Flattened Tuna Feed Pellets for Low Settling Velocity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tuna species in aquaculture often fail to recognize compound feed due to its rapid sinking, leading to unconsumed feed and variations in fish size and growth rate.
Innovation Solution
A feed for tuna species is designed with a flattened shape and specific dimensions to reduce settling velocity, characterized by a flattening ratio greater than or equal to 110 and a volume-to-area ratio less than or equal to 0.110, produced by pressing and deforming a cylindrical molded product.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If compound feed is used for tuna species, then feed conversion efficiency is improved, but settling velocity increases causing feed to sink rapidly and remain unconsumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the feed, specifically creating a flattened shape with a thickness significantly smaller than the width, and controlling the volume-area ratio to be 0.06 to 0.11. This parameter optimization reduces the settling velocity while maintaining feed functionality for tuna species.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed is designed with an asymmetric flattened shape where the thickness dimension is much smaller than the width dimension. This dimensional change creates a shape that reduces settling velocity by increasing drag in the vertical direction while maintaining horizontal stability in the water column.
2Stability of the object's composition
If compound feed is used for tuna species, then nutritional stability is improved, but tuna species cannot recognize the feed at an early stage due to rapid sinking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the geometric parameters of the feed, specifically controlling the thickness to be smaller than the width and setting the volume-area ratio between 0.06 and 0.11. These parameter changes reduce settling velocity, allowing tuna species more time to recognize and consume the feed before it sinks to the bottom.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional feed shape is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but settling velocity is high causing unconsumed feed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the feed shape parameters by flattening the feed and controlling the thickness to be smaller than the width, with the volume-area ratio optimized to 0.06-0.11. This can be achieved by adjusting the extrusion die design or adding a flattening step in the manufacturing process, which are relatively simple modifications that significantly reduce settling velocity.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed transitions from a conventional cylindrical or spherical shape to a flattened shape with asymmetric thickness, creating a disk-like or pancake-like structure. This dimensional change increases the surface area relative to volume, thereby reducing settling velocity while maintaining ease of production through modified extrusion or pressing techniques.
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 feed allows early feeding of tuna species, reducing size variation and enhancing growth rate by increasing contact frequency and decreasing settling velocity in fish cages.
Implementation Method 1
a feed for farming tuna species, which has a low settling velocity
Implementation Method 2
when a maximum length in the longitudinal direction is defined as a (mm), a maximum length in the width direction is defined as b (mm), and a maximum length in the thickness direction is defined as c (mm), a flattening ratio f1 calculated by Formula (1) described below is greater than or equal to 110
Data Source
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AI summary
A feed for farming tuna species includes a body portion flattened with a length in a thickness direction orthogonal to a width direction and to a longitudinal direction being shorter than a length in the width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. The feed satisfies (A) and/or (B): (A) when a maximum length in the longitudinal direction is defined as a (mm), a maximum length in the width direction is defined as b (mm), and a maximum length in the thickness direction is defined as c (mm), a flattening ratio f1 calculated by Formula (1) is 110 or greater: f1 = a × b/c (1); and (B) when a volume of the feed for fish farming is defined as V (cm3 ), and an area of the feed for fish farming in a plan view is defined as A (mm2), (V/A)1/2 is 0.110 or less.