Blue Carbon Trial Unit

The floating wooden artificial island system addresses limitations in seaweed and algae cultivation by providing a protected, adjustable environment for blue carbon production, enabling rapid expansion and early achievement of carbon neutrality.

JP7675467B1Active Publication Date: 2025-05-13廣田祐次
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2024105944
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-07-01
Publication Date
2025-05-13
Estimated Expiration
2044-07-01

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing methods for cultivating seaweed and freshwater algae for blue carbon production are limited by rapid growth constraints, predation by fish and sea urchins, and adverse effects from global warming, which hinder efficient CO2 absorption.

Method used

A floating wooden artificial island is created with a wooden frame submerged in water, topped with culture soil and seaweed or freshwater algae, and surrounded by sealed wooden boxes for buoyancy and protection from fish. The system allows for adjustable water levels and selection of optimal sunlight conditions.

Benefits of technology

This solution enables rapid expansion of blue carbon absorption, achieving carbon neutrality sooner than traditional methods, while minimizing fish damage and optimizing growth conditions, making it suitable for developing island countries.

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Abstract

We will solve the problems of seaweed beds not growing rapidly, seaweed being eaten by fish and sea urchins, and the optimal conditions for algae growth changing due to global warming. [Solution] A floating wooden artificial island is floated on the sea or on a lake, a wooden frame is set in the underwater or sea part of the wooden artificial island, a sheet is set on the frame, culture soil is set on the sheet, and seaweed or freshwater algae is planted in the culture soil. The wooden artificial island is provided with a number of sealed wooden boxes to maintain buoyancy, with the upper sides of the sealed wooden boxes exposed above sea level, and a hatch with a lid is provided on the upper sides of the sealed wooden boxes, allowing water to be pumped into and out of the sealed wooden boxes from the hatch, thereby enabling the depth at which seaweed or freshwater algae are grown to be adjusted.
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Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This invention proposes a technology in which a floating wooden artificial island is floated on the sea or on a lake, culture soil (on the top of a wooden frame) is placed in the underwater or sea part of the wooden artificial island, and seaweed or freshwater algae are planted therein, and CO2 is absorbed through photosynthesis by the seaweed or freshwater algae. Blue carbon is carbon that is absorbed and stored in the marine environment by marine organisms. CO2 emissions from human activities amount to about 9.4 billion tons per year in carbon equivalent, but it has been discovered that forests and other plants on land absorb about 1.9 billion tons, and the ocean as a whole absorbs about 2.5 billion tons, of which the blue carbon ecosystem absorbs about 1.1 billion tons. Carbon fixed by terrestrial plants is decomposed by microorganisms over a period of several decades and released into the atmosphere as CO2. On the other hand, carbon accumulated on the ocean floor decomposes very slowly over a period of several thousand years because microbial decomposition is inhibited in anoxic conditions. Due to these characteristics, blue carbon is attracting attention as a new source of absorption for CO2, which is believed to be a cause of global warming. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, seaweed that produces blue carbon was left to grow in the natural environment, and was limited to shallow waters where sunlight was abundant (0.2% of the entire ocean). With the construction of ports and the expansion of tourist and commercial facilities such as swimming beaches, the area in which it grows has only decreased, never increased. In addition, due to weather and tides, there were times when the algae did not receive enough sunlight, making it difficult for the algae to grow. Furthermore, red tides occurred and the algae were eaten by fish and sea urchins, which hindered their growth. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent application 2017-121921 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] We will solve the problems of seaweed beds not growing rapidly, seaweed being eaten by fish and sea urchins, and the optimal conditions for algae growth changing due to global warming. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A floating wooden artificial island is floated on the sea or on a lake, a wooden frame is set in the underwater or sea part of the wooden artificial island, a sheet is set on the frame, culture soil is set on the sheet, and seaweed or freshwater algae is planted in the culture soil. In addition, a plurality of sealed wooden boxes are set on the wooden artificial island to maintain buoyancy, and the upper sides of the sealed wooden boxes are set so as to be exposed above sea level. A hatch with a lid is set on the upper side of the sealed wooden box, and water can be pumped into and out of the sealed wooden box from the hatch, making it possible to adjust the growing depth of the culture soil and seaweed or freshwater algae. In addition, netting will be installed around the entire perimeter of the wooden artificial island to protect algae from fish. Effect of the Invention

[0006] With the rapid expansion of blue carbon trial units around the world, i.e., through large-scale CO2 absorption, it may be possible to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050, even if some fossil fuels remain. <Benefits of the Blue Carbon Trial Unit> · The area is limited, so it is easy to provide nutrients (no waste). Netting makes it easier to prevent damage to fish. - You can choose the best lighting conditions (depth). · You can choose the algae species that absorbs the most CO2. - It is possible to select (change) appropriate algae species in response to the warming of seawater. · Drastic expansion in available areas. Even developing island nations that do not have any means of production can maintain their livelihoods. (Money will be paid according to the expected amount of CO2 absorbed by expanding blue carbon. (We will build a system that can [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] An overview of the Blue Carbon Trial Unit is shown. [Diagram 2] An overview of the wooden artificial island (wooden frame and sealed wooden box) is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] A floating wooden artificial island is floated on the sea or on a lake, a wooden frame is set in the underwater or sea part of the wooden artificial island, a sheet is set on the frame, culture soil is set on the sheet, and seaweed or freshwater algae is planted in the culture soil. In addition, a plurality of sealed wooden boxes are provided on the wooden artificial island to maintain buoyancy, and the upper sides of the sealed wooden boxes are exposed above sea level. A hatch with a lid is provided on the upper side of the sealed wooden box, and water can be pumped into and out of the sealed wooden box from the hatch, making it possible to adjust the growing depth of the culture soil and seaweed or freshwater algae. In addition, netting will be installed around the entire perimeter of the wooden artificial island to protect algae from fish.

[0009] In FIG. 1, a floating wooden artificial island is floated on the sea or a lake, and a wooden frame is set in the underwater or sea part of the wooden artificial island, a sheet is set on top of that, and culture soil is further set on top of that, and seaweed or freshwater algae are planted in the culture soil. In addition, a plurality of sealed wooden boxes are provided on the wooden artificial island to maintain buoyancy, and the upper sides of the sealed wooden boxes are exposed above sea level. A hatch with a lid is provided on the upper side of the sealed wooden box, and water can be pumped into and out of the sealed wooden box from the hatch, making it possible to adjust the growing depth of the culture soil and seaweed or freshwater algae. The hatch has a buckle-type opening and closing lid with a gasket to prevent waves and rainwater from entering and to prevent the water inside the sealed wooden box from evaporating. In addition, netting will be installed around the entire perimeter of the wooden artificial island to protect algae from fish. The blue carbon trial unit is fixed by setting up a concrete guide on the coast (basically in the sea), passing a log connected to the blue carbon trial unit through the concrete guide and securing it with two wooden stoppers, so that it cannot move horizontally (left and right, front and back), but can move up and down in response to the ebb and flow of the tides. In order to achieve carbon neutrality, it is not enough to simply switch to all renewable energy; the total amount of CO2 emitted by animals as they live and from various production activities accounts for about 40% of the total, so we plan to fill the entire area, except for necessary shipping routes and various ports, with "Blue Carbon Trial Units" in order to achieve carbon neutrality.We also plan to create a fund at the United Nations (with each country contributing money), declare the establishment of a "Blue Carbon Trial Unit" to the UN, and if the UN confirms and gives the OK, create a system in which a relatively large amount of money (to enable developing island nations that have no means of production to somehow survive) will be paid.

[0010] Figure 2 shows an overview of the wooden artificial island. A 12m square wooden angle will be assembled as the basic unit of the wooden artificial island. The wooden artificial island has six basic units, but by adding and expanding the basic units in the direction of the arrow, it can be made into a large artificial island of several kilometers or more in size. Regarding the expansion of the wooden artificial island, holes are drilled in the sides of the angles, and the angles are positioned with wooden rivets, and then the angles are bonded together to expand the island. In addition, the load weight can be balanced by increasing or decreasing the number of sealed wooden boxes (cubes with sides of 2 m each, each with a buoyancy of approximately 8 t). [Industrial Applicability]

[0011] With the rapid expansion of blue carbon trial units around the world, i.e., through large-scale CO2 absorption, it may be possible to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050, even if some fossil fuels remain.

Claims

[Claim 1] A blue carbon trial unit in which a floating wooden artificial island is floated on the sea or a lake, a wooden frame is set in the underwater or sea part of the wooden artificial island, a sheet is set on the wooden frame, and culture soil is further set on the sheet, and seaweed or freshwater algae is planted in the culture soil, and a plurality of sealed wooden boxes are set on the wooden artificial island to maintain buoyancy, and the upper sides of the sealed wooden boxes are set so as to be exposed above the sea, and a hatch with a lid is set on the upper sides of the sealed wooden boxes so that water can be injected and discharged from the hatch by a pump into and from the inside of the sealed wooden boxes, making it possible to adjust the depth at which the seaweed or freshwater algae is grown, and a net is set around the entire periphery of the wooden artificial island to protect the algae from fish.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Large floating island type waterscape greening planting landscape system

    CN108901450A

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    CN116473002A

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