Emersed Shellfish Storage with Periodic Water Spraying
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in shipping live lobsters and other shellfish is the limited time they can survive out of water, which is affected by ammonia and carbon dioxide accumulation, leading to potential toxicity and mortality, especially due to reduced airfreight capacity and inadequate post-shipment handling and storage conditions.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a container support with integrated water reservoir, pump system, collector, and water treatment, allowing for periodic water distribution over lobsters stored vertically, which helps maintain their metabolic balance by simulating natural water exchange, reducing ammonia and carbon dioxide buildup, and enabling extended storage and shipping without complete submersion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If live shellfish are stored emersed (out of water) for extended periods, then storage duration is extended and shipping flexibility is improved, but ammonia and carbon dioxide accumulate leading to toxicity and mortality
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic water spraying cycles where water is pumped from the reservoir through spray nozzles onto the shellfish and then collected back into the reservoir. This periodic wetting provides metabolic waste removal and oxygenation at intervals during emersed storage, extending viable storage duration without complete submersion.
Solution Approach 2:
Water serves as an intermediary substance that mediates between the emersed storage environment and the shellfish's physiological needs. The water delivers oxygen to the gills, removes ammonia and carbon dioxide metabolic wastes, and maintains appropriate humidity levels during storage.
2Reliability
If water is continuously pumped over shellfish to maintain metabolic balance, then shellfish health is improved, but water consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system recycles water by collecting it from the reservoir, pumping it through spray nozzles onto the shellfish, and then collecting the water that flows back into the reservoir for repeated use. This closed-loop approach reduces water consumption and system complexity compared to continuous fresh water supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The water in the reservoir serves multiple functions: it is pumped for spraying to provide oxygenation and waste removal, it collects metabolic wastes from the shellfish, and it maintains humidity in the storage environment. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems for each function.
3Loss of energy
If airfreight capacity is reduced to accommodate passenger loads, then airline profitability is improved, but live lobster shipping capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the storage environment into emersed storage zones with periodic water application, allowing shellfish to be transported without complete water submersion. This enables use of airfreight and other land-based transport methods that were previously unsuitable for live shellfish shipping.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the storage parameters from continuous immersion to emersed storage with periodic wetting cycles. This parameter change enables transportation by air and land while maintaining shellfish viability, expanding shipping options beyond traditional water-based transport.
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 maintains lobsters in a healthy state for extended periods by managing metabolic waste through periodic water distribution, reducing mortality and improving storage conditions, allowing for alternative shipping methods like ocean freight and enhancing handling efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a pump system coupled to the water reservoir and carried by the container support, to pump water from the reservoir to one or more of the containers above the shellfish
Implementation Method 2
a collector coupled to the water reservoir and carried by the container support, to collect and provide to the reservoir water that is pumped by the pump system and flows over the shellfish
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to emersed shellfish storage. A container support has a surface to support containers. Each container has respective cells to accommodate live shellfish, such as lobster, in a vertical orientation substantially perpendicular to the surface. Water from a reservoir is pumped, intermittently in some embodiments, to one or more of the containers above the shellfish, and a collector collects and provides to the reservoir the water that is pumped by the pump system and flows over the shellfish. In an embodiment, the cells are provided by a divider that divides an interior space of each container, and the divider carries a perforated top insert at or below a top edge of each container, to distribute fluids to the cells.