Stacked Raceway Aquaculture System for Space-Constrained Shrimp Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current shrimp farming methods require large amounts of water and space, are limited by temperature constraints, and are not suitable for inland or non-tropical locations, making them inefficient and costly for commercial production.
Innovation Solution
The use of stacked raceways with sloped bottoms and low water depths, combined with advanced water circulation and maintenance systems, allows for super-intensive shrimp production in reduced space and varying climates, enabling efficient water use and higher production rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional pond-based shrimp farming is used, then shrimp production is achieved, but large amounts of water and space are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional horizontal pond-based farming to vertical stacked raceway systems. Multiple raceways are stacked one above another, utilizing the vertical dimension to increase production capacity without proportionally increasing water usage or land area. This dimensional change allows more shrimp to be raised in the same footprint while reducing water consumption per unit of production.
Solution Approach 2:
The farming system is divided into multiple separate raceways stacked vertically, each containing a specific volume of water. This segmentation allows for controlled water circulation and exchange in each individual raceway, improving water efficiency compared to large interconnected ponds. Each raceway can be independently managed for feeding, aeration, and water quality control.
2Area of stationary object
If traditional pond-based shrimp farming is used, then shrimp production is achieved, but large amounts of floor space are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes vertical stacking of raceways to transform the farming approach from horizontal expansion to vertical utilization. By stacking raceways multiple levels high, the patent achieves high shrimp production density without requiring proportional increases in floor space. This vertical arrangement allows multiple production cycles to occupy the same ground footprint simultaneously.
3Adaptability or versatility
If pond-based methods are used in non-tropical locations, then seasonal production is possible, but temperature constraints limit growth
Solution Approach 1:
The stacked raceway system incorporates dynamic water circulation and exchange mechanisms that allow active management of water temperature and quality. Unlike static ponds, the system can actively pump, filter, and exchange water to maintain optimal growing conditions regardless of ambient temperature. This dynamic control enables shrimp farming in non-tropical climates where temperature would otherwise be limiting.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces water treatment and circulation systems as intermediaries between the shrimp and the external environment. These intermediaries (pumps, filters, heat exchangers) mediate the thermal conditions, allowing the shrimp to be raised in controlled temperature environments independent of outdoor climate conditions. This enables year-round production in temperate regions.
4Volume of moving object
If raceways with greater water depth are used, then more space is available for shrimp movement, but greater floor space and management complexity increase production costs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing water depth horizontally, the system stacks multiple shallower raceways vertically. Each raceway maintains sufficient water volume for shrimp health, but the vertical arrangement reduces the footprint and simplifies bank stabilization requirements. The stacked configuration provides comparable total water volume to deeper single-level systems while reducing engineering complexity and land requirements.
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
This approach reduces water and space requirements by up to three times, increases shrimp production per cubic meter of water, enhances growth rates, and improves survival rates, making shrimp farming more economically viable and adaptable to diverse climates.
Implementation Method 1
raceways having particular slopes to facilitate water draining, water circulation
Data Source
AI summary
A shrimp aquaculture structure including a set of at least two raceways each having a length, width, and at least one depth to give an average depth, and including two ends, two side walls having a top, a sloped bottom joining each side wall at two side wall junctions. Some of five raceways may be stacked at least partially on top of another of the five raceways. According to another embodiment, the disclosure relates to a process of shrimp aquaculture by using the set of five raceways and sequentially transferring shrimp form one raceway to another once the shrimp reach a given average size.