34 Net cleaners Net cleaning is all about creating an ideal environment for the fish. By removing algae from the net, one maintains a good flow of water through the net, thus ensuring the best possible oxygen conditions for the fish, while also removing a breeding ground for all the organisms that can develop in this algae. The challenge is to get the net clean without damaging it, and with minimal impact on the impregnation intended to prevent the accumulation of algae going forward. ScaleAQ delivers MEOX net cleaners whose patented cavitation washing method make them uniquely gentle, even during high-pressure washing. Cavitation washing technology Cavitation is the rapid formation and collapse of bubbles in a liquid. MEOX net cleaners are specifically designed to allow aquaculture practitioners to use cavitation technology to wash nets and other equipment. Millions of tiny air bubbles in the water flow create a jet that hits the net. Because it consists largely of air, even at high pressure this jet is far “softer” than a pure jet of water. Air, or more accurately the steam bubbles formed in the washing unit, implodes when it hits the surface that is to be washed. The implosion creates pressure waves that contribute to the washing effect. This results in very gentle washing, even at pressures up to 200 bar. Documentation During the period 2015–2019, Sintef undertook a project to improve understanding and advance the development of available washing technologies. Low pressure (80 bar), high pressure (200 bar) and cavitation washing (200 bar) were tested. The results of the project showed that washing with low pressure produced little washing effect, and actually resulted in considerable damage to the net. High-pressure spraying yields good results in terms of washing, but
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