Fish Cage Liquid-Tight Wall for Pathogen-Controlled Water Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Open fish cages are susceptible to disease-causing organisms entering the system with water, and existing solutions like lice skirts and bath treatments are inefficient or energy-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A fish cage design featuring a liquid-tight wall with a flow booster creating a circular current that generates an overpressure, forming an upward water current at the center and reducing energy consumption by regulating water flow through an inward-projecting border.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If open cages are used for fish farming, then water flow through the cage is improved, but disease-causing organisms enter the cage with the water
Solution Approach 1:
The cage is divided into two functional zones: an open lower portion for water intake and an enclosed upper portion for fish containment. The liquid-tight wall segments the water flow path, allowing fresh water to enter at the bottom while preventing pathogens from reaching the fish in the upper section.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid-tight wall acts as an intermediary barrier between the external water environment and the fish. It selectively allows water to pass through (via the upward current) while blocking disease-causing organisms, thus mediating the interaction between water flow and pathogen prevention.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a liquid-tight wall is installed in the cage, then disease prevention is improved, but water exchange and circulation are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic water circulation created by the flow booster to maintain water exchange despite the liquid-tight wall. The upward water current continuously replaces stagnant water, ensuring dynamic water renewal while maintaining the protective barrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow booster creates hydraulic flow (upward water current) to compensate for the restricted water exchange caused by the liquid-tight wall. This hydraulic mechanism ensures continuous water circulation and renewal within the enclosed space.
3Quantity of substance
If high water flow is pumped through the cage to maintain circulation, then water exchange is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the flow parameters by creating a focused upward current at the center rather than uniform high-velocity flow throughout. This parameter optimization reduces the energy required to achieve effective water circulation and exchange.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow booster concentrates water circulation in the central region, creating a localized upward current that efficiently exchanges water without requiring high energy input across the entire cage volume. The inward-projecting border further localizes the circulation zone.
4Strength
If the liquid-tight wall is made rigid to ensure sealing, then structural strength is improved, but adaptability to different farming conditions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cage structure is segmented into a rigid liquid-tight upper wall for sealing and a flexible open lower portion for adaptability. This segmentation allows the system to maintain structural integrity while adapting to different water conditions and farming requirements.
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
The design effectively prevents disease-causing organisms while improving fish well-being by maintaining a circular water current and supplying fresh water, with reduced energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
The flow booster induces a circular current which creates an overpressure along the liquid-tight wall
Implementation Method 2
the circular current will form a portion at the center of the cage with a lower hydrodynamic pressure than the surrounding hydrodynamic pressure, which will create an upward water current at the center of the cage
Data Source
AI summary
A cage is for farming fish. The cage floats in a water column and the upper portion of the cage has a surrounding floating body arranged to float in a water surface. An enclosure is located between the upper portion and the lower portion of the cage, the enclosure being closed in its lower portion and forming an inside and an outside. The cage has a liquid-tight wall which is attached to the floating body and which extends from the water surface downwards in the water column. The liquid-tight wall forms a lower edge portion. The cage is provided, in its upper portion, with at least one flow booster for creating a circular water current within the liquid-tight wall. A method for creating an upward water current of fresh water within the cage is also provided.