Organism Eradication System with Concentrator and Kill Tunnel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies are inadequate for rapid and effective detection and treatment of invasive species, particularly at the larval or veliger stage, such as Dreissenidae freshwater mussels, which pose significant environmental and economic threats, as existing methods focus more on adult detection and prevention rather than real-time larval suppression.
Innovation Solution
An organism eradication system and method that includes a concentrator to capture target organisms, a mixing section with an injector and mixer to expose them to a molluscicide, and a 'kill tunnel' where the treated organisms experience localized environmental stress, enhancing the lethality of the treatment and reducing the required dosage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional detection and treatment methods are used for invasive species, then adult mussels can be detected and treated, but larval or veliger stage organisms cannot be effectively targeted or suppressed in real-time
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the treatment approach by life stage, using a concentrator with specific mesh sizes to separate and capture veligers from adult mussels and other organisms. The concentrator uses a blocking net with a first mesh size and a pass-through net with a second mesh size to allow selective passage of different organism sizes, enabling targeted treatment of larval stages while allowing adults to pass through.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different treatment qualities to different locations in the water column. The concentrator is positioned at a specific depth where veligers are concentrated, and the treatment agent is injected locally into the concentrated stream rather than dispersing it throughout the entire water body. This localized treatment approach increases effectiveness against larvae while minimizing broader environmental impact.
2Reliability
If treatment agents are applied broadly to address invasive species, then some target organisms are killed, but environmental impact and collateral damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the target organisms (veligers) from the bulk water environment using the concentrator before applying the treatment agent. By concentrating the larvae into a small volume and separating them from the surrounding ecosystem, the treatment agent is applied only to the captured organisms rather than being dispersed throughout the water body, thereby reducing environmental impact and collateral damage to non-target species.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the concentration parameter of the target organisms by using the concentrator to increase the density of veligers in a specific location. This parameter change allows for more efficient use of the treatment agent, as a smaller volume containing concentrated larvae receives the full dosage, reducing the total amount of agent needed and minimizing environmental exposure.
3Reliability
If high dosages of treatment agents are used to ensure lethality, then target organisms are effectively killed, but environmental impact and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary concentration of the target organisms using the concentrator before applying the treatment agent. By pre-concentrating the veligers into a small volume, the treatment agent can be applied more efficiently with lower total dosage requirements, as the agent is not wasted on treating large volumes of water containing dispersed larvae.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the concentration parameter of the target organisms to increase their density in a localized area. This parameter change allows for reduced dosage of the treatment agent, as the same lethal concentration can be achieved with less total agent when the target organisms are concentrated in a smaller volume rather than dispersed throughout the water body.
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 system effectively captures and treats target organisms, such as mussel veligers, by concentrating them and exposing them to a molluscicide within the 'kill tunnel', achieving high lethality with potentially reduced environmental impact and collateral damage.
Implementation Method 1
a concentrator having a concentrator inlet formed by a blocking net having a first mesh size and having a downstream concentrator outlet fed by a pass-through net interconnected with the blocking net, the pass-through net having a second mesh size
Implementation Method 2
a mixing section along and in fluid communication with the connector tube, the mixing section comprising an injector for selectively injecting an agent into the fluid sample and a mixer downstream of the injector for selectively mixing the agent within the fluid sample
Implementation Method 3
the holder defining a transient volume within which a fluid sample containing target organisms as obtained by the concentrator may temporarily dwell; whereby placement of the concentrator within the body of water and capture therein of target organisms so as to pass the captured target organisms to the holder results in exposure of the target organisms to the agent and dwell of the target organisms with the agent under localized environmental stress within the holder for improved lethality of the agent
Data Source
AI summary
An organism eradication system and method of use configured for capturing and treating target organisms in a body of water, wherein the target organisms enter the system through a concentrator, are exposed to and mixed with an agent in a mixing section, and then die off over an appropriate dwell time with related environmental catalysts in a holder.