Aquaculture Foam Trap System for Chemical-Free Water Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fish farming systems face challenges in efficiently removing foam from water treatment processes without relying on chemical defoamers, which are costly and environmentally unfriendly, and require solutions that adapt to varying water properties and foam formation rates during different phases of fish farming.
Innovation Solution
A foam trap system that mechanically collects and removes foam using a rotating impeller driven by falling water, which guides foam towards extraction points connected to the outer periphery of the aeration system, and an alternative V or U-shaped surface skimmer that collects foam from fish vessels and directs it to a vacuum-connected foam trap for removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If chemical defoamers are used to remove foam, then foam formation is controlled, but cost increases and environmental impact worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes foam physically from the water using a skimmer device that collects foam at the water surface and transports it away through a conduit, eliminating the need for chemical defoamers and their associated environmental harm
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the chemical system (defoamers) with a mechanical system (skimmer device with floating skimmer body, conduit, and pump) that physically removes foam without introducing chemicals into the water
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a fixed foam removal system is used, then foam is removed, but adaptability to changing water properties and foam formation rates is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The floating skimmer body dynamically adjusts its position and foam collection capacity based on the volume and characteristics of foam present, allowing the system to adapt automatically to varying foam formation rates without manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the natural buoyancy of the floating skimmer body and the inherent properties of foam to drive the removal process, with the skimmer automatically rising with foam accumulation and the pump activating when foam reaches the collection point
3Productivity
If water level jumps are increased to improve aeration, then aeration efficiency improves, but foam formation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful effect of foam formation (caused by necessary water level jumps for aeration) into a beneficial process by collecting and removing the foam, which simultaneously purifies the water by taking impurities out with the foam
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
This system effectively removes foam without chemical defoamers, reducing costs and environmental impact, while allowing for adaptation to changing water properties and foam formation rates, thereby improving water quality and aeration efficiency in fish farming.
Implementation Method 1
the impeller rotation is hydraulically driven by falling water supplied in the upper zone of the aeration system
Implementation Method 2
the impeller having a buoyancy at the water surface the aeration system
Implementation Method 3
a foam trap for collecting foam which is removed from an aeration system by vacuum
Implementation Method 4
the falling water is split into droplets in an aeration medium before hitting the impeller, where the impeller blades have a twist causing one-way rotation as the falling water droplets strike/runs off the leaves
Implementation Method 5
a V or U shaped surface skimmer in the vessel, where the skimmer has a design which collects foam from the vessel
Implementation Method 6
where vacuum is used to suck the foam from the front edge of the skimmer and to the foam trap
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A breeding farm for fish and other living aquatic organisms is described comprising a breeding vessel (1), a pipe (3) arranged to carry water from the breeding vessel (1) to an aeration tank (4), where the water is then returned to the breeding vessel (1). The farm further comprises an extraction device (15) for foam from the farm, 5 the extraction device (15) being mounted on the aeration tank (4), and where the foam is conveyed to a foam trap (10) where the foam is broken down. (Fig. 1) 10