Floating Vessel Inlet Grinder for Dead Fish Disposal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems lack an efficient and hygienic method for handling large quantities of dead or infectious fish, leading to contamination risks and increased workload during disease outbreaks, as existing devices are not designed for maritime use and often result in incomplete grinding and potential infection spread.

Innovation Solution

A floating vessel with a grinder unit integrated at the inlet for immediate grinding of dead fish, followed by chemical treatment and storage in a compact and efficient manner, ensuring all fish passes through the grinder once and is treated to prevent infection, with a chemical dosing system for acidity adjustment and storage in non-infectious condition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional grinder pumps are used to grind dead fish, then the fish mass can be processed, but the fish must run through the grinder multiple times to ensure complete grinding, increasing processing time and complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrinding completenessVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by positioning the grinder at the inlet funnel so that fish are ground immediately upon entry into the vessel. This single-pass grinding approach eliminates the need for multiple cycles through traditional grinder pumps, reducing processing time while ensuring complete grinding through the optimized inlet configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If dead fish are handled using minor working boats and transported to land, then the fish can be processed on land, but the boats and equipment may carry and spread infection between farms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling capabilityVSAvoidinfection spread risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potential harm of handling dead fish into a benefit by designing a self-contained vessel that grinds and chemically treats fish on-site. The chemical treatment system transforms the infectious dead fish into disinfected material, eliminating the infection spread risk associated with traditional boat-based handling and land transport

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Ease of operation

If dead fish are allowed to accumulate in net cages, then handling workload is reduced temporarily, but the risk of infection increases and biomass registration becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling workloadVSAvoidinfection risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous useful action by enabling ongoing removal and processing of dead fish directly at the fish farm location. The vessel can continuously receive, grind, and chemically treat dead fish as they accumulate, maintaining low infection risk and accurate biomass registration while preventing workload accumulation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Productivity

If a compact vessel with inlet grinder is used, then the processing efficiency increases and infection spread is prevented, but the vessel requires sophisticated chemical dosing systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidchemical dosing system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a multi-functional vessel that combines grinding, chemical dosing, mixing, and storage capabilities in a single integrated system. The chemical dosing system is part of a unified processing platform that handles multiple aspects of dead fish treatment, reducing overall system complexity despite the sophistication of individual components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 vessel effectively reduces infection risks and workload by ensuring all dead fish are processed hygienically and quickly, providing a reliable solution for emergency preparedness and meeting environmental and health standards, while preventing the spread of contagious diseases.

Implementation Method 1

a fish grinder (11) arranged for grinding said fish through said grinder (11)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

the grinder tank (8) arranged for receiving ensiling liquid from a chemical dosing plant (12) to said ground fish mass

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical dosing:

Data Source

PatentEP2362735B1Unit and method for contagious fish disease control
Publication Date: 2013.05.08 HAVSTERK
  • EP2362735B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2362735B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2362735B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a vessel for handling of contagious or dead fish comprising: a hull with a generally closed deck (5), and an inlet (15) for receiving the fish externally to a fish grinder (11) arranged for grinding the fish through the grinder (11) and arranged for delivering ground fish mass to a closed, internal grinder tank (8) in the vessel, the grinder tank (8) arranged for receiving ensiling liquid from a chemical dosing plant (12) to the ground fish mass. In the vessel according to the invention the dosing plant (12) may be arranged for dosing ensiling liquid into the ground mass proportional to the amount of fish supplied to the grinder tank (8).