Floatable Fish Tank with Central Column Buoyancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fish farming technologies face challenges in minimizing environmental impact and preventing disease and parasite transmission, particularly due to open water exchange, which affects animal welfare and safety.
Innovation Solution
A floatable fish tank design with water-tight enclosures and a central column providing buoyancy, allowing for closed water circulation and selective water exchange, incorporating features like water treatment systems and monitoring to maintain water quality and prevent parasite transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If open water exchange is used in traditional fish farms, then water circulation is simple and energy consumption is low, but fish are exposed to parasites and environmental pollution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs netting materials as flexible enclosing shells that create closed or semi-closed fish enclosures. These netting structures selectively filter water while containing fish, blocking parasites from entering the enclosure while allowing water circulation. The flexible nature of netting enables the enclosure to adapt to water movements while maintaining the protective barrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate structures such as nets, screens, and filtration systems that mediate between the external water environment and the internal fish enclosure. These intermediary elements allow beneficial water exchange while blocking harmful parasites and pollutants, resolving the contradiction between openness and protection.
2Reliability
If closed enclosures are used to prevent parasite transmission, then fish safety is improved, but water circulation efficiency decreases and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different levels of enclosure closure to different parts of the fish farm system. Some enclosures are fully closed for maximum protection, while others use semi-closed designs with strategic openings or mesh structures that allow passive water circulation. This local differentiation optimizes the balance between fish safety and energy efficiency by closing only where necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates dynamic elements such as adjustable nets, movable panels, and flexible enclosures that can adapt their opening/closing state based on environmental conditions. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain fish safety while optimizing water circulation and reducing energy consumption when external conditions are favorable.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If traditional open pens are used, then construction cost is low and operation is simple, but environmental pollution from waste is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and contains waste products within closed or semi-closed enclosure systems, preventing their direct discharge into the surrounding environment. By confining fish and their waste within defined boundaries, the system isolates pollution sources, allowing for centralized waste management and treatment while maintaining operational simplicity through standardized enclosure modules.
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
Enhances fish safety and health by isolating fish from seawater parasites, reduces environmental impact by containing waste, and allows for flexible operation and location, including closer to shore, while maintaining structural integrity and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A floatable fish tank design with water-tight enclosures and a central column providing buoyancy
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A floatable fish tank (100,101,102) comprising: a hull (10) having a lower part (10a) with side and bottom walls (11,12), the lower part (1 Oa) forming an enclosure (25) for fish; a deck (15) arranged at an upper part (10b) of the hull (10); a central column (13) fixed within the hull (10), characterised in that the central column (13) is closed at its lower end section (13a) and extends from the bottom wall (12) to the deck (15). A fish farm (200) is described comprising a plurality of such floatable fish tanks (100, 101, 102).