System and method for post smolt cultivation

Abstract

A system (10) for post smolt cultivation comprises a cultivation chamber (11) with a length, a width and a height, for holding fish during growth and development, a water supply module (14) for supplying water to the cultivation chamber (11) and provide a flow of water inside the cultivation chamber, at least one sensor module (50) and a processor unit (60). The at least one sensor module (50) is configured to monitor parameters inside the cultivation chamber, (11) such as water flow, oxygen level and / or biomass and the processor unit (60) is configured to receive sensor data from the at least one sensor module (50), store the sensor data and associated time data in a memory, analyze the sensor data to provide parameters indicative of the status of the cultivation chamber, and the processor unit (60) is configured to control the water supply module (14) and the at least one sensor module (50) to improve the status of the cultivation chamber (11).

Description

[0001] The invention regards a fish farming system.

[0002] Pollution, energy, and fish health awareness is a major issue in today’s fish farming industries. Cutting pollutant and reducing CO2 emissions, keeping the production footprint to a minimum, is key for sustainable growth, and energy usage is a major issue. The FISK tank supports the future of low carbon maritime agriculture. The Fisk design will support cutting pollutant emission, reducing the industry impact on global warming and focuses on animal welfare.

[0003] Fish health and the poor environmental performance of existing systems puts pressure on the fish farming industries to operate in a safer and more efficient manner. FISK set the premise for sustainable growth in a demanding marked.

[0004] There is a need for a smarter fish platform where constant optimization takes us towards advanced, green, fish friendly business. Sustainability is key, and both energy management and environmental performance will improve fish health and efficiency in the production of proteins to the world.

[0005] W020220 15761 describes a farmed fish tracking and verification system involves introducing biomarkers into a batch of farmed fish and storing biomarker information in a database. This publication uses biomarkers and "smart" logarithms to track individual fish and also to secure payment and financing of the fish farming.

[0006] CN215648837U describes monitoring a breeding cabin using a sonar that provides a basis for estimating the number of fish, here squid, i.e. the size of a school of fish in a fish tank. This is provided as information to an operator and is intended as a warning that the mesh bottom of the tank is damaged so that fish can escape. The breeding cabin’s water supply is provided by being lowered into the sea and there is thus no possibility of controlling the water quality in the breeding cabin.

[0007] CN108812500A relates to a fish incubator with automatic temperature regulation. The temperature in the incubator is measured by means of a single sensor which is used to control the temperature up or down.

[0008] W02020031165 describes a device for underwater monitoring of the characteristics of water in an aquaculture pond in order to ensure adequate water quality and suitable selection of the optimal aquatic animal classes for each water type.

[0009] With digital integration in a mechanical optimized biomass volume, we can extract information from various fish farming sub-systems and equipment and optimize the different control parameters based on information about water quality, temperature, oxygen, size and movement. The design allows for a dynamic take out of fully grown post smolt on target size, to minimize the environmental factor and fish health parameters. A fully automated system, aware of the condition of the environment, will have superior health and cost savings potential than existing solutions.

[0010] One object of the invention is to provide a system for post smolt cultivation that monitors a combination of parameters indicative for health and growth of fish. In particular, an object of the invention is to provide the system with the ability of using the monitored parameters to control the system to optimize the health and growth of fish.

[0011] The object of the invention is achieved by means of the patent claims.

[0012] In the following description the term "parameter indicative of health" is used as a general term comprising several aspects of health of fish in any development stage, such as growth speed, lack of sickness or parasites, mobility, etc.

[0013] The term "fish" is correspondingly used for any development stage of a fish, such as fry, spawn, parr, smolt, adult fish, or any stage between these. The fish may be salmon but may also be other species of fish.

[0014] In one embodiment a system for post smolt cultivation comprises

[0015] - a cultivation chamber with a length, a width and a height, for holding fish during growth and development,

[0016] - a water supply module for supplying water to the cultivation chamber and provide a flow of water inside the cultivation chamber,

[0017] - at least one sensor module and

[0018] - a processor unit.

[0019] The at least one sensor module is configured to monitor parameters inside the cultivation chamber, such as water flow, oxygen level and / or biomass and the processor unit is configured to receive sensor data from the at least one sensor module, store the sensor data and associated time data in a memory, analyze the sensor data to provide parameters indicative of the status of the cultivation chamber, and the processor unit is configured to control the water supply module and the at least one sensor module to improve the status of the cultivation chamber.

[0020] In one configuration, the sensor module is comprised in a scanning device. The scanning device spans the inner circumference of the cultivation chamber and is movable along the length of the cultivation chamber.

[0021] The system may further comprise guiding means arranged movable along the length of the cultivation chamber.

[0022] In one embodiment, the sensor module is comprised in a scanning device and the scanning device spans the inner diameter of the cultivation chamber and is movable along the length of the cultivation chamber. The guiding means may be connected to the scanning device and are then movable simultaneously with the scanning device along the length of the cultivation chamber.

[0023] The scanning device may comprise cleaning tools for cleaning the inner walls of the cultivation chamber.

[0024] The system may further comprise a waste management module.

[0025] In one embodiment, the water supply module is configured to fetch water from sea at a depth deeper than 40 m.

[0026] The water supply module comprises in some embodiments a rotating propeller that provide the flow of water inside the cultivation chamber and the processor unit is configured to control the propeller to control the flow velocity of the water inside the cultivation chamber .

[0027] The scanning device may be configured to releasably receive and hold a tool. The tool can be one of a barrier, a sensor module and a net.

[0028] In some embodiments, the system further comprises means for submerging and raising the cultivation chamber into / from water.

[0029] In one embodiment there is provided a method for controlling a system for post smolt cultivation that comprises a cultivation chamber and a plurality of modules controlling the status of the cultivation chamber. The method comprises:

[0030] - monitoring parameters inside the cultivation chamber, such as water flow, oxygen level and / or biomass and the processor unit is configured to receive sensor data by means of at least one sensor module,

[0031] - store the sensor data and associated time data in a memory,

[0032] - analyze the sensor data to provide parameters indicative of the status of the cultivation chamber, and control modules in the system to improve the status of the cultivation chamber.

[0033] The invention will now be described in more detail by using examples of embodiments and with reference to the above drawings.

[0034] Figure 1 shows an overview of a system for post smolt cultivation.

[0035] Figure 2 shows a detail of the system for post smolt cultivation of figure 1.

[0036] Figure 3 shows the system for post smolt cultivation of figure 1 and 2 from a different perspective.

[0037] Figure 4 shows a detail of a system for post smolt cultivation.

[0038] Figure 5 shows an example of a sensor module for use in a system for post smolt cultivation. Figure 6 illustrates schematically a method for controlling post smolt cultivation system.

[0039] Figure 7 illustrates steps in a method for controlling post smolt cultivation using a system for post smolt cultivation.

[0040] Figure 8 shows an example of a sensor module combined with a barrier.

[0041] Figures 1-4 illustrates a system 10 for post smolt cultivation. The system comprises a cultivation chamber 11 with a length L, a width W and a height H, which is arranged for holding an amount of fish during growth and development. The illustrations in figures 1-4 shows the cultivation chamber without side walls along the length of the cultivation chamber for illustration purposes. In use, the cultivation chamber will enclose a volume of water in which the amount of fish can freely swim during the period they are held within the cultivation chamber.

[0042] The system further comprises a water supply module 14 for supplying water to the cultivation chamber 11 and thereby creating and maintaining a controlled flow of the water inside the cultivation chamber 11.

[0043] The supply of water and the flow of the water inside the cultivation chamber can be controlled by a processor unit, which is a part of the system and is connected to the water supply module.

[0044] The water supply module 14 may in one embodiment comprise a rotating propeller that provides or amplify the flow of water inside the cultivation chamber 11. The rotating propeller may be connected to the processor unit so that the processor unit sends signals to the water supply module, determining the rotation, such as velocity of rotation, pitch of the rotor blades, etc., of the rotating propeller so that the flow velocity of the water inside the cultivation chamber 11 is controlled.

[0045] The water supply module comprises in the illustrated example four water supply pipes 17 connected to an anti-vortex module 18. The anti-vortex module 18 is a module, such as a diffuser, that minimizes unwanted vortexes created by for example the propeller in the water flow from the water supply module. The water from the four water supply pipes 17 passes through the anti -vortex module 18, thus ensuring a uniform, smooth and controlled fluid dynamic behavior of the water entering the cultivation chamber.

[0046] The water supply module can be configured to fetch water from sea at a depth deeper than 40 m, for example between 40 and 50 meters below the sea surface. Fish lice and other parasites generally live in the upper 40 meters, and by fetching water below the parasite belt, the supplied water is substantially free of parasites. The water supply module may also comprise oxygenation means for injecting extra oxygen into the water.

[0047] In the same end as the water supply module 14, and in this example arranged in the water supply module 14, is a port 16 where fish can swim into or out of the cultivation chamber. As fish tend to swim against the current / flow of water, it will feel natural for the fish to swim towards and out of the port 16 with only slight encouragement.

[0048] The illustrated system also comprises a water treatment system 21 arranged in an end section of the cultivation chamber 11, opposite of the water supply module. The water treatment system comprises openings 12 where water from the cultivation chamber 11 enters. The water is treated in the water treatment system, for example by filtering out microplastics, mercury and other contaminant from the water, and the water may thereafter be let back into the cultivation chamber 11, while separated nutrient salts or other substances may be let out of openings 19 and may be collected for disposal or for use other places. The water treatment system may be a commercially available water treatment system and will not be described in more detail herein.

[0049] The system for post smolt cultivation may further comprises at least one scanning device 13 arranged in the cultivation chamber 11, where the scanning device spans the inner circumference of the cultivation chamber and is movable along the length of the cultivation chamber.

[0050] The system may comprise guiding means arranged movable along the length of the cultivation chamber. The guiding means can be a part of the scanning device or can be a separate arrangement that can guide the scanning device, for example by being connected to the scanning device and is movable simultaneously with the scanning device along the length of the cultivation chamber.

[0051] In figure 2 there is illustrated railings 15 along which the guiding means and / or the scanning device can be guided / moved.

[0052] The scanning device 13 may be configured to releasably receive and hold one or several tools. Examples of tools are sensors / sensor modules, barriers for separating sub-volumes inside the cultivation chamber 11, grates for sorting fish according to size, net for catching fish inside the cultivation chamber 11, cleaning tools, feeding devices, etc.

[0053] The scanning device can comprise at least one sensor module 50 configured to monitor parameters inside the cultivation chamber, such as water flow, oxygen level and / or biomass. In some embodiments, the sensor module is integrated in the scanning device. The scanning device may also comprise cleaning tools for cleaning the inner walls of the cultivation chamber. The cleaning tools may for example be scrubbing devices arranged to be in contact with the walls of the chamber, so that moving the scanning device along the length of the cultivation chamber, causes a scrubbing of the interior walls of the cultivation chamber.

[0054] The sensor module and the cleaning tools and any other tools may be removable and changeable so as to adapt the scanning device to any need during the cultivation progress in the cultivation chamber.

[0055] The system may comprise further modules for controlling the status of the cultivation chamber, such as a feeding module, a water filtration module, water conditioning module, waste managing module, docking / fish loading module, power module, anchoring module, etc.

[0056] A feeding module is a module that provides feed to the cultivation chamber. The amount of feed and possible the type of feed to be provided to the cultivation chamber can depend on the age / size of the fish, the type of fish, water temperature, etc., and can vary over the day and night. Sensors can be arranged that monitor the water quality, and thereby detect overfeeding.

[0057] A water conditioning module is a module that can modify the water properties, for example by providing oxygenation, desalting, etc.

[0058] A waste managing module or waste managing system is a module that collects and removes waste from the cultivation chamber. This can be an off-the shelf waste management system and can include a transport system for moving the waste to an appropriate location.

[0059] A docking / fish loading module is where fish from the Parr stage enter and exit when ready to be moved onto the post smolt stage (i.e. adult stage of the salmon lifecycle) and thus to the cultivation chamber. The module can include a proprietary sleuth gate that transports fish from the cultivation chamber into a detachable pod that can be transported to the adult tanks. The system is preferably designed to be compatible with existing post-smolt fishery solutions.

[0060] The power module contains the power system. Options can be made available as to the power source (i.e. photovoltaic, wind power or onshore power). The power system supply electricity to all the other modules in the system. Also contained within this module can be onboard edge-based processing system and data connectivity pack that will serve to provide remote monitoring and control of the system.

[0061] The anchoring module stabilizes and anchors the system in a specific location. The module can be backwards compatible with existing anchoring system technologies offering the opportunity for existing smolt cultivation solutions to be replaced without the need for a new anchoring system. This module can be an integration of existing off the shelf solutions. The systems can support submerging the volume to avoid high waves and shield the construction under water.

[0062] An example of a sensor module 50 is illustrated in figure 5. The sensor module comprises one or more sensors 51 that is used to monitor the desired parameters, such as temperature sensor, oxygen sensor, flow sensor, ultrasound sensor, light sensor, etc. The sensors 51 may be arranged at different locations in the sensor module 50, depending on the purpose of the sensor. For example, it may be advantageous to locate temperature sensors both high and low at the sensor module, to be able to check if the temperature is uniform in the whole cultivation chamber. For the same reason, and for other purposes, there may be arranged two or more sensor modules and / or scanning devices along the length of the cultivation chamber.

[0063] The processor unit is signally connected to the sensors module and is configured to receive sensor data from the at least one sensor module, store the sensor data and associated time data in a memory, and analyze the sensor data with respect to parameters indicative of the status of the cultivation chamber. The status of the cultivation chamber may be found by comparing the parameters with pre-defined parameters. For example, can the analysis of sensor data provide a parameter indicating the total biomass inside the cultivation chamber, which can be compared to a predetermined target of biomass. Another example is comparing the measured oxygen level with a pre-set optimal oxygen level.

[0064] The processor unit is configured to control the water supply module 14 and other modules in the system to improve the status of the cultivation chamber. This may for example be to increase the water flow in order to increase the oxygen level of the water in the cultivation chamber, increase feeding to increase the weight of the fish, thus increasing the total biomass, etc. Signals from the sensor unit(s) gives feedback to the processor unit and enables close control of the status of the cultivation chamber.

[0065] The processor unit can further be configured to use the parameters to calculate an optimal configuration of the system, at each stage of the cultivation of fish, thus enabling an autonomous system.

[0066] Figure 6 illustrates schematically the post smolt cultivation system illustrated in figures 1-4 and a method for controlling the post smolt cultivation system.

[0067] As described above, the system comprises a cultivation chamber 11, a water supply module 14, a processor unit 60, and one or a plurality of modules monitoring and controlling the status of the cultivation chamber. The sensor module 50 monitors parameters representative for the status of the cultivation chamber, such as temperature, light, water flow, oxygen level and / or biomass. These parameters represent the status of the modules of the system, and the processor unit is configured to receive sensor data measured by means of at least one sensor module.

[0068] The sensor data and associated time data can be stored in a memory that is comprised in or connected to the processor unit 60.

[0069] The processor unit 60 can then analyze the sensor data to provide parameters indicative of the status of the cultivation chamber, and provide control signals to modules in the system to improve the status of the cultivation chamber. In the example of figure 6, the processor sends control signals to a water supply module 14, a feeding module 20, a fluid dynamic control module 6 land a water filtration module 12. Other modules, tools and devices in the system for post smolt cultivation may also be monitored by the method.

[0070] Figure 7a-7c illustrates steps in a method for controlling post smolt cultivation and the corresponding state of the system for post smolt cultivation.

[0071] In figure 7a-7b, a system 10 for post smolt cultivation is shown. The system comprises a cultivation chamber 11 with a length, a width and a height, which is arranged for holding an amount of fish 25 in water during growth and development. In one end of the cultivation chamber there is the water supply module 14 and gate 16, while in the other end is a water treatment system 21.

[0072] In figure 7a there is arranged a sensor module 50 in the cultivation chamber, where the sensor module 50 spans the inner circumference of the cultivation chamber. The sensor module 50 is movable along the length of the cultivation chamber as illustrated by an arrow. The sensor module 50 can then be moved from one end to the other to scan and monitor the whole volume of the cultivation chamber. As described above, the sensor module 50 can be arranged in a scanning device, where it is the scanning device that is moved, and the sensor module will follow the movement.

[0073] The scanning device is configured to releasably receive and hold one or several tools. In figure 7b a barrier 52 is arranged in the scanning device, together with the sensor module, or the sensor module may be removed and the barrier 52 is the only tool in the scanning device.

[0074] The barrier 52 in figure 7b divides the volume of the cultivation chamber 11 into two sub-volumes 22, 23. This can be done to separate fish of different size, or for other reasons. For example, by controlling the water supply module 14 and thereby the flow velocity of the water inside the cultivation chamber, the fish can be sorted. Small or weak fish cannot swim against the same flow velocity as larger fish, so by adjusting the flow velocity inside the cultivation chamber, the size and / or strength of the fish inside the cultivation chamber will be distributed accordingly. After adjusting the flow velocity to a desired level, there may be inserted barriers at one or several locations, thereby providing sorting of the fish in the cultivation chamber.

[0075] In the example in figure 7b, the barrier 52 is inserted at the far end of the cultivation chamber, the end opposite of the port 16, thus ensuring that all the fish present in the chamber is on one side of the barrier. The barrier can then be moved towards the port 16, thus crowding / pushing the fish gently towards the port 16 by decreasing the sub-volume where the fish are held.

[0076] In figure 7c, the barrier 52 has been moved so far that the sub-volume 22 is very small and the fish have been pushed to swim out of the gate 16 to and into its final growth volume or other volume for treatment or transportation. The movement of fish out of the cultivation chamber and into a different tank / volume has been done without harming or stressing the fish.

[0077] Figure 8 shows a more detailed view of a sensor module 50 combined with a barrier 16 for separating the cultivation chamber into sub-volumes as described above.

[0078] Reference numbers:

[0079] 10 System for post smolt cultivation

[0080] 11 Cultivation chamber

[0081] 12 Water purification module

[0082] 13 scanning device

[0083] 14 water supply module

[0084] 15 railings

[0085] 16 gate / inlet

[0086] 17 water inlet pipes

[0087] 18 anti -vortex module

[0088] 19 wastewater filtration unit

[0089] 20 feeding unit

[0090] 21 water treatment system

[0091] 22 sub -volume

[0092] 23 sub-volume

[0093] 25 fish

[0094] 50 sensor module

[0095] 51 sensor

[0096] 52 barrier

[0097] 60 processor unit

[0098] 61 fluid dynamics control

Claims

CLAIMS1. System (10) for post smolt cultivation comprising:- a cultivation chamber (11) with a length, a width and a height, for holding fish during growth and development,- a water supply module (14) for supplying water to the cultivation chamber (11) and provide a flow of water inside the cultivation chamber,- at least one sensor module (50) and- a processor unit (60), wherein the at least one sensor module (50) is configured to monitor parameters inside the cultivation chamber, (11) such as water flow, oxygen level and / or biomass and the processor unit (60) is configured to receive sensor data from the at least one sensor module (50), store the sensor data and associated time data in a memory, analyze the sensor data to provide parameters indicative of the status of the cultivation chamber, and wherein the processor unit (60) is configured to control the water supply module (14) and the at least one sensor module (50) to improve the status of the cultivation chamber (11).

2. System according to claim 1, where the sensor module (50) is comprised in a scanning device (13), and where the scanning device spans the inner circumference of the cultivation chamber (11) and is movable along the length of the cultivation chamber.

3. System according to claim 1, further comprising a scanning device (13) movable along the length of the cultivation chamber (11), wherein the scanning device is configured to releasably receive and hold at least one barrier (52), dividing the cultivation chamber (11) into sub-volumes.

4. System according to one of claims 1 to 3, comprising guiding means arranged movable along the length of the cultivation chamber.

5. System according to claim 4, where the sensor module is comprised in a scanning device (13), and where the scanning device spans the inner diameter of the cultivation chamber and is movable along the length of the cultivation chamber, and where the guiding means are connected to the scanning device and are movable simultaneously with the scanning device along the length of the cultivation chamber.

6. System according to any one of the claims 2-5, where the scanning device comprises cleaning tools for cleaning the inner walls of the cultivation chamber.

7. System according to claim 1, further comprising a waste management module.

8. System according to any of the previous claims, where the water supply module (14) is configured to fetch water from sea at a depth deeper than 40 m.

9. System according to any of the previous claims, where the water supply module (14) comprises a rotating propeller that provide the flow of water inside the cultivation chamber (11), and wherein the processor unit (60) is configured to control the propeller to control the flow velocity of the water inside the cultivation chamber (11).

10. System according to any of the previous claims, wherein the scanning device is configured to releasably receive and hold a tool, and wherein the tool can be one of a barrier, a sensor module, a net.

11. System according to any of the previous claims, wherein the system further comprises means for submerging and raising the cultivation chamber into / from water.

12. A method for controlling a system (10) for post smolt cultivation, where the system comprises a cultivation chamber and a plurality of modules controlling the status of the cultivation chamber, wherein the method comprises:- monitoring parameters inside the cultivation chamber, such as water flow, oxygen level and / or biomass and the processor unit is configured to receive sensor data by means of at least one sensor module,- store the sensor data and associated time data in a memory,- analyze the sensor data to provide parameters indicative of the status of the cultivation chamber, and control modules in the system to improve the status of the cultivation chamber.

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