Oval Fish Farming Module with Barrier Lattices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current fish farming systems face challenges in controlling the habitat and preventing escape of marine fauna, contamination, and parasite introduction, especially in smolt breeding, due to poorly controlled environments and limitations in pipe design which restrict fish movement and facilitate parasite entry.

Innovation Solution

A modular fish farming plant with an oval residential compartment and adjustable buoyancy tanks, featuring a horizontal accommodation assembly with inlet and outlet pipes, barrier lattices, and modular design for easy expansion and maintenance, allowing for better water flow management and predator exclusion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If circular translucent pipes are used as residential compartments, then the compartments can be manufactured and assembled, but the fish movement is restricted and parasite entry is facilitated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturability of residential compartmentVSAvoidparasite entry and fish movement restriction

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from circular cross-section pipes to oval cross-section residential compartments. This curvature change allows fish to swim more naturally in a horizontal plane rather than being constrained by circular geometry, while the oval shape with its longer axis provides better hydrodynamics and reduced parasite entry points compared to circular sections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The oval cross-section introduces asymmetry in the residential compartment geometry. Unlike the symmetric circular shape, the oval form with distinct major and minor axes creates a more favorable hydrodynamic environment for fish movement and reduces the tendency for parasites to enter and accumulate, while maintaining manufacturability through modular construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Productivity

If the residential compartment size is increased to enable sufficient marine fauna production, then productivity improves, but traditional circular pipes cannot be produced larger than a certain size

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemarine fauna production capacityVSAvoidmanufacturability of large compartments

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the large residential compartment into multiple smaller modular units that can be manufactured separately and then assembled. Each module contains a residential compartment section with oval cross-section that can be produced at manageable sizes, yet when connected in series they form a large continuous habitat capable of housing sufficient marine fauna for productive farming operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The modular design allows smaller residential compartment sections to be nested or connected within a larger structural framework. Multiple oval cross-section modules are joined together to create an extended habitat that achieves the required scale for productive marine fauna production while maintaining the manufacturability of individual components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the farming plant is designed for floating in free water, then access to sea water is improved, but habitat control becomes poor and fish escape is possible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to sea waterVSAvoidhabitat control and fish containment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a floating platform structure with modular residential compartments that can be deployed in free water while maintaining controlled habitats. The modular design with oval cross-section compartments provides structural integrity and containment, while the floating nature ensures continuous access to fresh sea water. Barrier lattices and controlled openings in the modular sections maintain fish containment while allowing water exchange.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Reliability

If barrier lattices are added to prevent fish escape, then containment improves, but water flow management becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefish containmentVSAvoidwater flow management system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements barrier lattices at specific strategic locations within the modular residential compartments rather than throughout the entire structure. The oval cross-section design allows for localized barrier placement at critical points where fish escape is most likely, while maintaining open water flow paths in other areas. This localized approach ensures effective fish containment without unnecessarily complicating the overall water flow management system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 provides improved control over the aquatic environment, enhanced fish movement, and reduced parasite entry, enabling efficient breeding and production of marine fauna while allowing for flexible scaling and maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

an inlet pipe (3) adapted for supplying water from a water depth having a desired water quality

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

an outlet pipe (4) adapted for discharging water at said water depth (h)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 3

at least one means for providing water flow through the residential compartment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 4

at least one barrier lattice at the inlet end of the residential compartment... at least one barrier lattice at the outlet end of the residential compartment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 5

at least four ballastable buoyancy tanks which can be selectively emptied or filled in order to lift, lower, or tilt said fish farming plant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentEP2760282B1Fish farming plant, module, method and use

Publication Date: 2018.01.10 PRELINE FISHFARMING SYST

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AI summary

The present invention relates to a fish farming plant (1) adapted for floating in free water. The plant comprises a substantially vertical inlet pipe (3) and a corresponding outlet pipe (4) for taking in and discharging water, respectively, at a water depth having the desired water quality at a depth (h). A substantially horizontal residential compartment (30) of an accommodation assembly (2) has an inlet end and an outlet end. Lattices (7, 8) are provided at these ends. Also provided at said ends are angled end sections for connecting the inlet pipe (3), outlet pipe (4), and residential compartment (30). The plant also comprises at least one means for providing water flow through the residential compartment (30). The invention further includes a module for a residential compartment of a fish farming plant, a method for manufacturing an accommodation assembly (2), use of such a fish farming plant (1) for smolt, as well as a method for emptying such a fish farming plant (1).