Submerged Venturi Dissolver for Aquaculture Oxygenation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing oxygen dissolving systems in aquaculture face challenges in maintaining high oxygen levels, especially at elevated temperatures, and are inefficient in water utilization and energy consumption, leading to reduced fish health and growth rates due to limited water capacity and energy-intensive processes.

Innovation Solution

A submerged venturi dissolver combined with a submerged pump and an outlet device forms a sealed, watertight unit that dissolves pressurized oxygen into water, distributing oxygenated water directly into sea cages, tanks, or ponds, reducing energy consumption and enhancing oxygen levels while being easy to install and remove.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If pressurized oxygen dissolvers are used to increase oxygen levels in water, then oxygen dissolution capacity is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedissolved oxygen contentVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a venturi-based hydraulic system where water flow itself creates the suction force to draw oxygen into the water stream. The venturi effect generates a pressure difference that pulls oxygen through a diffuser into the high-velocity water flow, eliminating the need for separate pressurization pumps and reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective oxygen dissolution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the physical parameters of water flow by creating a high-velocity jet through the venturi structure. This high velocity increases the mixing intensity and dissolution rate of oxygen in water without requiring high pressure, thereby achieving effective oxygenation with lower energy input compared to traditional pressurized systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If oxygen dissolvers operate at high pressure to dissolve more oxygen, then oxygen dissolution capacity is improved, but pressure loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedissolved oxygen contentVSAvoidpressure loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The venturi-based hydraulic system converts pressure energy into kinetic energy, creating a high-velocity water stream that draws oxygen in through the venturi effect. The system operates at low pressure by utilizing the kinetic energy of flowing water to achieve oxygen dissolution, thereby avoiding the pressure losses associated with high-pressure pump-based systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Productivity

If water flow rate is increased to improve oxygen dissolution, then oxygen transfer efficiency is improved, but water capacity utilization decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxygen transfer efficiencyVSAvoidwater capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system enhances oxygen dissolution by changing the flow regime to high-velocity turbulent flow through the venturi structure. This increases the interfacial area and mass transfer coefficient, improving oxygen transfer efficiency without requiring a proportional increase in total water volume, thus maintaining better water capacity utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution effectively increases oxygen levels, reduces fish mortality and stress, improves growth rates, and simplifies handling during treatments, while being energy-efficient and easy to control, thereby enhancing fish welfare and water utilization.

Implementation Method 1

The known venturi system generates micro bubbles in the water. By the means of gas diffusion and redistribution of dissolved gas components in water one can dissolve and add gas at a very low pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVenturi effect: Venturi Effect

Implementation Method 2

By the means of gas diffusion and redistribution of dissolved gas components in water one can dissolve and add gas at a very low pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas diffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 3

The invention proposes the use of a submerged pump

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPumping: Pump

Data Source

PatentEP2198704B2Fish farming process to enrich dissolved oxygen into water
Publication Date: 2019.08.28 LINDE AG
  • EP2198704B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2198704B2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2198704B2 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for supplying gas into water in sea cages, tanks or ponds with a pump (1) and a dissolver (2) for contacting the gas with the water. For higher efficiency and better handling the pump (1) is a submerged pump (1) (Fig. 1).