Apertured Macroalgae Carrier for Open Ocean Farming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current seaweed farming methods are inefficient and labor-intensive, particularly for large-scale energy crop production, as they require manual seeding and harvesting, are sensitive to water currents, and pose risks of entanglement for marine mammals, and are not designed to withstand extreme open ocean conditions.
Innovation Solution
A sea bottom moored carrier arrangement using flexible, apertured sheets made of solid, laminated, or reinforced materials that allow water flow and nutrient circulation, providing positive buoyancy and mechanical handling capabilities, with designs that prevent entanglement and can withstand changing water flows and waves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If rope and net based seaweed farming systems are used, then seaweed can be cultivated, but marine mammals become entangled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs net panels with controlled aperture sizes that allow water and nutrients to pass through while being too small to entangle marine mammals. The net structure provides sufficient surface area for seaweed attachment and growth while maintaining safety for marine life passage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses flexible net panels that can bend and move with water currents rather than rigid structures. This flexibility reduces resistance to wave action and allows the system to adapt to changing ocean conditions while maintaining its function for seaweed cultivation.
2Reliability
If traditional rope-based systems are used, then seaweed farming can be conducted, but the systems are sensitive to water currents and waves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cultivation system into modular net panels that can be independently deployed and adjusted. These segmented panels reduce overall system resistance to water currents compared to long continuous ropes, and allow for better distribution of mechanical loads from waves and currents.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic mooring systems that allow the net panels to move and adjust their position in response to changing water currents and wave conditions. This dynamic capability enables the system to withstand extreme open ocean forces while maintaining cultivation functionality.
3Productivity
If manual seeding and harvesting methods are used, then seaweed can be cultivated, but the process is labor-intensive and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs net panels with standardized attachment points and uniform structures that enable both seeding and harvesting operations to be performed mechanically. The same modular structure that supports seaweed growth also facilitates efficient mechanical attachment and detachment during automated seeding and harvesting processes.
4Strength
If current seaweed farming systems are used, then cultivation can occur in protected areas, but they cannot withstand extreme forces in the open ocean
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic mooring and anchoring systems that allow the net panels to move and adjust in response to extreme ocean forces rather than resisting them rigidly. This dynamic approach enables deployment in open ocean areas with high wave and current energy that would damage traditional rigid systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables automated, efficient seeding, farming, and harvesting of macroalgae, allowing for large-scale seaweed cultivation in open ocean areas while preventing mammal entanglement and ensuring mechanical stability and harvesting, thus enhancing the competitiveness of seaweed as an energy crop.
Implementation Method 1
the sheet having apertures which allow water flow to pass from one side of the sheet to the other, thereby reducing the resistance to waves and currents
Implementation Method 2
each carrier is floating in the water by means of its positive buoyancy
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~10
Figure 11~12
AI summary
Carrier for growing macroalgae, with an element provided for the growth of seeds deposited thereon, and having elements for suspension in a water volume. The carrier (11) is a sheet provided with apertures (12) allowing the flow of water from one side to the other, the surface of the sheet having a structure which will retain spores and seeds. The invention also comprises an arrangement for suspending such a carrier (11). It comprises connecting means (16) connected to at least one part of an edge (14) of the carrier. It may also be used a platform submersed in the sea, to which the carrier may be attached.