Key information

Title
A gaslift pump, a method, and a system for use in fluid lifting operations
Application number
20210011
Case type
National
Status
31.01.2025 Ikke betalt årsavgift
Filed
05.01.2021
Effective date
05.01.2021
Publicly available
25.04.2022
Applicant
Vaagland Båtbyggeri AS (NO)
Owner
Vaagland Båtbyggeri AS (NO)
Inventor
Knut Vaagland (NO)
Agent
ZACCO NORWAY AS (NO)
Granted
25.04.2022
Patent number
346217

Abstract and drawing

Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content.
The disclosure relates to a gaslift pump (1) for use in fluid lifting operations comprising: a fluid pipe (10) being a siphon type tube comprising an inflow portion (2) and an outflow portion (3) wherein the inflow portion (2) comprise an inlet opening (4) for being arranged below the surface (23) of a fluid reservoir (20), a gas inlet (11) being arranged to feed gas into the inflow portion (2) of the fluid pipe (10), a gas vacuum pump (7) having a pump inlet conduit (8) arranged to connect to the top portion of the fluid pipe (10), and the outflow portion (3) of the fluid pipe (10) having an outlet opening (9), such that when: the inlet opening (4) is arranged below the surface (23) of the fluid reservoir (20), the fluid pipe (10) is filled with fluid, and gas is fed into the inflow portion (2) of the fluid pipe (10), the density of the fluid column inside the inflow portion (2) is lowered as the gas rises in the fluid pipe (10), and the vacuum pump (7) operates to increase the vacuum along the height of the fluid pipe (10) wherein the gas fed into the inflow portion (2) of the fluid pipe (10) feeds the vacuum pump (7) from the top of the fluid pipe (10), and the fluid column in the outflow portion (3) creates a siphon effect with increasing pressure along the outflow portion (3) towards the outlet opening (9). The disclosure further relates to a method for gentle lifting of an object from a fluid reservoir to a higher level than the surface (23) of the fluid reservoir and a system for gentle lifting of an object from a fluid reservoir to a higher level than the surface (23) of the fluid reservoir.

Publications

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Documents

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Date
 Date Doc. No. Process Case number In/Out Journal description To/from
 15.08.2025 13-01 Saksbehandling 20210011(346217) UT PT Opphørt Patent - for ikke betalt årsavgift (3311) ZACCO NORWAY AS
 02.06.2025 12-01 Saksbehandling 20210011(346217) UT PT Påminnelse om ikke betalt årsavgift (3329) (PT20210011) ZACCO NORWAY AS
 27.04.2022 11-01 Saksbehandling 20210011(346217) UT PT Registreringsbrev Nasjonal Patent (15) (PT20210011)
18.02.2022 10-01 Saksbehandling 20210011 UT PT Meddelelse om patent ZACCO NORWAY AS
 15.02.2022 09-03 Saksbehandling 20210011 INN Respons NIPO oversatte krav ZACCO NORWAY AS
 15.02.2022 09-02 Saksbehandling 20210011 INN Krav Norske ZACCO NORWAY AS
 15.02.2022 09-01 Saksbehandling 20210011 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) ZACCO NORWAY AS
 17.01.2022 08-01 Saksbehandling 20210011 UT Generelt Brev Patent ZACCO NORWAY AS
 13.01.2022 07-01 Saksbehandling 20210011 INN Figur til sammendrag
05.01.2022 06-06 Saksbehandling 20210011 INN P342117NO00 OA Response to NIPO ZACCO NORWAY AS
 05.01.2022 06-05 Saksbehandling 20210011 INN P342117NO00 Amended Description Clean ZACCO NORWAY AS
 05.01.2022 06-04 Saksbehandling 20210011 INN P342117NO00 Amended description Annotated ZACCO NORWAY AS
 05.01.2022 06-03 Saksbehandling 20210011 INN P342117NO00 Amended claims Clean ZACCO NORWAY AS
 05.01.2022 06-02 Saksbehandling 20210011 INN P342117NO00 Amended claims annotated ZACCO NORWAY AS
 05.01.2022 06-01 Saksbehandling 20210011 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) ZACCO NORWAY AS
 05.08.2021 05-02 Saksbehandling 20210011 UT PT report 10:30:28
05.08.2021 05-01 Saksbehandling 20210011 UT Realitet patent ZACCO NORWAY AS
 07.04.2021 04-05 Saksbehandling 20210011 INN P62002858NO00 New figures without text ZACCO NORWAY AS
 07.04.2021 04-04 Saksbehandling 20210011 INN P62002858NO00 New description Clean ZACCO NORWAY AS
 07.04.2021 04-03 Saksbehandling 20210011 INN P62002858NO00 New description Annotated ZACCO NORWAY AS
 07.04.2021 04-02 Saksbehandling 20210011 INN P62002858NO00 Letter to NIPO ZACCO NORWAY AS
 07.04.2021 04-01 Saksbehandling 20210011 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) ZACCO NORWAY AS
 08.01.2021 03-01 Saksbehandling 20210011 UT Infobrev til oppfinner ZACCO NORWAY AS
 07.01.2021 02-01 Saksbehandling 20210011 UT Formalia 1 ZACCO NORWAY AS
 05.01.2021 01-07 Saksbehandling 20210011 INN Vaagland Båtbyggeri Generalfullmakt - Signert 2020-11-30 ZACCO NORWAY AS
 05.01.2021 01-06 Saksbehandling 20210011 INN P62002858NO00_Figures ZACCO NORWAY AS
 05.01.2021 01-05 Saksbehandling 20210011 INN P62002858NO00_Description ZACCO NORWAY AS
 05.01.2021 01-04 Saksbehandling 20210011 INN P62002858NO00_Claims ZACCO NORWAY AS
 05.01.2021 01-03 Saksbehandling 20210011 INN P62002858NO00_Abstract ZACCO NORWAY AS
 05.01.2021 01-02 Saksbehandling 20210011 INN Erklæring ZACCO NORWAY AS
 05.01.2021 01-01 Saksbehandling 20210011 INN Søknadsskjema Patent ZACCO NORWAY AS

Description, claims and drawings

Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content. Description
A gaslift pump, a method, and a system for use in fluid lifting operations Technical fieldThe present disclosure relates to a gaslift pump for use in fluid lifting operations, a method and system surface of the fluid for gentle lifting of an object from a fluid reservoir to a higher level than the surface of the fluid reservoir. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a gaslift pump for use in fluid lifting operations, a method surface of the fluid and a system for gentle lifting of an object from a fluid reservoir to a higher level than the surface of the fluid reservoir as defined in the introductory parts of claim 1, claim 20 and claim 22.Background artA problem with prior art solutions are that when using a fluid pipe collecting fluid and objects, such as fish, this is achieved by using pumps of various designs connected in series with the fluid pipe in a manner that greatly impact the pressure level and comprising high pressure pulses with steep flanks. When the objects being transported are fragile objects, such as fruits and vegetables, or live creatures, such as fish, or other, these pressure flanks cause damage to the objects.A further problem which can be seen in for example fish farming, where airlift pumps are deployed to lift the fish onto a barge, is the need for depth to which an inlet pipe needs to stick down in the water to achieve sufficient lifting height. This is problematic on many levels, such as for example: getting the fish maneuvered to the inlet, maneuvering without crashing the inlet pipe into installations or sea bed, provide sufficient air pressure/supply to required depth where the inlet is arranged, and other.In EP 0232000 A1 it sis shown an apparatus for pumping liquid has a conduit to contain the liquid, the conduit having an inlet por­tion, an outlet portion and an apex. The inlet portion is essentially vertical and exposed to liquid, and the apex interconnects and is disposed above the inlet and outlet portions. Gas bubbles are discharged up the inlet portion to the apex so as to reduce effective density of liquid in the inlet portion. The bubbles are collected in a gas receiving chamber adjacent an upper portion of the apex means.In US 4558990 A it is shown an article transfer pumping system combining the effects of a jet pump and an air lift pump to minimize article damage while increasing lift capability and over­all system efficiency. In US 4756671 A it is shown a submersible rotary impeller fish pump augmented by the release of large volumes of pressurized air into the pump's discharge stream during pump operation ena­bles the pumping of fish or other water­borne articles to the same or greater heights at materially lower impeller speeds and with less impeller damage than the same pump unaided.In WO 2012057063 A1 it is shown the extraction of liquid from a container by means of a siphon tube.In EP 0051571 A1 it is shown a syphon lift pump consists of a vertical rising column (A) with its lower end immersed in the feed tank (B) and its upper end discharging in a vacuum chamberThere is thus a need for improved techniques in the field of gas-/air-lift pumps and system for moving fragile objects present in a fluid, where the moving include lifting the objects to a higher level than the surface of the fluid surface.SummaryIt is an object of the present disclosure to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above-identified deficiencies and disadvantages in the prior art and solve at least the above mentioned problem. According to a first aspect there is provided a gaslift pump for use in fluid lifting operations comprising: a fluid pipe being a siphon type tube comprising an inflow portion and an outflow portion wherein the inflow portion comprise an inlet opening for being arranged below the surface of a fluid reservoir, a gas inlet being arranged to feed gas into the inflow portion of the fluid pipe, a gas vacuum pump having a pump inlet conduit arranged to connect to the top portion of the fluid pipe, and the outflow portion of the fluid pipe having an outlet opening, such that when: the inlet opening is arranged below the surface of the fluid reservoir, the fluid pipe is filled with fluid, and gas is fed into the inflow portion of the fluid pipe, the density of the fluid column inside the inflow portion is lowered as the gas rises in the fluid pipe, and the vacuum pump operates to increase the vacuum along the inflow portion wherein the gas fed into the inflow portion of the fluid pipe feeds the vacuum pump from the top of the fluid pipe, and the fluid column in the outflow portion creates a siphon effect with increasing pressure along the outflow portion towards the outlet opening. The advantage is that a considerable higher lift may be achieved, with evenly increasing pressure flanks both on vacuum buildup on the inflow portion and on pressure rise on the outflow portion of the fluid pipe.According to some embodiments, the the gas inlet connect with the conduit of the fluid pipe in a connection valve.Thus, the gas inlet may connect anywhere along the inflow portion a connection valve is facilitated.According to some embodiments, the connection valve is pressure controlled to adapt gas throughput rate in accordance with required gas mix inside the inflow portion of the fluid pipe and the position of the connection valve.Various pressure profile inside the fluid pipe may call for adapted gas flow rate from the gas inlet, and a pressure controllable connection valve may provide this.According to some embodiments, the gaslift pump comprises a gas pump with a gas pump outlet, wherein the gas pump outlet is arranged to feed gas into the gas inlet.According to some embodiments, the connection valve comprise a gas diffuser element arranged to distribute gas evenly into the fluid column in the inflow portion of the fluid pipe.Having control of the gas distribution inside the fluid pipe ensures better lift and less damage to the objects being lifted in the fluid pipe.According to some embodiments, the vacuum pump inlet conduit has a gas collector enclosure arranged adjacent and above the top portion of the fluid pipe.The gas collector is provided to span sufficient area for gas to flow out of the fluid and into the vacuum pump inlet.According to some embodiments, the gas collector enclosure comprise an object separation device for keeping objects lifted in the fluid away from the vacuum pump inlet or the upper portion of the gas collector enclosure. An efficient separation device ensures a continuous flow were objects carried in the fluid pipe does not “escape” into the gas collector and risk clogging the vacuum gad inlet conduitAccording to some embodiments, the gaslift pump comprises a second stage gaslift pump having a second fluid pipe being a siphon type tube, and the gaslift pump comprises a second inflow portion and a second outflow portion wherein the second inflow portion comprise a second inlet opening being connected to the outflow portion of the fluid pipe, and a second gas pump comprising a second gas pump outlet, wherein the second gas pump outlet is arranged to feed gas into a second gas inlet being arranged to feed gas into the second inflow portion of the second fluid pipe, a second gas vacuum pump having a second pump inlet conduit arranged to connect to the top portion of the second fluid pipe, such that when inlet opening is arranged below the surface of a fluid reservoir, the fluid pipes are filled with fluid and gas is pumped into the inflow portions of the fluid pipes, the density of the fluid column inside the inflow portions is lowered as the gas rises in the fluid pipes, and the vacuum pumps operates to increase the vacuum along the inflow portions wherein the gas pumped into the fluid feeds the vacuum pumps from the top of the fluid pipes, and the fluid column in the outflow portions creates a siphon effect with increasing pressure along the outflow portions towards the outlet openings.An advantage of serial coupling more than one gaslift pump sections in a manner as discussed above provides that the total lifting height may be increased, but where max pressure difference is kept low and with a pressure difference decrease/increase as slow as possible inside the fluid pipe.According to some embodiments, the gaslift pump comprises one or more further stage gaslift pump sections arranged in similar serial arrangement, hence adding height to the total fluid lifting height without increasing the max pressure difference.According to some embodiments two or more gas gas inlets are fed by one gas pump. If the gas is required to be pressurized before being fed into a gas inlets in more than one stage, it may be advantageous to feed two or more gas inlets from the same gas pump. A gas inlet may be provided with an inlet conduit to feed the gas/air from the gas pump or ambient air. According to some embodiments two or more vacuum pump inlet conduit feeds one gas vacuum pump.If more than one stage is provided in the gaslift system, it may be advantageous to let two or more vacuum pump inlets conduit feed one gas vacuum pump.According to some embodiments, the fluid is water in a marine environment, and the gaslift pump is arranged to lift objects being comprised in the water.According to some embodiments, the gas is air.According to some embodiments, the objects to be lifted is fish.The system of present invention may advantageously be adapted to be used in a fish treatment operation pumping a fish from for example a first fish pen into a boat or the like, using air as the gas, and water from the fish’s habitat, through an onboard treatment facility, before the fish exits to further processing or into for example a second fish pen.According to some embodiments, one or more of the outflow portions being attached to a treatment module, the treatment module having a treatment inlet, a treatment chamber and a treatment outlet, wherein the treatment inlet is in fluid connection with the outlet of the outflow portion.According to some embodiments, the gaslift pump comprises an exit fluid pipe arranged on, and in fluid connection with, the treatment outlet, and the exit fluid pipe may comprise a pressure increasing pump to increase the pressure inside the exit fluid pipe to allow for raising the outlet of the exit fluid. This is an option for when an extra lift height is required before the object is ejected out of the outlet.According to some embodiments, one or more further stage gaslift pump sections are arranged connected to the exit fluid pipe in similar serial arrangement as described in hence adding height to the total fluid lifting height.There is no restriction to number of stages, as it is possible to add stages as long as there are space available, and if additional height is required. Increasing number of stages may reduce the vacuum pressure necessary to propel the system, and the total height of the installation. According to a second aspect there is provided a method for gentle lifting of an object from a fluid reservoir to a higher height level than the surface 23 of the fluid reservoir, comprising the steps:- providing a gaslift pump according to the first aspect- arranging the inlet opening of the inflow portion of the fluid pipe a first depth below the surface of a fluid reservoir,- providing a gas inlet being arranged to feed gas into the inflow portion of the fluid pipe, and- providing a gas vacuum pump having a pump inlet conduit arranged to connect to the top portion of the fluid pipe,- filling the fluid pipe with fluid,- feed gas into the inflow portion of the fluid pipe, such that the density of the fluid column inside the inflow portion is lowered as the gas rises in the fluid pipe, - operate the vacuum pump to increase the vacuum along the height of the fluid pipe wherein the gas fed into the inflow portion of the fluid pipe feeds the vacuum pump from the top of the fluid pipe, and the fluid column in the outflow portion creates a siphon effect with increasing pressure along the outflow portion towards an outlet opening being comprised in the outflow portion of the fluid pipe. According to some embodiments, the method further comprises the step:- arranging the gaslift pump onto a vessel arranged to lift fish from a fish pen, - include a fish treatment module in the fluid pipe path,- arrange the exit opening of the fluid pipe over a drainage module for separating water and waste from the fish, wherein the fish is left on a grate or the like leading the fish to further processing or to an exit environment.According to a third aspect there is provided a system for gentle lifting of an object from a fluid reservoir to a higher level than the surface of the fluid reservoir, the system comprising: a gaslift pump according to the first aspect, a vessel or installation wherein the gaslift pump is arranged, a fluid reservoir wherein an inlet of the gaslift pump is arranged, fluid and/or objects to be lifted by the gaslift pump. Effects and features of the second and third aspects are to a large extent analogous to those described above in connection with the first aspect. Embodiments mentioned in relation to the first aspect are largely compatible with the second and third aspects.The present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description given below. The detailed description and specific examples disclose preferred embodiments of the disclosure by way of illustration only. Those skilled in the art understand from guidance in the detailed description that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the disclosure.Hence, it is to be understood that the herein disclosed disclosure is not limited to the particular component parts of the device described or steps of the methods described since such device and method may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. It should be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claim, the articles "a", "an", "the", and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements unless the context explicitly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a unit" or "the unit" may include several devices, and the like. Furthermore, the words "comprising", "including", "containing" and similar wordings does not exclude other elements or steps.TerminologyThe term "gas" is to be interpreted as being any gas used as a propelling gas in an gaslift pump system as described. The description could have chosen to use “air” instead of “gas”, but that would limit the embodiments wherein any other gas that could be used to achieve the very gentle lifting concept would have been excluded from the present invention.The term "fluid" is to be interpreted as being any fluid used in an gaslift pump system as described. The description could have chosen to use “water” instead of “fluid”, but that would limit the embodiments wherein any other fluid that could be used to achieve the very gentle lifting concept would have been excluded from the present invention.Brief descriptions of the drawingsThe above objects, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of example embodiments of the present disclosure, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.Figure 1A an 1B shows two versions of prior art airlift pump embodiments Figure 2A shows a conceptual diagram of a first embodiment of present invention Figure 2B shows a conceptual diagram of a second embodiment of present invention Figure 2C shows a conceptual diagram of a third embodiment of present invention Figure 2D shows a conceptual diagram of a further embodiment of present invention Figure 2E shows a conceptual diagram of an alternative inlet openingFigure 3A shows a conceptual diagram of a first system embodiment of present inventionFigure 3B shows a conceptual diagram of a second system embodiment of present inventionFigure 3C shows a conceptual diagram of a third system embodiment of present inventionFigure 4A shows a conceptual diagram of a further system embodiment of present invention also comprising a pump elementFigure 4B shows a conceptual diagram of an even further system embodiment of present invention also comprising a pump elementFigure 5A – D shows pressure profiles for prior art embodiments of fish pumps Figure 6A – C shows pressure profiles embodiments of gaslift pumps according to present inventionDetailed descriptionThe present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred example embodiments of the disclosure are shown. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in other forms and should not be construed as limited to the herein disclosed embodiments. The disclosed embodiments are provided to fully convey the scope of the disclosure to the skilled person.A major problem with prior art is highlighted in figures 1A and 1B where an airlift pump as used in many marine installations and other wherein it is a task to lift fluid or for example fish from a fluid reservoir. The principle of adding a pressurized air flow to the inlet of the fluid pipe is known. The effect is that the density of the fluid is lowered in the fluid column inside the fluid pipe, and thus the pressure of the water reservoir will lift the fluid surface level inside the fluid pipe above the fluid surface of the reservoir and fluid may be lifted to corresponding height. In figure 1A an airlift pump with desired depth reach is illustrated, and in figure 1B an airlift pump with desired lifting height is illustrated, and the difference is very visual in that to lift higher the depth must increase. The height above the reservoir level it is possible to lift the surface inside the fluid pipe is substantially proportional to the depth of the pipe below the reservoir surface and the density of the fluid column inside the fluid pipe relative the density of the fluid in the reservoir. Thus, if a fish lifting operation used to lift fish from a fish cage, for example for further processing or treatment, need to lift the fish up on to a boat or barge, the collecting pipe must be pushed fairly deep into the fish cage. This is problematic on several levels. It is problematic to have a deep sticking collector pipe, it is difficult to collect the fish at the bottom of the cage, or at a low level, and even if the technique does not have a theoretical limit to lifting height, the height that is practically achievable is often not enough. Therefor the industry make use of for example coupled ejector pumps, of more complex centrifugal pumps. These techniques have many drawbacks. The ejector pump will for example inhibit a pressure pulse with steep pressure flanks. These steep pressure flanks are critical to the lifted fish welfare. A centrifugal pump recently developed for the fish industry, partially combats the pressure pulses, but still struggle with one massive pressure wall that is inhibited on its ejector module. Pressure profiles of prior art techniques are visualized in figure 5A – 5D of the attached drawings.Such prior art can briefly be discussed as shown in figure 5A where a centrifugal pump is arranged at the end of the fluid pipe, and the arrangement have an even increasing pressure profile until the exit phase wherein the transported objects are faced with a massive steep pressure wall. A much used system being a pump induced siphon system transporting a fish from a fish pen through a treatment section by using an ejector pump, and the pressure profile is even increasing and smoot as seen in figure 5B. The big drawback here is that the exit must be at the same level as the intake, namely in the sea, and all the treatment water is exited together with the fish. This is very undesirable, and not according to environmental requirements.A system for lifting the fish is introduced by the hydroflow system shown in figure 5C. This system enables the operator to lift the fish through a treatment phase and exit the fish well above the sea level for further separation of for example waste. The drawback is that this system also defines massive pressure walls imposed on the fish.Figure 5D illustrates how prior art use an air pump stage for lifting the exit level of a treatment plant for fish. The disadvantage of such a system is that the pressure increasing phase is provided by an arrangement sticking far below the barge which the treatment system is installed onto. This makes the whole system vulnerable. Transporting and handling is also complicated.Figure 2A shows a first embodiment of present invention.The first aspect of this disclosure shows a gaslift pump 1 for use in fluid lifting operations comprising: a fluid, typically water, pipe 10 being a siphon type tube comprising an inflow portion 2 and an outflow portion 3 wherein the inflow portion 2 comprise an inlet opening 4 for being arranged below the surface 23 of a fluid reservoir 20. A gas, typically air, inlet 11 is arranged to feed gas/air into the inflow portion 2 of the fluid pipe 10. This gas inlet 11 may be arranged at any point along the inflow portion of the fluid/water pipe, but the lower it is arranged, the better lifting capacity is achieved. A gas, typically air, vacuum pump 7 having a pump inlet conduit 8 is connected to the top portion of the fluid pipe 10, such that the pump inlet conduit 8 is in fluid/gas communication with the fluid pipe fluid stream. The arrangement is such that the gas that is mixed with the fluid in the inflow portion 2 of the fluid pipe 10 will rise and exit through the pump inlet conduit 8 when the fluid stream pass the highest portion of the siphon fluid pipe 10.The outflow portion 3 of the fluid pipe 10 is provided with an outlet opening 9, such that when: - the inlet opening 4 is arranged below the surface 23 of the fluid reservoir 20, - the fluid pipe 10 is filled with fluid, and- gas is fed into the inflow portion 2 of the fluid pipe 10,the density of the fluid column inside the inflow portion 2 will be lowered as the gas rises and mix with the fluid in the inflow portion 2 of the fluid pipe 10. The vacuum pump 7 will when operating increase the vacuum in the fluid pipe 10 with the effect that the pressure flank inside the fluid pipe is evenly decreased/increased along the complete height of the fluid pipe 10 height. The gas fed into the inflow portion 2 of the fluid pipe flow to the top of the fluid pipe 10 and feeds the vacuum pump 7 from the top of the fluid pipe 10. The fluid column in the outflow portion 3 creates a siphon effect with increasing pressure along the outflow portion 3 towards the outlet opening 9.The effect of this arrangement is that the gaslift pump 1 is not dependent on a deep reaching fluid pipe below the surface 23 of the fluid reservoir, to achieve a better lift. The lifting height h1 is now dependent on vacuum pump characteristics, gas distributed in the inflow portion 2 of the fluid pipe 10, fluid pipe dimensions, and height of the siphon type fluid pipe.It may be advantageous to provide the inflow portion 2 of the fluid pipe 10 with a larger cross section than on the outflow portion 3, alternatively a constriction element (not shown) may be provided at the outlet opening 9. This is provided to maintain pressure profile and siphon operation of the fluid pipe. When using a constriction element, this may be provided in a treatment module 51 as discussed comprised below, or downstream of such treatment module 51.It is a desired feature of the lower diameter outflow portion 3/constriction element to provide a fluid environment having a slightly higher pressure profile at the outlet opening 9 than the ambient pressure.For fish pen operation as discussed below, and in particular when farming salmon/trout, it may be advantageous to use an inflow portion 2 pipe with diameter between 150 and 700 mm, and more advantageous between 200-600, and most advantageous between 300 and 450 mm. Corresponding outflow portion 3 diameter/constriction cross section are may then be between 100-600, 150-500, and 250-350 mm respectively. In the example with salmon/trout farming as discussed above, it may be advantageous to maintain a flow speed at between 1,0 – 2,0 m/s, and more advantageous between 1,3 and 1,8 m/s. The flow speed is meant to prohibit fish to swim against the flow and avoid being transported with the flow once inside the fluid pipe 10.Pipe dimensions as discussed may provide a flow volume of 200-750 m3/hour, typically approximately 500 m3/hour.It is also within the inventive concept of present invention to adapt the dimensions to smaller or larger purpose applications, and thus the concept is not to be limited by the above example dimensions.The pump inlet conduit 8 should be dimensioned corresponding to the fluid flow profile and gas mix rate, and large enough such that the vacuum pump 7 does not draw fluid into, and fill, the pump inlet conduit 8.A connection valve 12 may be provided for connecting the gas inlet 11 with the conduit of the fluid pipe 10.The connection valve 12 may be pressure controlled 19 to adapt gas throughput rate in accordance with required gas mix inside the inflow portion 2 of the fluid pipe 10 and the position of the connection valve 12 as illustrated in figure 2D.The connection valve 12 may be a static open valve having a fixed restraining effect due to its conduit dimension, a one way valve allowing gas to flow only in one direction – into the fluid pipe, or it may be an active dynamic valve able to change gas flow through its changing conduit characteristics. If the connection valve 12 is arranged above the reservoir surface, the vacuum inside the fluid pipe 10 will create an inflow gas stream through the connection valve 12. The rate at which the gas is let into the fluid stream inside the fluid pipe 10 will define the throughput rate and lifting height of the siphon pipe.In other embodiment, as shown in figures 2A-C the gaslift pump 1 comprises a gas pump 5 with a gas pump outlet 6, wherein the gas pump outlet 6 is arranged to feed gas into the gas inlet 11.An inlet conduit 11’ may be provided to channel the gas/air from the gas pump or ambient air to the gas inlet 11. The advantage with providing a pressurized gas inlet , is that the gas can be introduced into the fluid pipe at a pressurized level, for example at the inlet opening of the fluid pipe 4 below the fluid surface 23.The connection valve 12 may further comprise a gas diffuser element 13 arranged to distribute gas evenly into the fluid column in the inflow portion 2 of the fluid pipe 10. The gas distribution pattern will impact the welfare of the objects lifted in the gaslift pump 1, and the distribution pattern may also impact the efficiency of the gaslift pump itself.The vacuum pump inlet conduit 8 may have a gas collector enclosure 14 arranged adjacent and above the top portion of the fluid pipe 10 interfacing the internal of the vacuum pump inlet conduit with the internal of the fluid pipe 10. The task of such a collector enclosure 14 is to provide sufficient area on the a portion of the top of the siphon pipe bend to allow all the introduced gas from the gas inlet 11 to flow to the surface and through the gas collector enclosure 14 and escape into the vacuum pump inlet 8. Any portion of the gas that resides in the fluid flow when entering the outflow portion will reduce the density of the fluid column in the outflow portion 3 of the fluid pipe, and this will impact the siphon effect. It is the density of the fluid and volume differences between the inflow portion 2 and the outflow portion 3 of the fluid pipe that defines the height h1 it is possible to lift the fluid from the reservoir surface level, and still maintain a sufficient fluid flow through the fluid pipe.Specifically for live object such as fish from a fish pen in a fish farm it is vital to maintain a flow rate through the fluid pipe that is faster than the fish being transported in the fluid pipe is able to swim. Normally such fish will want to swim against the fluid flow direction, and thus the fish is pulled backwards into and through the fluid pipe 10.The interface interfacing the internal of the vacuum pump inlet conduit 8 or the gas collector enclosure 14 with the internal of the fluid pipe 10 may comprise an object separation device (not shown) for keeping objects lifted in the fluid away from the vacuum pump inlet conduit 8. This is important specifically in embodiments where live fish is transported, or object such as fruit and the like having a positive buoyancy. Live fish may want to escape through the gas inlet 11 if allowed. That would reasonably quickly clog the whole gas inlet 11, with the effect that the vacuum was lost, and the gaslift pump 1 would stop working. Objects with a natural positive buoyancy will flow to the top of the fluid stream inside the fluid pipe. At the top bend of the siphon phase, this would also lead to a clogged gas inlet 11 if not for the object separation device. The object separation device may be a grid or net with high gas permeability characteristics.A further feature that may be provided by present invention is described by a second embodiment , as shown in figure 2B, where a fluid pipe section having present invention installed may be used to increase the pressure and/or flow throughput within the fluid pipe without introducing steep pressure flanks to the fluid stream. The outflow portion of the fluid pipe is equal or longer in length than the inflow portion, and since the density is higher in the outflow portion, the pressure will be more positive at the output than at the input.This has the effect that present invention may also be used for other application that pure lifting operations, but also where any fluid pressure increase is needed, but wherein other prior art pump systems are discouraged.A third embodiment of present invention is described by the example shown in figure 2C, wherein an increased lifting height is achieved by the gaslift pump 1 comprising a second and third stage gaslift pump 100, 100’ having a second and third fluid pipe 110, 110’ being a siphon type tube comprising a second and third inflow portion 102, 102’ and a second and third outflow portion 103, 103’. The second and third inflow portion 102, 102’ then comprise a second and third inlet opening 104,104’ that is connected to the outflow portion 9, 109 of the fluid pipe 10, 100 of the first and second gaslift pump 1 stage respectively. The second and third stage gaslift pump 100, 100’ may comprise a second and third gas pump 105, 105’ comprising a second and third gas pump outlet 106.106’, wherein the second and third gas pump outlet 106, 106’ is arranged to feed gas into a second and third gas inlet 111, 111’ being provided with a second and third connection point 112, 112’ arranged to feed gas into the second and third inflow portion 102, 102’ of the second and third fluid pipe 110, 110’. If the second and/or third connection point 112, 112’ is provided to let the gas inlet 111, 111’ connect to the second and third inflow portion 102, 102’ at a level where the inside has a negative pressure (vacuum) the second or third gas pump 105, 105’ may be omitted.A second and third gas vacuum pump 107, 107’ having a second and third pump inlet conduit 108, 108’ is provided and arranged to connect to the top portion of the second and third fluid pipe 110, 110’, such that the density of the fluid column inside the inflow portions 2, 102, 102’ is lowered as the gas rises in the fluid pipes 10,110, 110’ and the vacuum pumps 7, 107, 107’ operates to increase the vacuum along the height of the fluid pipe 10, 110, 110’. The gas pumped into the fluid feeds the vacuum pumps 7,107, 107’from the top of the fluid pipes 10, 110, 110’, and the fluid column in the outflow portions creates a siphon effect with increasing pressure along the outflow portions towards the outlet openings.The more stages the gaslift pump system comprise, the better lifting height.In one system of present invention there might be two gaslift stages and not three as described above.In the earlier discussed advantageous provision of the inflow portion 2 of the fluid pipe 10 having a larger cross section than the outflow portion 3, alternatively the constriction element (not shown) that may be provided at the outlet opening 9, it is in a multistage embodiment as discussed above, sufficient to provide such lower cross section on the outflow portion 3, alternatively the constriction element (not shown), only on the last stage.The advantage of present invention systems according to the third embodiment is evident when looking at for example the pressure profile in figure 6C, were a multistage system according to present invention is arranged on a floating barge for lifting fish from a fish pen. From the position of the intake below the surface 23 at the left, the positive pressure of the ambient water may be considered to be around 0,15 barg. Air is in this embodiment added, for example at a 35% volume mix with water at the intake position, and therefore the 0 barg level 22 inside the fluid pipe 10 is raised above ambient sea level 23 proportional to the density of the fluid inside the pipe and outside in the ambient sea due to the air mix %. The gas vacuum pump 7 creates a slowly increasing negative pressure (vacuum) along the inlet side of the fluid pipe until the fluid pipe reaches its highest point where the air is drawn into the pump inlet conduit 8. The water streams towards the outflow portion of the fluid pipe, and due to siphon effect of the ,ore dense water, due to air has been expelled, will cause the pressure to slowly rise along the fluid pipe stretch facing downward. At approximately 0 barg a new siphon type pipe stage is added, and a vacuum pump arranged at the highest point of the second stage together with a new air pump inlet at a point close to the bottom of the second stage inlet side, enables a new vacuum to build up along the fluid pipe. A third stage is shown, and using the same arrangement and vacuum pressures, and airpump inserting air close to the lowest point of the third stage inlet side, results in an even higher output height. The result of using the shown arrangement enables the water and its content to be lifted almost 3 meters relative the sea level, and that at an arrangement where the intake 4 is only marginally more than 1 meter below the surface of the sea, and a maximum height of the installation at only 5 meters above deck. No sudden pressure walls are introduced to the objects/fish lifted in the fluid pipe, and the treatment modules can be safely arranged on board of the barge, and the output from the treatment modules are arranged almost 3 meters above the sea level. This allows for the fish to be output over a suitable rinsing rack, or similar before being handled further.The gaslift pump 1 according to the present invention may comprise any number of stages as discussed above, hence adding height to the total fluid lifting height.Two or more gas pump outlets are fed by one and the same gas pump. Depending on space requirements, availability of pumping devices, and fluid rates, if the same gas/air pressure can be used, the pump outlets of two or more stages may be fed by a single gas pump. This saves space, and requires less controlling operations.The same apply to the vacuum pumps, wherein two or more vacuum pump inlet conduit may feed one gas vacuum pump.When the fluid 20 is water in a marine environment, and the gaslift pump is arranged to lift objects being comprised in the water, it will be advantageous that the gas is air.As seen in the example discussed above, the object is a fish 50. The examples in figure 3A-B, 4A to 6C is about lifting an amount of fish from a fish pen up to a boat/barge, for treatment, and the fish is returned to a sea environment or similar after handling. This is an example embodiment only, and it should be understood that the present invention may in other embodiments be used for lifting fish from a fish pen to a floating slaughtering installation or the like. The present invention may likewise be used to lift for example fragile fruit from a cleaning bath enclosure to a processing/packaging stage.Figure 3C show such an arrangement where a bath 20’ is provided to establish a surface level and an environment wherein an object to be lifted by present invention lies. This can be for example a fish collecting tank in a line fishing boat, or a tomato washing tank on a farm processing and packaging plant. A “closed loop” system is created wherein a siphon type fluid pipe connects to the tank and air is added at an inflow side of the siphon pipe at a position where all the air flows up in the upward directed fluid pipe. The air is mixed with the water, and the vacuum pump connected at the top of the fluid pipe increases the negative pressure (increase the vacuum) at an even rate along the stretch, and the outflow side of the siphon fluid pipe increase the pressure towards an output opening being arranged at a height above the surface level of the tank sufficient to arrange a separation of the object from the fluid. The fluid may then fall back into the tank, such that the system requires very little, or none, fluid supply once the system is filled with fluid at required level.All the systems of present invention discussed in this document comprise features (not shown) that will prefill the fluid pipe system before vacuum pump starts, gas pumps/openings enables air flow into the inflow portions, and inflow openings are arranged in the fluid below fluid level.Present invention may when used in for example a fish treatment operation, as exemplified in for example figure 3A, be arranged such that the outlet opening 9 of outflow portion 3 being attached to a treatment module 51. The treatment module may have a treatment inlet 52, a treatment chamber 53 and a treatment outlet 54, such that the treatment inlet 52 is in fluid connection with the outlet 9 of the outflow portion 3.In a further example embodiment of present invention, as shown in figure 4A, the gaslift pump 1 comprises an exit fluid pipe 55 arranged on, and in fluid connection with, the treatment outlet 54, and the exit fluid pipe comprise a pressure increasing pump 60 to increase the pressure inside the exit fluid pipe to allow for raising the outlet of the exit fluid. Thus the fluid flow rate may be maintained with a higher exit height.In an even further embodiment example, as shown in figure 3B, a further stage gaslift pump section is arranged connected to the exit fluid pipe 55 in similar serial arrangement as described above to figure 2C and hence adding height to the total fluid lifting height. Figure 4B illustrates how the second stage gaslift pump 70 is arranged in a reversed order, wherein the siphon effect side 3 is arranged first, and the airlift section 2 is arranged last. Thus in this latter example, a similar effect is achieved if there are room below the installation for a reversed order siphon pipe segment, and increased output height is achieved.The second aspect of this disclosure shows a method for gentle lifting of an object from a fluid reservoir to a higher height than the surface 23 of the fluid reservoir, comprising the steps:- providing a gaslift pump 1 according to present invention, - arranging the inlet opening 4 of the inflow portion 2 of the fluid pipe 10 a first depth below the surface 23 of a fluid reservoir 20,- providing a gas inlet 11 being arranged to feed gas into the inflow portion 2 of the fluid pipe 10, and- providing a gas vacuum pump 7 having a pump inlet conduit 8 arranged to connect to the top portion of the fluid pipe 10,- filling the fluid pipe 10 with fluid,- feed gas into the inflow portion 2 of the fluid pipe 10, such that the density of the fluid column inside the inflow portion 2 is lowered as the gas rises in the fluid pipe 10,- operate the vacuum pump 7 to increase the vacuum along the height of the fluid pipe (10) wherein the gas fed into the inflow portion 2 of the fluid pipe 10 feeds the vacuum pump 7 from the top of the fluid pipe 10, and the fluid column in the outflow portion 3 creates a siphon effect with increasing pressure along the outflow portion 3 towards an outlet opening 9 being comprised in the outflow portion 3 of the fluid pipe 10.The method may further comprises the steps:- arranging the gaslift pump 1 to a vessel 90 arranged to lift fish 50 from a fish pen 20,- include a fish treatment module 51 in the fluid pipe path,- arrange the exit opening 55 of the fluid pipe over a drainage module 80 for separating water and waste from the fish 50, wherein the fish is left on a grate leading the fish to further processing or to an exit environment 21.The third aspect of this disclosure shows a system for gentle lifting of an object from a fluid reservoir to a higher level than the surface 23 of the fluid reservoir, the system comprising:a gaslift pump according to present invention,a vessel 90 wherein the gaslift pump 1 is arranged,a fluid reservoir 20 wherein an inlet 4 of the gaslift pump 1 is arranged, fluid 20 and/or objects 50 to be lifted by the gaslift pump 1. The person skilled in the art realizes that the present disclosure is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. The person skilled in the art further realizes that modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. For example, as mentioned above the present invention may be used for lifting delicate creatures and objects floating/being comprised in a fluid, and when the objects are vulnerable to fast pressure changes such as applied by fluid pumps used in prior art. Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed disclosure, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.
Claims
1. A gaslift pump (1) for use in fluid lifting operations comprising:a fluid pipe (10) being a siphon type tube comprising an inflow portion (2) and an outflow portion (3) wherein the inflow portion (2) comprise an inlet opening (4) for being arranged below the surface (23) of a fluid reservoir (20),a gas inlet (11) being arranged to feed gas into the inflow portion (2) of the fluid pipe (10), a gas vacuum pump (7) having a pump inlet conduit (8) arranged to connect to the top portion of the fluid pipe (10), andthe outflow portion (3) of the fluid pipe (10) having an outlet opening (9), such that when: the inlet opening (4) is arranged below the surface (23) of the fluid reservoir (20), the fluid pipe (10) is filled with fluid, and gas is fed into the inflow portion (2) of the fluid pipe (10), the density of the fluid column inside the inflow portion (2) is lowered as the gas rises in the fluid pipe (10), and the vacuum pump (7) operates to increase the vacuum along the height of the fluid pipe (10) wherein the gas fed into the inflow portion (2) of the fluid pipe (10) feeds the vacuum pump (7) from the top of the fluid pipe (10), and the fluid column in the outflow portion (3) creates a siphon effect with increasing pressure along the outflow portion (3) towards the outlet opening (9),and the gas inlet (11) connect with the conduit of the fluid pipe (10) in a connection valve (12, wherein connection valve (12) is pressure controlled (19) to adapt gas throughput rate in accordance with required gas mix inside the inflow portion (2) of the fluid pipe (10) and the position of the connection valve (12).2. The gaslift pump (1) according to any one of the previous claims, further comprising a gas pump (5) with a gas pump outlet (6), wherein the gas pump outlet (6) is arranged to feed gas into the gas inlet (11).3. The gaslift pump (1) according to claim 1, wherein the connection valve (12) comprise a gas diffuser element (13) arranged to distribute gas evenly into the fluid column in the inflow portion (2) of the fluid pipe (10).4. The gaslift pump (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the outflow portion (3) comprise a constricting element with a lower cross section area than the inflow portion (2).5. The gaslift pump (1) according to claim 4, wherein the constricting element is facilitated by the outflow portion itself having a lower cross section area than the inflow portion (2).6. The gaslift pump (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the vacuum pump inlet conduit (8) has a gas collector enclosure (14) arranged adjacent and above the top portion of the fluid pipe (10).7. The gaslift pump (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the gas collector enclosure comprise an object separation device for keeping objects lifted in the fluid away from the vacuum pump inlet.8. The gaslift pump (1) according to any of previous claims, further comprising a second stage gaslift pump (100) having a second fluid pipe (110) being a siphon type tube comprising a second inflow portion (102) and a second outflow portion (103) wherein the second inflow portion (102) comprise a second inlet opening (104) being connected to the outflow portion (9) of the fluid pipe (10), anda second gas pump (105) comprising a second gas pump outlet (106), wherein the second gas pump outlet (106) is arranged to feed gas into a second gas inlet (111) being arranged to feed gas into the second inflow portion (102) of the second fluid pipe (110),a second gas vacuum pump (107) having a second pump inlet conduit (108) arranged in the top portion of the second fluid pipe (110), such that when inlet opening (4) is arranged below the surface (23) of a fluid reservoir, the fluid pipes are filled with fluid and gas is pumped into the inflow portions (2, 102) of the fluid pipes (10, 110), the density of the fluid column inside the inflow portions (2, 102) is lowered as the gas rises in the fluid pipes (10, 110), and the vacuum pumps (7, 107) operates to increase the vacuum along the height of the fluid pipe (10) wherein the gas pumped into the fluid feeds the vacuum pumps (7, 107) from the top of the fluid pipes (2, 102), and the fluid column in the outflow portions creates a siphon effect with increasing pressure along the outflow portions towards the outlet openings.9. The gaslift pump (1) according to claim 8, further comprising one or more further stage gaslift pump sections arranged in similar serial arrangement, hence adding height to the total fluid lifting capacity.10. The gaslift pump (1) according to any of previous claims 8 to 9, wherein two or more gas inlet s (11, 111) are fed by one gas pump (5).11. The gaslift pump (1) according to any of previous claims 8 to 10, wherein two or more vacuum pump inlet conduit feeds one gas vacuum pump.12. The gaslift pump (1) according to any of previous claims, wherein the fluid (20) is water in a marine environment, and the gaslift pump is arranged to lift objects being comprised in the water.13. The gaslift pump (1) according to any of previous claims, wherein the gas is air.14. The gaslift pump (1) according to claims 12 or 13, wherein the object is a fish (50).15. The gaslift pump (1) according to any of previous claims, wherein one or more of the outflow portions being attached to a treatment module (51), the treatment module having a treatment inlet (52), a treatment chamber (53) and a treatment outlet (54), wherein the treatment inlet is in fluid connection with the outlet of the outflow portion.16. The gaslift pump (1) according to claims 15, further comprising an exit fluid pipe (55) arranged on, and in fluid connection with, the treatment outlet (54), and the exit fluid pipe comprise a pressure increasing pump (60) to increase the pressure inside the exit fluid pipe to allow for raising the outlet of the exit fluid.17. The gaslift pump (1) according to any of previous claims 15 to 16, wherein one or more further stage gaslift pump sections are arranged connected to the exit fluid pipe (55) in similar serial arrangement as described in claim 8 - 11, hence adding height to the total fluid lifting capacity.18. A method for gentle lifting of an object from a fluid reservoir to a higher level than the surface (23) of the fluid reservoir, comprising the steps:- providing a gaslift pump (1) according to any one of claim 1 to 19,- arranging the inlet opening (4) of the inflow portion (2) of the fluid pipe (10) a first depth below the surface (23) of the fluid reservoir (20),- providing a gas inlet (11) being arranged to feed gas into the inflow portion (2) of the fluid pipe (10), and- providing a gas vacuum pump (7) having a pump inlet conduit (8) arranged in the top portion of the fluid pipe (10),- filling the fluid pipe (10) with fluid,- feed gas into the inflow portion (2) of the fluid pipe (10), such that the density of the fluid column inside the inflow portion (2) is lowered as the gas rises in the fluid pipe (10),- operate the vacuum pump (7) to increase the vacuum along the height of the fluid pipe (10) wherein the gas fed into the inflow portion (2) of the fluid pipe (10) feeds the vacuum pump (7) at the top of the fluid pipe (10), and the fluid column in the outflow portion (3) creates a siphon effect with increasing pressure along the outflow portion (3) towards an outlet opening (9) being comprised in the outflow portion (3) of the fluid pipe (10).19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the step:- arranging the gaslift pump onto a vessel (90) arranged to lift fish (50) from a fish pen (20), - include a fish treatment module (51) in the fluid pipe path,- arrange the exit opening (55) of the fluid pipe over a drainage module (80) for separating water and waste from the fish (50),wherein the fish is left on a grate leading the fish to further processing or to an exit environment (21).20. A system for gentle lifting of an object from a fluid reservoir to a higher level than the surface (23) of the fluid reservoir, the system comprising:a gaslift pump (1) according to any one of claim 1 to 17,a vessel (90) wherein the gaslift pump (1) is arranged,a fluid reservoir (20) wherein an inlet (4) of the gaslift pump (1) is arranged,fluid (20) and/or objects (50) to be lifted by the gaslift pump (1).1. Gassløftepumpe (1) for bruk i fluidløfteoperasjoner omfattende: et fluidrør (10) som er et rør formet som et hevertrør som omfatter en innstrømningsdel (2) og en utstrømningsdel (3) hvori innstrømningsdelen (2) omfatter en innløpsåpning (4) for å bli anordnet  under overflaten (23) av en fluidreservoar (20),  et gassinnløp (11) er anordnet for å mate gass inn i innstrømningsdelen (2) av fluidrøret (10),  en gassvakuumpumpe (7) har en pumpeinnløpsrør (8) anordnet for å koble til den øvre delen av  fluidrøret (10), ogutstrømningsdelen (3) av fluidrøret (10) har en utløpsåpning (9), slik at når:  innløpsåpningen (4) er anordnet under overflaten (23) av fluidreservoaret (20), og fluidrøret (10)  er fylt med fluid, og gass mates inn i innstrømningsdelen (2) av fluidrøret (10) ), blir tettheten til  fluidsøylen inne i innstrømningsdelen (2) senket når gassen stiger i fluidrøret (10), og  vakuumpumpen (7) virker for å øke undertrykket langs høyden av fluidrøret (10) hvori gassen som  mates inn i innstrømningsdelen (2) av fluidrøret (10) mater vakuumpumpen (7) fra toppen av  fluidrøret (10), og fluidkolonnen i utstrømningsdelen (3) skaper en heverteffekt med økende trykk  langs utstrømningsdelen (3) mot utløpsåpningen (9), og gassinnløpet (11) kobles til ledningen til  fluidrøret (10) i en koblingsventil (12), hvori koblingsventilen (12) er trykkstyrt (19) for å tilpasse  gassgjennomstrømningshastigheten i samsvar med nødvendig gassblanding inne i  innstrømningsdelen (2) av fluidrøret (10) og posisjonen til konvensjonen koblingsventil (12).2. Gassløftepumpen (1) ifølge krav 1, videre omfattende en gasspumpe (5) med et gasspumpeutløp (6), hvori gasspumpeutløpet (6) er anordnet for å mate gass inn i gassinnløpet (11).3. Gassløftepumpen (1) ifølge krav 1, hvori tilkoblingsventilen (12) omfatter et gassdiffusorelement (13) anordnet for å fordele gass jevnt inn i fluidkolonnen i innstrømningsdelen  (2) av fluidrøret (10) ).4. Gassløftepumpen (1) ifølge hvilket som helst av de foregående kravene, hvori utstrømningsdelen (3) omfatter et innsnevringselement med et lavere tverrsnittsareal enn  innstrømningsdelen (2).5. Gassløftepumpe (1) ifølge krav 4, hvori innsnevringselementet er tiveiebragt ved at selve utløpsdelen har et lavere tverrsnittsareal enn innløpsdelen (2).6. Gassløftepumpen (1) ifølge hvilket som helst av de foregående kravene, hvori vakuumpumpens innløpsrør (8) har en gassoppsamlerrom (14) anordnet tilstøtende og over den øvre  delen av fluidrøret (10).7. Gassløftepumpen (1) ifølge hvilket som helst av de foregående kravene, hvori gassoppsamlerrommet omfatter en objektseparasjonsanordning for å holde objekter løftet i fluidet  bort fra vakuumpumpeinnløpet.8. Gassløftepumpen (1) ifølge hvilket som helst av de foregående kravene, videre omfattende et andre trinn gassløftepumpe (100) som har et andre fluidrør (110) som er et hevertrør omfattende en  andre innstrømningsdel (102) og en andre utstrømning del (103) hvori den andre innstrømningsdelen  (102) omfatter en andre innløpsåpning (104) som er forbundet med utstrømningsdelen (9) av fluidrøret (10), og en andre gasspumpe (105) som omfatter et andre gasspumpeutløp (106), hvori det andre  gasspumpeutløpet (106) er anordnet for å mate gass inn i et andre gassinnløp (111) som er anordnet  for å mate gass inn i den andre innstrømningsdelen ( 102) til det andre fluidrøret (110),  en andre gassvakuumpumpe (107) som har et andre pumpeinnløpsrør (108) anordnet i den øvre  delen av det andre fluidrøret (110), slik at når innløpsåpningen (4) er anordnet under overflaten (23)  av et fluid reservoar, og fluidrørene er fylt med fluid, og gass pumpes inn i innstrømningsdelene (2,  102) til fluidrørene (10, 110), senkes tettheten til fluidkolonnen inne i innløpsdelene (2, 102) etter hvert som gassen stiger i fluidrørene (10, 110), og vakuumpumpene (7, 107) virker for å øke undertrykket langs høyden av fluidrøret (10) hvori gassen som pumpes inn i fluidet mater vakuumpumpene (7) , 107) fra toppen av fluidrørene (2, 102), og fluidsøylen i utløpsdelene skaper en heverteffekt med økende trykk langs utløpsdelene mot utløpsåpningene.9. Gassløftepumpen (1) ifølge krav 8, videre omfattende en eller flere ytterligere trinns gassløftepumpeseksjoner anordnet i lignende seriemessig arrangement, og dermed legger til høyde  til den totale fluidløftekapasiteten.10. Gassløftepumpen (1) ifølge hvilket som helst av de foregående kravene 8 til 9, hvori to eller flere gassinnløp (11, 111) mates av én gasspumpe (5).11. Gassløftepumpen (1) ifølge hvilket som helst av de foregående kravene 8 til 10, hvori to eller flere vakuumpumpeinnløpsrør mater én gassvakuumpumpe.12. Gassløftepumpen (1) ifølge hvilket som helst av de foregående kravene, hvori fluidet (20) er vann i et marint miljø, og gassløftepumpen er anordnet for å løfte objekter i vannet.13. Gassløftepumpen (1) ifølge et hvilket som helst av de foregående kravene, hvori gassen er luft.14. Gassløftepumpen (1) ifølge krav 12 eller 13, hvori objektet er fisk (50).15. Gassløftepumpen (1) ifølge hvilket som helst av de foregående kravene, hvori en eller flere av utstrømningsdelene er festet til en behandlingsmodul (51), behandlingsmodulen har et  behandlingsinnløp (52), et behandlingskammer (53) og et behandlingsutløp (54), hvori  behandlingsinnløpet er i fluidforbindelse med utløpet av utløpsdelen.16. Gassløftepumpen (1) ifølge krav 15, videre omfattende et utløpsfluidrør (55) anordnet på, og i fluidforbindelse med, behandlingsutløpet (54), og utløpsfluidrøret omfatter en trykkøkende pumpe  (60) for å øke trykket inne i utløpsfluidrøret for å tillate å heve utløpet av utløpsfluidstrømmen.17. Gassløftepumpen (1) ifølge hvilket som helst av de foregående kravene 15 til 16, hvori en eller flere ytterligere trinn gassløftepumpeseksjoner er anordnet koblet til utløpsfluidrøret (55) i  lignende seriemessig arrangement som beskrevet i krav 8‐11, for dermed å legge til høyde til den  totale fluidløftekapasiteten.18. Fremgangsmåte for forsiktig løfting av en gjenstand fra et fluidreservoar til et høyere nivå enn overflaten (23) av fluidreservoaret, omfattende trinnene:- tilveiebringe en gassløftepumpe (1) ifølge hvilket som helst av kravene 1 til 17,- arrangere innløpsåpningen (4) til innstrømningsdelen (2) av fluidrøret (10) en første dybde  under overflaten (23) av fluidreservoaret (20),- tilveiebringer et gassinntak (11) som er anordnet for å mate gass inn i innstrømningsdelen (2)  av fluidrøret (10), og- tilveiebringe en gassvakuumpumpe (7) med et pumpeinnløpsrør (8) anordnet i den øvre  delen av fluidrøret (10),- fylle fluidrøret (10) med fluid,- mate gass inn i innstrømningsdelen (2) av fluidrøret (10), slik at tettheten til fluidsøylen inne i  innstrømningsdelen (2) senkes når gassen stiger i fluidrøret (10),- betjene vakuumpumpen (7) for å øke undertrykket langs høyden av fluidrøret (10) der gassen  som føres inn i innstrømningsdelen (2) av fluidrøret (10) mater vakuumpumpen (7) på toppen av  fluidrøret (10), og fluidsøylen i utløpsdelen (3) skaper en heverteffekt med økende trykk langs  utløpsdelen (3) mot en utløpsåpning (9) som inngår i utløpsdelen (3) til fluidrøret (10).19. Fremgangsmåten ifølge krav 18, videre omfattende trinnene:- arrangere gassløftepumpen på et fartøy (90) innrettet for å løfte fisk (50) fra en fiskemerd (20),- inkludere en fiskebehandlingsmodul (51) i fluidrørbanen,- ordne utløpsåpningen (55) til fluidrøret over en dreneringsmodul (80) for å separere vann og  avfall fra fisken (50),  hvori fisken blir liggende på en rist som fører fisken til videre bearbeiding eller til et utgangsmiljø  (21).20. System for forsiktig løfting av et objekt fra et fluidreservoar til et høyere nivå enn overflaten (23) av fluidreservoaret, systemet omfatter:en gassløftepumpe (1) ifølge hvilket som helst av kravene 1 til 17, et fartøy (90) hvor gassløftepumpen (1) er anordnet, et fluidreservoar (20) hvori et innløp (4) til gassløftepumpen (1) er anordnet,fluid (20) og/eller objekter (50) som skal løftes av gassløftepumpen (1).
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Patent classes

IPC classesF04F 10/00F04F 10/02A01K 79/00F04F 1/18CPC classesF04F 10/00F04F 10/02A01K 79/00F04F 1/18

Citations

EP 0232000 A1 (A1)US 4558990 A (A)US 4756671 A (A)WO 2012057063 A1 (A1)EP 0051571 A1 (A1)

Applicants, owners and inventors

Owners
Vaagland Båtbyggeri AS
Våglandsvegen 70 6683 VÅGLAND NO (HEIM Municipality, Trøndelag county)Org. number: 947621467Inventors
Knut Vaagland
Gamleveien 1 6683 VÅGLAND NO (HEIM Municipality, Trøndelag county)

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ZACCO NORWAY AS
ZACCO NORWAY AS

Org. number: 982702887

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Postboks 488 0213 OSLO NO (OSLO Municipality, Oslo county)
Org. number: 982702887
Reference: P342117NO00

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