System for removing gases dissolved in liquid

Abstract

To provide a system for cleaning unwanted gases from liquids. [Solution] The present invention relates to a system for removing gas from a gas-filled liquid, comprising a vacuum unit (300) having an outlet (315) for treated gas-filled liquid / reused seawater and an outlet (320) for gas, a stripper unit having at least one inlet (217) for the gas-filled liquid to be processed, and means for guiding the supply of the gas-filled liquid to be processed along the wall of the stripper unit. An air inlet pipe (230) for supplying air to the stripper unit (200) is provided in the lower section of the stripper unit (200). The stripper unit (200) is located inside the vacuum unit (300), and the open end (213) of the stripper unit (200) is in open communication with the vacuum unit (300). The present invention further relates to a method for removing gas from a gas-filled liquid by using the system and to the use of the system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for removing gas from a gas-filled liquid. The present invention further relates to a method for removing gas from a gas-filled liquid by use of the system, and to the use of a system for removing gas from a gas-filled liquid for cleaning contaminated water in a tank filled with biomass such as fish, shrimp, shellfish, mussels, or other aquatic organisms in water.

Background Art

[0002] Aquaculture is one of the most important export industries in Norway. Most fish are raised in farms equipped with cages installed in the sea, even though onshore facilities are being developed. The aquaculture of other swimming species such as shrimp is also increasing.

[0003] Fish and other species are transferred to cages when they reach an appropriate size and / or age and are fed until it is time to be transferred to another cage for further growth, slaughter, and other processing. Conventionally, fish are transferred from a first location to a second location. When the distance is long, the fish are transferred from the first location to a fish-rearing tank on a wellboat, and then the boat moves to a new location before the fish are transferred to the second location.

[0004] A wellboat is a boat equipped with at least one tank for the storage and transportation of live fish. The tank is often called a well, and thus the wellboat. To ensure the health of the fish in the tank, the water is continuously exchanged by having an inlet at the bow and an outlet at the rear of the boat, or by reusing the water by means of a pump system.

[0005] When access to a sufficient amount of clean water is ensured, a once-through water flow system may be adopted in onshore plants, but most onshore plants reuse water. Therefore, the need to reuse water is the same on wellboats including fish-rearing tanks and onshore fish-rearing tanks containing live fish.

[0006] Several types of cages have also been developed for use in the ocean. The term "closed" means that water cannot directly flow into or out of the cage, but the water flow is controlled, for example, by a pump. This is particularly useful for controlling various parameters of the water, such as oxygen, CO2, pH, and temperature, as well as avoiding parasites that inhabit the ocean. Therefore, water reuse is preferable.

[0007] Furthermore, if the desired temperature in a closed cage or tank does not correspond to the ambient water temperature, the temperature needs to be adjusted. This is expensive, and water reuse is cost-effective. Similarly, for the use of freshwater in cages / tanks located at sea, that freshwater must be transported or generated locally. This is very expensive, and therefore water reuse is cost-effective.

[0008] As fish or other aquatic animals breathe in the water, the oxygen concentration in the water constantly decreases, and the concentration of waste compounds constantly increases. The concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen (N2) are of particular concern, as excessively high concentrations of these gases can be fatal to fish. In conventional techniques, this is often addressed by exposing the water to ambient air during reuse, for example, by flowing the water through an open channel or area that generates turbulence, sometimes with baffles. Creating a large interface between air and water increases gas exchange. In this way, O2 is added to the water, and CO2 and other gases are removed. However, to remove sufficient CO2, the area of ​​water exposed to air must be very large, and therefore, installing such systems in wellboats can be difficult and is often undesirable on land. The amount of O2 added to the system can be difficult to control and may be insufficient to provide optimal breeding conditions for aquatic animals.

[0009] Several strippers or degassing devices are known, which replace CO2 with O2, for example, by blowing air into water to create bubbles. However, known systems may not remove a sufficient amount of CO2 within the required time, and water may have to flow through the system several times, or several strippers / degassing devices may have to be installed in a row. This is very expensive and requires a lot of fresh air to flow through the degassing devices / strippers and requires a lot of space. To increase the amount of O2 added to the water, it is possible to use oxygen instead of ambient air as the gas in the stripper, but this is very expensive because most of the gas flows through the water.

[0010] Another problem with strippers that use bubbles to remove CO2 is the amount of bubbles remaining in the water after treatment, with the greatest concern being the amount of nitrogen in the bubbles. As is well known to those skilled in the art, high concentrations of nitrogen in water can cause disease in fish.

[0011] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008 / 011679A1 describes a method for treating aqueous effluent containing at least one dissolved gaseous compound, such as carbon dioxide.

[0012] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003 / 126884 describes a water treatment apparatus equipped with a water treatment device having a degassing section for removing unwanted gases such as H2S, CO2, and ammonia.

[0013] Based on the above, there is a need for new systems and methods for reusing water used for the growth or transport of aquatic animals such as fish, without the problems mentioned above. The new devices and methods must be easy to use and install and require no space. Furthermore, since live fish will be kept in the water, the quality of the water must be considered and guaranteed in relation to the welfare of the fish.

[0014] Objective of the present invention The object of the present invention is to provide a system for cleaning unwanted gases from a liquid, where the unwanted gas is a gas such as CO2 or N2.

[0015] Another objective of the present invention is to remove harmful gases.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to separate unwanted gases removed from the liquid from the treated water.

[0017] A further objective of the present invention is to improve the efficiency of removing unwanted gases from liquids.

[0018] Furthermore, an objective of the present invention is to saturate a liquid with a desired gas, such as O2. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0019] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008 / 011679A1 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003 / 126884 [Overview of the project]

[0020] Hereafter, and throughout this specification, the following terms mean the following: The term "tank" includes, but is not limited to, containers, vessels, reservoirs, and receptacles. Tanks typically contain fluids and / or liquids. - The term "cylinder" means having a round cross-section. - The term "round" can mean, but is not limited to, elliptical, circular, polygonal (e.g., a 16-sided polygon), or ball-shaped. - The term "gas-filled liquid" means water mixed with one or more gases such as O2, CO2, and / or N2. - The term "water" means seawater, fresh water or a combination thereof, or a liquid. - The term "water to be treated" means a contaminated gas-filled liquid that may contain CO2 and N2 to be removed in addition to "water". - The term "purified water" means treated water from which CO2 and N2 have been removed from the "water to be treated". - The terms "surface of the gas-filled liquid", "surface of the water", or "surface of the rotating water" mean the interface between water and air. - The term "reduced pressure" means a pressure below atmospheric pressure.

[0021] In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a system for removing gas from a gas-filled liquid. The system comprises a vacuum unit with a closed outer tank. The outer tank has an outlet for treated gas-filled liquid / reclaimed seawater disposed in a lower section of the outer tank and an outlet for gas. A vacuum tube is connected to the gas outlet and is arranged to reduce the pressure inside the outer tank. The system further comprises a stripper unit with an inner tank for holding the gas-filled liquid to be treated. The inner tank is cylindrical and has one end open at an upper section of the inner tank. The inner tank has at least one inlet for the gas-filled liquid to be treated disposed in a lower section of the inner tank. There are means for guiding the supply of the gas-filled liquid to be treated entering through at least one inlet for the gas-filled liquid to be treated along the wall of the inner tank. An air inlet pipe for supplying air to the stripper unit is disposed in a lower section of the stripper unit. The inner tank is disposed inside the outer tank and the open end of the inner tank is in open communication with the outer tank.

[0022] The vacuum unit is for guiding gases such as CO2, N2 and O2 from the stripper unit out of the system through the vacuum tube from the outlet of the outer tank for further treatment and / or separation, such as the removal of contaminated gases such as CO2 and N2.

[0023] N2 is the most dominant gas in the atmosphere and can diffuse from the air above into water, especially in areas with high surface contact such as rivers and lakes.

[0024] In an embodiment, the means for guiding the supply of the gas-filled liquid to be treated is an inlet pipe for the supply of the gas-filled liquid to be treated, arranged to flow into the inner tank in the horizontal and tangential directions through at least one inlet, so that the gas-filled liquid to be treated enters the inner tank along the wall of the inner tank.

[0025] In an embodiment, the means for guiding the supply of the gas-filled liquid to be treated is at least one device for guiding the supply of the gas-filled liquid to be treated, arranged at at least one inlet for the gas-filled liquid to be treated inside the inner tank and arranged such that the gas-filled liquid to be treated is guided along the wall of the inner tank.

[0026] By flowing the gas-filled liquid to be treated into the inner tank of the stripper unit in the horizontal and tangential directions along the inner wall of the inner tank, the gas-filled liquid to be treated is rotated within the inner tank of the stripper unit. The rotation of the gas-filled liquid forms a parabolic shape on the liquid surface, thus increasing the surface area of the liquid within the stripper unit. Since more gas evaporates from the larger surface, the required decrease in pressure within the outer tank can depend on the surface area of the liquid.

[0027] The gas-filled liquid to be processed is rotated by cyclone motion within the stripper unit, causing it to be fanned out toward the cylindrical wall of the inner tank of the stripper unit. Upon reaching the top of the inner tank, it falls from the inner unit and flows like a waterfall down to the bottom of the outer tank. As the gas-filled liquid moves along with the air bubbles, a large surface area is created between the gas-filled liquid and its surroundings. Due to the increased surface area, the gas in the gas-filled liquid is released into the surface and the vacuum space around the gas-filled liquid. The processed / cleaned liquid that falls to the bottom of the outer tank eventually flows out of the outer tank. When the liquid returns to, for example, a fish tank, it should be oxygen-unsaturated and preferably supplied with air.

[0028] The cylindrical shape of the inner tank ensures smoother flow and promotes the rotation of the gas-filled liquid being processed.

[0029] The open communication between the inner and outer tanks ensures the continuous release of gas from the gas-filled liquid being processed.

[0030] Bubbles generated in the liquid of the stripper form a liquid surface, releasing unwanted gases. Since the bubbles trap the unwanted gases, supplying air to the gas-filled liquid of the stripper through an air inlet facilitates the rise of unwanted gases. Bubbles increase the release of unwanted gases because they are released when they implode on the liquid surface. Therefore, the proportion of unwanted gas released can be increased by increasing the rate of air supply. The bubbles form an air-lift pump function, contributing to the rise of the gas-filled liquid being processed towards the open end of the inner cylinder of the stripper unit. Thus, unwanted gases are lifted to the liquid surface and released.

[0031] In this embodiment, the supply of the gas-filled liquid to be treated through the inlet of the inner tank is controlled by means for adjusting the rate. The faster the rate at which the gas-filled liquid to be treated flows in, the stronger the rotation of the gas-filled liquid to be treated becomes, and therefore the outer portion of the cyclone rises above the upper edge wall of the inner tank, the center of the cyclone deepens downward toward the bottom wall of the inner tank, and the liquid surface area increases.

[0032] In the embodiment, the means for speed control is a pump. The pump is easy to adjust and install and can be installed in any situation, regardless of the system's arrangement relative to the source of the gas-filled liquid to be processed. In any case, the system is located at a higher level, a lower level, or the same level as the source. If the system is located at a lower level, the supply of the gas-filled liquid to be processed can also rely on gravity due to the height difference, for example, along with a valve for adjusting the volume of gas-filled liquid per unit of time.

[0033] In this embodiment, the pump is positioned inside the inlet pipe, in front of the air inlet pipe.

[0034] In one embodiment, the pump is positioned in the inlet pipe between the inlet and the air inlet pipe.

[0035] In this embodiment, the gas outlet of the vacuum unit is located on the upper wall of the vacuum unit. The gas released from the water in the stripper unit, and the gas released when the water flows over the stripper unit and out of the stripper unit and splashes to the bottom of the vacuum unit, naturally rise upward toward the top of the vacuum unit.

[0036] In this embodiment, the air inlet pipe is positioned to enter the inlet pipe before the inlet. Bubbles are formed before the inlet for the gas-filled liquid to be processed, and therefore, the capture of unwanted gases begins in greater quantities, even before the stripper unit. The supply of air and the bubbles formed therefrom ensure an airlift effect before reaching the stripper unit.

[0037] In the embodiment, the air inlet pipe is positioned to enter through the wall of the inner tank, the lower section of the inner tank, or the bottom wall of the inner tank. This ensures bubble formation within the inner cylinder of the stripper unit even if the inlet for the gas-filled liquid to be processed is closed, for example, by a valve, preferably near the inlet, in the inlet or inlet pipe for supplying the gas-filled liquid to be processed.

[0038] In this embodiment, the stripper unit includes a rotor positioned at the bottom of the inner tank. It increases the rotation of the gas-filled liquid to be processed, rotating upwards from the bottom. When the source of the gas-filled liquid to be processed is empty, the inner tank remains filled with liquid, and the rotor can maintain the rotation of the liquid for a certain period of time to reach a sufficient level of cleanliness before emptying the inner tank, for example by opening an outlet at the bottom of the inner tank.

[0039] In this embodiment, as a safety precaution, the grid is positioned above the rotor in the lower section of the inner tank.

[0040] In this embodiment, the outlet of the treated gas-filled liquid is connected to the outlet pipe for the treated gas-filled liquid / recycled seawater. Thus, the treated liquid / seawater can be transported to, for example, fish cages, tanks, or other locations.

[0041] In this embodiment, the vacuum tube is connected to a pump for drawing gas from the vacuum unit. The pump ensures pressure reduction and / or constant pressure within the vacuum unit.

[0042] In this embodiment, the vacuum tube is connected to a compressor or fan for drawing gas from the vacuum unit.

[0043] In the embodiment, the pump, compressor, or fan provides a constant vacuum or negative pressure relative to atmospheric pressure of 0.1 to 0.7 bar.

[0044] In the embodiment, the pump, compressor, or fan provides a constant vacuum or negative pressure relative to atmospheric pressure of 0.2 to 0.5 bar.

[0045] Since the amount of gas released from the gas-filled liquid can vary, a constant vacuum is maintained.

[0046] In this embodiment, the outer tank is cylindrical.

[0047] In this embodiment, an inlet for O2 or air is connected to an outlet pipe for treated gas-filled liquid / reused seawater. It functions as an airlift pump to pump the treated gas-filled liquid / reused seawater to another location. Furthermore, the liquid flowing out of the vacuum unit is gas-unsaturated at atmospheric pressure and is therefore possible to saturate the gas-filled liquid / reused seawater by supplying O2 or air, which may be necessary if the water is to be reused in a container containing biomass such as fish.

[0048] In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a method for removing gas from a gas-filled liquid using a system. This method is - Before entering the stripper unit, a mixture of the gas-filled liquid to be processed and the air supplied to the gas-filled liquid to be processed is supplied to the stripper unit. - The step of rotating the mixture in the stripper unit at a rotational speed that allows the mixture to exceed the height of the stripper unit, - A step of removing gas released from the gas-filled liquid to be processed that enters the vacuum unit, - A step to remove the gas-filled liquid that has passed through the stripper unit and fallen to the bottom of the outer tank of the vacuum unit. Includes.

[0049] In a third aspect, the present invention relates to the use of a system for removing gas from a gas-filled liquid for cleaning contaminated water in a fish rearing tank.

[0050] The system can remove gas from gas-filled liquids of any type, including but not limited to clean seawater, polluted seawater, and brackish water.

[0051] The fundamental concept of this invention is the use of the water surface to remove unwanted dissolved gases from the water to be treated. When air is added to the water to be treated, the air rises to the surface as bubbles, which carry the dissolved gases to the surface where the air and dissolved gases are released and thus removed from the water to be treated.

[0052] The surface of swirling water in a cylindrical tank forms a vortex or concave parabolic shape, in contrast to still water where the surface is flat and more or less horizontal. The surface of swirling water rises along the walls of the cylindrical tank and sinks toward the center of the tank, forming a parabolic shape in the x-cross section of the water mass in the tank. Therefore, when water in a cylindrical tank is swirling, the surface area exposed to the ambient air increases compared to the surface area exposed to the ambient air when the water is calm or still (no or little movement). This increase in surface area increases the area from which dissolved gases are released from the water being treated.

[0053] As the rotational speed increases, the vortex funnel forms downwards, while the suction effect pulls the water upwards. The water accelerates as it spins, and centrifugal force pushes it towards the cylinder walls, but at the center of the vortex, a column of air forms in the gap created by the water being pushed away from the center of the cylinder. The depth of the vortex funnel and the height of the water level rise depend on the rotational speed of the spinning water.

[0054] The core of this invention lies in utilizing this effect to increase the rotational speed of the water mass, thereby creating a larger surface area for the exchange of unwanted gases from the water to the surroundings, improving the rate of gas removal, and further removing the purified water.

[0055] At the bottom of the tank, the inflow rate of water per unit time and the rotation speed of the water mass into the tank are adjustable and must be adjusted to ensure that the maximum water level is at least above the height of the tank. Thus, the water from the tank falls from the top of the cylindrical tank.

[0056] The system of the present invention removes unwanted gases such as CO2, N2, and other gases from a gas-filled liquid of contaminated water / seawater to be treated. The gas, preferably air, is supplied together with the contaminated water / seawater to be treated before reaching the stripper unit. Alternatively, the gas, preferably air, is supplied directly to the stripper unit, preferably near and / or at the level of the contaminated water / seawater intake. The gas forms bubbles in the water, capturing the unwanted gases to be removed. The bubbles act like an air-lift pump, causing the captured unwanted gases to rise towards the water surface in the tank, where they implode. The released gases are evacuated in a vacuum unit and preferably drawn out of the vacuum unit by a vacuum pipe located at the top of the vacuum unit. The released gases are preferably drawn out by a pump through the vacuum pipe. As the rotating water forms a parabolic shape on the water surface, providing a larger surface area, the bubbles implode with a larger surface area, increasing the rate at which the gases are released into the vacuum unit.

[0057] The contaminated gas-filled liquid or seawater is preferably supplied into the container horizontally and tangentially, and the inlet pipe is positioned so that the water enters the container along the container wall. The tangential direction of entry along the container wall provides rotational motion of the water mass within the container. The height of the lifted water mass, and therefore the depth of the resulting air column, is controlled by adjusting the rotational speed of the water. The water speed is controlled, for example, by pressurizing the water into the container with an adjustable pump, or by a rotor located in a cylindrical water tank where the supply of the contaminated gas-filled liquid and the rotation of the water take place.

[0058] The stripper unit comprises a tank, preferably a cylindrical tank. The supply of contaminated gas-filled liquid or seawater to the tank may consist of one or more inlet pipes, e.g., two, three, or four inlet pipes, which provide rotational motion of the water mass within the tank. One or more inlet pipes are preferably located in the bottom section of the tank or at a certain height from the bottom of the tank. One or more inlet pipes are positioned horizontally to ensure that the gas-filled liquid to be treated enters the tank tangentially to the cylindrical walls of the tank. The tangential inflow causes the water mass within the tank to rotate, forming a funnel-shaped or parabolic water surface. As the water surface descends, air gaps are formed in the direction of the rotation axis, and the water surface rises toward the cylindrical wall.

[0059] Optionally, the rotation of the water mass in the tank can also be driven by a motor in which a rotor is mounted on a rotating motor shaft. The rotor is preferably located at the bottom of the cylinder, and optionally below the grid of the bottom section of the cylinder. The rotation of the water mass can be a combination of a rotor in the bottom region of the tank and an inlet pipe positioned horizontally and tangentially.

[0060] As the water mass rotates, the water near the container walls is lifted upwards within the container, while the water moving towards the center of the container decreases in height. The upper water surface exposed to the surrounding space forms a parabolic shape within the x-section of the container. The level of water lifted upwards within the container depends on the rotational speed of the water mass, which should be set to a level at which the water exceeds the height of the container and therefore falls to the bottom of the vacuum unit by gravity, forming a water drop.

[0061] A stripper unit is configured to remove one or more gaseous components from a gas-filled liquid flow of a contaminated gas-filled liquid. The gas-filled liquid enters the stripper unit, and by supplying a gas flow, such as air, the stripper unit removes contaminants in the liquid, such as CO2 and N2, or other unwanted gases, from the gas-filled liquid flow. The stripper unit preferably comprises a cylindrical tank, where the gas-filled liquid flow and the gas flow enter the tank preferably in the bottom section of the tank, and the rotation of the mixture of gas-filled liquid and supplied gas is provided into the tank by either a rotor driven, for example by a motor, or the direction of the incoming gas-filled liquid provides the rotation of the gas-filled liquid. As the gas rises toward the liquid surface in the tank, dissolved unwanted gases in the gas-filled liquid rise with the added gas and are released at the liquid surface, where they are separated from the gas-filled liquid. As the water is rotated, a wider surface area is exposed, allowing more gas to be released from the water. This, along with the air mixed in the water, creates bubbles, further exposing a wider surface area. The pressure changes upward within the stripper unit, which also contributes to the effect. Preferably, the supply of gas flowing through the stripper is greater than the amount of liquid. The gas-filled liquid becomes supersaturated with more gas dissolved than the equilibrium state between gas and liquid, and the supersaturated gas is released as bubbles. The gas:liquid ratio is preferably 4:15, more preferably 5:8. The fluid flows through the stripper unit, and the rotation of the liquid and gas provides the effect of pushing the fluid over the top of the tank, outflowing from the stripper unit, or overflowing the stripper unit.

[0062] The gas-filled liquid and the released gas flow enter a vacuum unit, which comprises a tank surrounding the cylindrical tank of the stripper unit. The cylindrical tank of the stripper unit is preferably positioned upright within the tank of the vacuum unit. The liquid flow falls to the bottom of the tank of the vacuum unit as a waterfall or fountain and is guided through an outlet pipe connected to an outlet located through the bottom wall or side wall of the bottom section of the tank of the vacuum unit. As the gas-filled liquid bounces back towards the bottom of the vacuum unit, it forms multiple droplets, creating a surface for releasing any unreleased gas into the gas-filled liquid to be removed. Ideally, all gas should be released from the gas-filled liquid before it is recirculated to the fish tank, although some contamination may still be present and is acceptable.

[0063] As mentioned above, the gas to be removed may be CO2 and / or N2, and the gas-filled liquid may be seawater contaminated with such gases, among other things. The water may be supplied from aquaculture farms, including but not limited to enclosed fish cages or tanks on land or at sea, as well as water used to transport live aquatic animals such as fish in wellboats or tanks.

[0064] The water may be seawater, freshwater, or a combination of seawater and freshwater. If the gas-filled liquid to be treated is water used for farming or transporting live aquatic animals such as fish, the preferred gas is ambient air.

[0065] The vacuum unit is connected to a gas outlet, which is located above the stripper unit, preferably through the upper wall of the vacuum unit's tank. The outlet is connected to a pump, compressor, or fan to push the gas out of the vacuum unit, thus creating a reduced pressure within the vacuum unit. The vacuum assists in the release of gas from water.

[0066] The inlet pipe for the contaminated gas-filled liquid into the stripper unit is connected to a pump configured to pressurize the gas-filled liquid into the stripper unit. The pump regulates the volume and flow rate of the incoming gas-filled liquid into the stripper unit. The gas inlet pipe into the stripper unit is controlled by a valve, either directly or via the inlet pipe to the stripper unit for the contaminated gas-filled liquid.

[0067] The optimal gas rate and retention time to the stripper, the optimal flow rate of the contaminated gas-filled liquid, and the optimal level of the contaminated gas-filled liquid within the stripper depend on several conditions. Optimal design and rate may vary from plant to plant and may depend on the species and type of aquatic animals in the transport of breeding water and / or the water to be treated, as well as the amount of aquatic animals (biomass). Similarly, the optimal height, diameter, generally speaking, the size of the stripper unit and associated units, and the resulting flow rate, pressure, etc., should be considered.

[0068] By using the system or method according to the present invention, CO2, N2, and other gases in the gas-filled liquid to be treated are first removed within the stripper unit. The gas, preferably air, bubbles through the water, and any trapped gases follow the air and are removed by the gas outlet. The added gases may leave microbubbles in the gas-filled liquid if the gas-filled liquid exceeds the height of the stripper unit. These bubbles, and any remaining trapped gases, are removed when the gas-filled liquid is subjected to reduced pressure within the vacuum unit, or when the gas-filled liquid splashes / falls below the bottom of the vacuum unit or below the water level of the treated water accumulated within the vacuum unit, preferably above the top of the stripper unit. The combination of the stripper unit and the vacuum unit solves both the problems of the stripper and the problems of the vacuum unit. A device including both units, in which the stripper unit is surrounded by the vacuum unit, is a compact and efficient design that requires, for example, less space than known systems.

[0069] The system is a closed system, meaning it is not mixed with uncontrolled ambient air or water, thus reducing the risk of contamination by toxic compounds in animals, etc.

[0070] The gas-filled liquid exiting the vacuum unit will become unsaturated when exposed to atmospheric pressure, meaning it can contain / accept more gas. Therefore, if the gas-filled liquid is water used for breeding or transporting aquatic animals, it would be beneficial to add air and / or oxygen to the gas-filled liquid after the vacuum unit when it is exposed to atmospheric pressure. This would efficiently increase the amount of O2 in the water while minimizing losses to the surroundings.

[0071] The present invention will be described below with reference to exemplary embodiments and accompanying drawings. For simplicity, the exemplary embodiments relate to the removal of gases such as CO2 and N2 from water used for raising or transporting fish, but the present invention may be used to remove any other gas from any other gas-filled liquid. The following detailed description will not limit the present invention, as the scope of the invention is defined by the claims.

[0072] Throughout this specification, any reference to “preferred embodiment” or “preferred” feature means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in relation to an embodiment is preferred in a separate embodiment or in combination in the same embodiment.

[0073] In this specification, all relative terms such as top, center, bottom, side, underside, top, upward, downward, vertical, and horizontal all relate to the system when it is installed and ready for use. The same terms also refer to the downstream and upstream terms, which describe the flow when the system is in use.

[0074] Embodiments of the present invention will be described as merely examples with reference to the following figures. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0075] [Figure 1a] The diagram shows a cylinder filled with water, and the principle of the present invention is that the surface area of ​​rotating water increases compared to the surface area of ​​still or calm water. [Figure 1b] Another diagram shows a cylinder filled with water, and the principle of the present invention lies in the increased surface area of ​​rotating water compared to the surface area of ​​still or calm water. [Figure 1c] Another diagram shows a cylinder filled with water, and the principle of the present invention lies in the increased surface area of ​​rotating water compared to the surface area of ​​still or calm water. [Figure 2] This figure shows one embodiment of the system according to the present invention. [Figure 3] This figure shows one embodiment of system 100 according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0076] The same reference number in different drawings identifies the same or similar elements. Drawings are for illustrative purposes only, and different parts may not necessarily be to scale with respect to one another.

[0077] Figures 1a to 1c show a cylinder or inner tank 210 filled with water, and the principle of the present invention is that as the rotational speed ω of the water in the tank increases from Figure 1b to Figure 1c, the surface of the rotating water increases compared to the surface of the still or calm water in Figure 1a.

[0078] Figure 2 shows one embodiment of system 100 according to the present invention. System 100 may be located on land or near a fish rearing tank on a wellboat (not shown) to remove gas from water in a fish rearing tank. System 100 comprises a stripper unit 200 and a vacuum unit 300, the stripper unit 200 being located within the vacuum unit 300. The stripper unit 200 comprises an inner tank 210 having an inlet 217 for a gas-filled liquid to be treated (e.g., contaminated seawater), the inlet 217 being connected to an inlet pipe 220 for the gas-filled liquid to be treated. An air inlet pipe 230 is shown connected to the inlet pipe 220 for the gas-filled liquid to be treated before entering the inner tank 210, but is not limited to such a location and may be connected to the inner tank 210, preferably via the bottom wall 214 of the inner tank, or directly within at least the lower section 215 of the inner tank 210. The inner tank 210 is preferably a cylindrical container positioned upright within the vacuum unit 300, and the inner tank 210 has an open end 213 that opens at the top of the inner tank 210. The vacuum unit 300 comprises an outer tank 310, and the inner tank 210 is located inside the outer tank 310. The outer tank 310 comprises an upper wall 312, a bottom wall 313, and an outer wall 311. The outer wall is preferably cylindrical, but not limited to a cylindrical shape. A vacuum tube 400 is connected to a through-hole in the upper wall 312 of the outer tank 310 to remove gas from the vacuum unit 300. A pump, compressor, or fan (not shown) is connected to the vacuum tube 400 to push the gas out of the vacuum unit 300 for further storage and / or processing. An outlet 315 for treated liquid / reused seawater is located in the outer wall 311 of the lower section 314 of the outer tank 310 or in the bottom wall of the outer tank 310. The inner tank 210 of the stripper unit 200 is positioned at a certain distance above or below the bottom wall 313 of the outer tank 310 of the vacuum unit 300, or at least the lower section 314 of the outer tank 310 of the vacuum unit 300.

[0079] Preferably, the treated liquid / recycled seawater outlet pipe 500 is connected to the treated liquid / recycled seawater outlet 315 to transport the treated liquid / recycled seawater to, for example, fish cages, aquaculture tanks, etc. Preferably, the O2 or air inlet 600 is connected to the treated liquid / recycled seawater outlet pipe 500 to saturate the treated liquid / recycled seawater with O2 or air before transporting it to, for example, a container for biomass such as fish, shrimp, shellfish, mussels, or other animals.

[0080] Figure 3 shows one embodiment of system 100 according to the present invention. System 100 is typically located near a fish tank on land or on a wellboat to remove unwanted gases from water, such as in a fish tank. The system comprises a stripper unit 200 and a vacuum unit 300, with the stripper unit 200 located within the vacuum unit 300. The stripper unit 200 comprises an inner tank 210 having an inlet 217 for the gas-filled liquid to be treated (e.g., contaminated seawater), the inlet 217 being connected to an inlet pipe 220 for the gas-filled liquid to be treated. The inlet pipe 220 for the gas-filled liquid to be treated is shown to enter the inner tank 210 from the outside through an outer tank 310. An air inlet pipe 230 is shown connected to the inlet pipe 220 for the gas-filled liquid to be treated inside the outer tank 310 before the inlet pipe 220 enters through the outer tank 310, but is not limited to this position. The air inlet pipe 230 can enter the gas-filled liquid inlet pipe 220 inside the outer tank 310 (not shown), and the air inlet pipe 230 enters the outer tank 310 from the outside. In another embodiment (not shown), the air inlet pipe 230 can enter the inner tank 210 through an air inlet (not shown) in the lower section 215 of the inner tank 210, preferably in the lower section 215 closer to the bottom wall 214 of the inner tank 210.

[0081] The inner tank 210 is shown as a cylindrical container positioned upright within the vacuum unit 300, and has an open end 213 that opens at the top of the inner tank 210. The vacuum unit 300 comprises an outer tank 310, shown as a cylindrical container, and the inner tank 210 is positioned inside the outer tank 310. Here, the inner tank 210 is shown positioned at the bottom of the outer tank 310. The outer tank 310 comprises an upper wall 312, a bottom wall 313, and an outer wall 311. The outer wall 311 of the outer tank is not limited to a cylindrical shape and may be square or any other suitable shape. A vacuum tube 400 is connected to a through-hole in the upper wall 312 of the outer tank 310 to remove gas from the vacuum unit 300. A pump, compressor, or fan (not shown) is connected to the vacuum tube 400 to push the gas out of the vacuum unit 300 for further storage and / or processing. The treated liquid / recycled seawater outlet 315 is located on the outer wall 311 of the lower section 314 of the outer tank 310 or on the bottom wall of the outer tank 310.

[0082] The treated liquid / recycled seawater outlet pipe 500 is connected to the treated liquid / recycled seawater outlet 315 to transport the treated liquid / recycled seawater to, for example, fish cages, aquaculture tanks, etc. Preferably, an O2 or air inlet 600 is connected to the treated liquid / recycled seawater outlet pipe 500 to saturate the treated liquid / recycled seawater with O2 or air before transporting it to a container for biomass such as fish, shrimp, shellfish, mussels, or other animals. All organisms that consume / take in oxygen contaminate the water / liquid by releasing CO2 into it during respiration.

[0083] A pump 700 is connected to the inlet pipe 220 for the gas-filled liquid to be processed, for pressurizing the gas-filled liquid into the system. A pump 800 for pressurizing the processed liquid out of the system is connected to the outlet pipe 500 for the processed liquid / reused seawater. A pump, compressor, or fan 900 for driving the gas released from the system is connected to the vacuum tube 400.

[0084] Table 1

Claims

1. A system (100) for removing gas from a gas-filled liquid, A closed outer tank (310), wherein the outer tank (310) is The lower section (314) of the outer tank (310) has an outlet for treated gas-filled liquid / an outlet for recycled seawater (315), Gas outlet (320) and An outer tank (310) is provided. A vacuum unit (300) equipped with, A vacuum tube (400) is connected to the gas outlet (320) and is arranged to reduce the pressure inside the outer tank (310), Stripper unit (200), An inner tank (210) for holding the gas-filled liquid to be processed, wherein the inner tank (210) is cylindrical and has an opening at one end (213), and in the upper section (216) of the inner tank (210), the inner tank (210) is At least one inlet (217) for the gas-filled liquid to be processed, located in the lower section (215) of the inner tank (210), An inner tank (210) is provided, A stripper unit (200) equipped with, Means for guiding the supply of the gas-filled liquid to be processed, which enters through at least one inlet (217) for the gas-filled liquid to be processed along the wall of the inner tank (210), An air inlet pipe (230) configured to supply air to the stripper unit (200) is located in the lower section of the stripper unit (200), Equipped with, The inner tank (210) is positioned inside the outer tank (310), and the open end (213) of the inner tank (210) is in open communication with the outer tank (310). System (100).

2. The system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the means for guiding the supply of the gas-filled liquid to be processed is an inlet pipe (220) for supplying the gas-filled liquid to be processed, which is arranged to flow horizontally and tangentially into the inner tank (210) through the at least one inlet (217), so that the gas-filled liquid to be processed enters the inner tank (210) along the wall of the inner tank (210).

3. The system (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the means for guiding the supply of the gas-filled liquid to be processed is at least one device for guiding the supply of the gas-filled liquid to be processed, which is located inside the inner tank (210) at at least one inlet (217) for the gas-filled liquid to be processed and is arranged so as to guide the gas-filled liquid to be processed along the wall (211) of the inner tank (210).

4. The system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the supply of the gas-filled liquid to be processed through the inlet (217) is controlled by means for adjusting the rate.

5. The system (100) according to claim 4, wherein the means for adjusting the speed is a pump.

6. The system (100) according to claim 5, wherein the pump is positioned in the inlet pipe (220) in front of the air inlet pipe (230).

7. The system (100) according to claim 5, wherein the pump is located in the inlet pipe (220) between the inlet (217) and the air inlet pipe (230).

8. The system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the gas outlet (320) of the vacuum unit (300) is located on the upper wall (312) of the vacuum unit (300).

9. The system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the air inlet pipe (230) is positioned to enter the inlet pipe (220) in front of the inlet (217).

10. The system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the air inlet pipe (230) is arranged to enter through the wall (211) of the inner tank (210) in the lower section (215) of the inner tank (210), or through the bottom wall (214) of the inner tank (210).

11. The system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the stripper unit (200) comprises a rotor (500) disposed at the bottom of the inner tank (210).

12. The system (100) according to claim 11, wherein the grid is positioned above the rotor (500) of the lower section (215) of the inner tank (210).

13. The system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the treated gas-filled liquid outlet (315) is connected to the treated gas-filled liquid / recycled seawater outlet pipe (500).

14. The system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the vacuum tube (400) is connected to a pump for drawing gas from the vacuum unit (300).

15. The system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the vacuum tube (400) is connected to a compressor or fan for drawing gas from the vacuum unit (300).

16. The system (100) according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the pump, compressor, or fan provides a constant vacuum of 0.1 to 0.7 bar.

17. The system (100) according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the pump, compressor, or fan provides a constant vacuum of 0.2 to 0.5 bar.

18. The system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the outer tank (310) is cylindrical.

19. The system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein an inlet for O2 or air is connected to the outlet pipe (500) for the treated gas-filled liquid / recycled seawater.

20. A method for removing gas from a gas-filled liquid using a system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the method is: Before entering the stripper unit (200), a mixture of the gas-filled liquid to be processed and the air supplied to the gas-filled liquid to be processed is supplied to the stripper unit (200). The steps include rotating the mixture in the stripper unit (200) at a rotational speed that causes the mixture to exceed the height of the stripper unit (200), A step of removing gas released from the gas-filled liquid to be processed that enters the vacuum unit (300), The steps include removing the gas-filled liquid that falls beyond the stripper unit (200) and onto the bottom wall (313) of the outer tank (310) of the vacuum unit (300), and Methods that include...

21. Use of a system for removing gas from a gas-filled liquid according to any one of claims 1 to 19 for cleaning contaminated water in a fish rearing tank.

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