Aquaculture Pond Vortex Cleaning Without Structural Modification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aquaculture systems face challenges in continuously removing solid waste from ponds without negatively affecting water quality or requiring structural modifications, especially when aspect ratios and water flow rates do not support conventional self-cleaning effects.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that generates differential rotational velocities in separate sections of the pond using injectors to create vorticity and suction, allowing continuous waste removal without altering the pond structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high water flow velocity is used to generate conventional self-cleaning effect, then solid waste removal is improved, but the swimming activity and health of culture species deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pond is divided into two distinct zones by a separator: an upper culture zone where species are maintained under gentle flow conditions, and a lower cleaning zone where high-velocity water generates vorticity for waste removal. This spatial segmentation allows simultaneous optimization of both fish health and waste removal efficiency without compromising either function.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional self-cleaning is implemented in ponds with aspect ratio less than 1:3, then structural modifications are avoided, but solid waste accumulates in concentric rings and cannot be effectively removed
Solution Approach 1:
The separator divides the pond into upper and lower sections, creating a dedicated cleaning zone at the bottom where waste accumulates and is processed. This allows the system to overcome the geometric limitations of low aspect ratio ponds by concentrating the self-cleaning action in a specific region rather than requiring whole-pond flow patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of relying on horizontal flow patterns across the entire pond surface, the invention introduces vertical dimension by creating a lower section for waste accumulation and processing. Water is injected from below to generate upward vorticity that lifts and removes waste, transforming the cleaning mechanism from a two-dimensional surface phenomenon to a three-dimensional process.
3Reliability
If water flow velocity is limited to safe speeds for culture species, then species health is maintained, but fluid-dynamic conditions required for conventional self-cleaning cannot be generated
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the functions of species rearing and waste removal into different spatial zones. The upper section maintains gentle flows suitable for culture species, while the lower section generates high-velocity vortical flows for efficient waste removal, allowing both functions to operate at their optimal conditions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator acts as an intermediary structure that isolates the culture species from the high-velocity cleaning flows. It allows water and waste to pass through while preventing direct exposure of species to harmful flow conditions, enabling the system to generate strong cleaning effects without compromising animal welfare.
4Productivity
If high rotational velocity is generated to remove solids, then waste removal is improved, but circular velocity values negatively affect normal development of culture species
Solution Approach 1:
The pond is segmented into an upper stable environment for species development and a lower dynamic zone for waste removal. The separator ensures that high rotational velocities are confined to the lower section where waste is processed, while the upper section maintains calm conditions appropriate for the normal development of culture species.
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 continuous waste removal with minimal impact on aquatic species, reducing energy consumption and water volume, while maintaining healthy conditions for culture species.
Implementation Method 1
fluid-dynamic conditions are generated in the lower section that generate vorticity, suction and self-cleaning of the entire pond
Implementation Method 2
generating a vortex for the concentration and suction of waste through the rotating movement of the water bodies
Implementation Method 3
a separator which separates the interior from the pond into an upper section and a lower section... the separator comprises a divisor, a central opening with sieve
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A self-cleaning system and method are disclosed, allowing the continuous removal of solid waste in culture ponds through the generation of a vortex for the concentration and suction of waste through the rotating motion of the body of water with different rotational velocities. The present system and method is used in aquaculture without the need to modify existing ponds, and allows self-cleaning in culture ponds even when the aspect ratio (D/h) between pond diameter (D) and useful water height (h) is less than that required to reach the fluid-dynamic conditions that allow to generate a conventional self-cleaning effect, and that allows self-cleaning in the culture ponds even when the speed of the water required for the safe and healthy cultivation of the culture species is less than the speed required to reach the fluid-dynamic conditions that allow to generate a conventional self-cleaning effect.