Lateral Circulator and Agitator for Pond Cultivation

Abstract

A lateral circulator for generating agitation or circulation in a cultivation pond is disclosed. The circulator comprises at least a drive pulley and a secondary pulley, both oriented vertically and placed in the pond separated from one another along the length of the pond. The drive pulley is coupled to a motor, or to a drive train that is itself coupled to the motor. An endless belt is trained over the drive pulley and the secondary pulley. A plurality of cleats is provided along the exterior of the belt. The cleats are typically angled and serve to drive water as the belt rotates through the water. Typically, the belt would extend over much of the length of the cultivation pond, providing agitation and circulation over an extensive, continuous area of the cultivation pond.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising circulating water in a cultivation pond using an endless belt trained over at least one driving pulley and at least one driven pulley such that the breadth of the belt extends vertically along a substantial portion of the length of the cultivation pond. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the belt comprises a plurality of cleats spaced along its length and extending outwardly from the belt. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the cleats are inclined at an angle from about 10° to about 45°. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the belt is driven at a speed sufficient to produce a lateral flow outward from the belt with a Reynolds number of at least about 10,000. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the belt is driven using both a primary drive signal input to a motor coupled to the belt and a secondary, dithering drive signal input to the motor. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the breadth of the belt is as deep or deeper than a water level of the cultivation pond.