NL8501715A - APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CULTIVATING PLANTS, HOLDING AQUACULTURE, HOLDING AND CULTURE OF WORMS, PURIFYING WATER USING GRAVITY FILTRATION AND BIOLOGICAL PURIFICATION OF WATER. - Google Patents

Abstract

The method is intended for cultivating biomass of animal origin (e.g., in the form of fish, crustaceans, furred water animals etc. in basin (1)), and of vegetable origin (plants in shallow trays (8)) for commercial use. Cultivation is carried out in a totally or partly enclosed space in which the liquids and/or gases used are wholly or partly recirculated and conditioned during recirculation. Conditioning may comprise a biological filter system (e.g. trickling filters (7)) to remove dissolved components from the liquid (water) and a mechanical filter system, e.g., sedimentation tank (4), to remove suspended components from the liquid (water). The aqua-culture (in (1)) may be replaced by, or combined with, the culture of earth worms (in biological trickling filters (7)).

Description

i i A. Luyken, Ir. A. Brunink in Grave.

Apparatus and method for growing plants, aquaculture farming, keeping and breeding worms, purifying water using gravity filtration label, biological water purification.

5. The invention relates to an apparatus and method for different biological productions within a compact system and the practical elaboration of what is described in patent application number 84 027 63, of which applicants of this patent application are inventor and license holder. the new aspects in an apparatus and method for cultivating plants, aquaculture farming, keeping and breeding worms, purifying water by gravity filtration and biologically purifying water.

Commonly known are establishments and methods in which: a) animal and vegetable biomasses are produced separately 15. b) vegetable biomass is grown in several layers one above the other · c) animal biomass is produced in aquaculture systems d) worms are grown in tanks

Regarding a, reference is made to patent application number 84 027 63.

Growing plants in several layers on top of each other obviously indicates -20. noticeable savings in floor space required. Since it is possible to use artificial lighting for this purpose, heat is automatically supplied because the electrical energy is converted into light energy for just a few percent and the rest into heat. surplus in the form of heat for which there is no 2p application possibility, while also the need for CO2 (carbon dioxide) supply remains, which clearly indicates the disadvantages.

As is known, aquaculture means the cultivation and keeping of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, shellfish, amflbie-50. and, water-loving fur animals, etc. etc.

Establishments for operating aquaculture such as ponds or basins of wood, metal, concrete or plastic are known, which can take place both in the open air and in enclosed spaces.

In general, aquaculture will be conducted in confined spaces wan-55. there is a need for climate control, for example in the cultivation of heat-loving animal species. !

Problems that play a role here include the need to constantly have clean water of the right temperature and quality and to maintain sufficient oxygen in the water and the enclosed space.This need 40 makes it inevitable to purify and reuse the water used. Also referred to as the recirculation of water. The disadvantages of recirculation systems and oxygen supply systems are that they require considerable investment and take up considerable space, which leads to relatively high unit cost prices.

45. Worm cultivation takes place as stated in containers of concrete, wood, metal or mesh. Within these containers, substrate is introduced in the form of animal manure, household waste and / or other organic waste in which and from which the worms live and grow.

These worm cultivation devices and methods are described, inter alia, in: 50, * the reports "Growing biological sides of worms" and "The commercial cultivation of earthworms and the research into this" of the Dutch Agricultural Research Agency * patent applications nos. 82 014 90 and 83 006 77.

The said breeding trays can be placed both indoors and outdoors, with 55. growing indoors yields higher yields because the temperature is constant::? 1 5 2 ȕ can be kept at a higher optimal value.

Disadvantages of these known methods are: * the labor-intensive methods of harvesting * the fact that they are often unfamiliar with the composition and quantity of the food administered and the contaminants contained therein (for example heavy metals) * because the worms are dirty, problems arise with sorting for sale. ;

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and method 10. which does not have the above-mentioned drawbacks and which also leads to high productions per m2 floor area and / or per m3 space requirement, by combining plant cultivation with aquaculture and or worm cultivation within a and the same space in specially designed and adapted units with the following advantages: - that due to the combined heat requirement of vegetable and animal bio-15. mass such as, for example, fish, beavers and worms, a reduced energy requirement per kg of production arises - that no ventilation and or CO2 administration is necessary due to the presence of both CO2 producers and consumers and 02 producers and consumers 20. - a lower cost per unit product as a result of optimal surface and space utilization.

- a higher yield and less waste problem due to a further use of the waste.

This goal is achieved by the space above or below the aquacul-25. use ture basins for plant cultivation. This plant cultivation can be carried out in several layers of flat containers, whether or not using art lighting, * in scaffolding form or otherwise mounted above or below the basins. The plants can be either rooted in potting soil, rock wool. or other substrate or cultivated in hydroponics. The water supply can be done 50 a flow system continuously or at intervals (supply of fresh, unused water), but a recirculation system can also be used. The plants can be supplied with water constantly or at intervals.

A device constructed in accordance with the invention is now described with reference to appended figure 1 on appendix 1.

Water from an aquaculture basin (1) with a special provision for the drainage of aquatic organisms (2) ends up in a settling device (4) for the purification of the water via a passage (3), from the settling device which connects the basin to one or more surrounding the water, the water is a pump 40. (5) and pipes (6) placed on the one hand in a trickling filter (7) for biological purification of the water and on the other hand in shallow tanks (8) containing plants. Water flowing through the trickling filter falls directly back into the basin and water that flows through the planters is led through a drain (9) into the settler. Planters and trickling-45. filter are mounted above the basin in a rack (10). Lighting of the plants is done by means of artificial lighting (11) placed between the plant layers.

The heart of the installation is in fact the water purification section. The water is contaminated by the animal biomass in 50. Two ways: * pollution caused by unincorporated feed residues * pollution caused by the excretion products of the animal biomass.

This pollution consists on the one hand of substances dissolved in the water and, on the other hand, of substances suspended in the water. The first fraction can be removed from the water by means of biological filtration, removal of the latter fraction by means of gravity filtration.

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Various types of devices are known for purifying water by means of gravity filtration using a centrifuge, a hydrocyclone or a settling tank. The action of centrifuge and hydrocyclone is based on the use of centrifugal forces to separate particles of different specific gravity in the polluted water-In the case of a centrifuge there is a rotating device with the disadvantage of high energy consumption. In the case of a hydrocyclone, there is a static device through which water is guided in a rotating movement.

The disadvantage of the hydrocyclone is that a large pressure loss occurs, causing the.

10. must have high capacity and increase energy costs.

The principle of the settling heel is based on the fact that the flow velocity of [the water is reduced in such a way that, due to the difference in specific mass of particles of suspended substances and water particles, the suspended substances settle and collect. Using a settling heel has 15. compared to the aforementioned methods. the advantage that no extra energy costs arise due to moving parts or pressure losses, but disadvantages are the size and volume that the settling heel takes up.

It is therefore known that the settling tanks in which surface-increasing structures are arranged so that the devices can become more compact, provided that these structures create parallel surfaces relative to each other, since settling of particles only takes place if the water flow is laminar and no turbulence occurs. A known type of reflection bin with surface-enlarging structures is the so-called sheet metal 25. currently used by the Agricultural College and the IMAG in Wa-geningen, for example. plastic or aluminum plates that are arranged in parallel at an angle to the horizontal. Because this plate settler is placed tilted in its entirety, the disadvantage of this device is a large surface area and volume in 50. in relation to the actual plate surface area and content.

Also known is the product Serpac supplied by the French company Erpac.

Use is made of completely interchangeable plate packs in which water flows horizontally along tilted slats. These slats, made of stainless steel or reinforced plastics, have a 55 · special shape and are specially manufactured for this purpose. Moreover, the plate packs are only used as part of a purification system that also includes a hydrocyclone. The disadvantages of this device are that the application is limited only to large water purification plants and that the specially manufactured slats are expensive.

40. A further object of this invention is to provide a device operating on the principle of gravity filtration which, in contrast to existing devices: - does not contain expensive specially manufactured but inexpensive generally available surface enlarging structures 45 - - no unnecessary surface and space losses entails, but can be arranged in such a way that an optimum surface / volume ratio is created and thus minimal surface and space losses are created.

- can be cleaned quickly and without much labor.

This objective is achieved, inter alia, by using slats that are used in movable sun blinds (such as Luxaflex), which are inexpensive and widely available.These lacquered slats are arranged vertically one above the other, with or without the slats forming an angle. with the horizontal. The slats together form a set of slats, consisting of 1 or more vertical rows of slats, either in a fixed installation-55. is placed or can be completely or partially removed.

Dirty water flows through the slats in a horizontal direction. Suspended particles are given a chance in the resulting laminar flow; to drop on the slats (provided the flow rate is not too high) .If the slats are placed at an angle, the

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* '· - 5 v 4 dirt particles on the slats to larger particles that finally gravity-driven, shear off the slats and settle. If the slats are not placed at an angle (ie the angle with the horizontal is 0 degrees), removal of the dirt particles that have settled on the slats 5 # either by using a spraying device with which the slats are rinsed clean, or by guiding the water flow in a sinusoidal motion over the slats, or by using a mechanical device, or to make use of a combination of these options. The options are also applicable when using slats placed at an angle. The space directly next to the slats must remain open in the vertical direction for the collection of settable parts. space are interrupted, otherwise a water flow along the slat package will occur.

An apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention is described by means of 15. attached drawing according to figure 2 on appendix 2.

The polluted water flows into the device via the water supply (1) and ends up in a distribution space (2) before flowing on to the slats (3). Dividing space and slat space are separated or not from each other by a partition (4) in which through-flow openings are provided.

20. Partitions (5) divide the slat space into compartments. The slats are attached to these partitions. Water flows between the slats in the horizontal direction. Dirt particles are allowed to settle vertically in the spaces next to the slats (6 At the bottom of the device there is a collection space (7) for the storage. sank dirt particles.The water that has passed the slats collects in space (8), whether or not separated from the slat space by a partition, and leaves the device via water discharge (9) .The device can be cleaned by removing the sediment via drain (10) and if necessary spray the fins clean with water using spray device (11) be-50. standing out of vertically arranged perforated pipes connected to the water pipe or high-pressure cleaner.

There are many methods and devices for the biological purification of water. A very common method is that using a trickling filter, also known as an oxidation filter. Trickling flashes are through-55. In a tubular form and filled with filter medium, the water to be purified is sprayed over these filters, after which the water seeps through the filter medium. Bacteria grow on the filter medium. These bacteria remove a large part of the main pollution sources in the water: ammonium / ammonia, nitrite and organic substances. The specific surface area of 40. the filter medium (m2 / m3) determines the amount to "house" bacteria and thus filter capacity. It is therefore very important to create the largest possible surface area without risk of silting up of the filter.

Different types of filter media are available. The use of so-called plastic biorings as filter medium is known. These biorings have a specific surface area of approx. 220 m2 / tn3. The use of plastic% is also known. dulen as filter medium. The specific surfaces of these plastic modules vary from approx. 110 to 230 m2 / m3. The aforementioned filter media have the advantage that only a small amount of Jeans is present on silting up, but after -50. part a high cost price and a large volume requirement. Also known is the use of so-called filter mats as filling material in trickling liters such as the Er.kamat. Due to the fixed structure of the mats, the chance of this filter medium clogging up is very high.

The present invention also aims to provide an apparatus and method 55 for biologically purifying water using a filter medium characterized by a high specific surface area and a low cost price.

This object is achieved by using donkey-like filter meow in a trickling filter: λ> ': j]' j - τ * V * J 1 ^ 5 1, such as, inter alia, plastic fibers such as those manufactured for the carpet industry, being polypropylene plastic fibers.

These fibers are available in various diameters and lengths. The most useful for this purpose are the crimped fibers. The fibers are completely loose 5. and randomly arranged with respect to each other and not processed into a mat or structured in any other way. Depending on the degree of sanen presses, m. to realize this material a specific surface area varying from approx. 300 to 2000 m2 / m3. Since too strong compression creates a risk of the filter clogging up and a layer of specific surface area 10. undesirable, an optimum situation appears to exist when compressing up to a surface area of 1200-1400 m2 / m3. filter otherwise the filling will collapse due to the weight of itself, which leads to compression of the filling and danger of clogging up. The support can for instance consist of meshwork 15. arranged at various heights in the filter.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and method for the intensive cultivation of worms.

This goal is achieved by growing worms in a trickling filter. In a trickling filter sludge mainly consists of organic substances 20. and bacteria. If the concentration of ammonium / ammonia and / or nitrite is not or becomes too high, it is possible to keep worms in the filter and grow them that feed on the excess of the organic substances and bacteria present. It is irrelevant whether the trickling filter is part of a purification system that is adapted for other purposes or spe-25. It is built and equipped for the cultivation of worms, in particular water purification systems with a trickling filter that recirculates water, as in the units described, are particularly suitable for this method.

In these recirculation systems, temperature, oxygen content, acidity, ammonium / ammonia and nitrite content are monitored and controlled.

50. Therefore, optimum conditions for worm cultivation are present, such as constant temperature, high oxygen content, neutral acidity, low ammonium / ammonia and nitrite contents.

The advantages of this method of worm cultivation are: - production of completely pure worms that are not contaminated with 55. heavy metals because all the nutrients supplied are known - production and harvest of clean worms - little chance of silting up of the biological filter due to the removal of excess sludge and the mechanical displacement of sludge by the worms.

40, - fast growth and large production.

Although it does not matter which filter medium is used in the trickling filter, because this way of cultivation of worms can be achieved in several media, the applicants of this patent preferably use the synthetic fibers already described.

45. Advantages of the described device over and above the advantages already mentioned in the objective are: * that with possible use of artificial lighting the released heat is buffered in the water and thus keeps the required heated water at temperature 50. * that each rack has its own standing unit is with its own recirculation system, which reduces the business risk, in terms of diseases, * that every space can be filled without high engineering costs because it works with standard developed units * the production space forms a compact layout compact units such that a high production and flexibility is obtained. multiple productions in the same space, so that the total production per m2 or m3 is high. r "v * the units can be quickly placed or moved as stand-alone units that can be prefabricated as standard, so that you can respond directly to demand * through the multitude of stand-alone units, sophisticated cultivation schedules can be achieved, resulting in higher yields. can be realized by optimizing * production of unsuspected ecological products from animal and / or vegetable proteins at a relatively low cost * independence of the climate outside the production unit in order to achieve high production, possibly through a closed system (gas cycle) making it possible to sustain these productions economically anywhere in the world without wasting precious raw materials and / or energy.

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Claims (34)

Method in which animal (fish, etc.) and vegetable biomass are grown or produced, characterized in that the liquids and / or gases used for cultivation and / or production in a completely or partly enclosed space are wholly or partially recirculated and reconditioned during that circulation. 2. A method for the cultivation of vegetable biomass and the aquaculture, characterized in that in a fully or partially enclosed space a combined cultivation and / or production takes place of 10. both animal biomass (such as for instance fish) and vegetable biomass and in which the water used for cultivation is purified in whole or in part in recirculation by a filter system. 3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the filter system is formed by a biological filter. 15. 4. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the filter system is formed by a mechanical filter. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the filter system is formed by a biological filter and a mechanical filter in combination. 20. A method according to claims 2, 3 and 5, characterized in that the biological filter is formed by a trickling filter or a filter through which the water seeps through the filter medium as a result of gravity. 7. A method according to claims 2, 4 and 5, characterized in that the mechanical filter is formed by a plate separator or a filter using gravity. 8. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the cultivation of the vegetable biomass takes place under artificial light. 9. Device as claimed in claims 1 to 7, characterized in that 30. the cultivation of the vegetable biomass takes place with the aid of daylight entering. 10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the incoming daylight reaches the plants by means of reflective surfaces (such as mirrors). 35. 11. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the cultivation of vegetable biomass takes place in a space directly connected to the space in which the cultivation of animal biomass takes place. 12. Device as claimed in the preceding claims, characterized in that the cultivation and / or production of the biomass takes place in fully self-contained compact units. 13. Device and method according to claim 12, characterized in that the unit is built up of a water basin above or over which a rack containing several layers of tanks, in which the vegetable biomass is grown or produced, and wherein the water purification system 45. or integrated into the unit or located directly next to the unit. 14. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the unit comprises several water basins, each of which contains its own separate water purification system for recirculating water or which are connected to a common water purification system. 50. 15. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the cultivation of vegetable biomass takes place under or between the water basins or in a nearby unit. 16. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the water supply of the planters and / or aquaculture basin (s) is entirely 55. or partly by supply of water from the system's humps and thus not or only partly used recirculation of water, which may or may not be purified mechanically and or biologically, so that a purification system is wholly or partly unnecessary. 17. Device as claimed in the preceding claims, characterized in that sz; V- · HI, the trickling fliter, which ensures biological purification of the recirculating water, contains a filling medium consisting of fibers which are random with respect to arranged together and not processed into a mat or structured in any other way relative to each other. 5, Device according to claim 17, characterized in that the filling medium or filter medium has a high specific surface area (m2 / m3), formed by preferably plastic fibers, which preferably have a diameter of 0.05 to 2 mm. Device according to claim 18, characterized in that the 10 fibers are plastic fibers of polypropylene as used in the carpet industry. 20. Device and method according to the preceding claims, characterized in that worms are also kept or cultivated in the unit in combination, which are then preferably located in the trickling filter. Pine tree. Method, characterized in that in a trickling filter as mentioned in the preceding claims, worms are grown in recirculating water without necessarily taking place in combination with one of the other mentioned crops. 20. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that the worm culture is combined with plant cultivation. A method according to preceding claim 7, characterized in that the mechanical filter consists of a plate separator in which the recirculating water is purified from undissolved substances by means of gravity filtration. 24. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the plate separator contains horizontal plates arranged one above the other and between which the water flows. 25. Device and method according to claims 23 and 24, with the character 30. note that the horizontally arranged plates are placed at an angle to the horizontal plane, so that the particles deposited on the plates slide off the plates and can settle to the bottom in a space next to the horizontally arranged plates, which is aided by the spaces divide into compartments 35. next to the horizontally arranged plates by compartments placed vertically, which impede the flow of water through these spaces. 26. Device and method according to claim 23, 24 and / or 25, characterized in that the horizontal plates are formed by slats made of strips of material such as are used for sun protection (such as 40, among others Luxaflex). 27. Device and method according to claim 26, characterized in that the horizontally arranged plates are displaced in the horizontal plane relative to each other, so that in combination with the vertically placed partitions a forced sinusoidal flow is created, which promotes that the particles that have settled on the horizontal plates (strips) are removed from these plates (strips). 28. Device and method according to claims 23 to 27, characterized in that the dirt particles that have settled on the horizontal plates (strips) are removed by vertical pipes located next to the plates from which 50 or water is sprayed or from which compressed air is blown or removed by means of a mechanism. 29. Device and method according to claims 23 to 28, characterized in that the horizontally arranged plates (strips) arranged one above the other are replaced by arcuate strips / plates, such as, for example, half-pipe 55. pen. 30. Device and method as claimed in claims 23 to 29, characterized in that the plates / strips originally arranged horizontally one above the other are no longer arranged horizontally, but at an angle to the horizontal plane. 60. 31. Process according to claims 23 to 30, characterized in that the V? ai: _ v '- ·> J "1 -" plate separator is also used as a denitrification unit for the purpose of the removal of substances dissolved in the water. 32. Process according to previous claims, characterized in that 8 the substances dissolved in the water are removed in a manner other than as mentioned. 33. Device according to claim 14,17,18,19,20,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,1η and the characteristic, that in the device no plant cultivation takes place but only aquaculture. 34. Device and method, characterized in that the claims 10. Sies 17 to 19 inclusive of the trickling filters and / or the plate separators mentioned in claims 23 to 31 are used in other water treatment applications than those mentioned in the claims, such as, for example, the separation and sorting of different liquids and / or solid particles floating in liquids or purifying gases. ^ ~ Λ Ί 7 Ί -'y Ο V 1 J j;)