Recipient Organization
Lindgren-Pitman Inc.
2615 NE 5th Ave.
Pompano Beach,FL 33064
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
This project involves the optimization of a Silkstream pump for the removal of sea lice from salmon in the aquaculture industry. Currently, the most common treatments involve chemical treatment and/or the fallowing of pens which both come at a significant cost to the farmer. The use of chemicals such as Slice has also raised environmental concerns due to potential interactions with the natural environment, and the potential for the lice to become resistant to the treatment requiring increased dosage, or becoming completely obsolete.The unique operation of the Silkstream pump allows for stress-free transferring of live salmon from pen to pen using the Coanda effect. The acceleration of the fish through the pump head has been proven to dislodge sea lice naturally through this pumping action. This study aims to quantify the variables associated within the design of the pump, and create an optimized design that may more thoroughly remove sea lice without the use of chemicals. Deliverables in Phase I include a comprehensive engineering design study complete with Finite Element Analysis and Flow Analysis, manufacturing of prototype(s), and testing of prototype(s). The final deliverable will be an optimized pump design that can be tested in a large-scale pilot study in Phase II.
Animal Health Component
25%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
25%
Applied
25%
Developmental
50%
Goals / Objectives
The goal of this project is to optimize the design of a Silkstream pump for the removal of sea lice from farmed fish. Part one of the project will involve the optimization of the Silkstream pump by manipulating the pump geometry and input flow variables and how they would relate to lice removal. Part two will involve the development of a cone attachment for the intake of the Silkstream that would encourage the fish to enter the pumping orifice head first, ideally eliminating the variable of fish orientation. Phase I will involve computer modeling and laboratory testing of prototypes, while Phase II will involve a comprehensive pilot study. Final deliverable at the end of Phase II would be an optimized design of the Silkstream pump with corresponding orientation cone attachment that is capable of removing 90% of sea lice without harming the fish.Technical Objectives-Design Criteria Silkstream:Lower the cost and improve the efficiency of removing sea lice from aquaculture pensWithout the use of chemicals.Removes lice without undue fish stress and damageRemove a minimum of 90 % of adults and sub adults and other life stages if possible.Optimize the unique properties of the Silkstream pump for lice removal-Identify changes to geometry and their effect on pumping dynamics-Identify changes to supply pump parameters as they relate to changed geometryUse Solidworks flow analysis to create comprehensive flow study to identify changes to far field shear area determine velocity shear that could be used to remove lice.Has the ability to collect the removed lice during dewateringPump can be used for harvestingDesign Criteria Intake funnel:Design an intake system suitable for head first fish entryMade out of clear acrylic to encourage fish to enterMake the entrance funnel from small( 4 6 mm0 clear round or flat bars of polycarbonate or acrylic spaced close enough for no fish escape ( 20-60 mm ) and far enough and positioned for easy water flow.Provide a water current through the bars and out the entrance funnel. ( this could be trialed with the use of thruster form the net cleaner project or remote water source possibly small high pressure water with diverging nozzle.)The clear bars are extended sufficient distance ( several intake diameters ) such that the intake current and the silkstream water requirements to not significantly affect each other.Design: Lindgren-Pitman currently manufactures heads for two different size Silkstream pumps- an 8" and a 10". As one would think, the difference between the 8" and 10" pump heads is the ability for greater flow, and for use with larger product. Being the manufacturer of the pump heads gives Lindgren-Pitman the ability to change aspects of the pump to facilitate lice removal more efficiently than a standard pump. This project would take on 3 main levels of design before a pilot study could occur (Phase II work).CAD/FEA design work: Lindgren-Pitman holds 5 Solidworks seats used both for day-to-day projects at Lindgren-Pitman and for R&D purposes. In addition to the basic Solidworks packages, Lindgren-Pitman also holds seats for the Advanced FEA, Flow simulation, and Camworks add-ins inside of Solidworks. By using the flow software, changes to the geometry can be tested, damaging turbulence avoided, and the design optimized for lice removal. There are four geometric variables when it comes to the design of the head as it relates to the function of the pump. The first is the gap between the inner and outer cone of the pump. This relates the velocity of the incoming water to the gap between the inner and outer housing. A larger gap is less likely to generate turbulence, but requires more water flow to create the same suction, whereas a smaller gap is more likely to generate turbulence, while needing less input flow. The second and third are the angle of the cone surfaces to the axis of the pump. This angle and subsequent radius to the pipe diameter effect the length of the acceleration zone and therefore the acceleration itself. The fourth piece of geometry that affects the operation of the pump are the channels cut in the rim of the inner housing (Fig-3). These were first introduced in the 10" pump to interrupt boundary layers and provide more flow to the far field (center) of the pump head. This was particularly important when designing the 10" pump because of the much greater diameter. This could also prove to be a useful tool when trying to dislodge lice because of the creation of a multidirectional flow, which could dislodge more lice. The end result on the technical design side of Phase I is to complete the design and flow analysis of an optimized pump design, and then manufacture the newest version of the pump and test at ETI. The design for the intake funnel will also be conducted at Lindgren-Pitman through the use of Solidworks and the internal flow add-on package for both structural and fluid FEA analysis. Construction of a basic prototype, and pool verification will be conducted at Lindgren-Pitman, and tested with the final Silkstream design at ETI.
Project Methods
At the beginning of the Phase I effort, the PI will perform a literature review focusing mainly on the attachment mechanism of the sea lice. Location of lice and densities will also be studied. Outreach to contacts in salmon farming industry will support the literature review and hopefully add insight as to real-life observation of lice attachment scenarios.Development if advanced equipment and procedure to quantify forces and direction required to remove sea lice will be done including pressure and flow studies. There are very limited opportunities to do this work in the US. The most efficient opportunity will be in July and August 2017 when pink salmon run up the Skagit river in Washington and populate a local farm with sea lice. Lindgren Pitman has a excellent relationship there from the development and sale of several Stingray net cleaners. We will attempt to arrange this test with farm mortalities while in the water for more realistic data. This will help form a basis for the type of flow needed to dislodge sea lice through the use of the Silkstream and will aid on the decision making process in the design phase of the project. The data from actually removing lice can be compared to the results given by the software flow simulations.Phase I will involve a comprehensive design and analysis project in hopes to quantify the variables involved with the functionality of the Silkstream pump as it relates to the removal of sea lice. Modeling will be done using Solidworks solid modeling software, flow analysis and FEA work will be done using the premium edition of Solidworks Simulator at Lindgren-Pitman. In particular, the development of the fish acceleration area is what is of particular concern as it is believed that the change of water velocity with respect to velocity of the fish is what causes the sea lice to dislodge. Also of interest are the flow requirements to achieve each scenario. This becomes important when determining allowable head, and supply pump requirements. This would allow for a system that could be tailored for any given site with respect to power availability. There are five main variables in this system to be tested- the aforementioned four geometry variables plus supply pump pressure. The end result of the Phase I design work plan is a comprehensive engineering report that details the effects on the near and far field flows within the pump. This will prepare the team for identifying which change would make a positive increase in the amount of lice that would be dislodgedAfter identifying the best designs in the design aspect of the study, the pump heads will be tool-pathed and machined at Lindgren-Pitman on a Fadal 30"x60" CNC milling machine. At the end of Phase I, up to three different pump heads will be ready for lab testing, and for field testing in Phase II. Likely it will be an optimized 8" pump, an optimized 10" and a third alternate, likely of a new diameter, using a new casting design. Lindgren-Pitman has also obtained an 80"x30" Fadal machine that will easily facilitate the fabrication of the entry funnel parts out of acrylic for prototyping that aspect of the project.Preliminary testing of the pumps would be done at ETI in Washington. ETI ha pumps, tanks and instrumentation specifically designed for testing pumping systems. Flow meters will be attached to the head to verify the CAD modeling tests, and observations of any cavitation or turbulence will be made. Minor modifications to the pump head can be made at ETI in their machine shop. Once the designs are verified, adjustments will either be made at ETI or the heads shipped back to Lindgren-Pitman for adjustment or replacement. This will prepare the heads for Phase II testing in an extensive pilot study at American Gold Seafood, or should the relationship develop, Cook Aquaculture in Maine.