Fish Lift Sensor Control for Malfunction Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fish lifts for transporting fish between upper and lower water levels in barrages lack automated detection and remediation of operational malfunctions, leading to potential disruptions and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of sensors and a control device that monitor the container's position and shaft water level, allowing for automatic detection of malfunctions and activation of intervention means to prevent or rectify issues, such as adjusting locking mechanisms and water levels, ensuring continuous operation and preventing blockages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fish lift operates without automated monitoring, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of fish transport is worsened due to undetected operational malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using sensors to continuously monitor container position and shaft water level, then feeding this information back to a control device that automatically activates intervention means when malfunctions are detected, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity through automated closed-loop control
Solution Approach 2:
The fish lift system performs self-service through automatic malfunction detection and remediation, where the control device autonomously evaluates sensor data and activates intervention means without human intervention, improving reliability while minimizing the need for external monitoring complexity
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If sensors and control devices are added for monitoring, then operational malfunction detection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual inspection and mechanical monitoring with optical and pressure sensors that use non-contact measurement principles, making malfunction detection easier while the electronic sensing systems are less complex than comprehensive mechanical monitoring would be
Solution Approach 2:
The control device serves multiple functions: it receives data from multiple sensors, evaluates operational status, activates intervention means, and monitors system state, consolidating what could be separate complex systems into a single multi-functional unit that reduces overall complexity
3Productivity
If automated intervention means are activated, then productivity is maintained through continuous operation, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having intervention means ready and pre-positioned to address potential malfunctions before they disrupt fish transport, allowing the system to maintain productivity by preventing rather than reacting to problems, with the control device automatically deploying these pre-prepared solutions
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 permanent monitoring and automatic remediation of operational faults, maintaining optimal water levels and container positions, thereby ensuring uninterrupted fish transport and reducing the risk of disruptions caused by malfunctions.
Implementation Method 1
design the first sensor as a contactless sensor and in particular as a laser sensor
Implementation Method 2
design the second sensor in particular as a pressure sensor or as a laser sensor
Implementation Method 3
design the second sensor in particular as a pressure sensor or as a laser sensor
Implementation Method 4
the control device activating a pump to lower the shaft water level
Implementation Method 5
the container is designed as a floating container which assumes its positions in the shaft as a function of a shaft water level in the shaft
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c~1d
AI summary
The invention relates to a fish lift (1) for transporting fish between an upstream (3) and downstream (5) section of a weir (4). The fish lift (1) comprises a first sensor (501) and a second sensor (502), wherein the first sensor (501) detects the current position (S3) of the container (7) and the second sensor (502) detects the water level in the shaft (6). The invention further relates to a method for operating a fish lift (1).