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Title: Breeding of aquatic animals in a controlled environment
Claims: What is claimed is: 1. In a process for breeding aquatic animals in a controlled environment wherein the aquatic animals are maintained in a water reservoir open to the atmosphere and which has fresh water introduced and fecal waste containing water discharged, and wherein the oxygen content of the water present in the water reservoir is kept at a value corresponding to desirable growing conditions for the aquatic animals by the introduction of a gas consisting essentially of oxygen or oxygen-enriched air, the improvement which comprises introducing the gas directly into at least one bell partially immersed in the water, the point of introduction of the gas within the bell being under and/or above the water level therein, feeding water to the lid zone of said bell, said last mentioned water being derived at least in part from water withdrawn from the water reservoir, distributing the water into a plurality of partial streams of water, passing the stream of water from the lid zone of said bell downwardly inside said bell in counter current contact to said gas to obtain oxygen-enriched water, withdrawing residual gas from said bell, and drawing off the resultant oxygen-enriched water from the bottom of the bell so as to mix directly with the water in the reservoir. 2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the thus-withdrawn residual gas stream is at least partially throttled, and the bell is maintained at the same liquid level during this procedure. 3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the thus-withdrawn residual gas stream is admixed at least in part to the water fed to the bell. 4. A process according to claim 1, wherein the thus-withdrawn residual gas stream is introduced at least partially into the zone of a further bell underneath and/or above the water level. 5. A process according to claim 1 wherein at least one point of introduction of the gas within the bell is above the water level therein. 6. Apparatus for breeding aquatic animals, comprising a water reservoir, a gas supply means (2, 12), at least one bell (3, 13) for being immersed partially in the water of the water reservoir (1, 11); a gas distribution system (4, 14) disposed within the confines of the bell (3, 13), said gas distribution system being in communication with said gas supply means (2, 12); a liquid distribution system (5, 15) mounted underneath the lid of the bell (3, 13), said liquid distribution system being in communication with a water feed means (6, 16), said water feed means further comprising water recycle means; and at least one gas discharge pipe (7, 17) is arranged on the lid of the bell (3, 13). 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said water feed means (6, 16) is in communication, by way of a pump (9, 19), with the water reservoir (1, 11). 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a first gas discharge pipe (7a, 17a) is in communication with the intake side of the pump (9, 19). 9. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a second gas discharge pipe (7b, 17b) comprises a throttle valve (8, 18). 10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a second gas discharge pipe (7b, 17b) is in communication with a gas distribution system of a further bell. 11. Apparatus according to claim 6, said bell (13) being equipped with floats (21); and a pump (19) for feeding water from the reservoir to the water feed means, and the gas supply unit (12) being mounted to the lid of the bell (13). 12. Apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a valve (23) controlled by way of a float switch (22) disposed within the bell (13) and being arranged in the gas feed line from the gas supply unit (12) to the gas distribution system (14). 13. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the bell comprises a bottom partition closing off the bottom of said bell, said partition and the sidewall of said bell defining an annular gap permitting oxygen-enriched water to escape. Other info: Inventors: Berger, Michael (Pullach, DE, US) Application Number: 826599 Filing Date: 1977-08-22 Publication_date: 1980-01-08 Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft (Wiesbaden, DE) Primary Class(es): 119/226 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Kinsey, Russell R. Assistant Examiner: Swiatek, Robert P. Attorney: Millen & White |
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