Aquaculture system
First Claim
1. An aquaculture system for growing aquatic animals comprising:
- a floating tank having a rigid-wall and being positioned in a body of water; and
a pump assembly having an inlet coupled to a pump well, the pump well having an outlet coupled to the tank, the inlet being provided in the body of water external to the tank, the pump assembly drawing water in through the inlet, through the pump well and discharging the water via the outlet into the tank to displace and discharge a volume of water from the tank, the inlet being movable and selectively positioned at a desired location and depth in the body of water external to the tank, such that water that is free of surface contaminants and that is at a selected temperature is provided to the tank, the rate of flow of water to the tank being variable via a valve coupled to the pump well.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An aquaculture system for growing aquatic animals such as fish and crustaceans is shown and described. A rigid-walled floating tank is positioned in a body of water, a volume of water being provided to the tank via a floating pump assembly that is positioned in the body of water external to the tank. An inlet of the pump assembly is movable and may be positioned in a desired location and depth of the body of water, such that clean water that is free of surface contaminants and that is at a selected temperature is provided to the tank. The introduction of new water to the tank displaces and discharges a volume of water from the tank, thereby renewing the oxygen source in the tank and removing dissolved waste products such as ammonia. Additional oxygen may be injected into the water at different locations via oxygen diffusers. The tank is designed to facilitate the collection of solid wastes in a bottom region of the tank, the solid waste being evacuated from the tank to be discharged from the system or treated, as desired. Multiple tanks are coupled together adjacent a central service platform which supports the various components of the aquaculture system, such that the system is independent of land and may be positioned at any desired location.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An aquaculture system for growing aquatic animals comprising:
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a floating tank having a rigid-wall and being positioned in a body of water; and a pump assembly having an inlet coupled to a pump well, the pump well having an outlet coupled to the tank, the inlet being provided in the body of water external to the tank, the pump assembly drawing water in through the inlet, through the pump well and discharging the water via the outlet into the tank to displace and discharge a volume of water from the tank, the inlet being movable and selectively positioned at a desired location and depth in the body of water external to the tank, such that water that is free of surface contaminants and that is at a selected temperature is provided to the tank, the rate of flow of water to the tank being variable via a valve coupled to the pump well. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An aquaculture system for growing aquatic animals comprising:
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a rigid-walled floating tank provided in a body of water; a pump assembly having an inlet coupled to a pump well and an outlet, the inlet being provided in a body of water external to the tank, the pump assembly drawing water in through the inlet, through the pump well and discharging the water via the outlet into the tank to displace and discharge a volume of water from the tank, wherein the inlet is movable and selectively positioned at a desired location and depth in the body of water external to the tank such that water that is free of surface contaminants and that is at a selected temperature is provided to the tank; apparatus for distributing feed to a plurality of aquatic animals positioned in the tank; and a waste collection system for removing solid waste from the tank. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. An aquaculture system for growing aquatic animals comprising:
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a floating tank having a rigid-wall and being positionable in a body of water; and a pump assembly having an inlet coupled to a pump well and an outlet, the pump assembly being adapted to float in the body of water, the inlet being provided in the body of water external to the tank when the pump assembly is placed in the body of water, the pump assembly being adapted to draw water in through the inlet, through the pump well and discharge the water via the outlet into the tank at a variable, selected flow rate to displace and discharge the volume of water from the tank when the tank and pump assembly are positioned in the body of water, the inlet being movable and selectively positioned at a desired location and depth in the body of water external to the tank, such that water that is free of surface contaminants and that is at a selected temperature is provided to the tank. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method for growing aquatic animals comprising the steps of:
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pumping a volume of water from a selected location and depth in a body of water external to a floating tank positioned in the body of water, into the tank to displace and discharge a volume of water from the tank, the tank containing a plurality of aquatic animals; measuring the quantity of oxygen and dissolved wastes in the water in the tank; comparing the measured quantity of oxygen and dissolved wastes with selected parameters; and adjusting the rate of flow of water from the body of water external to the tank into the tank as required if the measured quantities of oxygen and dissolved wastes differ from the selected parameters. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification