Self-cleaning device for at least one culture medium used in aquaculture

Abstract

The present invention relates to a self-cleaning device for culture media (100) that are located inside a body of water. The device uses the movements of the body of water to perform self-cleaning in the aquaculture and comprises: fastening means (111, 112, 113) that connect to the culture medium (100); and self-cleaning means (200) comprising a plurality of strings (201, 202) that are connected to the fastening means (111, 112, 113) at a proximal end and are free at their distal end. The plurality of strings (201, 202) are located around the culture medium (100) so that the movements caused by the body of water leads to the strings (201, 202) rubbing against the culture medium (100), thereby leading to self-cleaning.

Description

[0001] SELF-CLEANING APPARATUS FOR AT LEAST ONE CULTURE MEDIUM APPLIED TO AQUACULTURE.

[0002] DESCRIPTIVE MEMORANDUM FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present technology relates to the aquaculture industry, particularly in devices that allow automatic or self-cleaning through cleaning means using the friction generated by the movement of waves, tides, underwater currents and / or wind on the surface of a body of water, without requiring additional complex mechanical, electrical or electronic elements, to be applied in the industry of the cultivation of bivalves, mollusks or echinoderms, crustaceans and / or fish in aquaculture.

[0004] This technology is a self-cleaning device with friction elements for suspended units in the sea, which prevents biofouling from adhering to surfaces through the use of clean or renewable energy. This self-cleaning device was designed for mollusc or echinoderm cultivation structures in aquaculture and / or bivalve farming. Through various friction mechanisms, the technology reduces the likelihood of biofouling adhering to the surfaces of structures containing molluscs or echinoderms, or to the shells / valves of mussels attached by their byssal threads to hanging structures.This device prevents biofouling from accumulating in the culture structures, promoting the entry of nutrients and oxygenation through the openings of these structures. It also prevents biofouling from accumulating on the shells, thus avoiding an increase in the weight of the structures and keeping the shells, such as those of mussels (400), clean, which promotes the growth of these organisms. This device prevents the adhesion of biofouling, which causes weight gain in the floating structures, reduces water flow in the internal areas of the culture structures, and hinders mussel growth.

[0005] This device is used in mollusc or echinoderm culture structures in aquaculture, for example, on mussel hangs (400). The technology, through various friction mechanisms, reduces the likelihood of biofouling adhering to the surfaces of structures containing molluscs or echinoderms, or to the mussel shells / valves attached by their byssal threads to hangs. These devices prevent the accumulation of biofouling on culture structures. Biofouling is the encrustation of living organisms present in the environment, also called biofouling or biological fouling, associated with an accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae, and / or animals on a submerged structure.

[0006] This device solves the problem of biofouling, which leads to increased weight in longlines (floating nursery lines), decreased nutrient and oxygen input in structures with holes (which become covered with biofouling), and negatively impacted growth of farmed mollusks. Longlines, also known as lanterns, are commonly found in aquaculture facilities.

[0007] Furthermore, and particularly in mussel rafts, it helps to maintain shells without biofouling, improving mussel growth and the aesthetic appearance of the shells for human consumption, and therefore a higher quality product, avoiding subsequent treatment or cleaning of the shells which results in a higher economic value and less loss of raw material.

[0008] STATE OF THE ART

[0009] Anti-fouling or anti-biofouling products are chemical products that adhere to surfaces through the production of chemical paints, which create conditions that prevent the settlement of biofouling. There are also technologies that use waves with brushes to clean plastic containers used in oyster farming.

[0010] In the state of the art, several solutions have been found that partially resolve the technical problem posed. Among the known solutions is patent N CN109006612A, which discloses a type of fishing net cage mooring structure with a decontamination function. This structure includes a mooring circle connected by a mooring shaft to the fishing net cage, allowing the mooring circle to rotate around the shaft. It also incorporates a mooring anchor chain link through the mooring circle. Furthermore, it includes a wastewater removal device. This device is made of control bars and pollution removal ribs, which are encircled along the outer ring of the net cage to be formed.Each control rod passes through a rail-mounted structure and connects to the net cage. One end of each control rod is fixed to the contamination removal rib, and the other end is flexibly connected to the mooring circle. However, this document does not disclose the use of clean or renewable energy, where the cleaning means utilize the friction generated by the movement of waves, tides, underwater currents, and / or wind on the surface of a body of water to obtain the benefit of automatic cleaning of at least one culture medium. Another document is patent number CN219187817, which discloses a special self-cleaning device for tilting aquaculture nets, characterized in that: the cleaning device comprises a float and a cleaning body, where the float is connected to the cleaning body via a fixed pulley and a floating rope.The fixed pulley is attached to a net, the cleaning body is placed in the net, and the cleaning body moves up and down along the net under the action of its own gravity and buoyancy, but this document does not disclose the use of clean or renewable energy, where the cleaning means utilize the friction generated by the movement of waves, tides, underwater currents and / or wind on the surface of a body of water, to obtain the benefit of automatic cleaning of at least one culture medium.

[0011] Unlike the previous device, this one operates based on the local current and the movement of the friction units with their free end, without the need to fix both ends. It operates through a circular motion, similar to using brushes to clean plastic containers. It can be used with buoyant or non-buoyant materials such as organic ropes, polymers, and / or copper wires.

[0012] As a side effect, these self-cleaning means serve to scare away potential predators of farmed bivalves, mollusks or echinoderms, crustaceans and / or small fish.

[0013] Furthermore, it allows for the development of polyculture systems, including the cultivation of algae fronds over mollusk or echinoderm culture structures, or over bivalve hangs, and the incorporation of bubbles placed beneath the culture structures or mussel hangs. It also enables the implementation of alternative self-cleaning devices within the same culture line.

[0014] SOLUTION TO THE TECHNICAL PROBLEM

[0015] To address the technical problem presented, this utility model relates to a self-cleaning device with friction elements for suspended units located in the sea, lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water, preventing biofouling from adhering to surfaces. Specifically, it presents a self-cleaning device for culture media within a body of water, harnessing the water's movement to generate self-cleaning in aquaculture. This is achieved through the use of clean or renewable energy, where the cleaning elements utilize the friction generated by the movement of waves, tides, underwater currents, and / or wind on the water's surface to automatically clean at least one culture medium without requiring complex mechanical components.Furthermore, this self-cleaning device can be distributed alternately among the different cultivation structures, mussel hangs, mollusc or echinoderm cultivation, crustaceans and / or fish in aquaculture.

[0016] DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0017] Figure 1 shows a representation of a configuration of the present apparatus, with positive and negative buoyancy ropes, and hook fastening means to the mesh.

[0018] Figure 2 shows a representation of a configuration of the present apparatus applied to hangs, with some positive and some negative buoyancy ropes, and some means of attaching by hook to the mesh.

[0019] Figure 3 shows a detail of the negative buoyancy strings with oscillating motion indicated by the double arrow.

[0020] Figure 4 shows another representation of a configuration of the present apparatus, with positive and negative buoyancy ropes, and means of attachment by knot to rings, gaseous fluid diffusers (300) (401), with an intermediate section (103) without self-cleaning means (200).

[0021] Figure 5 shows another representation of a configuration of the present apparatus, with positive buoyancy strings at the bottom and negative buoyancy strings at the top, and hook-fastening means, gaseous fluid diffusers (300) (402) that generate bubbles (401), with an intermediate section (103) without self-cleaning means (200), on a culture hanger with a weight (114) at the bottom.

[0022] Figure 6 shows a representation of a configuration of the present apparatus, with positive and negative buoyancy ropes, and hook fastening means to the mesh, where in an intermediate fastening means (113) positive buoyancy ropes (202) and negative buoyancy ropes (201) are installed

[0023] Figure 7 shows another representation of a configuration of the present apparatus, with positive and negative buoyancy ropes, and means of fastening by knot to rings, with an intermediate section (103), where the self-cleaning means (200) cover the entire cultivation area.

[0024] Figure 8 shows another representation of a configuration of the present apparatus, with positive and negative buoyancy ropes, and means of attachment by knot to rings, with an intermediate section (103) in cut representing the size amplitude of said intermediate section (103), where the self-cleaning means (200) cover the entire cultivation area.

[0025] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE UTILITY MODEL

[0026] The present utility model consists of a change in the arrangement of units that cause friction on the culture media (100). These units are ropes attached at only one end, called self-cleaning media (200), arranged in one or more sections of the culture structure or hang. This structure is mounted on a longline of variable length, which moves with the current, rubbing against the culture structures or mussel shells located on the hangs, thus preventing biofouling. These ropes are made of polymeric, organic, and / or copper wire materials, and their placement on the culture structure or mussel hang depends on the buoyancy of the rope material. This device allows the ropes to be replaced by algae whose fronds move with the current, generating friction on the culture structure or mussel hang and preventing biofouling.This self-cleaning device can include a bubbling system located beneath the structures or hangers, which creates upward water movement, preventing biofouling from adhering. This system consists of a hose loop with small holes, connected to a hydraulic hose through which a gaseous fluid (402), such as air, is injected from a surface compressor.

[0027] As shown in the figures, the present utility model is a self-cleaning device for culture media (100) that are within a body of water, which uses movements of the body of water to generate said self-cleaning in aquaculture, comprising:

[0028] some fastening means (111, 112, 113) that are attached to the culture medium (100);

[0029] self-cleaning means (200) comprising a plurality of strings (201, 202) that are attached to the fastening means (111, 112, 113) at a proximal end and are loose at their distal end, wherein said plurality of strings (201, 202) are located around said culture medium (100), such that the movements produced by the body of water generate friction between said strings (201, 202) and the culture medium (100), to generate self-cleaning.

[0030] In a preferred configuration, the self-cleaning means (200) comprise negative buoyancy strings (201) located in an upper section (101) of the culture medium (100) and held by upper fastening means (111) and / or said self-cleaning means (200) comprise positive buoyancy strings (202) located in a lower section (102) of the culture medium (100) and held by lower fastening means (112), wherein the negative buoyancy strings (201) comprise a density greater than that of water and have a diameter of between 2 and 20 mm; and the positive buoyancy strings (202) comprise a density less than that of water and have a diameter of between 2 and 20 mm.

[0031] In another preferred configuration, the self-cleaning means (200) comprise negative buoyancy (201) and / or positive buoyancy (202) ropes located in at least one intermediate section (103) of the culture medium (100) and held by intermediate restraint means (113), wherein the intermediate section (103) comprises intermediate floors of between 6 and 20 floors, more preferably between 8 and 18 floors.

[0032] In a preferred configuration, the negative buoyancy ropes (201) further comprise at least one weight to increase negative buoyancy and / or the positive buoyancy ropes (202) further comprise at least one floating means to increase positive buoyancy.

[0033] In a preferred configuration, the self-cleaning means (200) have a length of 0.25m and 4m, and said self-cleaning means (200) are separated from each other by a distance of between 0.01m and 2m, allowing the self-cleaning means (200) to move freely and allow water to pass between said self-cleaning means (200) and into the trays, boxes, hangers, lanterns, meshes, nets and / or cages used in aquaculture.

[0034] In a preferred configuration, the self-cleaning media (200) further comprise copper, aluminum, copper alloys, aluminum alloys and / or combinations thereof within their fibers to enhance their anti-fouling properties, wherein the self-cleaning media (200) comprise organic ropes, polymers (polypropylene or expanded polyethylene, HDPE) and / or copper wires, wherein the culture media (100) are selected from culture media with trays, boxes, hangers, lanterns, meshes, nets and / or cages for aquaculture, wherein said culture media (100) further comprise at their lower part a weight (114) and / or moorings to a dead weight (not shown in the figures), which are attached to the lower part of the culture medium (100) by means of ropes called a lead rope and at the upper part,In another configuration, additional floating media (302) are located which are connected via ropes called mother lines (301) to said culture media (100) as shown in Figure 4.

[0035] In a preferred configuration, and in its lower part of the self-cleaning means (200) it further comprises diffusion means (300) of air, oxygen and / or mixture thereof, which increase the friction between the self-cleaning means (200) and the culture medium (100), thanks to the interaction of the bubbles (401), that is, because the same bubbles of oxygenation and / or upwelling increase the movement, collision between the strings and the friction of the same bubbles with the culture medium (100) and therefore the friction of the self-cleaning means (200) among themselves and these with the culture medium (100).

[0036] In another preferred configuration the fastening means (111, 112, 113) are rings, wire rings, fastening hooks and / or ties.

[0037] Different options described for different technical characteristics may be combined with each other, or with other options known to a person normally versed in the subject, without this limiting the scope of the present application.

[0038] In the context of this request, and without limiting its scope, "at least one" shall be understood to mean one or more of the elements referenced. Therefore, the number of elements referenced does not limit the scope of this request. Furthermore, if more than one element is provided, those elements may or may not be identical, without limiting the scope of this request.

[0039] The grammatical articles "a," "an," "the," and "the," as used herein, are intended to include "at least one," "at least one," "one or more," or "one or more," unless the context indicates or requires otherwise. Therefore, the articles are used herein to refer to one or more of the grammatical objects of the article. By way of example, "a component" means one or more components, and thus more than one component may be contemplated and used in an implementation of the invention. Furthermore, the use of a singular noun includes the plural, and the use of a plural noun includes the singular, unless the context of use requires otherwise.

[0040] The use of terms such as: "includes", "which includes", "including", "has", "which has", "having", "contains", "which contains", "containing", "comprising" or "comprising", even incorporating some grammatical equivalents of these, should generally be understood as open and non-limiting, e.g., not excluding additional unmentioned elements or steps, unless explicitly stated or understood otherwise in the described context.

[0041] In the context of this application, and without limiting its scope, "plurality" shall be understood to mean two or more of the elements referred to herein. Consequently, the number of elements of the plurality referred to does not limit the scope of this application, provided it is greater than or equal to two. Furthermore, these elements of the plurality may or may not be identical to one another without this limiting the scope of this application.

[0042] When the term "approximately" or "around" is used before a quantitative value, these teachings also include the specific quantitative value, unless specifically stated otherwise. As used herein, the term "approximately" or "around" refers to a variation of ±10% of the stated nominal value, unless a range is explicitly stated herein. Unless otherwise stated, if the term "approximately" or "around" is mentioned before the first extreme value of a numerical interval, or a set of numbers, regardless of their mode of representation (e.g., ratios of the type A:B or A / B, where A and B are whole numbers or decimals, among other numerical representations), this term refers to all the numbers stated, and in the case of numerical intervals, to both the first and second extreme values ​​of the interval.For example, a mentioned interval of "approximately X to Y" should be read as "approximately X to approximately Y".

[0043] In various places in this document, values ​​are described in groups or ranges. It is specifically intended that the description include each and every member of such groups and ranges individually and in subcombinations, and any combination of the different extreme values ​​of such groups or ranges. For example, an integer in the range of 0 to 40 is specifically intended to individually describe 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, and 40, and an integer in the range of 1 to 20 is specifically intended to individually describe 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20. The above also applies to decimal numbers with up to two decimal places, that is, up to the hundredth.

[0044] To designate intervals and / or ranges, various expressions can be used, such as "X - Y", "from X to Y", "from X to Y", "from X - Y", "between X and Y", and others used for this purpose.

[0045] Although this application mentions separate embodiments, it should be understood that any embodiment, and the characteristic features thereof, may be freely combined with any other embodiment and its characteristic features, even in the absence of an explicit statement to that effect. The order of steps or the order in which certain actions are performed is irrelevant as long as the present teachings remain operative. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language in this document, such as "as" or "including," is intended only to better illustrate the present disclosure and does not limit the scope of the invention unless so stated. Nothing in the specification should be construed as indicating that any element not claimed is considered essential to the practice of the present disclosure.

[0046] APPLICATION EXAMPLES

[0047] The following are examples of applications of this utility model. These examples are provided for illustrative purposes only to provide a better understanding of the invention, but should in no way be considered as limiting the scope of the protection sought. Furthermore, specifications of different technical features described in the examples may be combined with each other, or with other technical features previously described, without limiting the scope of the protection sought.

[0048] This device was used in a polyculture with giant kelp (macroalgae) and mussels, where it was kept clean and with very little biofouling, both on the nets and on the mussel shells.

[0049] This device was also used in another polyculture with fronds of the species kelp (Lessonia trabeculata) with mussel hangers, observing the lower presence of biofouling on the valves.

Claims

CLAIMS 1- A self-cleaning apparatus for culture media (100) located within a body of water, which uses movements of the body of water to generate said self-cleaning in aquaculture, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises: some fastening means (111, 112, 113) that are attached to the culture medium (100); self-cleaning means (200) comprising a plurality of strings (201, 202) that are attached to the fastening means (111, 112, 113) at a proximal end and are loose at their distal end, wherein said plurality of strings (201, 202) are located around said culture medium (100), such that the movements produced by the body of water generate friction between said strings (201, 202) and the culture medium (100), to generate self-cleaning. 2- The self-cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the self-cleaning means (200) comprise negative buoyancy ropes (201) located in an upper section (101) of the culture medium (100) and held by upper support means (111). 3- The self-cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the self-cleaning means (200) comprise positive buoyancy ropes (202) located in a lower section (102) of the culture medium (100) and held by lower support means (112). 4- The self-cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the self-cleaning means (200) comprise negative buoyancy (201) and / or positive buoyancy (202) ropes located in at least an intermediate section (103) of the culture medium (100) and are held by intermediate fastening means (113). 5- The self-cleaning apparatus according to claim 2 or 4, CHARACTERIZED in that the negative buoyancy ropes (201) further comprise at least one weight to increase negative buoyancy. 6- The self-cleaning apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, CHARACTERIZED in that the positive buoyancy ropes (202) further comprise at least one floating means for increasing positive buoyancy. 7- The self-cleaning apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED in that the self-cleaning means (200) have a length of 0.25m and 4m. 8- The self-cleaning apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED in that the self-cleaning means (200) are separated by a distance of between 0.01m and 2m. 9- The self-cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, CHARACTERIZED in that the self-cleaning means (200) further comprise copper, aluminum, copper alloys, aluminum alloys and / or combinations thereof within their fibers to enhance their anti-fouling properties. 10- The self-cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 or 9, CHARACTERIZED in that the self-cleaning means (200) comprise organic strings, polymers and / or copper wires. 11- The self-cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the culture media (100) are selected from culture media with trays, boxes, hangers, lanterns, meshes, nets and / or cages for aquaculture. 12- The self-cleaning apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED in that in its lower part of the self-cleaning means (200) it further comprises diffusion means (300) of air, oxygen and / or a mixture thereof, which increase the friction between the self-cleaning means (200) and the culture medium (100), thanks to the interaction of the bubbles. 13- The self-cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the fastening means (111, 112, 113) are rings, wire rings, fastening hooks and / or ties.

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