ring main 14 and takes water from the ring main 14 at 35, passes it through a second heater exchanger 36 in the hot- water tank 22 and then returns the water back to the ring main 14 at 47.
  • a pump 38 controls water flow through the sub-circuit 34.
  • a second valve of 40 may be provided to prevent unintended water flow through the heating sub-circuit 34.
  • the take-off points 25 and 35 may be optionally provided with proportional valves 27 and 37 that split the water flow between the ring main and the sub-circuits 24 and 34.
  • proportional valves 27 and 37 may allow the pumps 28 and 38 to be dispensed with.
  • the water in the ring main 14 is at a higher temperature than the water in the cold water tank 20 and at a lower temperature that the water in the hot water tank 22.
  • passing water through the cooling sub-circuit 24 will cool the water whilst passing it through the heating sub-circuit 34 will heat the water.
  • the heating and cooling sub-circuits return water to the ring main 14 at the same point 46 but may have separate return points. Similarly the take off points 25 and 35 may be combined in a single point that bifurcates downstream.
  • the heat exchangers in the two tanks 20, 22 are preferably biologically neutral and are preferably formed of PVC, polypropylene or stainless steel tubing.
  • the system includes at least one first water temperature sensor 42, located in the ring main upstream of the take-off points 25 and 35 for the two sub-circuits, a second water temperature sensor 44 located in the ring main downstream of the return points 46 and 47 of the two sub-circuits and a control unit 48.
  • the control unit 48 receives inputs from the sensors 42 and 44 and controls the pumps 28 and 38 and, if present, the valves 30 and 40 in response to these inputs.
  • the control unit 48 is set to maintain the temperature of the water in the ring main 14, as detected by the sensor 44, at a substantially constant temperature. It will be appreciated that an absolutely constant temperature is very difficult to maintain and in the preferred embodiment the aim is to maintain the temperature within 0.1 °C of the target temperature.
  • the target temperature will depend on the animal being bred.
  • both sensors 42 and 44 When the temperature sensed by both sensors 42 and 44 is within acceptable limits the pumps 28 and 38 are turned off and, if present, the valves 30 and 40 are closed. Accordingly the water in the tanks 12 and ring main 14 is circulated by pumps 16 but no water flows through the two sub-circuits 24 and 34.
  • the temperatures sensed by the sensors 42 and 44 should both be the same but there may be very minor variations in the output so fluctuations within an acceptable tolerance do not change the state of the system. For the purpose of explanation we will assume that both sensors 42 and 44 have exactly the same output for the same water temperature.
  • the aim is to maintain the water temperature within 0.1 °C of the target temperature T, i.e. T ⁇ 0.1 °C.
  • T target temperature
  • an acceptable temperature range is from 23.9°C to 24.1°C.
  • a different tolerance may be chosen if desired.
  • the control unit 48 causes pump 28 to operate and valve 30 to open. This causes some, but not all, of the water flowing in the ring main 14 to be diverted into the cooling sub-circuit 24. Water flowing in the cooling sub-circuit 24 passes through the heat s exchanger 26 and is cooled below the target temperature T. The cooled water returns to the ring main 14 at 46 and mixes with undiverted water, so reducing the temperature of the mixed water, which is sensed downstream of the mixing point 46 by the temperature sensor 44.
  • the cold water tank 20 contains a mixture of ice and liquid water and in the ⁇ o preferred embodiment this is substantially pure water, so the mixture is at about 0°C.
  • the mixture has up to about 90% ice.
  • the actual temperature will depend on impurities and other factors but generally the temperature will be in the range of about 0°C to about 1°C.
  • the water in the cold water tank is at 0°C and the water in the ring main is at about 15 24°C.
  • the water returning to the ring main from the sub-circuit 24 has been cooled to about 4°C.
  • to reduce the temperature of the mixed water by 0.1°C only requires about 1/200 of the flow in the ring main 14 to be diverted via the sub-circuit 24.
  • the cold water tank 20 contains a 20 substantial proportion of ice, the temperature of the mixture will remain constant whilst some ice remains.
  • the tank is preferably sized so that during normal use there is always ice in the cold water tank and it remains at 0°C.
  • the pump 28 and/or valve 30 are preferably controlled so that the amount of cooling provided by the water flowing in the sub-circuit 24 results in the water temperature sensed at 44 being within the acceptable range of the target temperature T. This is preferably achieved by varying the amount of water flowing in the sub-circuit 24, as needed. This may be achieved by having a variable speed pump 28 or a proportional valve 30. Alternatively, a number of pumps and separate heat exchangers may be provided, with each pump operated as required.
  • the pump 28 continues to operate to cause cooling of the water until the water temperature sensed at 42 falls back to within acceptable range.
  • the pump 28 may operate for a substantial period of time.
  • the heating sub-circuit 34 operates in substantially the same way as the cooling sub-circuit 24.
  • pump 38 and/or valve 40 are activated to cause water to flow through the heat exchanger 36 and to be heated.
  • the amount of water flowing through the heating sub- circuit 34 is preferably adjusted by use of a variable speed pump 38 or a proportional valve 35 to cause the water temperature at 44 to rise to within the acceptable range and is then maintained and/or adjusted until the temperature at 42 rises to within the acceptable range.
  • the water passing through the heat exchanger will be heated to about 70°C. With a ring main temperature of about 24°C this gives a temperature difference between diverted and undiverted water of about 46°C. Thus to achieve a 0.1 °C rise in temperature only requires about 1/420 of the flow to be diverted.
  • the preferred temperature of the hot water may vary depending on the design of the overall system. Further, the temperature of the water may vary over a 24 hour period and accordingly the temperature of the water exiting the heat exchanger may also vary.
  • control unit 48 may vary the amount of water diverted to accommodate any changes in the temperature of the ring main water and the temperature of the water in the tanks 20 and 22.
  • the heat flow into or out of the 5 tanks 12 varies over time, such as during the day, and so the control unit 48 may be programmed to vary the flows through the heating and control sub-circuits 24 and 34 as appropriate.
  • the two water storage tanks 20 and 22 are heavily insulated to reduce unintended heat flow into or out of the water within each of the tanks.
  • the cold water tank 22 ⁇ o is provided with a refrigeration system that cools the water and extracts heat, as indicated by arrow 50.
  • the hot- water tank 22 is provided with a heating system that heats the water and adds heat, as indicated by arrow 52. It will be appreciated that a single heat pump system 60 may be utilised to extract the heat from the cooling tank 20 and to add heat to the heating tank 22.
  • the 15 22 may also be heated with a solar heater system 62 that inputs heat at 64.
  • a solar heater system 62 that inputs heat at 64.
  • the hot-water tank may be provided with an auxiliary heater 66 that inputs heat.
  • the auxiliary heater 66 may be an electric heater, a gas heater or another heat pump.
  • An electric heater is preferred as off-peak electricity may be used to heat the water at night, at relatively 25 low cost, to a sufficiently high temperature such that, preferably, during the day the auxiliary heater does not need to be used. This reduces the amount of full price electricity required to maintain the temperature of the hot water.
  • the cold water tank 20 is preferably maintained at around 0°C and, again, the tank is preferably cooled during the night, preferably with off-peak electricity, to the lowest temperature within its operating range (if possible) to minimise refrigeration during the day.
  • the seasons will affect whether one or other of the hot and cold water tanks 20, 22 needs to be heated or cooled as described above.
  • the cold water tank is unlikely to be used to cool the load water. Accordingly, the cold water tank 20 may not need to be "actively” cooled to reduce its temperature.
  • the hot-water tank will need to be “actively” heated.
  • the temperature to which the hot water tank is heated will of course depend on modelling of heat loss to the environment, solar gain and other variables, such as average ambient temperatures fall that time of year at the relevant location. If the hot and cold water tanks share a common heat pump, the heating of the hot-water tank will result in incidental cooling of the cold water tank.
  • hot water tank 20 and 22 share a common heat pump 60, cooling of the cold water tank 20 will result in incidental heating of hot- water tank 22.
  • the heat pump circuit may be provided with a secondary condenser 67 and a secondary evaporator 69 that are located outside the building, so as to expel or obtain heat to the outside environment.
  • This may be the air or, if available, a body of water.
  • the heat pump system may switch to using the secondary evaporator 69 to obtain heat from the outside environment.
  • the hot water tank 22 will reach its maximum temperature and further cooling of the cold water tank 20 requires heat to be expelled elsewhere.
  • the secondary condenser 67 heat may be expelled to the outside environment.
  • a separate refrigeration system 61 may be provided to extract heat from the cold water tank 20 and expel it to the outside environment.
  • the hot water tank 20 may be used as a source of process water for the fish farm, such as for washing fish that have been killed and gutted, or for other general purposes.
  • the tank 22 may be part of an indirect heated hot water system and may be provided with a secondary heat exchanger 80 that is used to heat potable 5 process water.
  • the tanks 20 and 22 may include temperature ⁇ o sensors 70 and 72, respectively that input to the control unit 48. If the temperature in the cold water tank rises above a set limit the heat pump 60 or refrigeration system 61 may be activated to cool the water in the cold tank. Similarly, if the temperature in the hot water tank falls below a set limit any one or more of the heat pump 60, solar heater 64, or auxiliary heater 66 may be activated as appropriate. It
  • the cold water tank 20 may also have a sensor 73 that detects the percentage of ice in the tank and, for instance, activates the heat pump 66 when the percentage of ice falls below a preset threshold, such as
  • the cold water tank may be partially or totally frozen, it will be appreciated that, if desired, the water in the tank may remain totally liquid.
  • Using a water/ice mixture provides a significantly greater heat capacity for the same mass of water, since the energy required to change the phase of water from 25 liquid to solid is quite significant.
  • the preferred embodiments utilize water in the hot and cold tanks 20 and 22.
  • one or both tanks may have a salt water mixture, rather than substantially pure water.
  • the effect of utilising a salt water mixture is to increase the boiling point of the water in the hot- water tank 22 and to decrease the freezing point of water in the cooling tank 20.
  • the capacity of the system to cope with the variations may be increased for the same volume of the tanks 20 and 22.
  • a mixture of water and another compound, such as salt or glycol has a lower specific heat capacity of freezing, i.e. it requires less energy input/removal to change from a solid to a liquid than pure water, and so whilst the freezing temperature is lowered, the heat capacity of the cold water tank is also lowered.
  • each pair of tanks 20 and 22 may be in communication with more than one group of tanks.
  • the invention has industrial applicability in the field of aquaculture to improve growth rates.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Marine Sciences & Fisheries (AREA)
  • Animal Husbandry (AREA)
  • Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
  • Farming Of Fish And Shellfish (AREA)

Abstract

Cette invention se rapporte à un système d'élevage de poissons comprenant un bassin refroidissant (20) et un bassin chauffant (22). L'eau dans laquelle sont élevés les poissons est amenée à passer à travers des échangeurs de chaleur (26, 36) dans les bassins chauffant et refroidissant (20, 22) selon les besoins, en vue de maintenir l'eau à une température sensiblement constante.
PCT/AU2004/000152 2003-02-11 2004-02-11 Bassins d'aquaculture thermoregules pour la production de poissons WO2004071183A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2003900593 2003-02-11
AU2003900593A AU2003900593A0 (en) 2003-02-11 2003-02-11 Thermal controlled aquaculture tank's of fish production.
AU2003900905A AU2003900905A0 (en) 2003-02-26 2003-02-26 Thermal controlled aquaculture tanks for fish production
AU2003900905 2003-02-26
AU2003902990A AU2003902990A0 (en) 2003-06-13 2003-06-13 Aquaculture thermal stabilising systems
AU2003902990 2003-06-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2004071183A1 true WO2004071183A1 (fr) 2004-08-26

Family

ID=32872312

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU2004/000152 WO2004071183A1 (fr) 2003-02-11 2004-02-11 Bassins d'aquaculture thermoregules pour la production de poissons

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2004071183A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103070132A (zh) * 2013-01-25 2013-05-01 宁德市海洋技术开发有限公司 海水养殖池水回流处理中的控温装置
CN110604090A (zh) * 2019-10-29 2019-12-24 武汉合缘绿色生物股份有限公司 鱼虾养殖试验缸

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU8055575A (en) * 1974-04-25 1976-11-04 Hafslund P Maintaining ecological balance
JPH01184093A (ja) * 1988-01-16 1989-07-21 Central Res Inst Of Electric Power Ind ヒートポンプ式熱殺菌装置および熱殺菌方法
JPH11276019A (ja) * 1998-04-01 1999-10-12 Mitsubishi Plastics Ind Ltd 曝気装置
WO2001032007A1 (fr) * 1999-10-30 2001-05-10 University Court Of The University Of St. Andrews Systeme de regulation de temperature
JP2003289747A (ja) * 2002-04-02 2003-10-14 Marino Forum 21 養殖水槽の水温調整方法およびこれに用いられる養殖水槽システム

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU8055575A (en) * 1974-04-25 1976-11-04 Hafslund P Maintaining ecological balance
JPH01184093A (ja) * 1988-01-16 1989-07-21 Central Res Inst Of Electric Power Ind ヒートポンプ式熱殺菌装置および熱殺菌方法
JPH11276019A (ja) * 1998-04-01 1999-10-12 Mitsubishi Plastics Ind Ltd 曝気装置
WO2001032007A1 (fr) * 1999-10-30 2001-05-10 University Court Of The University Of St. Andrews Systeme de regulation de temperature
JP2003289747A (ja) * 2002-04-02 2003-10-14 Marino Forum 21 養殖水槽の水温調整方法およびこれに用いられる養殖水槽システム

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
DATABASE WPI Derwent World Patents Index; Class P14, AN 1999-626846/54 *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103070132A (zh) * 2013-01-25 2013-05-01 宁德市海洋技术开发有限公司 海水养殖池水回流处理中的控温装置
CN110604090A (zh) * 2019-10-29 2019-12-24 武汉合缘绿色生物股份有限公司 鱼虾养殖试验缸

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6453938B1 (en) Warm drinking water conduit system
NL2000253C2 (nl) Samenstel van tuinbouwinrichting en veeteeltinrichting.
KR100609455B1 (ko) 폐열회수 시스템
CN101586857B (zh) 热泵空调系统
JP2010051236A (ja) 遠洋鰹釣り漁船の循環水制御方法及び装置
KR101215457B1 (ko) 양어장용 다목적 히트펌프 시스템
CN108849698A (zh) 一种使用热泵的恒温水产养殖池
RU2668861C2 (ru) Солнечный проточный нагреватель с коллектором-аккумулятором
WO2004071183A1 (fr) Bassins d'aquaculture thermoregules pour la production de poissons
KR102277557B1 (ko) 수열 에너지를 이용한 스마트 팜용 축열식 냉난방 시스템
JP2006180735A (ja) 海洋深層水の多段式利用システム
KR100686634B1 (ko) 양어장용 보일러
TW200915977A (en) Marine organisms cultivation system for energy-saving and environmental protection
KR100520815B1 (ko) 해수용 폐열 회수식 냉, 온수 겸용 히트 펌프장치
KR20160125091A (ko) 히트펌프 시스템을 이용한 양식장 해수 냉온장치
KR200351554Y1 (ko) 히트펌프와 순환관 및 판형 열교환기를 이용한 냉난방 장치
JP3282152B2 (ja) 海洋生物生産用の海洋深層水、及び表層水の水温制御システム
JP7378699B2 (ja) 熱交換システム及びその運転方法
CN203771778U (zh) 一种空气源热泵系统
RU2658786C1 (ru) Система обогрева и охлаждения животноводческих помещений
CN109798660A (zh) 用于水产养殖的水温调节系统
KR101737395B1 (ko) 히터펌프를 공유하는 온실 냉난방 방법
JP2004183967A (ja) 冷熱源の多段式利用システム
CN206909475U (zh) 鱼塭池水温度调节装置
RU110228U1 (ru) Установка для культивирования морских гидробионтов

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BW BY BZ CA CH CN CO CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EC EE EG ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NA NI NO NZ OM PG PH PL PT RO RU SC SD SE SG SK SL SY TJ TM TN TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VC VN YU ZA ZM ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): BW GH GM KE LS MW MZ SD SL SZ TZ UG ZM ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GQ GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase