Systems, Methods, and Apparatus for Utilizing a Resuspension Tank
AssigneeUniversity of Baltimore
InventorElka T. Porter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, methods and apparatus for Shear TUrbulence Resuspension Mesocosm (STURM) tanks, with high instantaneous bottom shear stress and realistic water column mixing. The tanks can be programmed to produce tidal or episodic sediment resuspension for extended time periods, over muddy sediments with a variety of infaunal benthic organisms. A resuspension paddle produces substantially uniform bottom shear stress across the sediment surface while gently mixing a 1 m deep overlying water column. The STURM tanks can be programmed to different magnitudes, frequencies, and durations of bottom shear stress and thus resuspension with proportional water column turbulence levels over a wide range of mixing settings for benthic-pelagic coupling experiments.
Claims29
A resuspension system, comprising:
- a vessel including a predetermined volume of water;
- and
- a calibrated resuspension mechanism, disposed in the vessel, configured to move in a pattern to produce water column mixing, an energy dissipation rate, and shear stress forces relative to a layer of sediment in a lower portion of the vessel, the layer of sediment having a predetermined depth,
- where, during a calibration process, the resuspension system further comprises a false-bottom plate including a plurality of flush-mounted shear stress sensors, each shear stress sensor having a sensor cable that is disposed underneath the false-bottom plate to reduce flow interference above the shear stress sensors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.