Liquid purification or separation – With alarm – indicator – register – recorder – signal or...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-21
2001-01-09
Drodge, Joseph W. (Department: 1723)
Liquid purification or separation
With alarm, indicator, register, recorder, signal or...
C210S090000, C210S096100, C210S143000, C210S150000, C210S275000, C210S614000, C210S617000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06171480
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to automated aquatic systems for the culture of aquatic species.
Conventional aquaculture systems typically require significant amounts of human intervention in order to enable a species of interest to be grown and cultured. Such systems are not “closed,” instead requiring partial water changes and the like. In large systems, significant amounts of water may need to be used and disposed of. A system which is automated and truly closed would be advantageous.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a solution to one or more of the problems and/or deficiencies described above.
In one respect, the present invention is an automated aquaculture system which comprises: a tank; a prefilter system connected to the tank which comprises a particulate is filter, a foam fractionator and a carbon filter; an aerobic biofilter; a pump that receives effluent from the prefilter system and moves the effluent to the aerobic biofilter; a source of ultraviolet light that is in cooperation with the aerobic filter and that treats water from the aerobic filter, wherein the source is connected to the tank so that treated water is returned to the tank; an anaerobic biofilter that is connected to the aerobic biofilter for receiving effluent and connected to the prefilter system for introducing effluent to the prefilter system; a video camera directed into the tank for receiving information; and a computer that receives information from the cameras and other sensors in the system and that controls the operation of the system.
In another respect, this invention is a process useful for culturing an aquatic species, comprising:
housing the aquatic species in a tank containing water;
introducing water from the tank into a particulate filter;
introducing effluent from the particulate filter to a foam fractionator;
introducing effluent from the foam fractionator to a carbon filter;
pumping effluent from the carbon filter to an aerobic biofilter;
irradiating effluent from the aerobic biofilter with ultraviolet radiation;
treating effluent from the aerobic biofilter in an anaerobic biofilter and returning effluent from the anaerobic biofilter to the system; and
introducing effluent from the irradiating step to the tank.
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Lee Phillip G.
Turk Philip E.
Whitson John L.
Board of Regents , The University of Texas System
Drodge Joseph W.
Fulbright & Jaworski LLP
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