Plant for Fish Farming and Its Use

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a first farming plant including a central tank and one or more surrounding tanks, where the central tank is used for water treatment and the one or more surrounding tanks are used for the farming of fish. The fish farming plan may also include one or more flow applicators, whereby the flow rate of the water in the surrounding tanks are individually independent of the water exchange rate. The fish farming plant may include several movable permeable section walls in each of the surrounding tanks dividing each surrounding tank into tank sections. Each surrounding tank is equipped with one or more outlets and one or two inlets, and a substantially horizontal/laminar flow structure of the water in each one of the surrounding tanks is provided.

Claims

1. A recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) fish farming plant comprising: one or more fish farming tanks configured to contain water and fish; a water treatment system configured to receive water from the one or more fish farming tanks, treat the water and return the treated water to the one or more fish farming tanks; a plurality of horizontally moveable permeable walls disposed in the one or more fish farming tanks wherein said permeable walls are moveable through the one or more fish farming tanks and divide the one or more fish farming tanks into a plurality of sections; and said permeable walls configured to move back and forth in the one or more fish farming tanks to vary the area of the respective sections so as to vary the density of the fish contained in the sections.

2. The RAS fish farming plant of claim 1 wherein the one or more fish farming tanks are formed by a series of spaced apart walls; and wherein there is provided a plurality of rails supported by the walls; and wherein the horizontally moveable permeable walls include wheels engaged with the rails and configured such that as the wheels move on said rails, that the permeable walls move horizontally through the one or more fish farming tanks.

3. The RAS fish farming plant of claim 1 wherein the permeable walls are configured such that the width of the permeable walls can be adjusted to accommodate fish farming tanks having various widths.

4. The RAS fish farming plant of claim 1 wherein the permeable walls includes one or more folding sections configured to be manipulated to vary the width of the permeable walls.

5. The RAS fish farming plant of claim 4 wherein the one or more folding sections are pivotally secured to an adjacent portion of the permeable walls.

6. The RAS fish farming plant of claim 1 wherein the permeable walls include: an upper support configured to be adjustable in width; the permeable walls including permeable faces configured to be adjustable in width and which extend downwardly from the upper support to the bottom of the one or more fish farming tanks; upper and lower wheels forming a part of the permeable walls; and wherein the upper wheels are configured to engage and ride on rails associated with the one or more fish farming tanks as the permeable walls move horizontally through the one or more fish farming tanks.

7. The RAS fish farming plant of claim 6 wherein the lower wheels of the permeable walls engage and more along the bottom of the one or more fish farming tanks.

8. The RAS fish farming plant of claim 1 wherein the permeable walls are provided with dampers configured to be opened for allowing fish to pass through the permeable walls.

9. The RAS fish farming plant of claim 1 wherein each permeable wall includes a plurality of vertical sections hinged together and wherein selected vertical sections can be folded with respect to an adjacent vertical section.

10. The RAS fish farming plant of claim 1 wherein at least one fish farming tank includes a pair of arcuate-shaped walls and a bottom; and wherein each permeable wall includes upper wheels that engage arcuate-shaped rails that extend along the fish farming tank, and wherein as the permeable wall moves horizontally through the fish farming tank, the permeable wall also moves in a generally arcuate fashion so as to follow the contour of the fish farming tank.

11. The RAS fish farming plant of claim 1 further including: one or more flow applicators disposed in the one or more fish farming tanks; and wherein the one or more fish farming tanks includes first and second horizontal moveable permeable walls, the first permeable wall disposed upstream of the one or more flow applicators and the second permeable wall disposed downstream of the one or more flow applicators.

12. A RAS fish farming plant comprising: one or more fish farming tanks configured to contain water and fish; each fish farming tank formed, in part at least, by two spaced apart walls and a bottom; rails supported by the walls of the one or more fish farming tanks; a water treatment system configured to receive water from the one or more fish farming tanks, treat the water and return the treated water to one or more fish farming tanks; a horizontally moveable permeable wall extending transversely across and between two spaced apart walls of the one or more of the fish farming tanks; wherein the permeable wall divides the one or more fish farming tanks into a plurality of sections; the permeable walls configured to move back and forth in the one or more fish farming tanks to vary the area of the respective sections and to vary the density of the fish contained in the sections; the permeable wall including upper wheels engaged with the rails and moveable thereon; and wherein the upper wheels are configured to move along the rails and move the permeable wall through the one or more fish farming tanks such that the fish density in the sections formed by the permeable wall is varied.

13. The RAS fish farming plant of claim 12 wherein the permeable wall further includes lower wheels that engage and more along the bottom of the one or more fish tanks.

14. The RAS fish farming plant of claim 12 wherein the permeable wall is adjustable in width and includes at least one vertical section connected to an adjacent portion of the permeable wall via a flexible mechanism.

15. A method varying the density of fish contained in one or more fish farming tanks of a fish farming plant, comprising: placing fish in at least one of the fish farming tanks; dividing the fish farming tank into at least two sections by providing a horizontally moveable permeable wall in the fish farming tank; and horizontally moving the permeable wall through the fish farming tank and varying the volume of water and the density of fish in the sections.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the permeable wall includes a pair of upper wheels and the method includes engaging a pair of rails associated with the fish farming tank with the upper wheels and moving the upper wheels along the rail and in the process horizontally moving the permeable wall through the fish farming tank.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the permeable wall includes a pair of lower wheels and the method includes engaging the lower wheels with the bottom of the fish farming tank and wherein as the permeable wall is horizontally moved through the fish farming tank, the lower wheels engage and move along the bottom of the fish farming tank.

18. The method of claim 15 including dividing the fish farming tank into at least three sections by providing at least two horizontally moveable permeable walls in the fish farming tank; adjusting the fish density in at least two sections by horizontally moving at least one of the permeable walls through a portion of the fish farming tank.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the permeable wall includes a vertical section hinged to an adjacent portion of the permeable wall; and wherein the method includes varying the width of the permeable wall by moving the vertical section relative to the adjacent portion of the permeable wall.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the fish farming tank is formed by two spaced apart walls and wherein the permeable wall extends transversely between and generally normal to the walls of the fish farming tank; and wherein as the permeable wall moves horizontally through the fish farming tank, the permeable wall is maintained generally normal to the walls of the fish farming tank.

Description

[0083] The invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0084] FIG. 1 shows a possible layout for the fish farming plant. Here consisting of the central tank and two surrounding circular tanks, which each is divided in several tank sections by permeable traverse walls, of which most are movable. Only the traverse walls around the tank section with inlet and outlet and flow applicators are fixed. Above the central tank is there a working platform from where the tanks can be serviced. There are moreover placed water treatment elements and purge tank outside the circular structure.

[0085] FIG. 2 shows a movable permeable traverse wall, where the upper wheels are placed in rails. The traverse wall is here equipped with a damper through which the fishes can be moved from one tank section to another. This can be done by moving two traverse walls closer together, causing the fish density to become higher and the fishes are thereby forced over in the adjacent tank section.

[0086] FIG. 3 shows, seen from above, a movable permeable traverse wall.

[0087] FIG. 4 shows a section of the fish farming plant, where the tank section with inlet and outlet and flow applicators is visible. The pipe connection between fish tank and purge tank can be seen close to the outlet. In the purge tank the traverse walls are seen, which separates different harvesting days, where the last section is connected to a draining means.

[0088] FIG. 5 shows another section of the fish farming plant, where more of the working platform is visible.

[0089] FIG. 6 shows the same section as FIG. 5, from another angle, whereas

[0090] FIG. 7 shows a flow diagram over the fish farming plant. Here the path of the water can be followed from inlet, through one of the surrounding tanks, further to first water treatment (particle filtration), into the central tank (biologic cleaning), out to the last part of the water treatment (CO.sub.2-stripping) and last back to the inlet.

[0091] The invention provides a new RAS-concept, a fish farming plant 1, primarily for production of fish from the size of fry fish (3-120 gram) to production of slaughter fish (250-7000 gram), but can also be used for production of so-called smolt (fry fish for production of salmon fish), and other fry production.

[0092] A plant constructed after the developed concept, is in general constructed by establishing several cylindrical (or polygonical, if the plant is constructed in elements) containers one within the other, centered around a common center, but with different diameters, where the distance between the walls typically will be 3-10 meter. In this way the overall structure of the plant utilizes the strength of the circle in the structure, and the plant can simplified be seen as a central circular tank 3, surrounded by one or more circular-shaped tanks 2.

[0093] With reference to FIG. 1 the following is stated:

[0094] After the water has been through the circular fish tanks 2 it is brought to particle filtration 13, as a first step in the water treatment. Hereafter it is brought to the central tank 3, where biofiltration 6 (primarily conversion of NH.sub.3/NH.sub.4 to NO.sub.3) takes place. Before the water is brought further on from the biofiltration 6, the bio-medium is separated from the water with band filters 7 or another mechanical separation. After the water has been through biofiltration 6 it is brought to the last step in the water treatment, CO.sub.2-stripping 5.

[0095] Finally the water is brought back to the circular fish tanks 2. The main pumps 9 in the system can advantageously be installed right below inlet 29 to the fish tanks 2, outside the circular structure.

[0096] The exchange rate of the water is to low for a significant flow rate can be obtained just by the water treatment process, which means that flow applicators 8 are necessary to obtain the high flow rate that is optimal for certain fish species, hereunder kingfish, salmon fish, grouper, barramundi and mahi mahi. Flow applicators 8 are thus placed above inlet and outlet 29, 30 that can raise the flow rate to the desired level. Moreover, the flow applicators contribute to optimizing the overall horizontal/laminar flow structure that is build into and functions as a central part of the concept. Flow applicators 8 and the four pipe connections to water treatment (inlet and outlet 29, 30 to the fish tanks and inlet and outlet to biofiltration 6) are placed together, in a screened section of the circular tanks 2, so that they do not disturb the fish.

[0097] Above the central tank 3 a working platform 15 is installed, which can be used for fish sorting and handling 16, furthermore the circular tanks 2 can be serviced from the working platform 15.

[0098] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 is stated the following:

[0099] Each of the circular tanks 2 is equipped with several movable permeable traverse walls 12. These are unique in function and are one of the most important differences from earlier RAS-plants. The walls are characterized in that they are steplessly movable, are adjustable in their width, and that the separation between the two adjacent tank segments remains intact during the moving. A traverse wall 12 can consist of an upper rod 23, whereupon the traverse wall 12 itself is attached. This consists of a permeable face 24, where a section in each side of the permeable face 24 is attached to the rest of the traverse wall 12 with an flexible mechanism, e.g. hinges 28. In the bottom of the traverse wall 12, and in the ends of the upper rod are attached wheels 25. The wheels 25 in the bottom of the permeable face 24 are installed so that they rest on the bottom level of the tank. The wheels 25 in the end of the rod 23 are installed so that they rest on rails 26, which are installed on top of the walls between the fish tanks. The rails/walls are moreover equipped with opportunities for attachment of the traverse walls. Alternatively the rod 23 is equipped with a squeezing mechanism that can squeeze on the sides of the rails, and/or the tank wall. In that way it becomes possible to adjust the size of the individual tank sections, so the fish concentration in each tank section always is optimal.

[0100] The upper rod 23 can advantageously be a double telescopic rod. This combined with the sections that are attached to the permeable face 24 with hinges 28, ensures that the traverse walls 12 automatically will adjust in the width, and thereby always fit tightly against the circular walls of the fish tanks, even if the plant is constructed of elements, in which case the width of the fish tanks can vary significantly. It thus becomes possible to vary the size of the individual tank sections while they are in operation, without risking that fish from one section finds way to another.

[0101] The permeable face 24 can moreover be made with a damper 27, so that the fishes can be lead from one tank section to another, without they must be pumped up or that the traverse wall 12 must be taken out. This will eliminate the stress that the fishes normally are exposed to in connection with moving.

[0102] With reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 is stated the following:

[0103] The outlet 30 is, in contrast to most other RAS-plants, installed in the entire width of the tank. The outlet 30 consists of several openings that each is equipped with a valve 19 or another form of flow control, so that the flow rate of the outlet 30 can be controlled according to requirements across the vessel. Before outlet 30 and after inlet 29 there is installed stop grates 20, which prevents the fishes from coming into the tank section with flow applicators 8 and inlet and outlet 29, 30.

[0104] The smaller fish will always be placed in the innermost circular tank, while the largest will be placed in the outermost circular tank, where the harvest-ready fish will be located in the last section before the outlet 30. In this way all fish can be harvested from the same tank section. Before the outlet 30 there is installed a pipe connection to a purge tank 17, where harvest-ready fish can remain until they no longer are characterized by feeding flavor. The fishes can be lead to the purge tank 17 by means of light exposure, where the tank section is more illuminated than the purge tank 17. The pipe connection between the tank section and the purge tank 17 is equipped with a fish counter that keeps track on the number of fish in the purge tank 17. Another way of leading the fish over in the purge tank 17 is by reducing the volume of the tank sections, so that the fish are incited to swim over in the purge tank 17.

[0105] The purge tank 17 is equipped with traverse walls 18, so that fish easily can be harvested every day. Each traverse wall 18 is equipped with dampers so the fish easily can be lead from one section of the purge tank 17 to the next. The daily harvesting is especially advantageously for suppliers to recipients that wishes frequently deliveries, adapted to the logistics in the succeeding sale and/or adapted to the capacity in slaughtering/process plants.

[0106] The way whereby the water treatment and inlet and outlet 29, 30 are designed, minimizes the need for the piping and totally eliminates the need for piping beneath the bottom level. Totally only four simple pipings are required: inlet and outlet 29, 30 from the fish tanks 2 and inlet and outlet from the biofiltration 6. This results in significantly reduced capital investment and time, as the piping in the plant with this design is minimized from earlier plant designs, and the modest remaining piping can be installed so that the entire plant can be constructed in only two levels. As a starting point the four pipings are planned above the bottom level, but even if they were placed beneath the bottom level of the tanks—which would be possible, the very simple piping concept of the plant would still result in a significantly reduced capital investment and time.

The principle of the construction of a fish farming plant 1 with an annual production of about 70-100 tons can be outlined as follows:

[0107] There is constructed a central tank 3 with an inner diameter of 18 meter, and two circular tanks 2 surrounding the central tank 3. The bottom is cast in concrete, and the wall to the tank can be constructed in prefabricated concrete elements, which gives the quickest mounting time, or it can be cast in-situ, provided that concrete is used. The height of the tank walls will be able to be varied dependent on which level of water and the type of fish one will operate with. It will be appropriate to construct the innermost walls in a height of about 0.3 meter higher than the desired level of water. Whereas the height of the outermost wall 11 potentially, with advantage, can be constructed significantly higher, so that it can form part of the climate screen 22.

[0108] In the innermost tank 3 of the plant, there will be installed elements for water treatment, e.g. biofiltration 6. In a level above the water level there will be installed a working platform 15 above the central tank 3. This platform will be able to be used for fish sorting 16 and servicing of the fish tanks and can be accessed via crossings 14 which passes over the fish tanks.

[0109] Extra water treatment elements, hereunder particle filtration 13 and CO.sub.2-stripping 5 can be installed outside the circular shaped construction, eventually in an annex, if the outermost circular shaped wall 11 form part of a part of the climate screen 22. Alternatively can an external climate screen 22 be constructed so it screens both the fish tanks and the external water treatment elements.

[0110] If a width of 5 meter of the circular tanks 2 is desired, a wall thickness of 0.2 meter, and an inner diameter of 18 meter of the central tank 3, then the centermost circular wall should be constructed with an inner diameter of 28.4 meter, while the outermost circular wall 11 should be constructed with an inner diameter of 38.8 meter. The width of the fish tanks, the inner diameter of the central tank 3 and the water level can be varied at the construction of the plant taking account of chosen production capacity, fish species and the chosen water treatment technology. The production volume can likewise be additionally increased at the construction of several or wider tanks circular tanks.