Coanda Effect Double Pump for Salmon Delousing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for removing sea lice from farmed salmon, such as chemical treatments and hydrogen peroxide bathing, are costly, stressful for the fish, and inefficient, with chemical dosages difficult to control and environmental concerns, while existing fish pumps are inefficient for multiple passes due to high water requirements.
Innovation Solution
A double pump system using SILKSTREAM™ Coanda effect pumps to decelerate and guide salmon through a tubular assembly, separating sea lice from fish using a diverging cone and filtration, with a second pass to ensure effective delousing without chemicals, and a filtration system to remove lice before water discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If chemical treatments like SLICE are used to treat sea lice infestations, then lice removal effectiveness is improved, but environmental harm increases and dosage control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical treatment systems with a mechanical fish pump system that uses water flow to physically remove sea lice from salmon. The pump creates controlled water currents that dislodge lice from fish surfaces and directs them to collection containers, eliminating the need for chemical substances like SLICE and their associated environmental hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts sea lice from the fish-host environment by using water flow to separate lice from salmon surfaces. The pump system draws water containing dislodged lice through a collection mechanism, physically removing the parasite from the biological system without introducing external chemicals.
2Productivity
If hydrogen peroxide bathing is used to remove sea lice, then lice removal effectiveness is improved, but treatment cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable or easily maintainable pump system that uses ordinary water as the active agent for lice removal. Instead of expensive hydrogen peroxide solutions, the system utilizes available water resources combined with mechanical pumping action, dramatically reducing the cost of consumables while maintaining effective lice removal capability.
3Ease of operation
If conventional pumping is used to move fish for treatment, then fish handling is simplified, but fish stress increases leading to reduced feeding and growth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses hydraulic principles to create a gentle fish transport system. The pump generates controlled water currents that naturally guide fish through the treatment process without physical contact or crowding. Fish swim voluntarily through the water flow, eliminating the stress associated with conventional mechanical handling methods while maintaining operational simplicity.
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 method efficiently removes sea lice from salmon with reduced stress and cost, using a two-pump system that decelerates fish to original speed for consistent acceleration, achieving up to 70% lice removal without chemicals and minimizing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
A double pump system using SILKSTREAM™ Coanda effect pumps to decelerate and guide salmon through a tubular assembly
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly designed to encourage fish to enter a Coanda effect fish pumping system to allow delousing through the pump. The process quickly decelerates the fish in a water tank to their original speed of between 1.5 to 3 feet/second depending on pumping lift for a 10 inch diameter SILKSTREAM™ pump. As the fish guiding tube enters the tank, it is surrounded by a smooth diverging cone slowing the water speed to the original fish speed. The fish are then guided by the tubular assembly away from the water and lice into a second SILKSTREAM™ intake. The current changes within the SILKSTREAM™ Coanda effect pump provide delousing of the fish by orientating the fish in a forward direction as the fish pass through the pump.