Shrimp farming system

Abstract

This invention provides a shrimp farming system that integrates fluid mechanics, biology, and mechanical design to effectively solve various problems in the shrimp farming process, such as uneaten feed, dead water flow, silt removal, and water quality management. The system includes a farming tank, a secondary flow drive unit, an air-lift recirculation unit, and a diversion unit. The secondary flow drive unit creates a secondary flow at the bottom of the water body, concentrating solid sediment at the bottom of the central area of ​​the farming tank. The air-lift recirculation unit extracts the concentrated sediment and separates dead shrimp and shells, allowing uneaten feed to be returned to the farming tank for the shrimp to feed again, saving feed costs and optimizing feed conversion ratio. The diversion unit, when activated intermittently, extracts water and sediment discharged into the farming tank by the recirculation unit for observation and removal of uneaten feed, achieving precise farming management and improving production efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a shrimp farming system that integrates and incorporates fluid dynamics, biology, and mechanical design into the shrimp farming system. The technical content specifically involves secondary flow, air lift, and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Background Technology

[0002] Shrimp farming is the most important industry in aquaculture. Especially in recent years, due to the deterioration of the farming environment and the increasing consumer demand, shrimp farming, like other aquatic products, is bound to move towards indoor farming. However, unlike fish, shrimp have benthic and cannibalistic characteristics, making it difficult to increase farming density and yield per unit area, which hinders the development of indoor farming.

[0003] Furthermore, the cost of indoor aquaculture facilities is far higher than that of outdoor ponds. To develop indoor shrimp farming, it is necessary to first overcome the limitations of shrimp stocking density and increase yield and value per unit area. For example, white shrimp have a high unit price and a short farming period. If the limitations of stocking density can be broken and a high-density indoor white shrimp farming system can be created, it will not only have great commercial benefits but also have great potential for promoting environmental sustainability and improving the quality of aquaculture, which deserves attention.

[0004] Based on the inventor's years of research and practical experience in various fish and shrimp farming technologies, it is known that increasing the stocking density of benthic shrimp is not difficult. Providing sufficient three-dimensional space for shrimp to inhabit and hide naturally improves cannibalism and increases yield per unit area. For example, known technologies such as TWM240448, TWM334934, TWM313422, and TWI302084 utilize vertical netting, layered spaces, or spiral-shaped support structures to provide shrimp habitats, thereby creating more habitat area within the limited space of the farming tank and preventing cannibalism.

[0005] However, the aquaculture system is a whole, and increasing the habitat area for shrimp to avoid cannibalism is only one part of the system. If you simply add many three-dimensional habitats in the aquaculture tank to increase the stocking density, although it can provide habitat and hiding functions, it will also hinder feeding and create dead zones in the water flow, which will increase the difficulty of cleaning up silt and managing water quality.

[0006] For example, when the stocking density is increased, how to ensure that the feed is evenly distributed in the stocking tank so that all the shrimp have a chance to feed, how to avoid dead zones and silt accumulation in the water flow, and how to clean up the uneaten feed and silt that accumulate with the increase in stocking density to prevent water quality deterioration—all these issues will not only significantly increase the cost of hardware and the manpower required for operation, but if the design is not good, it may also cause management dead zones and waste of feed, resulting in more harm than good.

[0007] For example, in typical aquaculture systems, sludge removal and water quality management involve a water purification system pumping out all sediment, including uneaten feed, excrement, shrimp shells, and dead shrimp. After passing through multiple filtration stages to remove solids and ammonia, the water is then recycled back to the aquaculture tanks. During this recycling process, the returning water creates a swirling current within the tanks, generating a secondary flow that concentrates solid sediment towards the center for easier sludge removal by the purification system. However, this secondary flow also causes uneaten feed to accumulate at the bottom, resulting in significant waste as the shrimp are drawn out before they have sufficient time to consume it. This is especially true when solids / sediment increase dramatically with higher stocking densities, leading to a substantial increase in wasted feed.

[0008] Furthermore, shrimp in the ponds grow daily. If the feeding amount doesn't increase in time with their growth, they are prone to cannibalism due to hunger, especially newly molted shrimp, which are more likely to be attacked and killed. In practice, the most direct way to determine if the feeding amount is appropriate is to observe the amount of uneaten feed. However, uneaten feed sinks to the bottom of the pond and is difficult to observe with the naked eye. Moreover, most aquaculture systems lack the ability to observe the number of uneaten feed, empty shells, and dead shrimp, making it difficult to implement accurate feeding amount assessment and early warning functions for abnormal conditions.

[0009] In addition, it is well known that feed conversion ratio (FCR) is the most important metric in all aquaculture, and it is the foundation for how much commercial value aquaculture can create. If increasing stocking density does not lead to a better feed conversion ratio, but only increases uneaten feed, then increasing stocking density, apart from increasing scale, does not make a significant contribution to commercial value, nor does it contribute to environmental sustainability.

[0010] In view of this, based on years of research and practical experience in related fields, the inventor has designed a shrimp farming system that integrates fluid dynamics, biology, and mechanical design into the farming system. This system effectively solves various problems in shrimp farming, such as uneaten feed, dead water flow, silt removal, water quality management, feed quantity assessment, and abnormal warning. It allows uneaten feed to be effectively recycled and reused, thereby optimizing feed conversion rate and achieving precise farming management to improve production efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0011] The purpose of this invention is to provide a shrimp farming system, the technical content of which specifically involves secondary flow, air lift, feed conversion ratio (FCR), etc., which can overcome the problems of dead flow and water quality management without investing in expensive equipment and manpower management costs. It can also optimize feed conversion ratio by recycling and reusing uneaten feed, thereby improving the industrial utilization and commercial value of the farming system.

[0012] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a shrimp farming system, comprising a farming tank for containing water and farmed shrimp, a secondary flow drive unit, an air-lift recirculation unit, and a diversion unit, wherein:

[0013] The secondary flow drive unit includes at least one water inlet, which is located near the inner wall of the aquaculture tank. It injects water into the upper layer of the water in the aquaculture tank in a direction roughly the same as the circumference of the inner wall of the aquaculture tank, thereby driving the upper layer of water to rotate and form a primary flow. It also causes the bottom layer of water to form a secondary flow towards the bottom of the central area of ​​the aquaculture tank, so that the sediment in the bottom layer of water is driven by the secondary flow field and concentrated towards the bottom of the central area.

[0014] The airlift reflux unit includes an airlift pipe with an inlet near the bottom of the central area of ​​the aquaculture tank, an outlet located above the water surface relative to the periphery of the central area, an air intake pipe between the inlet and the outlet, and a grid plate at the outlet. The air intake pipe injects air into the airlift pipe, creating negative pressure at the inlet, which then draws upwards the water and sediment concentrated at the bottom of the central area of ​​the aquaculture tank. The water and sediment are then discharged from the outlet towards the periphery of the central area of ​​the aquaculture tank. Dead shrimp and shrimp shells are trapped on the grid plate in the discharged sediment, while uneaten feed flows back into the aquaculture tank after passing through the grid plate for the shrimp to feed on again.

[0015] The diversion unit includes a diversion trough and a water pump located below the outlet of the air-lift reflux unit. The diversion trough is located below the grid plate to collect water and sediment passing through the grid plate. The bottom of the diversion trough has a return port for water and sediment falling into the diversion trough to flow back into the aquaculture tank. The water pump is fixed on the diversion trough and has an inlet located in the diversion trough and an outlet connected to a drain pipe. When the water pump is started, residual feed and suspended matter in the diversion trough can be extracted through the inlet and discharged to the outside of the aquaculture tank through the drain pipe.

[0016] In this system, the secondary flow drive unit effectively overcomes dead zones in the water flow, ensuring that feed is evenly distributed throughout the tank for shrimp to consume. Uneaten feed that sinks to the bottom is drawn towards the central area by the secondary flow field and then pumped upwards by the air-lift return unit, discharged towards the outer edge of the tank relative to the central area. After separating dead shrimp and shells, the uneaten feed in the sediment is returned to the tank and evenly distributed again by the secondary flow drive unit, achieving the goal of uneaten feed recycling. This significantly optimizes feed conversion rates and effectively overcomes the problems of cleaning up sediment and water quality management. Furthermore, the diversion unit can be activated intermittently to pump and discharge uneaten feed and sediment outside the tank, allowing managers to observe the amount of uneaten feed and remove sediment and suspended solids, significantly reducing the cost of aquaculture equipment and labor.

[0017] The following further explains the implementation methods of each component:

[0018] During implementation, the outlet of the air lift pipe is in the same direction as the water inlet of the secondary flow drive unit, and water can be discharged along the lateral extension direction of the inner wall of the aquaculture tank to assist in the generation of primary and secondary flows, thereby saving the power required by the secondary flow drive unit to drive the water flow.

[0019] Preferably, the system further includes a sedimentation tank, and a fine screen is provided at the outlet end of the drain pipe of the water pump of the diversion unit to block residual bait, so that water and suspended matter fall into the sedimentation tank for sedimentation and easy cleaning.

[0020] During implementation, the sedimentation tank is equipped with an overflow pipe connected to the aquaculture tank at a position higher than the water level of the aquaculture tank. After the water level of the sedimentation tank rises to the overflow pipe, it can flow back to the aquaculture tank through the overflow pipe.

[0021] Preferably, the system further includes a water purification device, which has an outlet pipe connected to the water inlet of the secondary flow drive unit and an inlet pipe installed in the aquaculture tank. The water in the aquaculture tank can enter the water purification device through the inlet pipe to remove harmful substances, and then flow back into the aquaculture tank through the outlet pipe and the water inlet.

[0022] Preferably, the system further includes a perch net provided in the culture tank for shrimp to climb on. The perch net has a grid pattern and surrounds the perimeter of the central area of ​​the culture tank. The perimeter and bottom of the perch net have a fixed distance from the inner wall and bottom of the culture tank, respectively, and the water inlet is located between the perimeter of the perch net and the inner wall of the culture tank.

[0023] The present invention also provides a shrimp farming system, comprising a farming tank for containing water and farmed shrimp, a secondary flow drive unit, an air-lift recirculation unit, and a habitat net, wherein:

[0024] The secondary flow drive unit includes at least one water inlet, which is located near the inner wall of the aquaculture tank. Water is injected into the upper layer of the water in a direction roughly the same as the circumference of the inner wall of the aquaculture tank, thereby driving the upper layer of the water to rotate and form a primary flow. It also causes the bottom layer of the water to form a secondary flow that flows toward the bottom of the central area of ​​the aquaculture tank, so that the sediment in the bottom layer of the water is driven by the secondary flow field and concentrated at the bottom of the central area.

[0025] The airlift reflux unit includes an airlift pipe with an inlet near the bottom of the central area of ​​the aquaculture tank, an outlet located above the water surface relative to the periphery of the central area, an air intake pipe between the inlet and the outlet, and a grid plate at the outlet. The air intake pipe injects air into the airlift pipe, creating negative pressure at the inlet, which then draws upwards the water and sediment concentrated at the bottom of the central area of ​​the aquaculture tank. The water and sediment are then discharged from the outlet towards the periphery of the central area of ​​the aquaculture tank. Dead shrimp and shrimp shells are trapped on the grid plate in the discharged sediment, while uneaten feed flows back into the aquaculture tank after passing through the grid plate for the shrimp to feed on again.

[0026] The habitat net is erected around the central area of ​​the aquaculture tank and has mesh for shrimp to climb. The outer edge and bottom of the habitat net are respectively spaced from the inner wall and bottom of the aquaculture tank, and the water inlet is located between the outer edge of the habitat net and the inner wall of the aquaculture tank.

[0027] Preferably, the system further includes a water purification device, which has an outlet pipe connected to the water inlet of the secondary flow drive unit and an inlet pipe installed in the aquaculture tank. The water in the aquaculture tank can enter the water purification device through the inlet pipe to remove harmful substances, and then flow back into the aquaculture tank through the outlet pipe and the water inlet.

[0028] Preferably, the system further includes a diversion unit, which includes a diversion trough and a water pump disposed below the outlet of the air-lift return unit; wherein, the diversion trough is disposed below the grid plate to receive water and sediment passing through the grid plate, and the bottom of the diversion trough is provided with a return port for water and sediment falling into the diversion trough to return to the aquaculture tank through the return port; the water pump is fixed on the diversion trough and has an inlet located in the diversion trough and an outlet connected to a drain pipe. When the water pump is started, residual feed and suspended matter in the diversion trough can be extracted through the inlet and discharged to the outside of the aquaculture tank through the drain pipe.

[0029] Compared to existing technologies, this invention, through the aforementioned components, can be highly integrated into a shrimp farming system that effectively overcomes numerous problems such as dead water flow, uneaten feed, water quality treatment, cannibalism among shrimp, and monitoring of feed amounts. Its advantages include:

[0030] 1. The secondary flow drive unit can drive the bottom of the water in the aquaculture tank to form a secondary flow field that flows towards the bottom of the central area. This can not only effectively overcome the problem of dead zones in the water flow, but also ensure that the feed is evenly distributed in the aquaculture tank after being put in, so that the shrimp can eat it. The uneaten feed that sinks down is also automatically concentrated at the bottom of the central area by the secondary flow field.

[0031] 2. The air-lift recirculation unit sucks up uneaten feed through an air-lift tube and returns it to the rearing tank. During this process, neither solid nor live feed is damaged, allowing the uneaten feed to be effectively reused in the rearing tank, thus optimizing feed conversion ratio. This avoids problems such as feed damage and blockages associated with pumps and other suction devices. Furthermore, when used for shrimp larvae rearing, even if larvae are sucked into the air-lift tube, they will not be harmed, and they will still survive after being discharged from the air-lift tube and returned to the rearing tank.

[0032] 3. The setting of the diversion unit and sedimentation tank allows the residual feed blocked by the fine screen in the water and sediment discharged from the air-lift return unit to be observed and the feeding amount to be adjusted. The fine suspended solids can settle at the bottom of the sedimentation tank for easy cleaning, overcoming the problems of cleaning siltation and water quality management, and reducing the burden on water purification equipment and maintenance and cleaning costs.

[0033] 4. The air-lift recirculation unit can be set to operate intermittently, allowing sediment to accumulate at the bottom of the culture tank for a period of time before air is injected into the air-lift pipe to remove the sediment, and then shut off after a period of removal to save energy costs. Similarly, the water pump of the diversion unit can also be set to repeatedly recirculate feed before intermittently starting, in conjunction with the air-lift recirculation unit. In addition to further saving energy, the intermittent operation time of both the air-lift recirculation unit and the diversion unit can be set and adjusted according to shrimp size, stocking density, feed amount, feeding behavior, etc., which helps with automated management and saves energy.

[0034] 5. Since uneaten feed, excrement, shrimp shells, dead shrimp, and other sediments and suspended solids in the aquaculture water are treated by the air-lift reflux unit and the diversion unit, the water purification equipment in the system only needs to remove ammonia from the water. Therefore, this water purification equipment can be implemented as a biological filter bed, which has the advantages of low cost and very easy maintenance.

[0035] 6. The perching nets that shrimp can climb on can create a three-dimensional aquaculture space in the aquaculture tank without affecting water flow, uneaten feed recovery and water quality treatment, effectively increasing the stocking density and yield per unit area.

[0036] The system comprised of the above-mentioned components can effectively overcome many problems in aquaculture systems, such as dead water flow, uneaten feed, silt removal, water quality management, and observation. By adding habitat nets to increase the space for shrimp to inhabit and hide, the invention can prevent cannibalism. This allows the invention to be applied to general and high-density aquaculture without the need for additional investment in expensive equipment and manpower. Furthermore, it optimizes the feed conversion rate of the aquaculture system, increases yield and output value per unit area, and has great industrial applicability and commercial value.

[0037] The following describes embodiments suitable for this invention, based on the technical means of this invention, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings: Attached Figure Description

[0038] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the system of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 2 This is a side view of the system of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the formation of a secondary flow according to the present invention;

[0041] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the air-lift reflux unit of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the operation of the air-lift reflux unit of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the current splitting unit of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the operation of the current splitting unit of the present invention (I);

[0045] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram (II) of the operation of the diversion unit of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the habitat net structure for this invention;

[0047] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the high-density aquaculture method of the present invention.

[0048] Reference numerals: 10-Aquaculture trough; 11-Inner wall; 12-Central area; 20-Secondary flow drive unit; 21-Water inlet; 30-Air-lift reflux unit; 31-Air-lift pipe; 32-Inlet; 33-Outlet; 34-Air inlet pipe; 35-Grate plate; 40-Water purification equipment; 41-Outlet pipe; 42-Inlet pipe; 43-Submersible pump; 50-Diversion unit; 51-Diversion trough; 52-Water pump; 53-Reflux port; 54-Drainage pipe; 55-Fine screen; 60-Sedimentation tank; 61-Overflow pipe; 70-Perching net; 71-Grid; 72, 73-Fixed spacing; 80-Support. Detailed Implementation

[0049] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the present invention provides a shrimp farming system, comprising a farming tank 10, a secondary flow drive unit 20, an air-lift recirculation unit 30, a water purification device 40, and a diversion unit 50. Wherein:

[0050] The aquaculture tank 10 can hold water for raising shrimp. It is roughly cylindrical in shape as shown in the diagram, with curved inner walls 11 around its perimeter to avoid dead zones in the water flow, and a central area 12 formed in the center. In practice, the shape of the aquaculture tank 10 can also be roughly square or polygonal. Simply adding curved chamfers to each corner of the inner perimeter can alleviate the problem of dead zones in the water flow, achieving an effect similar to a cylindrical shape, and forming a central area 12.

[0051] The secondary flow drive unit 20 includes at least one water inlet 21, which is located near the inner wall 11 of the aquaculture tank 10. It can inject water into the upper layer of the water in the aquaculture tank 10 in a direction that is approximately the same as the circumference of the inner wall 11 of the aquaculture tank 10, thereby driving the upper layer of the water to rotate and form a primary flow, and causing the bottom layer of the water in the aquaculture tank 10 to form a secondary flow field that flows toward the bottom of the central region 12 of the aquaculture tank 10.

[0052] During implementation, the upstream end of the water inlet 21 is connected to the outlet pipe 41 of a water purification device 40. The water purification device 40 includes an inlet pipe 42 connected to the aquaculture tank 10, so that the water in the aquaculture tank 10 enters the water purification device 40 through the inlet pipe 42 to remove harmful substances, and then is reinjected into the aquaculture tank 10 through the outlet pipe 41 and the water inlet 21. On the one hand, a secondary flow is formed, and on the other hand, the aquaculture water is recycled after filtration.

[0053] In the diagram, the upstream end of the inlet pipe 42 is connected to a submersible pump 43 installed in the aquaculture tank 10, which is used to pump water from the aquaculture tank 10 into the water purification equipment 40. In practice, the water level in the water purification equipment 40 can also be lower than that in the aquaculture tank 10. The difference in water level allows the water in the aquaculture tank 10 to automatically flow into the water purification equipment 40 through the inlet pipe 42. Then, the submersible pump (not shown) installed in the water purification equipment 40 pumps out the purified water and re-injects it into the aquaculture tank 10 through the outlet pipe 41 and the inlet 21 to form a circulating water system.

[0054] Furthermore, in the shrimp farming system of the present invention, since uneaten feed, excrement, shrimp shells, dead shrimp, and other solids or various sediments and suspended matter in the water are handled by the air-lift reflux unit 30 and the diversion unit 50 (described later), the water purification device 40 in this embodiment only needs to remove ammonia from the water. Therefore, in the implementation of the present invention, the water purification device 40 can be a biological filter bed, which, in addition to effectively filtering ammonia from the farming water, also has the advantages of low cost and very easy maintenance.

[0055] like Figure 3 As shown, the aforementioned secondary flow is formed because the water inlet 21 injects water along the transverse direction of the inner wall 11 of the aquaculture tank 10, thereby driving the upper layer of water in the aquaculture tank 10 to move in a circular motion to form a primary flow, and driving the fluid layer at the bottom of the aquaculture tank 10 to form a secondary flow, so that the water flows towards the bottom of the central area 12 of the aquaculture tank 10.

[0056] At this time, the feed put into the breeding tank 10, in addition to being evenly distributed around the breeding tank 10 with the upper water flow, the uneaten feed, excrement, shrimp shells, dead shrimp and other sediments that have sunk and not been eaten by the shrimp can automatically concentrate towards the bottom of the central area 12 of the breeding tank 10 through the secondary flow field.

[0057] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the aforementioned air-lift reflux unit 30 includes an air-lift pipe 31. The bottom end of the air-lift pipe 31 has an inlet 32 ​​near the bottom of the central region 12 of the aquaculture tank 10. The top end of the air-lift pipe 31 has an outlet 33 located above the water surface of the aquaculture tank 10. An air inlet pipe 34 is connected between the inlet 32 ​​and the outlet 33. The outlet 33 is located above the water surface of the aquaculture tank 10 relative to the periphery of the central region 12.

[0058] In the diagram, the outlet 33 has a grid plate 35 with an appropriate gap at its end. When the air inlet pipe 34 injects air into the air lift pipe 31, the air rising in the air lift pipe 31 creates a negative pressure at the inlet 32, thereby drawing upwards the water and sediment concentrated at the bottom of the central area 12 of the aquaculture tank 10, including uneaten feed, shrimp shells, dead shrimp, and excrement, and discharging them from the outlet 33 towards the outer periphery of the water in the aquaculture tank 10 relative to the central area. During discharge, the grid plate 35 can block larger shrimp shells and dead shrimp in the sediment for easy cleaning, allowing the water, uneaten feed, and excrement to flow back to the outer area of ​​the aquaculture tank 10 through the grid plate 35, and then be evenly distributed in the aquaculture tank 10 again by the water flow field driven by the secondary flow drive unit 20.

[0059] The present invention uses an air lift pipe 31 as a suction device. Its advantage is that during the process of sucking up residual feed through the air lift pipe 31 and discharging it back to the breeding tank 10, the feed, whether it is general solid feed, biological feed, or even shrimp larvae, will not be damaged, so that the residual feed can be effectively recycled. Unlike pumps and other suction devices, there are problems such as damage to feed and blockage. Even if live shrimp are sucked into the air lift pipe 31 and blocked on the grid plate 35, the live shrimp can jump back to the breeding tank 10 on their own.

[0060] In practice, in coordination with the water flow direction of the water inlet 21 of the aforementioned secondary flow drive unit 20, the drainage direction of the outlet 33 of the air-lift return unit 30 can also be the same as that of the water inlet 21, injecting water along the transverse extension direction of the inner wall 11 of the aquaculture tank 10, thereby assisting in the generation of primary and secondary flows and saving the power and energy consumption required for the secondary flow drive unit 20 to drive the water flow.

[0061] like Figure 1 and Figures 6 to 8 As shown, the aforementioned diversion unit 50 includes a diversion trough 51 disposed below the grid plate 35 of the air-lift return unit 30, and a water pump 52 disposed on the diversion trough 51. The diversion trough 51 can receive water and sediment passing through the grid plate 35, and has a return port 53 at its bottom. The inlet of the water pump 52 is disposed in the diversion trough 51, and the outlet of the water pump 52 is connected to a drain pipe 54.

[0062] When the water containing sediment discharged from the outlet 33 of the air lift pipe 31 falls into the diversion trough 51 of the diversion unit 50 through the grid plate 35, as mentioned above, dead shrimp and shrimp shells are blocked on the grid plate 35, and the uneaten feed can flow back into the breeding tank 10 through the return port 53. When the water pump 52 is started, it can suck up the uneaten feed and suspended matter in the sediment that has fallen into the diversion trough 51 and discharge it out of the breeding tank 10 through the drain pipe 54.

[0063] also, Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 6 In the embodiment shown, a sedimentation tank 60 is provided on the side of the aquaculture tank 10. A fine screen 55 is provided at the outlet end of the drain pipe 54 of the aforementioned water pump 52. The fine screen 55 is located above the sedimentation tank 60, and the sedimentation tank 60 is provided with an overflow pipe 61 connected to the aquaculture tank 10 at a position higher than the water level of the aquaculture tank 10.

[0064] When the water discharged from the drain pipe 54 of the aforementioned diversion unit 50 passes through the fine screen 55 to filter out larger particles of sediment, it falls into the sedimentation tank 60, which allows fine suspended matter to settle in the sedimentation tank 60 for easy cleaning. After the water level in the sedimentation tank 60 rises to the overflow pipe 61, it can flow back to the aquaculture tank 10 through the overflow pipe 61.

[0065] The fine screen 55 filters out larger particles, most of which are uneaten feed. This allows staff to observe the amount of uneaten feed on the screen to assess and record the shrimp's feeding and health status, and adjust the feeding amount accordingly. For example, very little uneaten feed on the screen indicates a need to increase the feeding amount to prevent the shrimp from cannibalizing each other due to hunger; a large amount of uneaten feed indicates a need to reduce the feeding amount or adjust the interval of the water pump 52 to allow the uneaten feed to return. In other words, operators only need to spend a small amount of time observing the amount of uneaten feed to determine and control the feeding amount, offering advantages such as convenient automated management and reduced manpower.

[0066] It is worth mentioning that the aforementioned air-lift recirculation unit 30 can be set to operate intermittently, allowing sediment to accumulate at the bottom of the culture tank 10 for a period of time before air is injected into the air-lift pipe 31 through the air inlet pipe 34 to absorb the sediment, and then shut off after a period of absorption to save energy costs. Similarly, the water pump 52 of the diversion unit 50 can also be set to repeatedly recirculate feed and then start intermittently in conjunction with the air-lift recirculation unit 30. In addition to further saving energy, the intermittent operation time of the air-lift recirculation unit 30 and the diversion unit 50 can be set and adjusted according to the size of the shrimp, the stocking density, the amount of feed, and the feeding situation, which helps to automate management.

[0067] In summary, considering the functions of each component in the system of the present invention: the secondary flow drive unit 20 can evenly distribute the feed and concentrate the residual feed at the bottom of the central area 12; the air-lift reflux unit 30 can intermittently remove dead shrimp and shrimp shells, and then put the sediment containing residual feed back into the breeding tank 10 for effective recycling; the water pump 52 of the diversion unit 50 can work with the air-lift reflux unit 30 to start at regular intervals or intermittently, extracting the small amount of residual feed and suspended matter in the water and discharging it into the sedimentation tank 60, so that larger particles such as residual feed are blocked by the fine screen 55 for easy observation and adjustment of the amount of residual feed, and allowing suspended matter to settle at the bottom of the sedimentation tank 60 for easy cleaning.

[0068] In other words, by integrating these functions, in addition to facilitating automated management, it can effectively solve the problems of observing the amount of feed and the health status of shrimp, facilitating the removal of shrimp shells, dead shrimp and excrement, and overcoming the problems of cleaning up silt and water quality management. It can also significantly optimize feed conversion rate and increase output value.

[0069] The following examples illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention in high-density aquaculture, but the implementation and protection scope of the present invention are not limited to those disclosed in the following description and figures.

[0070] like Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, during implementation, a habitat net 70 for shrimp to climb is further provided inside the breeding tank 10. The habitat net 70 has a plurality of meshes 71 and is erected in a cylindrical shape around the periphery of the central area 12 of the breeding tank 10. There is a fixed distance 72 between the periphery of the habitat net 70 and the inner wall 11 of the breeding tank 10.

[0071] Since shrimp are benthic organisms with poor swimming ability, but have walking legs and the ability to walk and climb, the installation of a perching net 70 that surrounds the inner perimeter of the culture tank 10 allows shrimp to climb and rest on both the inner and outer sides of the perching net 70. Compared to the bottom area of ​​the culture tank 10, this increases the space for shrimp to rest and hide, preventing cannibalism and thus effectively increasing the culture density.

[0072] In conjunction with the aforementioned secondary flow driving unit 20, the water inlet 21 can be positioned within a fixed distance 72 between the periphery of the habitat net 70 and the inner wall 11 of the aquaculture tank 10, allowing water to still be injected along the lateral extension direction of the inner wall 11 of the aquaculture tank 10, thereby driving the generation of a secondary flow at the bottom of the water body. Experiments conducted by the inventors have demonstrated that because the mesh 71 of the habitat net 70 allows water to flow inwards and outwards, it does not affect the secondary flow field. Furthermore, during implementation, a fixed distance 73 is also provided between the bottom of the habitat net 70 and the bottom of the aquaculture tank 10, ensuring that sediment carried by the secondary flow field concentrates towards the bottom of the central area 12 of the aquaculture tank 10.

[0073] As shown in the figure, in an embodiment where a fixed distance 72 and 73 is maintained between the perimeter of the aforementioned perch net 70 and the aquaculture tank 10, a set of supports 80 can be installed above the aquaculture tank 10 for suspending the perch net 70, which is made of rope or a similar woven fishing net. This maintains a fixed distance 72 and 73 between the perch net 70 and the aquaculture tank 10. If the perch net 70 is made of a material with a certain degree of rigidity and hardness, several support rods (not shown in the figure) can be extended downwards from the bottom of the perch net 70 to maintain a fixed distance 73 between the bottom of the perch net 70 and the bottom of the aquaculture tank 10. In addition, the supports 80 in this embodiment can also be used to position the air lift pipe 31 of the aforementioned air lift return unit 30, simplifying the installation procedure.

[0074] The above descriptions and accompanying drawings are merely illustrative of preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Any embodiments that are similar or identical to the purpose, structure, device, or features of the present invention should fall within the patent scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A shrimp farming system, comprising a farming tank for containing water and farmed shrimp, a secondary flow drive unit, an air-lift recirculation unit, and a diversion unit, characterized in that: The secondary flow drive unit includes at least one water inlet, which is located near the inner wall of the aquaculture tank. Water is injected into the upper layer of the water in a direction roughly the same as the circumference of the inner wall of the aquaculture tank, thereby driving the upper layer of the water to rotate and form a primary flow. It also causes the bottom layer of the water to form a secondary flow that flows toward the bottom of the central area of ​​the aquaculture tank, so that the sediment in the bottom layer of the water is driven by the secondary flow field and concentrated at the bottom of the central area. The air-lift reflux unit includes an air-lift pipe with an inlet near the bottom of the central area of ​​the aquaculture tank, an outlet located above the water surface relative to the periphery of the central area, an air intake pipe between the inlet and the outlet, and a grid plate at the outlet. The air intake pipe injects air into the air-lift pipe, which causes the inlet to generate negative pressure, thereby drawing the water and sediment concentrated at the bottom of the central area of ​​the aquaculture tank upward and discharging them from the outlet toward the periphery of the central area of ​​the aquaculture tank. Dead shrimp and shrimp shells in the sediment discharged from the outlet are blocked on the grid plate, while uneaten feed flows back into the aquaculture tank after passing through the grid plate for the shrimp to feed again. as well as The diversion unit includes a diversion trough and a water pump located below the outlet of the air-lift reflux unit. The diversion trough is located below the grid plate to collect water and sediment passing through the grid plate. The bottom of the diversion trough has a return port for water and sediment falling into the diversion trough to flow back into the aquaculture tank. The water pump is fixed on the diversion trough and has an inlet located in the diversion trough and an outlet connected to a drain pipe. When the water pump is started, residual feed and suspended matter in the diversion trough can be extracted through the inlet and discharged to the outside of the aquaculture tank through the drain pipe.

2. The shrimp farming system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The system further includes a sedimentation tank, and a fine screen is installed at the outlet of the drain pipe of the water pump of the diversion unit to block residual bait, so that water and suspended solids fall into the sedimentation tank to settle and facilitate cleaning.

3. The shrimp farming system as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The sedimentation tank is equipped with an overflow pipe connected to the aquaculture tank at a position higher than the water level of the aquaculture tank. After the water level in the sedimentation tank rises to the overflow pipe, it can flow back to the aquaculture tank through the overflow pipe.

4. The shrimp farming system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The system further includes a water purification device, which has an outlet pipe connected to the water inlet of the secondary flow drive unit and an inlet pipe installed in the aquaculture tank. The water in the aquaculture tank can enter the water purification device through the inlet pipe to remove harmful substances, and then flow back into the aquaculture tank through the outlet pipe and the water inlet.

5. The shrimp farming system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The system further includes a perch net set inside the culture tank for shrimp to climb on. The perch net has a grid pattern and surrounds the perimeter of the central area of ​​the culture tank. The perimeter and bottom of the perch net have fixed distances from the inner wall and bottom of the culture tank, respectively.

6. The shrimp farming system as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The water inlet is located between the outer perimeter of the habitat net and the inner wall of the aquaculture tank.

7. The shrimp farming system as described in claim 5, characterized in that: A set of supports is installed above the breeding tank to suspend and fix the habitat net and the air lift pipe.

8. A shrimp farming system, comprising a farming tank for containing water and farmed shrimp, a secondary flow drive unit, an air-lift recirculation unit, and a habitat net, characterized in that: The secondary flow drive unit includes at least one water inlet, which is located near the inner wall of the aquaculture tank. Water is injected into the upper layer of the water in a direction roughly the same as the circumference of the inner wall of the aquaculture tank, thereby driving the upper layer of the water to rotate and form a primary flow. It also causes the bottom layer of the water to form a secondary flow that flows toward the bottom of the central area of ​​the aquaculture tank, so that the sediment in the bottom layer of the water is driven by the secondary flow field and concentrated at the bottom of the central area. The air-lift reflux unit includes an air-lift pipe with an inlet near the bottom of the central area of ​​the aquaculture tank, an outlet located above the water surface relative to the periphery of the central area, an air intake pipe between the inlet and the outlet, and a grid plate at the outlet. The air intake pipe injects air into the air-lift pipe, which causes the inlet to generate negative pressure, thereby drawing the water and sediment concentrated at the bottom of the central area of ​​the aquaculture tank upward and discharging them from the outlet toward the periphery of the central area of ​​the aquaculture tank. Dead shrimp and shrimp shells in the sediment discharged from the outlet are blocked on the grid plate, while uneaten feed flows back into the aquaculture tank after passing through the grid plate for the shrimp to feed again. as well as The habitat net is erected around the central area of ​​the aquaculture tank and has mesh for shrimp to climb. The outer edge and bottom of the habitat net are respectively spaced from the inner wall and bottom of the aquaculture tank, and the water inlet is located between the outer edge of the habitat net and the inner wall of the aquaculture tank.

9. The shrimp farming system as described in claim 8, characterized in that: The system further includes a water purification device, which has an outlet pipe connected to the water inlet of the secondary flow drive unit and an inlet pipe installed in the aquaculture tank. The water in the aquaculture tank can enter the water purification device through the inlet pipe to remove harmful substances, and then flow back into the aquaculture tank through the outlet pipe and the water inlet.

10. The shrimp farming system as described in claim 9, characterized in that: The system further includes a diversion unit, which comprises a diversion trough and a water pump located below the outlet of the air-lift return unit. The diversion trough is located below the grid plate to collect water and sediment passing through the grid plate. The bottom of the diversion trough has a return port for water and sediment falling into the diversion trough to return to the aquaculture tank. The water pump is fixed on the diversion trough and has an inlet located in the diversion trough and an outlet connected to a drain pipe. When the water pump is started, residual feed and suspended matter in the diversion trough can be extracted through the inlet and discharged to the outside of the aquaculture tank through the drain pipe.

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