Method and apparatus for oxygenating water
OwnerCharles E. Hicksinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for oxygenating water in an aquaculture system without adding nitrogen or other possibly harmful gases. A columnar housing floats in the aquaculture pond on a float ring with a submersible pump immersed in the pond. The pump draws in water and pumps it to the top of an oxygenation chamber which is packed with a surface expansion medium. The oxygenation chamber is filled with oxygen which is transferred to the water falling through the chamber. The oxygenated water is returned to the pond through outlet ports at the bottom of the oxygenation chamber. A cover on the column can be removed at times to allow infiltration of air for aeration of the water.
Claims16
Apparatus for oxygenating water contained in a body of water, said apparatus comprising:
- a housing presenting a columnar oxygenation chamber having an elevated inlet for receiving water from said body;
- means for supporting the housing with the inlet disposed in communication with the body of water to receive water therefrom;
- means for supplying oxygen rich gas to said oxygenation chamber for transfer of oxygen to the water which falls through the oxygenation chamber from the inlet thereof;
- a surface expansion medium in said oxygenation chamber for increasing the surface area of the water exposed to the oxygen rich gas therein and thereby aiding in the oxygenation of the water flowing therethrough;
- a water outlet in a lower end portion of said oxygenation chamber for returning the oxygenated water to the body of water;
- a pump chamber in said housing separated from the oxygenation chamber;
- a pump in said pump chamber having an intake side communicating with said body of water and a discharge side;
- a substantially vertical conduit communicating with the discharge side of said pump, said conduit having an outlet end in said oxygenation chamber to provide said inlet to the oxygenation chamber;
- a screen on said outlet end of said conduit for preventing said surface expansion material from entering the conduit;
- and,
- a lower support at the bottom of said oxygenating chamber having openings therethrough allowing the passage of water but preventing the passage of said surface expansion medium therethrough.
Oxygenation apparatus for increasing the dissolved oxygen in a body of water containing cultivated aquatic organisms, said apparatus comprising:
- a columnar housing having upper and lower portions respectively presenting an air tight oxygenation chamber and a pump chamber, said housing being portable and being adapted for positioning in the body of water with said oxygenation chamber extending generally vertically above the water level;
- pump means in said pump chamber having an intake side for receiving water from the body of water and a discharge side;
- a discharge conduit for the pump having a lower end communicating with said discharge side of the pump to receive water therefrom, said conduit extending within the oxygenating chamber and having an outlet opening thereinto to deliver the water to the oxygenation chamber at an elevated position;
- means for supplying oxygen to said oxygenation chamber for transfer to the water which falls from said outlet of the conduit through said oxygenation chamber;
- a surface expansion medium in said oxygenation chamber for increasing the surface area of the water exposed to the oxygen therein and thereby aiding in the oxygenation of the water flowing therethrough;
- a water outlet in said oxygenation chamber for directing the oxygenation water back into the body of water;
- a screen on the outlet of said discharge conduit for preventing the surface expansion medium from entering the conduit;
- and
- a lower support at the bottom of said oxygenating chamber having openings therethrough allowing the passage of water but preventing the passage of said surface expansion medium therethrough.
A method of increasing the amount of oxygen dissolved in a body of water containing cultivated aquatic organisms, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a closed column filled with an oxygen rich gas, said column having upper and lower portions presenting an air tight oxygenating chamber and a pump chamber said housing being adapted for positioning in a body of water with said oxygenating chamber extending generally vertically above the water level;
- providing in said column a surface expansion medium for increasing the surface area of the water exposed to the oxygen therein;
- directing water from the body of water to the top of the column by pump means having an intake side for receiving water from the body of water with a discharge side having a conduit extending therefrom and into and through the oxygenating chamber to the top of the column with a screen at the outlet end of said conduit to permit the water to fall through the column and dissolve the oxygen therein;
- said oxygenating chamber having a lower support at the bottom thereof, said lower support at the bottom thereof, said lower support having openings therethrough allowing the passage of water but preventing the passage of said surface expansion medium therethrough and,
- returning the oxygenated water to the body of the water by a water outlet in said oxygenating chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.