WO2022213224A1

WO2022213224A1 - System and process for a transportable clinical plant for the treatment and disinfection of fish, with process water recirculation

Info

Publication number: WO2022213224A1
Application number: PCT/CL2021/050043
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans Jorg KOSSMANN PERL
Original assignee: Kossmann Perl Hans Jorg
Priority date: 2021-04-07
Filing date: 2021-05-19
Publication date: 2022-10-13
Also published as: CL2021000861A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and process for a transportable clinical plant for fish disinfection treatment, which separates solids and treats, purifies and recirculates all the process water, without harming the fish or the environment, which consists of tanks, equipment and lines that are fluid pipelines, which intercommunicate and connect the elements of the system in a perfectly orderly manner, in accordance with a system sequence, wherein a fish disinfection treatment process involving sequential steps is carried out in a consistent manner, allowing solid particles to be separated and evacuated and the water used in the process to be treated, purified and returned to the original source, under the same original conditions and free of any contamination.

Description

TRANSPORTABLE CLINICAL PLANT SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR THE TREATMENT AND DISINFECTION OF FISH, WITH PROCESS WATER RECIRCULATION

The invention is aimed at the fish farming industry with the aim of providing a system and a process that allows the disinfection of farmed fish to be carried out in a controlled manner, eliminating parasites, ectoparasites, and lice.

The system is made up of interconnected tanks and ducts, where a process with sequential steps is consistently carried out, which allows separating and evacuating solid particles, treating, purifying and returning the water used in the process to the source of origin, in the same conditions. original and contamination free.

The treatment of parasites in fish and particularly the treatment of sea lice is a subject that is necessarily known in the fish farming industry, where the use of drugs is one of the most widely used strategies.

There are methods and systems to carry out the safe extraction of parasites without harming the fish, some applicable directly in the culture environment and others through the transport of fish with the support of treatment ponds, both applied in such a way that the disinfection is safe and not means damage or affectation in the health of farmed fish.

The present invention directs its field of application to the fish farming industry and particularly to the salmon farming industry, providing a system and a process for the disinfection treatment of fish, which separates solids, which treats, purifies and recirculates all the process water, and is configured as a transportable clinical plant. STATE OF THE ART

In the state of the art it is possible to find a series of solutions, systems and methods aimed at disinfecting, treating or eliminating parasites and lice, among others, in ponds or pools for fish farming. In this sense, there are patent documents such as the following:

Patent ES 2639058, discloses a "System for the treatment of lice, and corresponding method for the treatment of lice" and its summary indicates: "System of treatment of lice for marine organisms, such as fish, in which the system is a system closed comprising: an inlet for the fish to be treated, a first separator for separating the fish from the water, and which is arranged after the inlet, a tube for transporting the fish, in which at least part of the tube constitutes a liquid bath for the fish and is arranged to receive a treatment liquid, a second separator for separating the fish and the treatment liquid, an outlet for discharging the treated fish, and which is arranged after the second separator, and a pump for circulation for the circulation of the treatment liquid in the closed system, characterized in that the part of the pipe that constitutes the liquid bath is configured in a U-shape so that a bath of l liquid with respective liquid surfaces being placed above a lower part of the liquid bath and in which the tube, before the second separator, is inclined at an angle and directed upwards from the liquid bath, whereby the fish is arranged to be transported in the pipeline due to the liquid flow of the treatment liquid supplied by the circulating pump and the flow of fish through the inlet".

The cited document presents a solution to a similar technical problem but the system and the associated method totally differ from the invention.

Patent CN 1237869, corresponds to a: "Factory style fish farming water circulation water treatment method". "The invention relates to a method of treating industrial fish farming water from circulating water in seawater, comprising: seawater coming out of a fish pond is filtered, oxygen is added and sterilized; the treated seawater is sent to the fish pond for circulating use.The present invention is characterized in that residual bait and excrement from the seawater leaving the fish pond they are removed through a fully automatic pipeline filter; the seat water enters a froth separation pond through a circulating pump, and some of the suspended matter and proteins are removed; then the seat water enters a biological cleaning pond to remove ammoniacal nitrogen; the temperature of the water and the pH value of the purified sea water are regulated; the seawater is sterilized by ultraviolet rays, and then enters an automatic water quality monitoring system after entering a high-efficiency dissolved oxygen device to add the oxygen; after detection, the seawater re-enters the pond to complete a circulation. The present invention has the advantages of reasonable process technology, convenient operation and management, and good quality of seawater after treatment. The present invention has good conditions that are suitable for the growth of farmed fish, can ensure the high and stable yield of fish, and realize the purposes of water saving, energy saving and marine environment protection."

Considering a similar approach, the Chilean patent CL 57666, refers to a "water treatment and recirculation system to restore water quality to optimal levels in fish farming cages in fresh or salt water provides a water treatment and recirculation system fresh or saltwater in an aquaculture farming system whose configuration allows water quality to be restored to optimal levels, without having to configure large, complex systems with a large number of equipment water treatment and recirculation system to restore water quality at optimum levels in a fish farming system oriented mainly to the aquaculture industry in both fresh and salt water and/or collection centers, which includes means to promote water flows at the required pressures, a coarse mechanical filter with an app 100 mesh mieras, whose focus is to capture the coarse particulate, means of oxygen production, means of electricity generation autonomous tricity, and means of control of variables by means of a foot, which manages variables such as pressure, oxygen and co2 level, flows, pH, among others, which includes: means for ultra-filtering and removing particles of up to 0.02 microns, in order to remove macro particles of organic material, disinfect bacteria and viruses by mechanical removal and elimination of harmful contaminants, such as ammonia; means for degassing to remove the co2 produced, by means of an exchanger multi-tubular with membranes of hydrophobic material and micro-perforations that draws CO2 into an extraction gas under atmospheric or vacuum conditions; and means to oxygenate the water through a multi-tubular exchanger with membranes of hydrophobic material and micro-perforations that injects 02 into the water from a gas under atmospheric conditions.

The cited solutions are specifically oriented towards the treatment of water for fish farming, which differs from the invention in that it does not refer to the disinfection of the farmed species.

Patent CL 201602457 with registration No. 60035 refers to an: "installation for removing sea lice from farmed fish, treatment section and method treatment section of an installation for removing sea lice from fish comprising a fish slider with a negative slope throughout the slide length thereof; and a plurality of spray nozzles for bathing the fish in the fish slide as they slide from the entrance to the exit of said fish slide; installation and method".

Another similar patent is CL 201203502, registration No. 51694, which refers to a: "fish lice treatment system, comprising an entrance channel for the fish, a first separator, a pipe to transport the fish, a second separator, an outlet channel to discharge the treated fish, a circulation pump, where the system has a u-shaped pipe which constitutes the liquid bath, system method and method for the treatment of lice for marine organisms, such as fish, where the system is a closed system with simple and continuous operation and configuration, comprising: an input channel for the fish to be treated, a first separator to separate the fish from the water, which is placed after the input channel , a pipe for transporting the fish, in which at least one part of the pipe forms or constitutes a liquid bath for the fish, which is arranged to receive the treatment liquid, a second is stopper to separate the fish from the treatment liquid, an outlet channel for the discharge of the treated fish, which is placed after the second separator, and a circulation pump for the circulation of the treatment liquid in the closed system the part of the pipe that forms the liquid bath has a u-shape in such a way that the liquid bath with its respective liquid surfaces is formed". The two cited patents refer to systems with methods for the treatment of lice that differ in both ways as a system solution and as a method solution.

TECHNIQUE PROBLEM

The fish farming industry currently has systems, methods and facilities designed to carry out disinfection tasks for farmed fish, where the treatment of lice in fish is one of the most recurrent processes, but processes do not consider the treatment of solid particles .

In this sense, the invention is aimed at providing the fish farming industry with a system and an associated process for the treatment and disinfection of fish, where said system incorporates elements to separate solids, treat, purify and recirculate all the process water, without damaging the farmed fish or the environment, which is configured as a static or transportable clinical plant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Fig. 1 shows a scheme of the system of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The system is made up of tanks, equipment and lines that are fluid conduction ducts, which intercommunicate and connect the elements of the system in a perfectly ordered manner, according to a system sequence where a process with sequential steps is consistently carried out for the treatment of fish disinfection, which allows separating and evacuating solid particles, treating, purifying and returning the water used in the process to the source of origin, in the same original conditions and free of any contamination.

Fig. 1 shows a scheme of the system of the invention that comprises a water source (FA) (1) from which the system water is extracted by means of a line (Ll) that incorporates a delivery pump (Bl), a valve and flowmeter (Fl) that lead controlled water to a medium treatment (2) and purification of water, such as reverse osmosis; incorporates a drain means (2D) connected by a rejection line (LR1); from said treatment means (2) a continuity line (L2) and two treated water rejection lines (LR1) and (LR2) come out; the continuity line (L2) incorporates a booster pump (B2), a valve and a flowmeter (F2) and leads the treated water to a regulating tank (3) for technical water, which regulates temperature and pH; From said tank (3) a regulated line (L3) comes out that incorporates a therapeutic medium (3T), a booster pump (B3), a valve and a flowmeter (F3) and leads the treated water to a degassing medium (4) ; from said degasser (4) a degassed line (L4) that incorporates a flowmeter (F4) comes out and enters a treatment tank (5); said tank (5) is connected to an oxygen input and regulation means (6) through an oxygen line (L02) and from said tank (5) a residual line (L5) comes out that incorporates a booster pump ( B4), a valve and a flowmeter (F5) connected to two conduction lines, a protein line (LP) that leads to a protein filter (7) and a solids line (LM) that leads to a mechanical filter ( 8); from the protein filter (7) a protein output line (LSP) comes out and from the mechanical filter (8) a solid output line (LSM) comes out, in which both filters (7) and (8) are connected by a connecting line proteins and solids (LPM); the output lines of proteins and solids (LSP) and (LSM) respectively, converge to a light line (LUV) that leads to a UV medium of ultra violet filter (9) from where a UV output line (L6) comes out, that can be directly connected to the line (LUV), if the use of the UV medium (9) is not required; said line (6) incorporates an impeller pump (B5) and a valve and enters a residual tank (10) of process residual water; From said residual tank (10) comes a continuity line (L7) connected to an electrochemical degradation medium (11) and a recirculation line (LR7) that incorporates a booster pump (B7), a means to incorporate C02 and a flowmeter. (F6) and enters the degassing medium (4); the electrochemical degradation medium (11) is connected by means of an outlet line (LC02) to a C02 treatment medium (11C) and is connected to a degraded continuity line (L8) which is connected to a return tank (12) and to a return line (LR8) connected to the regulator tank (3); From said return tank (12) a return line (L9) comes out that incorporates a driving pump (B9) and is connected to the water source FA (1); the return line (LR2) drives through a booster pump (B8) water from the treatment medium (2) to the return tank (12); incorporates means of transport (13) that contains the equipment consulted in the system.

The process of the invention comprises the following:

Water is pumped from a water source (1), which can be any source, such as a spring, river, lake, pond, well, estuary, or sea, or even household drinking water or water from a fish farming pond, and is passes through a means of water purification (2), such as reverse osmosis equipment, which separates any compound dissolved in the water from the water, obtaining purified fresh water and a reject water flow loaded with salts and/or impurities of the source water (brine).

Compounds are added to fresh water thus purified to adjust and stabilize the pH of the water in the optimal range for the species of fish to be treated. The pH stabilizing compounds can be added to the purified water continuously and automatically by means of a dispenser that is regulated by a flowmeter (flowmeter) that measures the flow of purified water that is produced by the reverse osmosis system, thus maintaining the desired concentration of pH stabilizer.

Purified and pH-stabilized fresh water should ideally be stored in a regulating tank (3) with level sensors that allow the reverse osmosis system to be turned on or off automatically and the associated stabilizer dosage based on the level of said tank (3). ).

The fresh water purified and stabilized in pH is used to fill a fish treatment pond, previously passing through a degassing device (4) of the water, allowing a stabilization of the gases dissolved in the water used for the treatment of the fish.

One or more medicinal compounds are added to the purified and pH stabilized fresh water in the amount required to achieve the desired concentration of medicine in the fish treatment pond (6). The medicinal compound or compounds are preferably added to the water that enters the degasser (4) to allow adequate dispersion or dissolution of the medicinal compounds in the water before it enters the fish treatment pond (5). Alternatively the medicinal compounds can be added directly to the treatment pond (5) before filling the fish treatment pond (5) with water, simultaneously with the filling of the pond water or once the fish treatment pond is full. of water.

Medicinal compounds may be synthetic or natural organic compounds from one or more of any of the following groups: antibiotics, antiparasitics, pesticides, vaccines, probiotics, bacteriostats, disinfectants, immunostimulants, or other.

Sick fish requiring bathing treatment are transferred to the treatment pond (5) and kept in the pond for as long as necessary for the medicinal compound to take effect.

If necessary, oxygen is added to the treatment pond (5) during the period that the fish are in the treatment pond (5) to replace the oxygen consumed by the fish and always maintain an adequate oxygen concentration in the water of the treatment pond. fish treatment (5).

To avoid an over-accumulation of metabolic waste generated by the fish in the treatment pond (5), if necessary, all or a portion of the treatment water with medicines is changed continuously or at intervals, which is replaced by purified water and stabilized in pH and adding the amount of medicine required to always maintain the desired concentration of medicine and optimum water quality in the fish treatment pond (5).

If necessary (evacuate and recirculate pond water (5)), the water in the fish treatment pond (5) is recirculated by passing the treatment water through one or more devices to maintain adequate water quality and temperature for the duration of the treatment. Such devices can be one more protein remover (7), mechanical filter (8), ultraviolet filter (9), degassing^ temperature controller, etc. After passing through one or more of the devices described above, the recirculating treatment water is collected in a residual accumulator tank (10). Part of the recirculating water is pumped from the accumulator pond to the degassing device (4) to re-feed the fish treatment pond (5). After the exposure time of the fish to the medicine treatment water is completed, the fish are removed from the pond (5) and transferred to a culture pond.

The fish treatment water that is discarded from the accumulation pond (5), either continuously during the fish treatment process or at the end of the fish treatment, is led through an oxidation treatment device advanced, (means of electrochemical degradation (11)) to mineralize the organic compounds present in the water, especially the medicines used for the treatment of fish, thus obtaining fresh water without organic compounds that could be toxic or affect the environment . Then the carbon monoxide must be evacuated to the treatment medium (11C) and return part of the water to the tank (3) regulating the temperature and pH, the other part of the water is made to enter the return tank (12) and is returns the treated and decontaminated water to the water source FA (1).

The medicine-free water can finally be mixed with the reject water generated by the reverse osmosis device (2) and returned with a quality similar to the original to the water source from which it was extracted. Alternatively, the discharged fresh water without medicines can be reused in the same process as above or to feed fish farming ponds.

As an example of application, the installation of the plant of the invention to disinfect salmon of the coho salmon type (Oncorhynchus kisutch) infected mainly with sea lice is considered. The treatment is carried out using antibiotics, antiparasitics, pesticides and disinfectants, incorporating said elements into a therapeutic medium (3T) of the system of the invention.

The devices used in the process can be installed on a mobile cart to be able to move within a fish production center or between different fish production centers.

Claims

1. - Transportable clinical plant system for the disinfection treatment of fish, which separates solids and treats, purifies and recirculates all the process water, without harming the fish or the environment CHARACTERIZED because it includes a water source (FA) (1) from where the system water is extracted by means of a line (Ll) that incorporates a delivery pump (Bl), a valve and flowmeter (Fl) that lead controlled water to a treatment means (2); incorporates a drain means (2D) connected by a rejection line (LR1); from said treatment means (2) a continuity line (L2) and two treated water rejection lines (LR1) and (LR2) come out; the continuity line (L2) incorporates a booster pump (B2), a valve and a flowmeter (F2) and leads the treated water to a regulating tank (3) for technical water that regulates temperature and pH; From said tank (3) a regulated line (L3) comes out that incorporates a therapeutic medium (3T), a booster pump (B3), a valve and a flowmeter (F3) and leads the treated water to a degassing medium (4) ; from said degasser (4) a degassed line (L4) that incorporates a flowmeter (F4) comes out and enters a treatment tank (5); said tank (5) is connected to an oxygen input and regulation means (6) through an oxygen line (L02) and from said tank (5) a residual line (L5) comes out that incorporates a booster pump ( B4), a valve and a flowmeter (F5) connected to two conduction lines, a protein line (LP) that leads to a protein filter (7) and a solids line (LM) that leads to a mechanical filter ( 8); from the protein filter (7) a protein output line (LSP) comes out and from the mechanical filter (8) a solid output line (LSM) comes out, in which both filters (7) and (8) are connected by a connecting line proteins and solids (LPM); the output lines of proteins and solids (LSP) and (LSM) respectively, converge to a light line (LUV) that leads to a UV medium of ultra violet filter (9) from where a UV output line (6) comes out, it connects directly to the line (LUV), in case the use of the UV medium (9) is not required; said line (6) incorporates a driving pump (B5) and a valve and enters a residual tank (10) of residual water; From said residual tank (10) comes a continuity line (L7) connected to an electrochemical degradation medium (11) and a recirculation line (LR7) that incorporates a booster pump (B7), a means to incorporate C02 and a flowmeter (F6) and enters the degassing medium (4); the electrochemical degradation medium (11) is connected by means from an outlet line (LC02) to a C02 treatment medium (11C) and is connected to a degraded continuity line (L8), which is connected to a return tank (12) and to a return line (LR8) and connected to the regulator tank (3); From said return tank (12) a return line (L9) comes out that incorporates a driving pump (B9) and is connected to the water source FA (1); the return line (LR2) drives through a booster pump (B8) water from the treatment medium (2) towards the return tank (12); the entire system incorporates means of transport (13).

2. - Process of the transportable clinical plant system for the disinfection treatment of fish, which separates solids and treats, purifies and recirculates all the process water, without harming the fish or the environment of claim No. 1, CHARACTERIZED because it comprises the following steps: a) pumping water from a water source (1); b) enter the water into a purification medium (2); bl) driving part of the water through the rejection line (LR2) towards the return tank (12); b2) lead part of the water through the rejection line (LR1) towards the drain (2D); c) adjust and stabilize the pH in the optimum range according to the fish species; d) store purified water in a regulating tank (3); e) control flows with flow meters in each process line; f) enter the water to the degasser (4); g) enter the water to the treatment tank (5) through the line (L4); h) incorporating oxygen from the oxygen medium (6) by line (L02); i) keep fish in tank (5) until treatment is finished; j) evacuate and recirculate water from the pond (5); jl) removing the fish from the pond (5) to the culture pond; k) treating the water in a protein remover filter (7);

L) treat the water in the mechanical filter (8); m) treat the water in a UV filter (9); n) entering the water into the residual pond (10); o) return part of the water to the degassing medium (4); p) enter the other part of the water into the electrochemical degradation medium

( i i ); q) evacuating the carbon monoxide to the treatment medium (11C); r) return part of the water to the pond (3) and regulate temperature and pH; s) enter the other part of the water to the return tank (12); t) return the treated and decontaminated water to the water source FA (1).