Nutrient solution quantitative supply device and nutrient solution quantitative supply system using the same

Abstract

A quantitative nutrient solution supply device according to the present invention may include a supply container for holding a nutrient solution, a nutrient solution inlet pipe coupled to one side of the supply container for supplying the nutrient solution to the supply container, a nutrient solution supply pipe located below the nutrient solution inlet pipe within the supply container and coupled to one side of the supply container at a predetermined distance at the same height, and a nutrient solution control valve provided in the nutrient solution inlet pipe for controlling the amount of nutrient solution supplied into the supply container. Additionally, the nutrient solution control valve may be composed of a buoyancy valve configured to control the opening of the nutrient solution inlet pipe according to the water level of the nutrient solution within the supply container.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a quantitative nutrient solution dispenser and a quantitative nutrient solution supply system using the same. Background Technology

[0002] A facility that utilizes information technology to measure and analyze temperature, humidity, sunlight, carbon dioxide, and other parameters within a crop cultivation facility, and operates control devices based on the analysis results to provide optimal conditions for the crops, is called a smart farm.

[0003] Since the primary objective of smart farms is mass cultivation, plant growth takes place in vertical spaces rather than the traditional horizontal methods; to achieve this, LED lighting capable of replacing sunlight and nutrient solutions to supply nutrients to the plants are essential.

[0004] In a smart farm, multiple plants are grown in a single pot, which is called a gutter. These gutters are arranged horizontally and vertically to enable efficient cultivation in a confined space.

[0005] The gutter-based cultivation system is a system developed to establish a cultivation system at a low cost, as it has low initial installation costs and is easy to install.

[0006] This type of gutter cultivation system uses a single main valve to regulate the amount of nutrient solution supplied from the nutrient pump, but there is a problem where the amount of nutrient solution flowing through each gutter varies greatly, so some gutters receive insufficient or excessive amounts of nutrient solution.

[0007] Generally, if the amount of nutrient solution is insufficient, it affects the growth of crops, and if the amount of nutrient solution is excessive, it overflows from the gutter, causing nutrient loss and contamination of the surroundings, which poses a problem to the cultivation environment.

[0008] In order to solve the above problem, some gutter-type cultivation systems are configured with one main valve and multiple auxiliary valves. However, when the main valve or auxiliary valve is operated, the amount of nutrient solution supplied changes, and at the same time, the pressure of the nutrient solution flowing through the pipe changes, which causes a problem in that the amount of nutrient solution supplied through other auxiliary valves that are not operated changes.

[0009] This means that in a system composed of multiple auxiliary valves, the valves must be repeatedly adjusted to maintain a constant flow of nutrient solution through the gutter, which results in a problem of consuming a significant amount of time.

[0010] To solve the above problem, applying a pressure regulating valve to the pipeline to maintain a constant pressure eliminates pressure fluctuations caused by valve operation, thereby eliminating fluctuations in the supply volume of the nutrient solution.

[0011] Nevertheless, since pressure regulating valves generally have a pilot-type valve structure, there is a problem where the valve does not operate due to a large number of particles contained in the nutrient solution.

[0012] Therefore, it is necessary to develop a nutrient solution supply device capable of supplying a precise amount of nutrient solution to solve these problems. Prior art literature

[0013] Korean Published Patent No. 10-2023-0016106 The problem to be solved

[0014] The present invention is devised to solve the problems of the aforementioned prior art and provides a device capable of consistently supplying the same nutrient solution to a plurality of gutters and a nutrient solution supply system using the same, with the purpose of increasing the productivity of plant cultivation within a smart farm by performing efficient nutrient solution supply therefrom.

[0015] The problems of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned problems will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below. means of solving the problem

[0016] A quantitative nutrient solution supply device according to the present invention may include a supply container for holding a nutrient solution, a nutrient solution inlet pipe coupled to one side of the supply container for supplying a nutrient solution to the supply container, a nutrient solution supply pipe located below the nutrient solution inlet pipe within the supply container and coupled to one side of the supply container at a predetermined distance at the same height, and a nutrient solution control valve provided in the nutrient solution inlet pipe for controlling the amount of nutrient solution supplied into the supply container.

[0017] In addition, the above-mentioned nutrient control valve may be configured as a buoyancy valve configured to control the opening of the nutrient inlet pipe according to the water level of the nutrient solution in the supply tank.

[0018] In addition, the above-mentioned nutrient control valve may be composed of a water level control sensor that detects the nutrient level of the supply tank and a solenoid valve that controls the opening of the nutrient inlet pipe.

[0019] In addition, the above-mentioned nutrient control valve may be composed of a water level control sensor that detects the nutrient level of the supply tank and a solenoid valve that controls the opening of the nutrient inlet pipe.

[0020] In addition, the supply tank is equipped with a drain valve, and the drain valve may be positioned higher than the nutrient supply pipe within the supply tank so as to discharge the nutrient solution of the supply tank to the outside.

[0021] In addition, the automatic nutrient solution quantity supply system according to the present invention may be configured such that the previously described automatic nutrient solution supply devices are arranged horizontally and vertically within the space. Effects of the invention

[0022] The quantitative nutrient solution supply system of the present invention, designed to solve the above-mentioned problem, supplies a constant amount of nutrient solution to each gutter to aid in crop growth and prevent nutrient solution overflow from the gutter, thereby reducing irrigation system costs and environmental pollution.

[0023] In addition, the amount of nutrient solution supplied to each gutter can be rapidly adjusted simultaneously, thereby reducing working time.

[0024] In addition, the nutrient solution quantitative supply system according to the present invention has a simple configuration, such as an operating unit and a control unit, and is easy to operate, making installation and maintenance easy.

[0026] The effects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description in the claims. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0027] Figure 1 is a drawing showing a conventional nutrient solution supply device. FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a nutrient solution supply device according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a method of supplying a nutrient solution for a nutrient solution supply device according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a drawing showing an embodiment of a nutrient control valve according to the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0028] In this specification, where a component (or region, layer, part, etc.) is described as being "on," "connected," or "combined" with another component, it means that it may be directly placed / connected / combined with the other component, or that a third component may be placed between them.

[0029] Identical reference numerals denote identical components. Additionally, in the drawings, the thicknesses, proportions, and dimensions of the components are exaggerated for the effective illustration of the technical content.

[0030] "And / or" includes all one or more combinations that the associated configurations can define.

[0031] Terms such as "first," "second," etc., may be used to describe various components, but said components should not be limited by said terms. These terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be named the second component, and similarly, the second component may be named the first component. A singular expression includes a plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0032] Additionally, terms such as "below," "lower side," "above," and "upper side" are used to describe the relationships between the components depicted in the drawings. These terms are relative concepts and are described based on the directions indicated in the drawings.

[0033] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Additionally, terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology, and are explicitly defined herein unless interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense.

[0034] Terms such as "include" or "have" are intended to indicate the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood as not precluding the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0036] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0037] Figure 1 is a diagram showing a conventional nutrient solution supply system.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 1, conventionally, a nutrient solution supply line (20) is connected to each gutter (10), and the nutrient solution supply line is connected to a main valve (21).

[0039] At this time, each nutrient solution supply line (20) may additionally be equipped with an auxiliary valve (22), and the supply of the nutrient solution may be configured to be controlled by the opening and closing operation of the auxiliary valve (22).

[0040] However, since multiple nutrient supply lines connected to multiple gutters (10) are connected to a single nutrient supply line (20), there is a problem that the nutrient supplied to the nutrient supply line is not the same due to the opening and closing operation of the main valve (21).

[0041] Additionally, to solve this problem, an auxiliary valve (22) can be added to each nutrient supply line, but there is a problem that when one auxiliary valve (22) is opened or closed, the amount of nutrient supplied to adjacent nutrient supply lines fluctuates.

[0042] In particular, when multiple auxiliary valves (22) operate to open or close, the supply volume of the nutrient solution supply line connected to one supply valve fluctuates to an unpredictable degree, and accordingly, the supply of nutrient solution is irregular and uneven regardless of the plant growth condition.

[0044] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a nutrient solution supply device according to the present invention.

[0045] The nutrient solution supply device according to the present invention may include a supply tank (100), a nutrient solution supply pipe (200), a drain pipe (300), a nutrient solution inlet pipe (400), and a nutrient solution control valve (500).

[0047] The above supply container (100) is formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped with an open top and an internal space, and a nutrient solution inlet pipe (400) can be connected to one side.

[0048] Of course, there are no restrictions on the shape of the supply container (100), and any shape is possible as long as it can hold fluid.

[0050] Meanwhile, a plurality of nutrient supply pipes (200) may be connected to the lower part of the other side of the supply tank (100).

[0051] Additionally, a drain pipe (300) may be connected to another side of the supply pipe (100), and it is preferable that the connection position of the drain pipe (300) be located lower than the connection position of the nutrient supply pipe (200).

[0052] The above drain pipe (300) can perform the function of draining the nutrient solution in the above supply tank (100).

[0053] The nutrient solution supplied from the nutrient solution inlet pipe (400) may be configured to be discharged or collected separately through the drain pipe (300) before it overflows to the upper part of the supply tank (100) due to uncontrolled nutrient solution.

[0054] One end of the above-mentioned nutrient solution inlet pipe (400) may be connected to a nutrient solution supply unit (not shown), such as a container containing nutrient solution or a nutrient solution supply pipe, and the other end may be connected to the above-mentioned supply container (100) to transfer nutrient solution from the nutrient solution supply unit to the above-mentioned supply container (100).

[0056] Additionally, a nutrient control valve (500) capable of controlling the fluid flow of the nutrient inlet pipe (400) may be provided at the end of the nutrient inlet pipe (400) located adjacent to the supply tank (100).

[0057] The above nutrient control valve (500) can be configured to control the amount of nutrient supplied to the supply tank (100) through the nutrient inlet pipe (400) by controlling the opening of the nutrient inlet pipe (400).

[0058] Specifically, the above-mentioned nutrient control valve (500) may be a buoyancy valve using a buoyancy body.

[0059] The above buoyancy valve is configured to control the opening of the nutrient solution inlet pipe (400) according to the nutrient solution level in the supply tank (100). When the nutrient solution level is above a preset value, the buoyancy body rises and closes the nutrient solution inlet pipe (400), thereby blocking the supply of nutrient solution.

[0061] One end of a plurality of nutrient supply pipes (200) is connected to the lower part of the supply tank (100), and the other end of each nutrient supply pipe (200) can be connected to a gutter (10).

[0062] The nutrient solution can be supplied from the supply tank (100) to the gutter (10) along the nutrient solution supply pipe (200).

[0063] The nutrient supply pipe (200) coupled to the supply tank (100) can be installed at the same height from the bottom surface of the supply tank (100), and the supply tank (100) can be installed with its bottom surface horizontal to the ground.

[0064] In addition, it is preferable that the connection position of the above-mentioned nutrient supply pipe (200) be located lower than the above-mentioned nutrient supply pipe (200) and drain pipe (300).

[0066] FIG. 3 illustrates a method of supplying a nutrient solution using a nutrient solution supply device according to the present invention.

[0067] Nutrient solution is supplied to the supply tank (100) through a nutrient solution inlet pipe (400) connected to the nutrient solution supply unit, and the amount of nutrient solution in the supply tank (100) can be maintained at a preset level through a nutrient solution control valve (500) provided in the nutrient solution inlet pipe (400).

[0068] When the supply tank (100) is filled with a certain level of nutrient solution, the nutrient solution can be supplied at the same pressure to the nutrient solution supply pipe (200) provided at the bottom of the supply tank (100).

[0069] As shown in FIG. 3(a), the water level can be adjusted so that the nutrient supply pipe (200) is completely submerged, thereby supplying a sufficient amount of nutrient solution to the gutter (10).

[0070] Meanwhile, if the supply of nutrient solution is excessive, as shown in FIG. 3(b) and FIG. 3(c), it is also possible to reduce the total amount of nutrient solution supplied by the entire nutrient solution supply pipe (200) by lowering the set water level in the supply tank (100) through the nutrient solution control valve (500).

[0071] In addition, as shown in FIG. 3(d), the supply of nutrient solution through the nutrient solution supply pipe (200) can be stopped all at once by positioning the set water level below the nutrient solution supply pipe (200).

[0072] Meanwhile, by positioning the top of the supply tank (100) or the drain pipe (300) lower than the top height of the gutter (10), the phenomenon of the nutrient solution overflowing from the gutter (10) can be prevented.

[0073] Specifically, even if the nutrient solution is supplied excessively and fills the gutter, the nutrient solution is not supplied above the level of the supply tank (100), so the overflow of the nutrient solution through the gutter (10) can be prevented.

[0074] Meanwhile, each of the above-mentioned nutrient supply pipes (200) may additionally be equipped with an individual auxiliary valve (not shown).

[0075] It is also possible to control the nutrient solution supplied to each gutter (10) by individually controlling the opening of a specific nutrient solution supply pipe (200) through the auxiliary valve above.

[0076] Since the nutrient solution supply device according to the present invention is configured such that the nutrient solution in the supply tank (100) is supplied equally to the nutrient solution supply pipe (200) by pressure, even when one auxiliary valve is operated as described above, the amount of nutrient solution supplied through the other nutrient solution supply pipe (200) is not affected.

[0078] Figure 4 shows a nutrient control valve (500) according to the present invention.

[0079] A nutrient control valve (500) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a buoyancy body (510), an angle adjustment device (520), and a sealing part (530).

[0080] The position of the buoyancy body (510) changes according to the above angle adjustment device, and accordingly, the water level at which the sealing part (530) closes the nutrient control valve (500) can change.

[0081] The above angle adjustment device may utilize a motor (540), etc., and the amount of rotation of the motor (540) may be controlled by a control signal from a control unit (600) located inside or outside the motor.

[0082] The above control unit (600) controls the water level of the supply tank (100) by adjusting the angle of the motor, and the amount of nutrient solution supplied to the gutter (10) can be controlled by the water level control.

[0084] Meanwhile, the above-mentioned nutrient control valve (500) may be composed of a solenoid valve and a water level sensor.

[0085] The solenoid valve is configured to open and close the nutrient inlet pipe (400) at the end of the nutrient inlet pipe (400), and the water level sensor is configured to detect the nutrient level in the supply tank (100).

[0086] The control unit may be provided in the solenoid valve or configured externally to receive a sensing value from the water level sensor, and may be configured to close the solenoid valve when the value is greater than or equal to a preset value, and to open the solenoid valve when the value is less than the preset value.

[0088] Meanwhile, additionally, an image acquisition device (700) may be provided at a location where it can photograph the cultivated plants in the gutter.

[0089] The above image acquisition device (700) is configured to photograph plants in the gutter (10) and transmit the image to the control unit (600).

[0090] The control unit (600) may be configured to analyze the acquired image, derive an appropriate amount of nutrient solution considering the cultivation period and growth condition, and then control the amount of nutrient solution supplied by adjusting the angle of the motor according to the result.

[0091] Since the nutrient solution supply device according to the present invention is configured to simultaneously control the amount of nutrient solution supplied to a plurality of gutters (10) connected to a supply tank (100), the control unit (600) may be configured to set the gutters connected to one supply tank (100) as one plant group and to adjust the amount of nutrient solution supplied by identifying the overall growth state of the plant group.

[0092] Specifically, if the amount of nutrient solution exceeds the preset amount for plants in a state of insufficient growth, the amount can be controlled to increase, and if the amount of nutrient solution exceeds the preset amount for plants in a state of excessive growth, the amount can be controlled to decrease.

[0093] Meanwhile, if individual auxiliary valves are installed on the nutrient solution supply pipes, the growth status of each gutter can be identified, and the opening amount of gutters with insufficient growth can be increased or decreased.

[0095] As described above, the nutrient solution supply device according to the present invention can supply a certain amount of nutrient solution equally to a plurality of curders and simultaneously prevent the nutrient solution from overflowing.

[0096] In addition, a cultivation system can be formed by combining multiple such nutrient supply devices vertically and horizontally to constitute a single nutrient supply system.

[0098] As described above, preferred embodiments according to the present invention have been examined. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that, in addition to the embodiments described above, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or scope. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive, and accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the description above but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Explanation of the symbols

[0099] 10: Gutter 100: Supply container 200: Nutrient supply pipe 300: Drain pipe 400: Nutrient solution inlet pipe 500: Nutrient control valve

Claims

Claim 1 A gutter into which a nutrient solution is supplied; a supply container in which the nutrient solution is contained; a nutrient solution inlet pipe coupled to one side of the supply container to supply the nutrient solution into the supply container; a nutrient solution supply pipe located below the nutrient solution inlet pipe within the supply container and coupled to one side of the supply container at a predetermined distance at the same height; a nutrient solution control valve provided on the nutrient solution inlet pipe to control the amount of nutrient solution supplied into the supply container; an image acquisition device provided at a position capable of photographing the cultivated plants in the gutter; and a control unit for controlling the supply amount of the nutrient solution; wherein the nutrient solution control valve comprises: a buoyancy body provided on the surface of the nutrient solution to receive the buoyancy of the nutrient solution; and a sealing part for closing the nutrient solution control valve. A nutrient solution quantity supply device comprising: an angle adjustment device that connects the buoyancy body and the sealing part and is equipped with a motor; wherein the control unit controls the angle adjustment device through an image acquired from the image acquisition device to control the water level of the supply tank for controlling the supply amount of the nutrient solution. Claim 2 A nutrient solution quantity supply device according to claim 1, wherein the nutrient solution control valve is configured to control the opening of the nutrient solution inlet pipe according to the level of the nutrient solution in the supply tank. Claim 3 A nutrient solution quantity supply device according to claim 1, wherein the nutrient solution control valve comprises a level control sensor that detects the nutrient solution level of the supply tank and a solenoid valve that controls the opening of the nutrient solution inlet pipe. Claim 4 delete Claim 5 A nutrient solution quantity supply device according to claim 1, wherein the supply tank is equipped with a drain valve, and the drain valve is positioned higher than the nutrient solution supply pipe within the supply tank so as to discharge the nutrient solution of the supply tank to the outside. Claim 6 An automatic nutrient solution quantity supply system configured such that a plurality of nutrient solution quantity supply devices according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 3 and 5 are arranged horizontally and vertically within a space.

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