Modular Aquaculture Carrier Units for Controlled Water Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current shellfish aquaculture methods are inefficient, labor-intensive, and prone to environmental risks due to reliance on natural water flow, leading to low yields, high labor costs, and conflicts with coastal space use.
Innovation Solution
A modular aquaculture system with controlled water flow and renewable energy, featuring stackable containers and drive units to optimize growth conditions, allowing high-density cultivation and mobility to avoid environmental threats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If shellfish are farmed using gear (bags, cages, lantern nets, longlines), then they can be cultivated in controlled locations, but water flow to the shellfish is restricted and labor costs increase due to constant tending
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes mesh bags with specific porosity (4mm mesh size) that allow water flow while containing shellfish. The porous structure enables microalgae passage and water circulation, addressing the flow restriction problem while maintaining containment reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic water flow management through tidal currents and active pumping mechanisms that adjust flow rates based on shellfish density and growth stage, optimizing both water delivery and containment effectiveness
2Ease of manufacture
If gear is deployed to hold shellfish, then cultivation is possible, but biofouling accumulates and restricts flow by over 90% if not tended constantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous water flow through the gear structures using tidal currents and supplemental pumping, preventing biofouling accumulation by maintaining constant circulation that discourages fouling organism settlement and growth
Solution Approach 2:
Flow sensors and monitoring systems detect water circulation rates and biofouling accumulation, providing feedback that triggers increased pumping or system cleaning when flow restriction reaches threshold levels, maintaining optimal flow conditions
3Area of stationary object
If bottom planting method is used to grow shellfish, then land use is reduced, but stocking densities are even lower and survival decreases due to predation and environmental effects
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from bottom-planting (2D seabed cultivation) to water column suspension using floating gear and mesh bags, utilizing the three-dimensional water column space to achieve higher stocking densities while maintaining low land use through offshore deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The system modifies environmental parameters by controlling water flow rates, temperature, and nutrient delivery through active pumping and filtration, creating optimized growth conditions that improve survival rates compared to passive bottom planting
4Ease of manufacture
If stationary farming systems are used, then shellfish can be cultivated, but they are vulnerable to environmental disturbances such as storms, harmful algae blooms, and chemical spills
Solution Approach 1:
The floating gear system is designed to be mobile and repositionable, allowing dynamic response to environmental threats by moving cultures to safer locations during storms, harmful algae blooms, or chemical spill events, rather than being fixed in vulnerable positions
5Productivity
If current farming methods are used, then shellfish production is possible, but large swaths of coastal water bodies are occupied leading to stakeholder conflicts and lack of space for expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from bottom-planting (2D seabed cultivation) to water column suspension using floating gear and mesh bags, utilizing the three-dimensional water column space to achieve higher stocking densities while maintaining low land use through offshore deployment
Solution Approach 2:
Active water flow manipulation delivers concentrated microalgae to shellfish, enabling higher growth rates and productivity per unit volume of water, reducing the total water area needed for equivalent production
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 five to ten times higher organism concentration, reduced labor, and safer operations with higher yields, while minimizing land use and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
At least one drive unit actively alters the natural flow rate of the water to an adjusted flow rate, such as a selected mechanically powered flow rate, through the at least one chamber and past the containers
Implementation Method 2
support structure having sufficient flotation to suspend the at least one carrier unit in the water column
Data Source
AI summary
A modular aquaculture system, and method of using same, deployable in a body of water having a water column, the system including at least one carrier unit defining at least one chamber in which a plurality of containers can be placed. Each container is capable of holding a plurality of organisms to be cultured, and the chamber has at least one chamber inlet for water intake and at least one chamber outlet. The system further includes support structure having sufficient flotation to suspend the at least one carrier unit in the water column. At least one drive unit actively alters a rate of water flow through the at least one chamber and past the containers.