GB2595818A

GB2595818A - Fish farm installation

Info

Publication number: GB2595818A
Application number: GB2112770.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Karls Aiwerioba Omoruyi; Wilhelmsen Nils; Nguyen Tan
Original assignee: Stellarman As
Current assignee: Stellarman As
Priority date: 2019-03-04
Filing date: 2020-03-03
Publication date: 2021-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 2040-03-03
Also published as: NO20190301A1; WO2020180192A1; NO20210748A1; CA3132609A1; NO345914B1; CL2021002332A1; GB202112770D0; NO345298B1; NO20201181A1; GB2595818B; NO346919B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a farming system for farming of marine organisms. The farming system comprises one or more distribution manifold units 6 and an operation and support facility 1 being situated onshore or on a floating or a fixed off-shore installation, platform or vessel. Each distribution manifold 6 comprises at least one feed and utility distribution module connected via riser pipes 8 to one or several biomass containers or net cages 10. Feed and air are transported via main pipelines 2, 4 from the operation and support facility 1 via the manifolds 6 to the biomass container(s) 10. Waste from the biomass container(s) 10 is returned to the operation and support facility 1 via the riser pipes 8, the manifold(s) 6 and the main waste return pipeline 3. Electrical power and signals are distributed from the operation and support facility 1 to the biomass containers 10 via main power and communication cables 5.

Claims

1. Manifold unit (6) configured for a marine organism farm and configured to be arranged on a seabed, comprising: at least one feed branch pipe piece (25) configured to be connected to a main feed transport pipeline (2), at least one waste branch pipe piece (26) configured to be connected to a main waste return pipeline (3), at least one air supply branch pipe piece (27) configured to be connected to a main air supply pipeline (4), at least one feed module (66) comprising: a feed lift and flow-regulating module (30), the feed lift and flow regulating module (30) configured for supplying feed, delivered from the main feed transport pipeline (2) via the respective feed branch pipe piece, to a bio mass container (10) in the marine organism farm via a feed riser in a utility pipe and cable bundle (8), a waste injection module (33) connected to the respective waste branch pipe piece (26) and configured for transferring at least one of: biomass waste, feed waste and/or dead biomass from the biomass container (10) via a waste riser in the utility pipe and cable bundle (8) down to the feed module (66) in the manifold unit (6) in order to transfer the waste back to the main waste return pipeline (3) via the respective waste branch pipe piece, an air inlet flow-regulating module (31 ) connected to the respective air branch pipe piece (27) and configured for distributing air, delivered from the main air supply pipeline (4), to the biomass container (10) via an air supply riser in the utility pipe and cable bundle (8), and at least one manifold extension cable branch and at least one power and communication distribution module (32) configured to be connected to main power and communication cables (5) via said at least one manifold extension cable branch terminating therein, said at least one power and communication distribution module (32) configured for power supplying all power consumers within the manifold unit (6) and all external appurtenant power consumers via designated connectors on the exterior of the manifold frame structure, such as for example appurtenant power consumers of the bio mass container(s) (10) and/or of a mooring arrangement or assembly according to any one of claims 19-21 , and/or other external appurtenant power consumers belonging to other appurtenant assemblies and/or arrangements.

2. Manifold unit (6) according to claim 1 , further comprising: a manifold feed distribution pipe (22) configured for connection to said at least one feed branch pipe piece (25) when the main feed transport pipeline (2) terminates in an inlet feed connector of the manifold unit (6) and continues from an outlet feed connector of the manifold unit (6), a manifold waste extraction pipe (23) configured for connection to said at least one waste branch pipe piece (26) when the main waste return pipeline (3) terminates in an inlet waste connector of the manifold unit (6) and continues from an outlet waste connector of the manifold unit (6), and a manifold air distribution pipe (24) configured for connection to said at least one air supply branch pipe piece (27) when the main air supply pipeline (4) terminates in an inlet air connector of the manifold unit (6) and continues from an outlet air connector of the manifold unit (6).

3. Manifold unit (6) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said at least one feed module (66) further comprises at least one feed buffering module (28) connected to the respective feed branch pipe piece (25), said at least one feed buffering module (28) configured for containing the feed into a feed buffering tank therewithin.

4. Manifold unit (6) according to any one of claims 1 -3, wherein said at least one feed module (66) further comprises a feed flow crossover module (29) interconnecting at least two of said feed buffering modules (28), the feed flow crossover module (29) configured for keeping a feed balance between the feed buffering modules (28).

5. Manifold unit (6) according to any one of claims 1 -4, further comprising a feed train stopper configured for stopping a feed portion being pre-programmed to offload in the manifold unit (6) when the feed portion enters the manifold unit (6).

6. Manifold unit (6) according to any one of claims 1 -5, further comprising a control module configured for control of all functions of the manifold unit (6) and optionally of any appurtenant external component, assembly and/or arrangement.

7. Manifold unit (6) according to any one of claims 1 -6, further comprising external installation elements configured for retrieving and/or reinstalling the feed module (66).

8. Manifold unit (6) according to any one of claims 1 -7, further comprising a by pass pipeline configured for continuous flow downstream of the manifold unit (6), after a designated feed portion has entered the specific manifold unit (6), and/or configured for securing continuous transportation and by-pass of other feed trains that are not designated for this specific manifold unit 6, but are assigned for other manifolds 6 further on.

9. Utility termination unit (9) configured for a biomass container (10), comprising: a locking device (45) configured for locking a top or upper side of the utility termination unit (9) to a bottom or lower side (36) of the biomass container (10), a bottom-side connection device (46) comprising electrical and communication connectors, feed-line connector(s), waste-line connector(s) and air-line connector(s), the bottom-side connection device (46) configured for connection to a utility pipe and cable bundle (8) distributing electrical power, signals, feed and air, a top-side connection device (40) comprising electrical and communication connectors, feed-line connector(s), waste-line connector(s) and air-line connector(s), the top-side connection device (40) configured for supplying electrical power, signals, feed and air to the biomass container (10), a power distribution cabling (41 ), a communication and control distribution cabling (42), a feedline extension pipe (43) and an air supply extension pipe (44) interconnecting the bottom-side connection device (46) and the top-side connection device (40), a waste aggregation element (47) configured for aggregating at least one from the group consisting of: excess feed, biomass waste and/or dead biomass, and a waste flow regulating module (49) configured for transferring the aggregated waste to a manifold unit (6) according to any one of claims 1 -8, via the bottom-side connection device (46) and a waste riser in the utility pipe and cable bundle (8).

10. Utility termination unit (9) according to claim 9, further comprising a waste handling module (48) configured for handling the accumulated waste, the waste handling module (48) comprising mechanical contraption unit with or without a vibrating function with or without a vortex generator for compacting the accumulated waste within the waste aggregation element (47).

11. Utility termination unit (9) according to claim 9 or claim 10, further comprising a rotation support device (39) configured for keeping the utility pipe and cable bundle (8) securely locked and restricted from rotating, whilst the biomass container or net cage (10) may rotate at predefined angle, the rotation support device (39) thereby providing torsion stress protection to the utility pipe and cable bundle (8).

12. Utility termination unit (9) according to any one of claims 9-11 , wherein the waste aggregation element (47) is formed as a funnel or a cone, wherein the lower end of the waste aggregation element (47) ends in a connector at the waste flow regulating module (49) or waste handling module (48), and the top end of the waste aggregation element (47) is configured to be connected to a lower end of a netting of the biomass container or net cage (10).

13. Marine organism farming system configured for farming of biomass, comprising: an operation and support facility (1 ), main pipelines (2, 3, 4), main power and communication cables (5), at least one manifold unit (6) according to any one of claims 1 -8, said at least one manifold unit (6) being arranged on a seabed, at least one biomass container arrangement (9, 10), each biomass container arrangement (9, 10) comprising a utility termination unit (9) according to any one of claims 9-12, and at least one utility pipe and cable bundle (8) wherein the operation and support facility (1 ) is connected to said at least one manifold unit (6) via the main pipelines (2, 3, 4), wherein each of said at least one manifold unit (6) is connected to said at least one biomass container arrangement (9, 10) via the respective utility pipe and cable bundle (8), said at least one manifold unit (6) configured for distributing feed, air, power supply and signals to predetermined biomass container arrangement(s) (9, 10) and configured for receiving waste from the predetermined biomass container arrangement(s) (9, 10), wherein the main pipelines (2, 3, 4) comprise: a main feed transport pipeline (2) configured for transportation, via the manifold unit(s) (6), of biomass feed to each biomass container (10); a main waste return pipeline (3) configured for returning, via the manifold unit(s) (6), at least one of: biomass waste, feed waste and/or dead bio mass from each biomass container (10) back to the operation and support facility (1 ) for analysis, treatment and/or recycling; and a main air supply pipeline (4) configured for distributing air from the operation and support facility (1 ) to each biomass container (10) via the manifold unit(s) (6), wherein the main power and communication cables (5) are configured for distributing electrical power and signals from the operation and support facility (1 ) to each power consumer in the farming system, and for transmitting at least one signal from the group consisting of: communication, data, command, control and/or monitoring signals, from the operation and support facility (1 ) to each operational component in the farming system and vice versa.

14. Marine organism farming system according to claim 13, wherein each of said at least one biomass container arrangement (9, 10) further comprises a biomass container (10).

15. Marine organism farming system according to claim 14, further comprising for each biomass container (10) at least one air supply element (11 ) configured for keeping air therewithin and/or thereunder, the air being needed for the farmed bio mass.

16. Marine organism farming system according to any one of claims 13-15, wherein the operation and support facility (1 ) is located onshore or on a floating or a fixed offshore installation, platform or vessel.

17. Marine organism farming system according to any one of claims 13-16, wherein said at least one biomass container (10) is submersible, and the farming system further comprises a mooring arrangement or assembly according to any one of claims 19-21 , the mooring arrangement or assembly being configured for: lowering said at least one submersible biomass container (10) to a certain position under the sea level; raising said at least one biomass container (10) up to the sea surface; and/or holding said at least one biomass container (10) in place, several meters under the sea level.

18. Marine organism farming system according to any one of claims 13-17, wherein the feed is transported in one of: a capsule, an envelope, a biodegradable hose or capsule and/or between two transport plugs.

19. Mooring assembly configured for i) lowering down to a predetermined subsea position, ii) raising up to a predetermined subsea position or to the sea surface and/or iii) securing and holding in place, several meters under the sea level, at least one biomass container (10), the mooring assembly comprising for each biomass container (10): at least one mooring foundation (14, 14â , 14â ) arranged on a seabed, a winch (15) located on a mooring foundation (14â ), a mooring line (12), and a heave arrestor arrangement (13) arranged on a mooring foundation (14), wherein one end of the mooring line (12) is configured to be connected to the biomass container (10), and the other end of the mooring line (12) is configured to be connected to the winch (15) via the heave arrestor arrangement (13), wherein the winch end of the mooring line (12) and a free end of a winch (15) wire are supplied with suitable wire locking devices (52) configured for firmly locking these two ends together, and wherein the mooring assembly further comprises an emergency wire having, on one end, an emergency wire lock device (53) configured for firmly connecting or locking to the wire locking device (52) on the winch end of the mooring line (12), where the other end of the emergency wire is firmly connected to a mooring lock shackle (54) arranged on a mooring foundation (14, 14â , 14â ).

20. Mooring assembly according to claim 19, wherein the heave arrestor arrangement (13) comprises a reel device (50) for the mooring line (12) and a damper module (51 ) configured for arresting or dampening the heave of the biomass container (10).

21. Mooring assembly according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the mooring lock shackle (54) is arranged on a separate mooring foundation (14â ) or on the winchâ s (15) mooring foundation (14â ).