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US 4,368,691 AGranted
Flowing bed method and apparatus for culturing aquatic organisms
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorDavid E. Brune
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AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorDavid E. Brune
Estimating the term…
A flow of loose solid particles (22, 22a, 22b) accumulates materials which are to be removed from a region (21, 22a, 21b) in which aquatic organisms are confined within a liquid medium (13, 13a, 13b). The particle flow may form a bed at the bottom of the organism containing region that receives waste materials and may also be utilized to scour the walls (16) of the culture vessel (11, 11a, 11b). The particle flow, which may be gravitationally induced, travels down an inclined inner surface (18, 18a, 102) of the culture vessel and out through a submerged outlet (51, 51a, 51b) while blocking escape of the organisms through the outlet. The particles are preferably cleaned and recirculated through the flow. While other usages are possible, the system is particularly adapted to the cultivation of herbivore zooplankton, such as brine shrimp for example, for protein production. High density biomasses of such organisms may be maintained without adverse effects heretofore encountered as a result of waste accumulation.
In a method of culturing aquatic organisms which are confined to a predetermined region in a liquid medium and in which a volume of loose solid particles is provided at a boundary of said being in position to accumulate matter which is to be removed from said region, the steps comprising:
In a method of culturing aquatic organisms which are confined to a predetermined region in a liquid medium and in which a volume of loose solid particles is provided at a boundary of said region, said volume of loose particles being in position to accumulate matter which is to be removed from said region, the steps comprising:
In a method of culturing aquatic organisms which are confined to a predetermined region in a liquid medium and in which a volume of loose solid particles is provided at a boundary of said region, said volume of loose particles being in position to accumulate matter which is to be removed from said region, and wherein a flow of said liquid medium is delivered to said region, the step comprising:
In aquicultural apparatus having a vessel with internal surfaces defining a region in which aquatic organisms are cultured within a liquid medium, and wherein a volume of loose solid particles is situated on an internal surface in said vessel in position to accumulate material which is to be removed from said region, the improvement comprising:
In aquicultural apparatus having a vessel with internal surfaces defining a region in which aquatic organisms are cultured within a liquid medium, and wherein a volume of loose solid particles is situated on an internal surface in said vessel in position to accumulate material which is to be removed from said region, the improvement comprising:
In aquicultural apparatus having a vessel with internal surfaces defining a region in which aquatic organisms are cultured within a liquid medium, and wherein a volume of loose solid particles is situated on an internal surface in said vessel in position to accumulate material which is to be removed from said region, the improvement comprising:
Aquicultural apparatus comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.