Aquaponic growing system for individual use

Abstract

The invention relates to an aquaponics growing system (1), comprising: - first to third adjacent tanks (21, 22, 23), the first tank (21) having an outlet orifice (211) positioned above the upper edge of the second tank and a first pipe (212) extending from this outlet orifice (211) to the vertical of the second tank; - a pump (9) taking water from the third tank (23) and pumping it into the first tank (21); - an air injection device (3) dipping into the first to third tanks (21, 22, 23); - a control module (4) for the pump (9) and the air injection device (3), comprising a cover (40) extending vertically above the first to third retention tanks and covering the first and second pipes (212, 222). Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 4

Description

Title of the invention: Aquaponic growing system for individual use

[0001] The invention relates generally to aquaponics, and in particular to systems designed to facilitate aquaponics for individual use.

[0002] Aquaponic-based plant cultivation systems are developing for soilless plant cultivation because they generally use a much smaller amount of water than is required for field crops.

[0003] Aquaponics consists of a combination of fish farming and soilless plant cultivation. A typical aquaponic system includes a fish tank containing water, a growing bed in which the plants are grown without soil, and a water circulation system that circulates water in a closed loop between the fish tank and the growing bed. Aquaponics allows for the recycling of nitrogenous waste generated by the aquatic animals into fertilizer for the plants grown using the hydroponic principle. The nitrogenous waste, rich in ammonia, is transported by the water in the tank and then transformed by bacteria into nitrite and then into nitrate, a mineral element absorbed by the plants to ensure their growth.The bacteria present in the system transform the organic waste from the fish into minerals that plants can absorb. The plants, by taking up these dissolved minerals, purify the water for the fish by reducing their concentration. Aquaponics is recognized as a solution that provides a source of protein while limiting the need for water, energy, and chemicals for plant cultivation.

[0004] In some solutions, aquaponic systems take the form of frames comprising a superimposed fish tank and first and second plant cultivation tanks, hydraulically connected in series. A pump ensures water circulation between the lower and upper tanks.

[0005] Such a solution proves to be unsafe because significant quantities of water are positioned at a height, making the system susceptible to tipping. Furthermore, such a configuration proves relatively impractical for accessing the various basins, particularly for collecting plant material. In addition, the system is traversed by numerous pipes extending into the basins to inject air or exchange water.

[0006] The invention aims to resolve one or more of these drawbacks. The invention thus relates to an aquaponics growing system, comprising: -at least the first to third water retention tanks joined together, the first tank having a water outlet positioned above the upper edge of the second tank and a first pipe extending from this outlet to the vertical of the second tank, the second tank having a water outlet positioned above the upper edge of the third tank and a second pipe extending from this outlet to the vertical of the third tank, the first to third tanks having an overlap in a vertical direction; -a pump configured to draw water from the third tank and pump it into the first tank; -an air injection device comprising first to third tubes immersing respectively in the first to third tanks; -a pump and air injection device control module, comprising a cover extending partially above the first to third retention tanks and covering the first and second pipes and said first to third tubing.

[0007] The invention also relates to the following variants. Those skilled in the art will understand that each of the features of the following variants can be combined independently with the above features, without thereby constituting an intermediate generalization.

[0008] According to one variant, the outlet of the first tank is connected to a first tube extending substantially to the bottom of the first tank and in which the outlet of the second tank is connected to a second tube extending substantially to the bottom of the second tank.

[0009] According to yet another variant, the system further comprises a structure supporting said first to third trays.

[0010] According to another variant, the system includes a column extending from the bottom to the top of the second tank connected to the second tube, so that the air injected into the column carries water through the column.

[0011] According to yet another variant, the system further comprises: -a device for analyzing the system's water; -a device for communicating the results of the analysis device by radio frequency.

[0012] According to one variant, the first tank contains fish and in which the second and third tanks contain substrates for growing plants.

[0013] According to another variant, the said first to third tanks are formed by rigid shells of the same shape.

[0014] According to yet another variant, said hulls are supported by wedges positioned at different heights.

[0015] According to yet another variant, the rigid shells have a support surface projecting inwards at an intermediate level of their height, the second tray having a porous plate filled with a drainage substrate, the plate resting on said support surface.

[0016] According to one variant, said shells have threads for screwing a hydraulic connector to one of said pipes.

[0017] Other features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following description, which is by way of example and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] [Fig-1] is a schematic representation of a first configuration of joined circular containers;

[0019] [Fig.2] is a schematic representation of a second configuration of trays circulars placed side by side;

[0020] [Fig.3] is a schematic representation of a configuration of hexagonal trays joined together;

[0021] [Fig.4] illustrates in cross-section the trays of [Fig.3];

[0022] [Fig.5] is an enlarged view of various components in the configuration of the [Fig.3];

[0023] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of a system having the configuration of [Fig.3];

[0024] [Fig.7] is a detailed view of the system of [Fig.6].

[0025] The invention relates to an aquaponics growing system. System 1 comprises at least three adjacent water retention tanks. Hereafter, these tanks will be considered adjacent if the distance between them is less than one-quarter of their perimeter. The tanks detailed below have the same circumference, but tanks with different circumferences are possible. In this case, the circumference of the smallest tank will be used.

[0026] In the example of [Fig. 1], three tanks 21, 22, and 23 are placed side by side. The tanks 21, 22, and 23 have a circular cross-section. The tanks 21, 22, and 23 are intended for storing water. The tanks 21, 22, and 23 are arranged in respective enclosures or casings 11, 12, and 13, which also have a circular cross-section.

[0027] In the example of [Fig. 2], four tanks 21, 22, 23, and 24 are placed side by side. The tanks 21, 22, 23, and 24 also have a circular cross-section. The tanks 21, 22, 23, and 24 are intended for storing water. The tanks 21, 22, 23, and 24 are arranged in respective enclosures or casings 11, 12, 13, and 14, which also have a circular cross-section.

[0028] In the example of [Fig. 3], three containers 21, 22, and 23 are placed side by side. Containers 21, 22, and 23 have a hexagonal cross-section. Containers 21, 22, and 23 are intended to to store water. Tanks 21, 22 and 23 are arranged in respective boxes or enclosures 11, 12, 13 also having a hexagonal cross-section.

[0029] Fig. 4 corresponds to a cross-sectional view of system 1 along the dashed line of Fig. 3, corresponding to a developed view of the bins 11 to 23.

[0030] The first 21 has a water outlet 211 positioned above the upper edge of the second tank 22. A first pipe 212 extends from this outlet 211 to the vertical position of the second tank 22. Thus, when the water from the tank 21 reaches the outlet 211, the overflow spills into the tank 22. A gravity flow therefore occurs from the tank 21 to the adjacent tank 22.

[0031] The second tank 22 has a water outlet 221 positioned above the upper edge of the third tank 23. A second pipe 222 extends from this outlet 221 to the vertical position of the third tank 23. Thus, when the water in tank 22 reaches the outlet 221, the overflow spills into tank 23. A gravity flow therefore occurs from tank 22 to the adjacent tank 23. With the outlets 211 and 221, a gravity flow is achieved from tank 21 to tank 23.

[0032] As illustrated in [Fig. 4], the first to third bins 21 to 23 overlap in a vertical direction. Thus, a horizontal plane passing through bins 21 to 23 can be defined, unlike bins stacked in a cabinet. Due to this configuration, the system is particularly stable, its center of gravity being very low.

[0033] To ensure continuous flow in system 1, a pump 9 is provided to draw water from the third tank 23 and pump it into the first tank 21. The pump 9 is here located at the bottom of the tank 23. In the configuration of [Fig.2], the pump is located at the bottom of the tank 24, which receives a gravity flow from the tank 23.

[0034] For various reasons, and in particular to oxygenate the water in tanks 21 to 23, system 1 further includes an air injection device 3. The air injection device 3 comprises first to third tubes 31, 32, 33 immersed respectively in the first to third tanks 21, 22, 23. The tubes 31 to 33 are particularly visible in the schematic illustration in [Fig. 5], corresponding to a cross-sectional view at the dashed line in [Fig. 4]. The device 3 typically includes a compressor configured to inject pressurized air into the tubes 31 to 33, so as to generate bubbling from the bottom of tanks 21 to 23. The injected air can also be used to create a water flow within certain tanks, as detailed below.

[0035] System 1 includes a control module 4 for the pump 9 and the air injection device 3. The control module 4 has a cover 40 extending partially above the first to third retention tanks 21 to 23. This Cover 40 is positioned approximately at the center of gravity of tanks 21 to 23 in top view. Since tanks 21 to 23 are adjacent, it is easy to create a cover extending vertically above the containment tanks 21 to 23. The cross-section of the cover is shown as a dashed line in [Fig. 5]. Cover 40 covers pipes 212 and 222 and tubing 31 to 33. Thus, cover 40 protects the ends and connections of the pipes and tubing, and conceals them for aesthetic reasons. Due to the configuration of the adjacent tanks 21 to 23, it is easy to concentrate them at the level of the cover 40. In addition, the configuration of the tubes 212 and 222 makes it possible to avoid having to create tube passages between the walls of the tanks 21 to 23 or between the walls of the boxes 11 to 13. The cover 40 can have a shape adapted to rest on the upper edge of the tanks 21 to 23 or the boxes 11 to 13.

[0036] In the illustrated examples, the outlet 211 of the first tank 21 is connected to a first tube 213 extending substantially to the bottom of the first tank 21 and in which the outlet 221 of the second tank is connected to a second tube 223 extending substantially to the bottom of the second tank 22. With such a configuration, water that has undergone settling and filtration can be taken and poured by gravity into the adjacent tank.

[0037] In the example illustrated in [Fig.4], the boxes 11 to 13 belong to a structure supporting the trays 21 to 23. The boxes 11 to 13 can be joined together.

[0038] The tanks 21 to 23 are advantageously formed by rigid shells of the same shape. To create a difference in height with identical shells, the shells are supported by wedges positioned at different heights, such as wedges 111 and 121. Tank 23 is not placed on a wedge here.

[0039] In the illustrated example, the first tank 21 contains fish, while the second and third tanks 22 and 23 contain substrates for growing plants. Thus, by positioning the fish tank 21 upstream of the gravity flow, the fouling of the pump 9 is limited, as the water is pre-filtered via tanks 22 and 23.

[0040] The container 22 can notably contain a porous tray 224 which can be filled with a drainage substrate such as clay pebbles. The tray 224 rests here on a support surface provided in the container 22 at an intermediate level of this container 22. The support surface is, for example, in the form of a projection towards the inside of the container 22. As illustrated here for the container 21, projections 215 are provided in the corners of the hexagonal section up to an intermediate height, in order to serve as a support for a tray 224.

[0041] The tank 23 can receive a perforated foam tray (not shown), intended to float in the tank 23 and to receive plants.

[0042] In the example illustrated here, the projections 215 may have a groove extending along their height, in order to be able to guide and support tubes such as tubes 213 and 223.

[0043] Advantageously, the shells have threads for screwing a hydraulic connector onto one of the pipes 212 or 222 or tubes 213 and 223.

[0044] The tank 22 here includes a column 226 extending from the bottom to the top of the tank 22 and connected to the tubing 32. Thus, the air injected into the column 226 allows water to be carried through the column 226. To allow water to trickle over the plant crops.

[0045] The system 1 further includes a device 5 for analyzing the system water, for example, to determine its pH, oxygen level, suspended particle level, or any other information useful for monitoring water quality. The system 1 further includes a device 6 for communicating the results of the analysis device 5 by radio frequency. A user can thus be informed or alerted about the water quality on a communication terminal.

Claims

Demands

1. Aquaponic growing system (1), characterized in that it comprises: -at least first to third adjoining water retention tanks (21, 22, 23), the first tank (21) having a water outlet (211) positioned above the upper edge of the second tank and a first pipe (212) extending from this outlet (211) to the vertical of the second tank, the second tank (22) having a water outlet (221) positioned above the upper edge of the third tank (23) and a second pipe (222) extending from this outlet (221) to the vertical of the third tank, the first to third tanks having an overlap in a vertical direction; -a pump (9) configured to draw water from the third tank (23) and pump it into the first tank (21);-an air injection device (3) comprising first to third pipes (31, 32, 33) dipping respectively into the first to third tanks (21, 22, 23); -a control module (4) for the pump (9) and the air injection device (3), comprising a cover (40) extending partially above the first to third retention tanks and covering the first and second pipes (212, 222) and said first to third pipes (31, 32, 33).

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the outlet orifice (211) of the first tank (21) is connected to a first tube (213) extending substantially to the bottom of the first tank and wherein the outlet orifice (221) of the second tank is connected to a second tube (223) extending substantially to the bottom of the second tank (22).

3. System according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a structure (11, 12, 13) supporting said first to third trays (21, 22, 23).

4. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a column (226) extending from the bottom to the top of the second tank (22) connected to the second tube, such that the air injected into the column carries water through the column.

5. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: -a device for analyzing the water in the system (5); -a device for communicating the results of the analysis device by radio frequency.

6. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first tank (21) contains fish and wherein the second and third tanks (22, 23) comprise plant culture substrates.

7. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first to third tanks (21, 22, 23) are formed by rigid shells of the same shape.

8. System according to claim 7, wherein said hulls are supported by wedges (111, 121) positioned at different heights.

9. System according to claims 7 and 8, wherein the rigid shells have a support surface projecting inwards at an intermediate level of their height, the second tray having a porous plate filled with a drainage substrate, the plate resting on said support surface.

10. System according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein said shells have threads for screwing a hydraulic connector to one of said pipelines.

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