Key information

Title
Plant for aquaculture
Application number
20240598
Case type
National
Status
06.10.2025 Patent meddelt (B1)
Filed
07.06.2024
Effective date
07.06.2024
Publicly available
06.10.2025
Next annual fee due
30.06.2027
Applicant
BRIM FARM HOLDING AS (NO)
Owner
BRIM FARM HOLDING AS (NO)
Inventor
Alf-Petter Olsen (NO) et al.
Agent
BRYN AARFLOT AS (NO)
Granted
06.10.2025
Patent number
349118
Expiry date
07.06.2044

Abstract and drawing

Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content.
Plant for aquaculture, as floating in a body of water, comprising a tank for aquaculture, the tank comprises one side part and one bottom part, which parts are watertight and are made of concrete, the side part of the tank extends upwards parallel to and around a central vertical axis of the tank, wherein the tank has a circular, elliptical, polygonal or similar cross section shape, the plant further comprises one or more water inlets, one or more pumps for pumping in water, an outlet system for water, an outlet system for faeces and any surplus food, an outlet system where any dead fish can be taken out, and operatively connected or integrated sterilization and/or oxygenation equipment as required. The plant is distinguished in that it further comprises: a number of outer cells extending parallel to the vertical axis, wherein the outer cells extend from a bottom elevation of the tank up to a top elevation of the tank, wherein the outer cells are integrated with the tank, on the outside of the tank, wherein the tank and the outer cells is one single structure, wherein the outer cells have a bottom part in the lower end, at the bottom elevation of the tank and the outer cells, wherein the outer cells are made of concrete, wherein the outer cells are arranged around the periphery outside the tank as groups of cells, with distance along said periphery between the groups of cells; wherein each group of cells comprises two, three or four cells, or a single cell; wherein the integrated tank and outer cells have identical cross section shape, preferably over the full vertical height from the integrated tank bottom part and the outer cell bottom, at the bottom elevation of the tank and outer cells, up to a top level, wherein the outer cells are closed at a top elevation, wherein the plant comprises or is operatively coupled to a ballast pump system for emptying or filling the tank and any number of the outer cells with ballast water, enabling lifting the plant, i.e. the tank and the integrated outer cells, to an upper position, feasible for cleaning/transit/inspection/maintenance, wherein the draught is minimized, by emptying the outer cells and the tank; and immersing the plant at least down to an operating mode position, in which position aquaculture is to take place within the tank, by filling the tank to an operation level whilst emptying emptying the outer cells.

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Date
 Date Doc. No. Process Case number In/Out Journal description To/from
 02.05.2026 11-01 Saksbehandling 20240598(349118) UT PT Varsel om betaling av første årsavgift (3317) (PT20240598) BRYN AARFLOT AS
 09.10.2025 10-01 Saksbehandling 20240598(349118) UT PT Registreringsbrev nasjonal patent (15) (PT20240598)
01.07.2025 09-01 Saksbehandling 20240598 UT Intention to grant BRYN AARFLOT AS
 02.04.2025 02-01 Endring av søker/innehaver 2025/04570 UT GH Forespørsel BRYN AARFLOT AS
 01.04.2025 01-02 Endring av søker/innehaver 2025/04570 INN GPOA NO Brim Farm Holding AS BRYN AARFLOT AS
 01.04.2025 01-01 Endring av søker/innehaver 2025/04570 INN Generell henvendelse BRYN AARFLOT AS
 07.03.2025 08-06 Saksbehandling 20240598 INN Response-ForGrant-EN - marked changes BRYN AARFLOT AS
 07.03.2025 08-05 Saksbehandling 20240598 INN Response-ForGrant-EN - clean BRYN AARFLOT AS
 07.03.2025 08-04 Saksbehandling 20240598 INN Norwegian translation of claims BRYN AARFLOT AS
 07.03.2025 08-03 Saksbehandling 20240598 INN NIPO-letter BRYN AARFLOT AS
 07.03.2025 08-02 Saksbehandling 20240598 INN Corrected figures BRYN AARFLOT AS
 07.03.2025 08-01 Saksbehandling 20240598 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) BRYN AARFLOT AS
 21.01.2025 02-01 Endring av søker/innehaver 2025/00678 UT GH Forespørsel BRYN AARFLOT AS
 13.01.2025 01-01 Endring av søker/innehaver 2025/00678 INN Generell henvendelse BRYN AARFLOT AS
 06.01.2025 07-02 Saksbehandling 20240598 UT PT report 09:54:06
06.01.2025 07-01 Saksbehandling 20240598 UT Substantive Examination BRYN AARFLOT AS
 26.06.2024 06-01 Saksbehandling 20240598 UT Informasjon til oppfinner BRYN AARFLOT AS
 25.06.2024 05-02 Saksbehandling 20240598 INN Inventors to be added to application and info re the rights to the invention BRYN AARFLOT AS
 25.06.2024 05-01 Saksbehandling 20240598 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) BRYN AARFLOT AS
 25.06.2024 04-03 Saksbehandling 20240598 INN Oppfinnere som skal legges til i patentsøknad BRYN AARFLOT AS
 25.06.2024 04-02 Saksbehandling 20240598 INN General PoA-signed BRYN AARFLOT AS
 25.06.2024 04-01 Saksbehandling 20240598 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) BRYN AARFLOT AS
 10.06.2024 03-01 Saksbehandling 20240598 UT Formal Examination 1 BRYN AARFLOT AS
 10.06.2024 02-01 Saksbehandling 20240598 UT Informasjon til oppfinner Øyvind Høie
 07.06.2024 01-05 Saksbehandling 20240598 INN 145743NO_Figures BRYN AARFLOT AS
 07.06.2024 01-04 Saksbehandling 20240598 INN 145743NO_Description BRYN AARFLOT AS
 07.06.2024 01-03 Saksbehandling 20240598 INN 145743NO_Claims BRYN AARFLOT AS
 07.06.2024 01-02 Saksbehandling 20240598 INN 145743NO_Abstract BRYN AARFLOT AS
 07.06.2024 01-01 Saksbehandling 20240598 INN Søknadsskjema Patent BRYN AARFLOT 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
3491181Field of the Invention5 The present invention relates to aquaculture of fish and plants for such aquaculture.The plant of the invention is favorable with respect to cost, functionality, fish health and pollution.Background of the invention and prior art10Aquaculture is vital for providing enough food for the still growing population. About 50% of all seafood originates from aquaculture. Aquaculture of salmon and other species of fish are large industries, involving a large chain of activities, structures, personnel and capital.15Fish health is a serious issue, both from ethical and economic points of view. The mortality of salmon farming in Norway in 2023 was as high as 16,7 %. The use of medicines and chemicals cause concern.20 Escape of farmed fish is also a serious issue, threatening wild salmon populations. In Norway, the Norwegian Fish Directorate calculates that an annual average of some 140 000 individuals of salmon escape from aquaculture during the last 10 years, the real number may be far larger. Minimizing the continued blooming of sea lice, caused by intense aquaculture, would be beneficial for wild salmon populations, if possible, 25 and would probably reduce mortality significantly. Minimizing the so called “winter wounds” would also be beneficial to improve fish health and welfare and deliver better product quality to the market. Winter wounds is primarily a result of high occurrence of the Moritella Viscosa bacteria and can be reduced or eliminated by water treatment at the water intakes.30Pollution is a further serious issue. In Norway, in 2023, about 360 metric tons of copper leached out due to aquaculture, and between 7-800000 metric tons of 3491182faeces, and large quantities of uneaten food, in addition to lots of nets, ropes and various polymer structures of hardly degradable types.A demand exists for a cost-effective concept solving or significantly reducing one or 5 more of the challenges outlined above.Extensive searching has not revealed any fish farming concept close to the concept of the present invention. The nearest art is probably represented by the concept of fishfarming innovation, as seen on the website: Concept — Fishfarming Innovation 10 Further relevant technology has been described and illustrated in the patent publications NO 20221306 A and NO 20230003 A.Summary of the inventionThe demand is met by each of the plant, method and use of the present invention, as 15 defined in independent claims, to which reference is made. Some of the preferable embodiments are as defined in dependent claims, to which reference is made.The invention provides a plant for aquaculture, as floating in a body of water, comprising a tank for aquaculture, the tank comprises one side part and one bottom 20 part, which parts are watertight and are made of concrete, the side part of the tank extends upwards parallel to and around a central vertical axis of the tank, wherein the tank has a circular, elliptical, polygonal or similar cross section shape, the plant further comprises one or more water inlets, one or more pumps for pumping in water, an outlet system for water, an outlet system for faeces and any surplus food, an 25 outlet system where any dead fish can be taken out, and operatively connected or integrated sterilization and/or oxygenation equipment as required. The plant is distinguished in that it further comprises:a number of outer cells extending parallel to the vertical axis, wherein the outer cells extend from a bottom elevation of the tank up to a top elevation of the 30 tank,wherein the outer cells are integrated with the tank, on the outside of the tank, wherein the tank and the outer cells is one single structure,wherein the outer cells have a bottom part in the lower end, at the bottom elevation of the tank and the outer cells, 3491183wherein the outer cells are made of concrete,wherein the outer cells are arranged around the periphery outside the tank as groups of cells, with distance along said periphery between the groups of cells;wherein each group of cells comprises two, three or four cells, or a single cell; 5 wherein the integrated tank and outer cells have identical cross section shape, preferably over the full vertical height from the integrated tank bottom part and the outer cell bottom, at the bottom elevation of the tank and outer cells, up to a top level, wherein the outer cells are closed at a top elevation,wherein the plant comprises or is operatively coupled to a ballast pump10 system for emptying or filling the tank and any number of the outer cells with ballast water, enabling lifting the plant, i.e. the tank and the integrated outer cells, to an upper position, feasible for cleaning/transit/inspection/maintenance, wherein the draught is minimized, by emptying the outer cells and the tank; and immersing the plant at least down to an operating mode position, in which position aquaculture is to 15 take place within the tank, by filling the tank to an operation level whilst emptying the outer cells,wherein the plant comprises three, four or five or six groups of cells arranged evenly apart around the periphery of the tank on the outside if measured from a vertical centerline of each group around the periphery of the tank, comprising 6 to 12 20 or 18 cells, arranged as groups of one, two or three cells around the periphery of the tank.Preferably, the tank has circular cross section shape, and the outer cells have25 circular cross section shape, providing maximum structural strength for minimum material consumption and minimum work. Preferably, the circular walls are joined as circular walls tangential to each other, meaning the circular walls go into each other to become one common wall at the point or section of full joining or overlapping, between the outer cells and the tank and between neighbor outer cells of the same 30 group of outer cells, avoiding double walls.Arranging the outer cells as groups of outer cells, with distance between the groups of outer cells along the outer periphery of the tank, provides increased hydrodynamic stability and buoyancy at reduced material consumption, labor and cost, compared to 3491184arranging outer cells around the full periphery distance of the tank or a double tank structure with vertical bulkheads.The structure of the plant of the invention enables a significant cost reduction5 compared to other concepts for closed or semi-closed aquaculture. The tank with integrated outer cell structure is cylindrical, with equal and parallel heights, with a common floor level shared between the tank and the outer cells, with a single cylindrical continuous structure above, which enable continuous, effective concrete slip forming from the floor level up to the top level, cutting the time and cost for 10 fabrication significantly. With an expected lifetime above 100 years for the concrete structure, combined with a modest investment cost, the economy of the concept is favorable. Savings of at least 30% of the initial investment can be expected, compared to non-cylindrical and/or uneven dimensions in vertical direction, which is very surprising. If calculating the cost over many years, the result is promising. With 15 state-of-the-art slip casting, the main structure, which could be about 30-50 m in diameter and up to 30 m high, can be built within a couple of weeks, estimates indicate. The plant is preferably without any openings or embedded structures within the vertical walls, reducing cost further. Deviations from vertical direction, and identical shape, is within 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1% or 0,5% or 0,25% or less, which 20 ensures smooth fabrication by eliminating or reducing having to adjust slip formwork dimensions, arrangements or support structure during fabrication.The central body (fish tank) does not provide net positive buoyancy while operating (fishfarming), as it is connected to the sea. Thus, only the outer cells provide positive buoyancy and stability in these conditions. However, for cleaning/transport25 conditions, the central tank enables the emersion of the unit as it provides the extra buoyancy required to lift most of the structure out of the water.The inner walls and/or floor/bottom of the central body (fish tank) preferably is 30 finished with a coating and/or liner that provide simultaneously a smooth surface to avoid fish damage when entering in contact with the surface, that also allow cleaning of the surface with high pressure means regularly without damaging the surface, that avoid the marine growth without leaching copper that endanger the health of the fish, 3491185and improves transport of any surplus food, faeces and any dead fish to respective outlets, and enable reduced angular inclination of the tank bottom.The plant preferably comprises a grating, or a deck, on top of the cells and around 5 the periphery of the tank. Preferably, the grating or deck is octagonal with four sides of equal length, or near octagonal, with four and four sides of equal length, as seen from above, or the grating is hexagonal as seen from above, enabling close packing or arranging of a plurality of plants of the invention to a larger structure for aquaculture.10In many preferable embodiments the plant is comprising outer cells with circular cross section, ideal for withstanding pressure. In other preferable embodiments, the plant comprises outer cells with circular cross section, but partly cut away vertically by the inner tank, and/or curved outer cells with common walls in between and to the 15 tank outer wall. Elimination of surplus volumes, and double walls, can thereby be provided. An example of a preferable embodiment is that the cells are cut vertically by the wall of the tank, wherein the cell wall meets the tank wall at an angle in the range 90-30° as measured on the outside, and wherein walls between cells are shared walls, meeting the tank wall at around 90° angle. The plant design promotes 20 natural compression by taking advantage of the outer pressure from hydrostatic loads, leading to an efficient concrete design, minimizing concrete and armoring consumption while maximizing building efficiency.25 Preferably, the plant comprises a structure coaxial to and along a vertical centerline of the tank, the structure is termed a cigar 17 and is not made of concrete. The cigar 17 is operatively arranged to a water outlet, the cigar hence comprising a section for water outlet including an outlet control valve compartment and a vertical access trunk to the bottom of the tank, equipment for collection of faeces and any surplus food 30 from the outlet water, facilities for collecting any dead fish, and the cigar extends up to and is partly supporting a diagonal bridge over the diagonal of the tank, wherein the cigar or parts thereof or equipment arranged operatively to or with the cigar, is removable, for easy service, repair or replacement. 3491186The plant preferably comprises a number of groups of cells arranged evenly, such as 30°, 45°, 60°, 90° or 120° apart around the periphery of the tank on the inside if measured from a vertical centerline of each group around the periphery of the tank, comprising 6 to 12 or 18 cells, arranged as groups of two or three cells around the 5 periphery of the tank. In some embodiments, the plant comprises six single, double or triple cells arranged 60° or 120° apart around the periphery of the tank if measured from a vertical centerline of each single, double or triple cell around the periphery of the tank. The arrangement of groups or single cells apart around the periphery, reduce the building work while enabling a functionality as described, with empty tank 10 and empty cells providing a transport, cleaning and/or service mode position, and filled tank and empty cells providing an operating mode or position, preferably designed for still allowing safety with the plant floating and stable even if one or two cells are destroyed, for example in an unintended collision.15 The plant of the invention preferably comprises an inclined bottom in the tank, inclined inner side downwards from periphery to center, at an angle of about 5° ±3°, ±2° or ±1°, wherein the vertical thickness of the tank bottom at center is about 1 m, with increasing thickness towards the periphery due to the inclination, preferably with horizontal, flat outer bottom side facing downward, i.e. facing the building site ground 20 and oriented downwards during operation. The inclination facilitates transport of live fish, faeces, any surplus food and any dead fish to respective outlets. The inner walls and bottom of the tank preferably is coated with a low friction material protecting the fish from skin injuries (later evolving to winter wounds) and enabling easier cleaning and disinfection of the tank.25The invention also provides a method of building a plant for aquaculture according to the present invention. The method is distinguished by the steps:to build the floor of the tank and outer cells, as one single structure, with any 30 pipes or openings embedded in the floor, on a yard or building site ground, such as in a dry dock, by casting the floor using concrete or grouting and armoring, embedding any piping as required,to arrange slip forms where vertical walls are to be built, and slip casting the vertical walls of the tank and the outer cells as one single structure, integrated with 3491187the floor, up to a top level for concrete in the plant, without any openings or embedded structures within the vertical walls,to complete outfitting of the plant.5Preferably, the slip casting is undertaken as a single, continuous slip casting operation. Otherwise, the amount of rebar and post-tensioning steel will increase the cost of the structure and slow down the manufacturing process. Besides it would also add “cold joints” which make it difficult to ensure watertightness10 Preferably, the method further comprising flooding the building site, i.e. a dry dock or similar, for floating and transporting the plant to an operation location.The invention also provides use of the plant of the invention, for aquaculture of fish.15 DrawingsFigure 1 illustrates a plant of the invention as viewed obliquely from above.Figure 2 illustrates a plant of the invention as seen in longitudinal section.Figures 3a and 3b illustrate the plant of the invention as seen from above, without an upper grating or other structure.20 Figure 4 illustrates some typical dimensions and arrangements of piping in a plant of the invention.Figures 5a and 5b illustrate cleaning/transit mode and operating mode of a plant of the invention.Figure 5c illustrates some details of a typical sea water circulation system of a plant 25 of the invention.Detailed descriptionReference is made to Figures 1-5, wherein identical or similar equipment items have 30 the same numerical reference.The invention provides a plant 1 for aquaculture, comprising a tank 2 for aquaculture for floating in a body of water 3, the tank comprises one side part 4 and one bottom part 5, which parts are watertight, the tank has a circular cross section shape and is 3491188made of concrete, the plant further comprising one or more water inlets 6, one or more pumps 7 for pumping in water, an outlet 8 for water, an outlet for live fish , an outlet 9 for faeces and any surplus food, and an outlet 10 where any dead fish can be taken out, and operatively connected or integrated sterilization 12 and/or oxygenation 5 equipment 13 as required. The plant is distinguished in that it further comprises:a number of outer cells 11, made of concrete, with a full or partly round cross section shape, comprising a closed lower end 14, wherein the outer cells are integrated with the tank as one single structure, to the outside of the tank, and wherein the cells preferably extend from the bottom part level of the tank up to a top 10 level of the tank, extending preferably over the full vertical height of the tank;wherein the outer cells are arranged around the periphery outside the tank as groups of two, three or four cells, or single cells, with distance 15 along said periphery between the groups of cells or single cells;wherein the cells are operatively coupled to a ballast pump 16 for emptying or 15 filling the fish tank or any number of the cells with ballast water, enabling lifting the plant, i.e. the tank and the integrated cells, to a cleaning/transport position wherein the draught is minimized, and immersing the plant at least down to an operating position, in which position aquaculture is to take place within the tank,wherein the tank and the cells are cylindrical in shape, preferably with20 identical cross section shape and dimension, preferably over the full vertical height, from the integrated tank bottom and cell bottoms up to a top level at the upper elevation thereof, andpreferably, the number and volume of cells are sufficient to provide buoyancy and hydrodynamic stability to allow at least one, more preferably at least 25 two, or more, of the cells to be damaged and losing their buoyancy function as empty for ballast water, whilst keeping the plant floating and stable, preferably by having a ratio of the total aggregated inner cross section area of the outer cells to the inner cross section area of the tank is in the range 0,15 – 0,75.30The cells and the tank are integrated structures, meaning that they together is one single structure, behaving as one single structure. The relatively large weight of the plant, and the intended location in relatively confined waters, results in very low dynamic load, favorable for fish health. 3491189The term cylindrical means having the same cross section shape and size along a length axis, here the vertical axis, as if the structure were extruded along the vertical direction. Cylindrical is not necessarily spherical. The effect is that slip forming 5 become far more effective, resulting in faster and more cost-effective building process. The cylindrical tank and cells as integrated preferably have no openings or feedthroughs in the vertical walls, reducing the cost further.The shape of the tank and the outer cells is intentionally designed to produce a 10 permanent compressive stress on the walls thanks to the hydrostatic pressure. For this reason, the spaces enclosed by the tank and each pair of adjacent outer cells (if existing) must also be connected to sea, ensuring a water level matching the draught of the unit. This contributes to the generalized compression of the walls, improving their structural capacity, corrosion resistance and watertightness, and therefore 15 reducing the required amount of reinforcement steel. In addition, when casting the whole wall ensemble as a monolithic piece of concrete, the natural compression attained at the walls allows to disregard the need of horizontal post-tensioning elements between walls, which would increase the cost and slow down the manufacturing process.20As seen in Figure 5a, the plant is at lifted or high elevation in the cleaning/transit mode, enabling effective transport from a dry dock or similar building facility, and effective transport to the operating location, which reduce cost.25The cigar 17 facilitates relatively uniform outlet velocity along the height of the tank, access to the bottom of the tank and service and replacement of equipment related to water outlet. Regarding the cigar, and the various outlets, further information is found in the publication WO2023140741A1 to which reference is made, herein 30 included by reference.
Claims
34911810Claims1.Plant (1) for aquaculture, as floating in a body of water (3), comprising a tank (2) for 5 aquaculture, the tank comprises one side part (4) and one bottom part (5), which parts are watertight and are made of concrete, the side part of the tank extends upwards parallel to and around a central vertical axis of the tank, wherein the tank has a circular, elliptical, polygonal or similar cross section shape, the plant further comprises one or more water inlets (6), one or more pumps (7) for pumping in water, 10 an outlet system (8) for water, an outlet system (9) for faeces and any surplus food, an outlet system (10) where any dead fish can be taken out, and operatively connected or integrated sterilization (12) and/or oxygenation equipment (13) as required,characterized in that the plant further comprises:15 a number of outer cells (11) extending parallel to the vertical axis, wherein the outer cells extend from a bottom elevation of the tank up to a top elevation of the tank,wherein the outer cells are integrated with the tank, on the outside of the tank, wherein the tank and the outer cells is one single structure,20 wherein the outer cells have a bottom part in the lower end, at the bottom elevation of the tank and the outer cells,wherein the outer cells are made of concrete,wherein the outer cells are arranged around the periphery outside the tank as groups of cells, with distance along said periphery between the groups of cells;25 wherein each group of cells comprises two, three or four cells, or a single cell;wherein the integrated tank and outer cells have identical cross section shape, preferably over the full vertical height from the integrated tank bottom part and the outer cell bottom, at the bottom elevation of the tank and outer cells, up to a top level, wherein the outer cells are closed at a top elevation,30 wherein the plant comprises or is operatively coupled to a ballast pump (16) system for emptying or filling the tank and any number of the outer cells with ballast water, enabling lifting the plant, i.e. the tank and the integrated outer cells, to an upper position, feasible for cleaning/transit/inspection/maintenance, wherein the draught is minimized, by emptying the outer cells and the tank; and immersing the34911811plant at least down to an operating mode position, in which position aquaculture is to take place within the tank, by filling the tank to an operation level whilst emptying the outer cells,wherein the plant comprises three, four or five or six groups of cells arranged 5 evenly apart (15) around the periphery of the tank on the outside if measured from a vertical centerline of each group around the periphery of the tank, comprising 6 to 12 or 18 cells, arranged as groups of one, two or three cells around the periphery of the tank.10 2.Plant according to claim 1, wherein the number and volume of outer cells are sufficient to provide buoyancy and hydrodynamic stability to allow at least one, more preferably at least two, of the outer cells to be damaged and losing their buoyancy function as empty for ballast water, whilst keeping the plant floating and stable, 15 wherein a ratio of the total aggregated inner cross section area of the outer cells to the inner cross section area of the tank is in the range 0,15 – 0,75.3.Plant according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a structure coaxial to and along a vertical 20 centerline of the tank, the structure is termed a cigar (17) and is not made of concrete, the cigar is operatively arranged to a water outlet and an access duct to the bottom part of the tank, the cigar also comprising equipment for controlling the water outlet and the cigar extends up to and is partly supporting a diagonal bridge over the diagonal of the tank, wherein the cigar or parts thereof or equipment arranged 25 operatively to or with the cigar, is removable, wherein the cigar is a combined water outlet from the tank and an access channel from above sea level to the bottom of the tank, wherein a vertical water outlet section is perforated from a suitable elevation above the bottom wall and up to the water surface in the tank as filled almost fully with water in a farming/operating position, and a vertical access section of the cigar is 30 a dry and safe access channel for personnel down to the bottom of the fish tank and the control valve compartment at the bottom level of the cigar.4.34911812Plant according to any one of claim 1-3, wherein the outer cells (11) are cut vertically by the wall of the tank, wherein the outer cell wall meets the tank wall at an angle in the range 90°-30° as measured on the outside where said walls meet, and wherein walls between cells are shared walls, and/or, if existing, void spaces enclosed by the 5 tank and two adjacent outer cells are connected to the sea through a bottom opening, so that the water level at these spaces matches the draught of the unit.5Plant according to any one of claim 1-4, comprising an inclined bottom (5) in the tank, 10 inclined inner side downwards from periphery to center, for example for a 35000 m3 tank, typically at an angle of minimum 5°, wherein the vertical thickness of the tank bottom at center is minimum 1 m, with increasing thickness towards the periphery due to the inclination, with horizontal outer bottom side, typically with thinner bottoms for smaller tanks and thicker bottom for larger tanks.156.Plant according to any one of claim 1-5, further comprising a water penetrable constriction structure that is adapted to be moved from top of the tank in downward direction until the tank has been emptied for fish, wherein the constriction structure 20 comprises two ring structures, one outer ring just smaller than the inner diameter or dimension of the tank and one inner ring or structure just larger than a central cigar structure, with a net or grate structure in between the ring structures, wherein the tank comprises an outlet for fish, towards which outlet fish can be directed by the constriction structure.257.Plant according to any one of claim 1-6, wherein the tank and outer cells can be installed in a multi array system comprising multiple plants, each plant similar in shape and dimensions.308.Method of building a plant for aquaculture according to any one of claim 1 – 7, characterized by the steps:34911813to build the floor of the tank and outer cells, as one single structure, with any pipes or openings embedded in the floor, on a yard or building site ground, such as in a dry dock, by casting the floor using concrete or grouting and armouring,to arrange slip forms where vertical walls are to be built, and slip casting the 5 vertical walls of the tank and the outer cells as one single structure, integrated with the floor, up to a top level for concrete in the plant, preferably without any openings or embedded structures within the vertical walls,to complete outfitting of the plant.10 9.Method according to claim 8, wherein the slip casting is undertaken as a single, continuous slip casting operation.10.15 Method according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising controlled flooding of the building site for floating and transporting the plant to an operation location.11.Use of the plant according to any one of claim 1-7, for aquaculture of fish.2034911814Patentkrav1.Anlegg (1) for akvakultur, som flytende i en vannmasse (3), omfattende en tank (2) for akvakultur, idet tanken omfatter en sidevegg (4) og en bunn (5), hvilke er vanntette og bygget av betong, idet sideveggen på tanken strekker seg oppover parallelt med og rundt en sentral vertikal akse i tanken, idet tanken har en sirkulær, elliptisk, polygonal eller lignende tverrsnittform, idet anlegget videre omfatter et eller flere vanninntak (6), en eller flere pumper (7) for å pumpe inn vann, et utløpssystem (8) for vann, et utløpssystem (9) for avføring og eventuelt overskuddfor, et utløpssystem (10) hvor eventuell død fisk kan tas ut, og operativt tilkoblet eller integrert utstyr for sterilisering (12) og/eller oksygenering (13) etter behov, karakterisert ved at anlegget videre omfatter:et antall ytre celler (11) som strekker seg parallelt med den vertikale aksen, idet de ytre cellene strekker seg fra en bunnhelevasjon av tanken opp til en toppelevasjon av tanken,idet de ytre cellene er integrert med tanken, på utsiden av tanken, idet tanken og de ytre cellene er en struktur,idet de ytre cellene har en bunn i den nedre enden, ved bunnelevasjonen av tanken og de ytre cellene,idet de ytre cellene er bygget av betong,idet de ytre cellene er anordnet rundt periferien utenfor tanken som grupper av celler, med avstand langs nevnte periferi mellom gruppene av celler;idet hver gruppe av celler består av to, tre eller fire celler, eller en enkelt celle;idet den integrerte tanken og de ytre cellene har identisk tverrsnittform, helst over hele den vertikale høyden fra den integrerte tankbunnen og den ytre cellebunnen, ved bunnelevasjonen av tanken og de ytre cellene, opp til en toppelevasjon,idet de ytre cellene er lukket ved toppelevasjonen,34911815idet anlegget omfatter eller er operativt koblet til et ballastpumpe (16) system for å tømme eller fylle tanken og et hvilket som helst antall av de ytre cellene med ballastvann, slik at anlegget, dvs. tanken og de integrerte ytre cellene, kan heves til en øvre posisjon, egnet for rengjøring/transitt/inspeksjon/vedlikehold, hvor dypgangen er minimert, ved å tømme de ytre cellene og tanken; og senkes minst ned til en driftsmodusposisjon, i hvilken posisjon akvakultur skal finne sted i tanken, ved å fylle tanken til et driftsnivå mens de ytre cellene tømmes,idet anlegget består av tre, fire, fem eller seks grupper av celler anordnet jevnt fordelt (15) rundt periferien på utsiden av tanken hvis målt fra en vertikal senterlinje av hver gruppe rundt periferien av tanken, bestående av 6 til 12 eller 18 celler, anordnet som grupper av en, to eller tre celler rundt periferien av tanken.2.Anlegget ifølge krav 1, idet antallet og volumet av ytre celler er tilstrekkelig til å gi oppdrift og hydrodynamisk stabilitet for å tillate at minst en, helst minst to, av de ytre cellene kan bli skadet og miste sin oppdriftsfunksjon som tomme for ballastvann, mens anlegget fortsatt holder seg flytende og stabilt,idet forholdet mellom det totale indre tverrsnittareal av de ytre cellene og det indre tverrsnittareal av tanken er i området 0,15 – 0,75.3.Anlegget ifølge krav 1 eller 2, omfattende en struktur koaksial til og langs en vertikal senterlinje av tanken, idet strukturen kalles en sigar (17) og er ikke bygget av betong, idet sigaren er operativt anordnet til et vannutløp og en tilkomstkanal til bunnen av tanken, idet sigaren også omfatter utstyr for å kontrollere vannutløpet og sigaren strekker seg opp til og støtter delvis en diagonal bro over diagonalen av tanken, idet sigaren eller deler av den eller utstyr arrangert operativt til eller med sigaren, er avtagbart, idet sigaren er et kombinert vannutløp fra tanken og en tilkomstkanal fra over havnivå til bunnen av tanken, idet en vertikal vannutløpsseksjon er perforert fra en passende høyde over bunnveggen og opp til vannoverflaten i tanken som nesten er fylt helt med vann i en oppdretts-/driftsposisjon, og en vertikal tilkomstseksjon av34911816sigaren er en tørr og sikker tilgangskanal for personell ned til bunnen av tanken og kontrollventilrommet ved bunnen av sigaren.4.Anlegget ifølge et hvilket som helst av krav 1-3, hvor de ytre cellene (11) er kuttet vertikalt av veggen til tanken, idet den ytre celleveggen møter tankveggen i en vinkel i området 90°- 30° målt på utsiden hvor nevnte vegger møtes, og hvor vegger mellom celler er delte vegger, og/eller, hvis eksisterende, tomrom innelukket av tanken og to tilstøtende ytre celler koblet til havet gjennom en bunnåpning, slik at vannstanden i disse rommene samsvarer med anleggets dypgang.5.Anlegget ifølge et hvilket som helst av krav 1-4, omfattende en skrå bunn (5) i tanken, med skrånende indre side nedover fra periferien til sentrum, for eksempel for en 35000 m3 tank, typisk i en vinkel på minimum 5°, idet den vertikale tykkelsen av tankbunnen i sentrum er minimum 1 m, med økende tykkelse mot periferien på grunn av skråningen, med horisontal ytre bunnside, typisk med tynnere bunn for mindre tanker og tykkere bunn for større tanker.6.Anlegget ifølge et hvilket som helst av krav 1-5, videre omfattende en vanngjennomtrengelig trengestruktur som er tilpasset til å bli flyttet fra toppen av tanken i nedadgående retning til tanken er tømt for fisk, idet trengestrukturen omfatter to ringstrukturer, en ytre ring akkurat mindre enn den indre diameteren eller dimensjonen av tanken og en indre ring eller struktur akkurat større enn en sentral sigarstruktur, med et nett eller gitterstruktur mellom ringstrukturene, idet tanken omfatter et utløp for fisk, mot hvilket utløp fisk kan ledes av trengestrukturen.349118177.Anlegget ifølge et hvilket som helst av krav 1-6, idet tanken og de ytre cellene kan installeres i et multi-system omfattende flere anlegg, med hvert anlegg lik i form og dimensjoner.8.Fremgangsmåte for å bygge et anlegg for akvakultur ifølge et hvilket som helst av krav 1 – 7, karakterisert ved trinnene:å bygge gulvet til tanken og de ytre cellene, som en enkelt struktur, med eventuelle rør eller åpninger innebygd i gulvet, på et verft eller en byggeplass, slik som i en tørrdokk, ved å støpe gulvet ved bruk av betong og armering,å anordne glideformer hvor vertikale vegger skal bygges, og glidestøpe de vertikale veggene til tanken og de ytre cellene som en enkelt struktur, integrert med gulvet, opp til et toppnivå for betong i anlegget, helst uten noen åpninger eller innebygde strukturer i de vertikale veggene, ogå ferdigstille utrustningen av anlegget.9.Fremgangsmåten ifølge krav 8, hvorved glidestøpingen utføres som ett kontinuerlig glidestøp.10.Fremgangsmåten ifølge krav 8 eller 9, videre omfattende av kontrollert oversvømmelse av byggeplassen for å flyte opp og transportere anlegget til en driftslokasjon.11.34911818Anvendelse av anlegget ifølge et hvilket som helst av krav 1-7, for akvakultur av fisk.
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Patent classes

IPC classesA01K 61/60A01K 63/00CPC classesA01K 61/60A01K 63/00

Citations

NO 20221306 A (A)WO 2023140741 A1 (A1)NO 20230003 A (A)EP 0347489 B1 (B1)EP 3585156 B1 (B1)WO 8704590 A1 (A1)

Applicants, owners and inventors

Owners
BRIM FARM HOLDING AS
Nedre Heggebøen 17 6953 LEIRVIK I SOGN NO (HYLLESTAD Municipality, Vestland county)Org. number: 928785106Inventors
Alf-Petter Olsen
Mogens Thorsens gt. 7 0264 OSLO NO (OSLO Municipality, Oslo county)
Karsten Hallvar Sævik
Osnesvegen 109 6065 ULSTEINVIK NO (ULSTEIN Municipality, Møre og Romsdal county)
Øyvind Høie
Nedre Heggebøen 17 6953 LEIRVIK I SOGN NO (HYLLESTAD Municipality, Vestland county)
Álvaro Francisco Benet Pérez
Camino Alto de San Isidro 28, 2-C 28019 MADRID ES
Santiago de Guzmán
Extremadura 34, 4D 28944 FUENLABRADA, MADRID ES
Oscar Pérez Diaz
Avenida del Mar Mediterraneo 258 28341 VALDEMORO, MADRID ES

Agent

BRYN AARFLOT AS
BRYN AARFLOT AS

Org. number: 979993269

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Org. number: 979993269
Reference: 145743NO/EH

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