WerlWind

Product Description

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.

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

This product was tested with the collaboration of Wordfish NGO, and BRAC University in Bangladesh^{Interview with representative}.

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

Other

User Provision Model

The Model is designed and tested through WorldFish in ASIA and with the collaboration of BRAC in Bangladesh^{Interview with representative}.

Distributions to Date Status

Unknown

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.

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