Aquaculture system

• US 7,029,577 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2002
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cumminscorp Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Cumminscorp Ltd.
• Inventors: Cummins, Ian Geoffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): PRINCE JR, FREDDIE GARY
• Application Number:
  US10/478,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20040149233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 119/227, 119/226, 119/211, 119224-228, 119/202, 119/203, 119/215, 119/259, 210/169, 210/198.1, 210/206, 210/416.1, 210/416.2, 210/760, 210/748, 210/905
• US Class Current: 210/167.31
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/00 Receptacles for live fish, e.g. aquaria keepnets or other containers for keeping captured fish A01K97/20; Terraria
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/04 Arrangements for treating water specially adapted to receptacles for live fish
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/042 Introducing gases into the water, e.g. aerators, air pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/045 Filters for aquaria
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 33/11 arranged for outward flow filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 33/48 by flushing, e.g. counter-current air-bumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/81 Aquaculture, e.g. of fish
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 using solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/905 Protein

Abstract

A self-contained aquaculture system comprising a modular building defining a first main chamber for containing fish or marine invertebrates, a second swirl chamber comprising a primary filter communicating with the main chamber for removing solids from the main chamber, a drum filter for receiving and filtering water from the swirl chamber, a third biological filter chamber beneath the drum filter for receiving water therefrom and a biological filter tank. Water is pumped from the chamber. The building defines an enclosed space over the chambers, the temperature of which is controlled by an air conditioning unit. A foam fractionator, ultraviolet unit and ozone generator are used for treating the water in the main chamber.

Claims

1. A self-contained aquaculture system comprising a modular building, said building having a base section, a main water chamber for containing fish or marine invertebrates formed within said base section, said base section having side walls, at least a portion of one of said side walls having an inner side and an outer side, said inner side comprising portion of a side wall of said main chamber, said building further having a top section covering at least said main chamber and defining an enclosed space above said main chamber, water treatment means within at least said base section of said building and adjacent said main chamber for treating water from said main chamber, means for circulating water for flow from said main chamber through said water treatment means and back to said main chamber, and means for controlling the air temperature within said enclosed space.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said top section includes a roof and side walls, said side walls of said top section being aligned with the side walls of said base section.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base section and said main chamber are moulded from a mouldable material and wherein said main chamber is integrally moulded with at least part of said base section.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said water treatment means includes a primary filter and a secondary filter for filtering solids from water in said main chamber.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said primary filter comprising a second chamber which is located adjacent to said main chamber, first communicating means for connecting the base of the main chamber to the second chamber whereby solids gathering in the base of the main chamber may pass into the second chamber and second communicating means connecting the main chamber to the second chamber whereby water and solids may flow from the top level of water in the main chamber into the second chamber.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said second communication means comprises a spillway whereby water in said main chamber above the level of the spillway may flow into said second chamber.

7. A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said secondary filter comprises a drum filter having a screen or mesh filtering material, rotatable rollers externally of said drum filter for supporting said drum filter for rotation and means for conveying water from the primary filter to the interior of said drum filter for passage through said screen or mesh material.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said drum filter has means adapted to cooperate with said water conveyed from said primary filter to effect rotation of said drum filter.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said means adapted to cooperate with said water comprise a plurality of circumferentially spaced members and wherein said water conveying means has a water outlet or outlets adjacent said members.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said circumferentially spaced members comprise a plurality of circumferentially spaced and longitudinally extending ribs supporting said filter screen or mesh material and extending between a pair of end circular or annular members, said end members being supported on said rollers.

11. A system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said means for conveying water from the primary filter to the drum filter comprises a feed duct extending from said primary filter longitudinally within said drum filter, said feed duct including a generally radially extending duct member having a said water outlet.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said feed duct is at a level in said second chamber to maintain the water level therein beneath the water level in said main chamber.

13. A system as claimed in claim 7 and including means for cleaning said filter screen or mesh material, said cleaning means comprising means above said drum filter for spraying water against said screen or mesh material and/or for applying pressurized air against the screen or mesh material and there being means internally of said drum filter for catching and collecting materials dislodged from the filter screen or mesh material and conveying said materials to waste.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said means for catching said dislodged materials comprises a hopper internally of said drum filter, said hopper communicating with a waste line.

15. A system as claimed in claim 7 and including a third chamber in said base section and wherein said drum filter is supported over said third chamber such that water passing through said drum filter collects therein, said third chamber including biological filter media and defining a first biological filter.

16. A system as claimed in claim 15 and including a further biological filter, said further biological filter comprising a fourth chamber carrying biological filter media, means for conveying water from said third chamber to said fourth chamber and means for conveying water from said fourth chamber back to said main chamber.

17. A system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said means for conveying water from said third chamber to said fourth chamber includes means at the upper end of said fourth chamber for spraying said water over said biological filter media and there being provided means for supplying air to said fourth chamber for flow through said biological filter media therein in a direction against water flow through said biological filter media.

18. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said water treatment means includes at least one foam fractionator for treatment of water in said main chamber, said foam fractionator comprising a chamber, an inlet to said foam fractionator chamber communicating with said main chamber for receiving water therefrom, a return line for returning water from said foam fractionator chamber to said main chamber, and means for supplying air to a lower portion of said foam fractionator chamber for bubbling through water therein.

19. A system according to claim 18 and including a funnel member in said foam fractionator chamber at or adjacent the upper level of water in the foam fractionator chamber for collecting bubbles or foam at the surface of the level of water, said funnel member being connected to waste and means for supplying air to said return line to assist in water flow back to the main chamber and circulation of water in the main chamber.

20. A system as claimed in claim 19 and including an ultraviolet treatment chamber connected to said main chamber and said foam fractionator inlet whereby water from the main chamber is subject to exposure to ultraviolet light.

21. A system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said ultraviolet treatment chamber is located in or adjacent said side wall of said main chamber and includes an ultraviolet light source, said ultraviolet treatment chamber including an inlet communicating with said main chamber and an outlet communicating with said inlet of said foam fractionator chamber.

22. A system as claimed in claim 18 and including an ozone reactor for supplying ozone to water in said foam fractionator chamber for bubbling through water in said foam fractionator chamber.

23. A system as claimed in claim 17 wherein air for supply to said fourth chamber of said further biological filter chamber is provided by one or more air pumps which pump air from within said building at the internal building temperature as determined by said air temperature controlling means to thereby control the temperature of water in said biological filter chamber and thereby in said main chamber.

24. A system as claimed in claim 18 wherein air for supply to said foam fractionator is provided by one or more air pumps which pump air from within said building at the internal building temperature as determined by said air temperature controlling means to thereby control the temperature of water in said foam fractionator and thereby in said main chamber.

25. A system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said fourth chamber of said further biological filter is defined by a tank.

26. A system as claimed in claim 25 wherein said tank is supported above said main chamber and wherein water conveyed from said fourth chamber back to said main chamber flows under the influence of gravity back into the main chamber.

27. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for controlling the temperature in said enclosed spaced comprises air conditioning means.

28. A self-contained aquaculture system comprising a modular building, said building having a base section, a main water chamber for containing fish or marine invertebrates formed within said base section, a second swirl chamber comprising a primary filter formed in said base section adjacent said main water chamber, means communicating said main chamber with said second chamber for removing solids from water in said main chamber, fine filtering means comprising a secondary filter for receiving water and filtering water from said second chamber, a third biological filter chamber formed within said base section adjacent said second chamber for receiving water from said fine filtering means, said building module further including a top section or sections covering said main water chamber, and said second and third chambers and defining an enclosed space or spaces over said chambers, means for circulating water for flow from said main chamber through said second chamber, fine filtering means and said third chamber back to said main chamber, and means for controlling the air temperature within said enclosed space or spaces.

29. A system as claimed in claim 28 wherein the level of water in said third chamber is maintained lower than the level of water in said second chamber and the level of water in said second chamber is maintained lower than the level of water in said main chamber whereby water flows from said main chamber to said third chamber under the influence of gravity.

30. A system as claimed in claim 28 and including a further biological filter chamber, said further biological filter chamber being defined by a biological filter tank, said tank being arranged adjacent to the main chamber or above the main chamber.

31. A system as claimed in claim 28 wherein said main chamber includes a side wall and wherein one or more foam fractionators are provided in or adjacent said side wall, the or each said foam fractionator including an inlet communicating with said main chamber for receiving water from said main chamber and an outlet communicating with said main chamber for return of water to said main chamber.

32. A system as claimed in claim 28 wherein said main chamber is of elongated configuration and a central divider is provided therein such that flow circulates around the central divider and wherein said primary and secondary filters are provided at one or both ends of said main chamber.

33. A system as claimed in claim 32 wherein one or more foam fractionators for treatment of water in said main chamber are arranged in said central divider, the or each said foam fractionator having an inlet and outlet communicating with said main chamber.

34. A system as claimed in claim 28 wherein said base section is moulded from concrete or other mouldable material and wherein said chambers are formed integrally in said base section.

35. A system as claimed in claim 30 wherein said biological filter tank is formed as a separate unit moulded from concrete or other mouldable material.

36. A system as claimed in claim 35 wherein said top section or sections include said biological filter tank supported above said main chamber and one or more roof and wall sections which cooperate with said biological filter tank to define enclosed spaces over said main chamber, and second and third chambers.

37. A system as claimed in claim 30 wherein said biological filter tank is formed as a separate unit which extends to the full height of said modular building and wherein said top section includes one or more roof or wall sections defining an enclosed space over said main, second and third chambers.

38. A system as claimed in claim 28 wherein said chambers are moulded as separate units, said units being assembled by being abutted against each other to form said base section and wherein said top section comprises a roof and wall section which covers and encloses said assembled chambers.

39. A system as claimed in claim 30 wherein one or more biological filter tanks are provided to one or both sides of the main chamber and second and third chambers, said main chamber, second and third chambers being covered and enclosed by a top section comprising a roof and wall section and wherein said biological filter tank or tanks are covered with separate roofs or lids.

40. A system as claimed in claim 28 wherein said top section or sections of said modular building has a flat roof whereby modular buildings may be stacked one above the other to form a multi-level building.

41. A system as claimed in claim 28 wherein said fine filtering means comprises a drum filter supported externally for rotation and wherein said second chamber includes an outlet extending into the interior of said drum filter which maintains the level of water in said second chamber lower than the level of water in said main chamber.

42. A system as claimed in claim 41 and including a further biological filter chamber, pump means for pumping water from said third chamber to said further biological filter chamber and for maintaining the level of water in said third chamber below the level in said second chamber, and means for conveying water in said further filter chamber back to the main chamber.

43. A self-contained aquaculture system comprising a portable modular building, said building having a base section, a main water chamber for containing fish or marine invertebrates, said main water chamber being moulded integrally with at least part of said base section, said building further having a top section covering at least said main chamber and defining an enclosed space above said main chamber, water treatment apparatus within at least said base section of said building and adjacent said main chamber for treating water from said main chamber, means for circulating water for flow from said main chamber through said water treatment apparatus and back to said main chamber, and means for controlling the air temperature of water within said main chamber.

44. A self-contained aquaculture system as claimed in claim 43 wherein said base section includes a integrally moulded chamber comprising a swirl chamber adjacent said main chamber and communicating with said main chamber for receiving water therefrom, said swirl chamber comprising said water treatment apparatus.

45. A self-contained aquaculture system as claimed in claim 44 wherein said water treatment apparatus includes a rotatable drum filter having a screen or mesh filtering material and means for conveying water from said main chamber to said drum filter.

46. A self-contained aquaculture system as claimed in claim 44 wherein said base section includes an integrally moulded biological filter chamber for containing a biological filter media, and means for supporting said drum filter above said biological filter chamber whereby said biological filter chamber receives filtered water from said drum filter.

47. A self-contained aquaculture system as claimed in claim 46 wherein said water treatment apparatus includes a further moulded biological filter chamber for containing a biological filter media, means for conveying water from the first biological filter chamber to said further biological filter chamber and means for returning water from said further biological chamber to said main chamber.

48. A self-contained aquaculture system as claimed in claim 46 wherein said part of said base section containing said main water chamber is moulded as a module separate from said swirl chamber and biological filter chamber.