Agriculture
December 5, 2023
Updated on December 7, 2023
·Created on September 1, 2021
WerlWind is a floating aerator, guided by a windmill, to add dissolved oxygen to pond water without electricity.
WERLWind is a non-submersible aeration system comprised of vertical axis wind turbines coupled to an impeller underwater using a renewable energy power source. Its primary role is to add dissolved oxygen to pond water through a continuous back and forth mechanical movement of enriched oxygen -water from the surface to the pond’s bottom.
Manufacturing/Building Method
The product is designed by WETech, a team of engineers working with Professor Amy Bilton in WERL (Water and Energy Research Lab) Interview with representative
Intellectural Property Type
Open-source
User Provision Model
Distributions to Date Status
Unknown
Size (m)
The size depends on the depth of the pond. For example, if it’s a shallow pond (5 ft), it would be 5 feet above the water and 3 feet below (8 feet in height). The span of the wind turbine scoops is about 4 feet give or take. The impeller is around 2 feet long and 8 inches wide Interview with representative.
Materials
Metal
Target species
Fish
Weight (kg)
The weight depends on the size of the pond.
Power source
Wind
Rate of water lift/mix
Unknown
Dissolved oxygen (mg/L)
Unknown
Control interface
The system ought to have a small starter motor to overcome the starting torque of the turbine Interview with representative.
Remote monitoring
No. The system has no complex electronics elements Interview with representative.
Smart device required
No
Design Specifications
WERLWind is composed of vertical axis wind turbines coupled to an impeller underwater using a wind power source. The vertical axis wind turbines capture the wind energy through the movement of its blades in the wind directions and return oxygen-depleted water from the bottom to the surface to be recharged with dissolved oxygen continually.
Technical Support
Users receive technical support from the manufacturer and then continue the maintenance of their product on their own.
Replacement Components
The replacement components are very easy to get in stores and the turbine scoops or bearings or the impeller can be very easily replaceable. The customer can upgrade them so long as the shaft can support the extra loads from a bigger turbine Interview with representative.
Lifecycle
Unknown
Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters
 The product increases green energy (wind power) and reduces carbon emissions by promoting sustainable farming methods, increasing yields for smallholder fish farmers in the developing world.
Vetted Performance Status
The system was tested with the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee BRAC, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) at the Bribie Island Research Center (BIRC), Australia. Those tests were done in Bangladesh and Vietnam.
Safety
Blades are made with solid material which can cause hazard if malutilised by the fish farmers or any customer.
Complementary Technical Systems
The customers can attend workshops organized by the manufacturers to learn about how to maintain the WERLWind Interview with representative.
Academic Research and References
Mahmudov, K., Mahmoud, A., Sur, S., Cruz, F. C., and Bilton, A. M., 2019, Feasibility of a wind-powered aeration system for small-scale aquaculture in developing countries. Energy for Sustainable Development, 51, pp. 40–49.Â
Hargreaves, J. A., 2003, Pond Mixing. SRAC Paper No. 4602, pp. 40–49.
Compliance with regulations
Unknown
Other Information
The top prize in fish farming technology from CGEN global competition for inventions with social impact. Winner of ISHOW 2018
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