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
  • A01K63/02—Receptacles specially adapted for transporting live fish
• • 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
  • A01K63/04—Arrangements for treating water specially adapted to receptacles for live fish
  • A01K63/042—Introducing gases into the water, e.g. aerators, air pumps

Definitions

• aquatic animals there ts a substantia! world wide market for live aquatic animals particularly for human consumption and breeding.
• One method of transporting aquatic animals is to transport them in tanks or containers filled with water.
• the tanks are usually sealed to prevent loss of water and aquatic animals and may be provided with one or more baffles to control water flow generated by motion of the vehicle in which the tanks are transported.
• the transport of the tanks may be by all means of transport Including road, rail, sea and air.
• the mortality rates of live aquatic animals can be reduced by various measures such as minimizing the transport time (i.e. using the fastest mode of transport) and monitoring and/or control of water quality.
• One aspect of the present invention provides a live aquatic animal transport system comprising;
• an oxygen supply system capable of delivering oxygen to water held in the first compartment; and ;
• control system which controls the oxygen supply system to deliver oxygen to water in the first compartment at a rate required to maintain a dissolved oxygen concentration in the water within a selectable range.
• Th control system may comprise at least one dissolved oxygen sensor, the control system being further arranged to receive a signal from the at least one sensor representative of dissolved oxygen concentration and control the delivery of oxygen from the oxygen supply system in a manner dependant of the signal to maintain the dissolved oxygen concentration in the water within the selected range.
• the aquatic animal transport system may comprise a valve under control of the control system to control the delivery of oxygen from the oxygen supply to the water.
• the oxygen supply system comprises a vessel holding a volume of a gas comprising or consisting of oxygen.
• the valve controls release of gas from the vessel into the water.
• the oxygen supply system may comprise an oxygen diffuser disposed in the first
• the oxygen supply system comprises an oxygen selectiv membrane capable of transferring oxygen from a gas comprising or consisting of Oxygen info water held in the first compartment.
• the oxygen supply system comprises: a housing having a first wafer inlet and a first water outlet enabling water within the first compartment to flow through the first housing and return to the first compartment: and, a first gas inlet through which the gas can passed Into the housing.
• the control system is capable of controlling one or both of: water flow through the first housing; and gas flow through the first housing to regulate dissolved oxygen concentration in the water in the first compartment.
• the aquatic animal transport system may comprise a carbon dioxide stripper capable of stripping carbon dioxide from water held in the first compartment.
• the carbon dioxide stripper may be arranged to vent stripped carbon dioxide to a location outside the first compartment.
• the carbon dioxide stripper may comprise a stripper water Inlet and a stripper water outlet enabling water within the first compartment to flow through the carbon dioxide stripper and return to the first compartment.
• the carbon dioxide stripper may comprise a stripper gas inlet; and, a stripper gas outlet vented to a location outside the first compartment, wherein a gas entering through the stripper gas inlet is capab!e of flowing through the carbon dioxide stripper and sweeping carbon dioxide stripped from the water by the carbon dioxide stripper through the stripper gas outlet.
• the aquatic animal transport system may comprise a water pump arranged to pump water held in the first compartment to the stripper water inlet.
• the aquatic animal transport system may comprise an air delivery system capable of delivering air to the stripper gas Intel
• the air delivery system may comprise an air pump arranged to pump air sourced from outside the first compartment to the stripper gas inlet.
• the air delivery system may comprise a cylinder of compressed air and a conduit providing fluid communication between the compressed air cylinder and the stripper gas inlet.
• the air delivery: system is arranged to also supply air, as the gas comprising or consisting of oxygen, to the oxygen supply system, when the oxygen supply system comprises the oxygen selective membrane.
• control system may be capable of separately controlling delivery of air form the air delivery' system to the oxygen supply- system and the carbon dioxide strippe .
• the water pump may be arranged to also supply water to the oxygen supply system.
• control system is capable of separately controlling delivery of water form the water pump to the oxygen supply system and the carbon dioxide stripper.
• the control system may be capable of monitoring pressure of air and water pumped to the water inlet and gas inlet.
• the control system may be capable of controlling the water pump and asr pump to maintain pressure of the air at the gas Inlet to not exceed pressure of water at the water inlet.
• the aquatic animal transport system may comprise a pH sensor capable of sensing pH of water held in the first compartment.
• the control system may be arranged to receive signals from the pH sensor indicative of the pH.
• the level of pH may be used by the control sensor as an indication of dissolved carbon dioxide concentration in water in the first compartment.
• the aquatic animal transport system may comprise a power supply capable of providing operational power to the control system, the power pack disposed inside the first compartment.
• the control system may be disposed inside the first compartment.
• the container may comprise a second compartment wherein the oxygen supply- Is disposed in the second compartment.
• the water pump and the air pump may be disposed inside the first
• a second aspect of the invention provides a method of transporting live aquatic marine animals comprising:
• the method may comprise stripping carbon dioxide from the wafer. Moreover the method may comprise using a carbon dioxide selective membrane.
• the method may comprise using an oxygen selective membrane as a
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• an embodiment of a live aquatic animal transport system in accordance the present invention comprises container that is capable of holdin a volume of water and one or more live aquatic animals and into which oxyge is delivered at a rate required to maintain a dissolved oxygen concentration in the water within a selectable range.
• the system may therefore comprise a supply of oxygen such as an oxygen tank, or an oxygen selective membrane, each of which is capable of delivering oxygen to water in the container, and a control system which controls the oxygen suppl to deliver oxygen at the required rate.
• One or more dissolved oxygen sensors provide signals representative of dissolved oxygen concentration in the water which is then used to control the suppl of oxygen.
• a carbon dioxide stripper is also incorporated In the system to strip carbon dioxide from water held within the container.
• a further sensor is incorporated to provide a signal indicative of the level of carbon dioxide in the water.
• the sensor may for example be a pH probe.
• a measure of pH may be used to provide an indication of the level of dissolved carbon dioxide.
• a first embodiment of a live aquatic animal transpori system 10 comprises a container 12 with a first compartment 14 capable of holding a volume of water and one o more live aquatic animals (e.g. fish) 16.
• An oxygen supply system 17 in this embodiment comprises: an oxygen vessel or cylinder 18; a hose 20: and, an oxygen diffuser 22 connected
• the oxygen vessel or cylinder 18 contains a volume of a gas comprising or consisting of oxygen.
• cylinder IS may contain compressed oxygen gas.
• the oxygen supply system 17 is capable of delivering oxygen to water held within compartment 14.
• a control system 24 controls the oxygen supply system 17 and in particular the o supply of oxygen from oxygen cylinder 18 into the water held within the first compartment 14 to maintain a dissolved oxygen concentration in the water within a selectable range.
• the oxygen flow rate required to achieve a particular dissolved oxygen concentration range may vary depending on the type of aquatic animals 18, the volume of water within container 12 ; density of aquatic
• System 10 also comprises a carbon dioxide stripper 26 which is capable of stripping carbon dioxide from water held In compartment 14.
• Water pum 28 pumps water held within compartment 14 through the carbon dioxide stripper 26. This water is then returned to compartment 14.
• An air pump 30 is also provided to provide air o whic passes through the carbon dioxide strippe 26 and sweeps carbon
• container 12 is configured and arranged to enable 5 transport of live aquatic animals 16 via aircraft.
• container 12 may be used for road transport of other types of transport.
• container 12 comprises the first o compartment 14 and a second compartment 32. Compartments 14 and 32 are separated by a removable and seaiable partition or inner lid 34.
• Container 12 is configured so that when Inner lid 34 is properly seated in container 12, a liquid tight seal is formed preventing escape of any water from the first compartment 14.
• Various sealed openings are formed within Inner lid 34 to enable passage 5 of conduits and hoses such as hose 20 as well as air Inlet hose 38 and carbon dioxide venting hose 38.
• Second compartment 32 is formed between inner lid 34 and an outer detachable lid 40, Outer lid 40 is provided with one or more ventilation openings 42.
• oxygen cylinder 18 is housed within second compartment 32 between inner and outer lids 34 and 40.
• One or more brackets or clamps may be used to fix cylinder 18 to or between wails o! container 12.
• Control system 24 includes a microcontroller or processor, and a number of sensors Including, but not limited to, a dissolved oxygen concentration sensor 44 a dissolved carbon dioxide level sensor 48, air pressure sensor 48 for providing signals indicative of air pressure within stripper 28, and water pressure sensor 50 for providing signals indicative of water pressure within stripper 26.
• a water temperature sensor 52 may also be provided.
• Each of the sensors 44, 48, 48, 50 and 52 provides signals to the prooessor of the control system 24.
• Carbon dioxide sensor 46 may be a sensor which directly measures or provides a signal indicative of the level of dissolved carbon dioxide within the water, or alternately may be in the form of a pH sensor. In this regard, testing has Indicated a relationship between pH and dissolved carbon dioxide
• a measure of pH can provide a corresponding measure of carbon dioxide concentration.
• Control system 24 is capable of controlling water quality and characteristics within compartment 14 by appropriate control of the rate of deliver/ of the gas from cylinder 18 to water within compartment 14. in addition, as explained further below, control system 24 may also operate to control the level of dissolved carbon dioxide by exerting appropriate control over water pump 28 and air pum 30 pursuant to air pressure and water pressure signals from sensors 48 and 50.
• a valve such as an oxygen solenoid valve 54 controls release of oxygen from cylinder 18 through conduit 20 to the diffuser 22, Valve 54 Is coupled with and controlled by control system 24, Depending on the preset desired range of dissolved oxygen concentration in the water, and readings from dissolved oxygen concentration sensor 44, control system 24 will operate valve 54 to regulate delivery of oxygen from cylinder 18 to the water within compartment 14. in the event that system 10 is used for the air transport of aquatic animals, for safety reasons the solenoid valve 54 and control system 24 should be isolated from the oxygen cylinder 18 by being disposed under water in the compartment 14.
• Carbon dioxide stripper 26 in this embodiment comprises a membrane which is impermeable to water but highly selective for carbon dioxide.
• the membrane is disposed within a housing 58 of the stripper 26.
• Housing 56 also includes a water inlet 58, water outlet 60, air inlet 62, and air outlet 64.
• Wafer pump 28 is coupled to wafer inlet 58 via a pre ⁇ fiiter 66 and conduit 68.
• Air pump 30 is coupled to air inlet 62 via conduit 69, while air outlet 64 Is vented to
• Fresh air is drawn in from the ambient atmosphere by air pump 30 via air hose 36 and subsequently pumped to the stripper 28 via conduit 89.
• Water pump 28 circulates water from; compartment 14 through the stripper 28 so that the water returns via outlet 60 to the first compartment 14. As water flows through the stripper 26, carbon dioxide Is released through the
• the released carbon dioxide is swept from the stripper 28 by the flow of air produced by operation of the pump 30.
• the processor In the control system 24 receives signals indicative of
• concentration or level of dissolved carbon dioxide from sensor 46 This information may be used by the processor to also control water pump 28 and air pump 30 to regulate water and air pressure within C02 stripper 28 to maintain concentration of dissolved carbon dioxide below a threshold level.
• the processor may operate to control water pump 28 and air pump 30 to ensure that air pressure within carbon dioxide stripper 28 does not exceed water pressure within the carbon dioxide stripper.
• control system 24 and In particular the processor will monitor and log the sensed conditions/characteristics to enable subsequent download and analysis of data.
• Any type of conventional connection port such as a USB, or Ethernet port may be provided to allow connection of the processor of control system 24 with a PC to facilitate a transfer of data and control Inputs.
• a PC may he connected with the processor of control system 24 to downfoad the required dissolved oxygen concentration for the animals 16 to be transported.
• Data may also be downloaded to the processor of control system 24 in relation to threshold levels of carbon dioxide.
• data logged by the processor such as dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations : air pressure, water pressure, and temperature may be transferred to the PC.
• data logged by the processor such as dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations : air pressure, water pressure, and temperature may be transferred to the PC.
• a connection jack that is accessible on an exterior surface of container 12 or via the use of a wireless connection, such data may be transferred between a PC/laptop and the processor of control system 24 during transport of animals 16.
• Operational power for the control system 24, water pump 28, air pump 30, and valve 54 Is provided by a power pack 70.
• the power pack may comprise one or more sealed battery packs. When say two battery packs are provided, one may act as a backup in the event that the other is exhausted.
• system 10 enables the transport of live aquatic animals 16 in a manner which is believed will achieve at least one of; reducing mortality rates; Increase density of animals 18 that can be transported per liter of water; reduce weight of the system 10 by reducing the size of oxygen cylinder 18 required; as well reduce the volume of oxygen required due to regulated oxygen delivery.
• System 10 also enables optimization of water quality on the basis of species of animal being transported.
• system 0 and in particular control system 24 may operate to maintain dissolved oxygen concentration in the range of it between 100% and 200% of saturation. Depending on the type and efficiency of oxygen diffuser 22, this dissolved oxygen concentration may require an oxygen flow rate of between 1-3 liters per minute from cylinder 18.
• control system 24 may be programmed to maintain dissolved carbon dioxide concentration below a threshold level by operating water pump 28 to change the flow rate of water through the stripper 26.
• a safe threshold level of carbon dioxide concentration is dependant on th species of animal 16.
• Figure 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the aquatic animal transport system 10a.
• an oxygen supply system 17a comprises an oxygen selective membrane capable of transferring oxygen from a gas comprising or consisting of oxygen, such as air into water held in the first compartment.
• the oxygen selective membrane is disposed in a housing 76 located in the first
• Housing 78 has a wate inlet 78 and a wafer outlet 80 enabling water within the first compartment to flow through the housing 76 and return to the first compartment 14. in addition the housing 76 has an ai inlet 82 through which air from outside the first compartment can flow into housing and an air outlet 84 allowing air to be vented form the housing 76. in this embodiment water is pumped through housing 76 via the pump 28.
• a conduit 86 branches from conduit 68 to the inlet 78.
• Valves V1 and V2 are placed in conduits 68 and 86 respectively. These valve are separately controllable by control system 24. Control of valve V1 provides a degree of control of the quantity of carbon dioxide removed from the water. Control of valve V2 provides a degree of control of dissolved oxygen concentration in the water.
• Air is supplied to housing 78 via the air pump 30, A conduit 88 branches from conduit 69 to air Inlet 82. Valves V3 and V4 are placed In conduits 89 and 88 respectively. These valves are separately controlled by control system 24. Control of valve V3 provides a second degree of control of carbon dioxide removal from the water. Control of valve V4 provides a second degree of control of dissolved oxygen concentration In th water.
• the control system 24 includes an air pressure sensor 90 for providing signals indicative of air pressure within housing 76, and water pressure sensor 92 for providing signals indicative of water pressure within housing 76. The signals form these sensors are used by the control system 24 to control valves V2 and V4 enabling control the dissolved oxygen concentration levels in the water.
• the oxygen supply system 17b as an oxygen selective membrane avoids the need for an oxygen vessel or cylinder and the diffuser of the first embodiment. Oxygen is provided by action of the membrane which allows oxygen to pass there through into water flowing though the housing 78. in ail other respects the system 10 operates in the same manner as the system 0.
• one or more of the control system 24, carbon dioxide stripper 28, water pump 28, air pump 30, and power pack 70 may be located outside of compartment 14.
• these pieces of equipment may be located in the second compartment 32 with appropriate conduits and/or cables simply passing through in a lid 34.
• each of the oxygen supply system 17a (which incorporates the oxygen selective membrane); and, the carbon dioxide stripper 26 may be provided with respective independent water pumps and air pumps; eliminating the need for the valves V1 , V2, V3 and V4.
• the controller 24 independently controls each water pump and air pump to separately regulate the air and water flow to each of oxygen supply system 1 a and the carbon dioxide stripper 28.
• a cylinder of compressed air or other gas may be incorporated to provide a source of the gas passing through the carbon dioxide stripper 28 to sweep carbon dioxide from the stripper 26.
• the cylinder of compressed air/gas can be used in place of air pump 30 for at least the purposes of the stripper 28 with a value controlled by the controller 24 used to regulate gas flow through the stripper.
• the air pump 30 could be dispensed with altogether and the cylinder of compressed air used for both the oxygen supply system Incorporating the oxygen selective membrane and the carbon dioxide stripper, indeed exhaust gas from the oxygen selective membrane can be used as the gas for sweeping carbon dioxide from the stripper 26.

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• 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)
• Separation Using Semi-Permeable Membranes (AREA)

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• 2011
  • 2011-06-02 WO PCT/AU2011/000690 patent/WO2011150463A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2011-06-02 JP JP2013512699A patent/JP5805754B2/ja active Active
  • 2011-06-02 AU AU2011261170A patent/AU2011261170B2/en active Active
  • 2011-06-02 CN CN201180034983.5A patent/CN103002730B/zh active Active
• 2013
  • 2013-09-25 HK HK13110935.2A patent/HK1183598A1/zh not_active IP Right Cessation

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