Technical Data Sheet: AquaCannon Aeration System

Development:

The AquaCannon was developed by Seeley’s Cove Research Center in response to the escalating crisis of low dissolved oxygen levels in areas of the world’s oceans used by industrial, mega ton fish farms. This problem leads to, at the very least, reduced or no feeding – slower growth/higher production costs and, in many cases, the outright fatality of tons of fish per site.

It should be noted the fish farms are not the cause of the low oxygen.

Low oxygen levels, regardless of the cause, are a serious problem worldwide. Huge Ocean dead zones and almost dead rivers and  toxic algae attacked lakes are prime examples.

The AquaCannon will quickly and efficiently improve the oxygen situation in Fish farms, rivers, lakes and areas of the ocean when and where it is needed (High Capacity Aeration On Demand), with aside from an anchor, little or no associated support infrastructure.

Working Principles:

The AquaCannon is a submersible, high volume, high efficiency aerator that has the ability to penetrate 60 feet – 20 meters down into the water column and inject a flow of 25,000 Gpm/100,000Lpm primary pumping capacity (36 million gallons per 24 hrs) of highly oxygenated water into the locale. This creates an ever increasing volume of enhanced water that flows through the site , it will also cause an up welling effect due the vast amount of micro bubbles in the AquaCannons injected water flow, as the bubbles (mainly Nitrogen) raise to the surface. In essence, an “Air-Lift” effect that will draw up water from far below the depth attainable by the actual water/air jet produced by the AquaCannon by virtue of the entrained flow. This can have the effect of cooling the area of treatment if the deeper water is cooler than the surface. We have seen on several occasions, poor quality brackish surface water be completely displaced by the clean blue deeper water from below the site.

Depending on temperature, salinity, turbidity, and existing 02 levels; the result is an average “instant” (20 minutes) gain of 2.5 mg/l at 10 meters with higher gains as we raise up through the water column, in almost all situations the area of treatment becomes saturated in the 4,6,8 meter levels.

We have recorded many instances of a 4-5mg/l gain.

Current Use:

These machines are now in use on several industrial fish farm sites. An example of a treatment area; the average fish pen is 100 ft x 100 ft x 60-80 ft deep. One unit is used to support four + pens that contain 600,000 to 1,200,0000 lbs of fish. The pens are generally arranged in two rows of ten to twelve pens, separated by an 8’ walkway. The unit is placed on the outside of the row and directed between two pens. The blast travels between the first two pens, dispersing into them and subsequently into the second set of pens. The units can also be installed at the start of the site, between the the rows with the oxygenated water flowing down the center of the site. As the AquaCannon system is completely portable it can be placed in any manner that best suits the site.The AquaCannon supplies a surplus of oxygen that benefits not only the surrounding aquatic life but helps break down organics in the area of the site. (cleaner bottom)

Efficiency Monitoring:

The majority of industrial fish farms have oxygen monitoring systems in place that permit accurate graphing of dissolved oxygen levels in the area of the pens.

We have consistently recorded increases from a start level of 4.5 mg/l in the pens going up to 6.5mg/l and maintaining them during digestion, which places an enormous demand on the available dissolved oxygen.

We have recorded increases right up to saturation, thus proving the unit has the ability to saturate in an open ocean environment. (not a depleted water test tank)

Traditional methods of testing oxygen transfer are hard to apply to the AquaCannon, as it was originally designed to work in the open ocean, not primarily in a closed system such as a waste water treatment pond. In the pond scenario, the aerator gets to rerun the same amount of water many times before it is cycled out to the next pond.

In the open ocean fish farm environment, there is basically unlimited water surrounding the farm. Therefore, the aerator must be efficient enough to improve the water it brings into to the area of the pens with one pass through the machine.

The accepted method of testing any aerator is to position it in a tank of O2 depleted water and run it for one hour, then measure the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water. In effect, the aerator gets to run the same water through itself many times during the test period, gradually increasing the levels AND it starts off at ZERO oxygen in the water, it is easy to put oxygen in water when there is not any to start with!! This method of testing delivers a false positive and has no real bearing on its ability to increase and maintain oxygen levels in an environment like an open ocean fish farm, where the unit does not get the chance to rerun the same water. It should again be noted that it is easy to put oxygen into water that has none in it to start with. Most fish farms have at least (with the exception of a catastrophic crash) at least 3.5-4mg/l to start with. It is a proven fact that any aerator that bases its ability to deliver 3 lbs per hp per hour in laboratory situation will only deliver about 40% of what it claims if the water is already at 4mg/l.

Note: Unfortunately there is not a test facility in North America large enough to test the AquaCannon. It would be interesting to see a million gallon tank become saturated within 30 minutes.

We rely on data collected while the unit is in operation, under load by the poor water quality in the area and the fish in the pens; this is, in our opinion, the only valid method of testing/proving the unit’s ability to do what it was designed to do, which is to provide a substantial, constant increase in dissolved oxygen levels over a large volume in an open ocean/lake/river environment and do it reliably 24/7.

Operational data has shown, on the average, that one unit is able to increase the dissolved oxygen levels in an area 200 ft x 200 ft x 30 ft deep within 15-20 minutes from 4.5mg/l up to 6.5mg/l + and maintain it during digestion. (typically at 16 C)

Due to the open ocean environment, tide, currents, existing aquatic vegetation, local sea life and the variables of fish digestion demands, it is extremely difficult to precisely quantify the amount of oxygen transferred at any given time; extrapolation gives us an average/real time knowledge of the overall concept and extremely positive results.

Results Data

The treatment volume of 4, 30 meter square pens (Most effective depth 10 meters)

• 33,980 cubic meters
• 33,980 cubic meters x 1000 = 33,980,000 liters of water

We increase and maintain the dissolved oxygen levels by an average gain throughout the area of 3.5 mg/l in this volume within 15 minutes.

• 33,980,000 x 3.5mg/l =  11,893,0000 milligrams of additional O2 being maintained in the area.
• 11,893,0000mg = 118.93kg of oxygen /15 minutes = 7.92kg per minute is maintained
• 7.92kg x 60 minutes = 475.72kg O2 per hour maintained with 285 net Hp
• 475.72kg 02 /285Hp = 1.66 kg of O2 per hour per Hp (3.65 lbs for the US readers)
• According to public information, the best transfer attained via the standard testing method is 3.5lbs of O2 per hour per Hp. This level was attained in a tank with the machine mixing the same volume of depleted water for one hour.

                            We are able to attain a higher level in an open ocean environment

All the water passing through the machine is pulled directly from the surrounding, Oxygen-depleted waters. The million + lbs of fish are consuming it at 250mg per kilo of feed and concurrently the tide is moving it out of the site, whereby the AquaCannon is still able to maintain this level of support.

To be noted, the oxygen also goes up in the surrounding water. We are only stating the minimum gains.

There are simply too many variables to make an absolute statement of O2 transfer; however we believe the actual “in use” results speak for themselves.

AquaCannon Specifications:

Motor: Deutz TCD2013L06 4v Series Tier 3, 301 Hp (Selection based on worldwide service and support compelled with Tier 4 continuance)

Optional 3 phase electric drive is available upon request. Cost of operation is considerably reduced by the use of electricity from the public grid.

Other power options: bio-diesel, methane, propane. We are currently working with GWTF Technology’s to develop a tidal/current power generating system.

Hydraulics: Bosch Rexroth

Cannon drive system: Custom built drive assembly, Powered by Rexroth A15VSO175 pump and A2FM motor.

Blower System: Roots style PD blower, 0-850cfm, Powered by Rexroth A10VO71 pump and A2FM motor.

Controls: Electronic Rexroth RC controllers and or manual.

Hydraulic oil: Panolin food grade environmental oil

Propeller: Heavy duty Caplin style, custom cast by Lunenburg Foundry, N.S. Manganese bronze –from pure ingots.

Pumping rate: Hydraulically adjustable, from 0-25000 GPM, 0-25 MPH.

Minimum required water depth, 6’ or 2 meters (minimum depth in which the AquaCannon can operate without modification)

The AquaCannon itself is suspended underwater; the angle of the suspension system determines the depth of penetration into the water column. For shallow water the unit shoots out a horizontal jet, parallel to the surface of the water.

Operating temperatures: will operate without modifications from 40f to 110f, 4.5c to 44c

Note: Optional packages for sustained operation in extreme conditions are available upon request.

Note: Optional remote control systems are available upon request.

Note: Sound proofing available upon request.

The AquaCannon is constructed from heavy gauge steel (3/8) and completely powder coated to ensure long life. The nozzle is constructed from marine grade aluminum and completely powder coated.

The power pack frame is heavy duty reinforced steel tubing with built in balanced lift points. Double coated epoxy assures long life.

The power pack base is designed as a fluid containment box.

Coverings: Marine grade aluminum.

Flotation platform for the power pack and AquaCannon is the responsibility of the customer. We can supply a complete power pack flotation system, this flotation comes in 3 sections and is assembled on site. The complete system is designed to fit into shipping containers.

The unit includes a complete hydraulic pressure gauge package for routine inspection and fast situation analysis.