Subterranean apparatus for horticulture and aquaculture

Abstract

A self-contained underground growing apparatus (500) including a container (502) configured to be positioned underground, an opening into the apparatus configured to allow human access from a surface of the ground and including a releasable hatch (514), a fluid container (714) configured to contain an aqueous solution, multiple internal containers (530) configured to enable growing of at least one of aquatic animal life, plants, or fungi and configured to enable the aqueous solution to flow therethrough, a rebreather system, a heat transfer system (760), and a computerized control device (722).

Description

SUBTERRANEAN APPARATUS FOR HORTICULTURE AND AQUACULTURERelated Applications

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63680954filed on August 8, 2024 and titled Self-Contained Underground Growing Apparatus (SCUGA). The content of this application is incorporated herein by reference.Field of the Invention

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to an underground controlled environment agriculture and / or aquaculture system where plants, fungi, insects, and aquatic organisms can be grown in precisely controlled conditions.Background of the Invention

[0003] Controlled environment agriculture allows for growing plants, fungi, and other organisms, such as fish, shrimp, and other aquatic life, in an indoor environment, often without the use of soil, sunlight, or pesticides. This allows both comestible and non-comestible organisms to be grown organically, i.e. without the use of certain fertilizers, pesticides, and / or any other supplemental material to promote organism growth. In some systems, either hydroponic or aquaponic systems of recirculated aqueous solution are used. Hydroponics is a soilless growing method where nutrientrich fluid is circulated around the roots of plants. Aquaponics is the combination of hydroponics and aquaculture, which is the farming offish and other aquatic organisms. Aquaponics creates a nearly closed-loop system of growing, where fish waste provides nutrients for plants, and the plants clean the water for the fish.

[0004] Numerous methods and enclosures have been developed beginning with greenhouses and most recently including shipping container farms. A shipping container farm is a controlled environment agriculture system built into a shipping container, typically in 20 or 40-foot lengths. A benefit of a shipping container farm is that it can be manufactured off-site at a factory or other manufacturing facility and then shipped via truck, rail, or ship to the location where it will be implemented. This offers production cost savings compared to onsite custom production. Shipping containers, however, are not thermally efficient, and their heat transfer properties make them very expensive to operate. Roughly eighty percent of the operating costs of a shippingcontainer farm are lost to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC). In addition, due to large variations in temperature at the surface of the ground, there is also a much higher capital expenditure associated with HVAC equipment to account for the large variations in temperature. Further, shipping containers lack aesthetic appeal and are not typically welcome sights where they are placed. This requires a location agnostic to aesthetic requirements or substantial effort to disguise the unsightly structure. Finally, the container is quite large and may occupy much of the usable space in a small area that could otherwise be used for some other activity.

[0005] A benefit of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) is the potential benefit obtained from precise control of growing conditions. Each living organism, plant, fungi, or animal, grown in a CEA system has optimal growing conditions that will allow it to grow faster and / or with greater nutritional or health benefits, such as by producing a higher concentration of desirable phytochemicals. CEA allows plants and animals that require tropical conditions to grow in arctic conditions and vice versa, CEA allows for year-round growing and nighttime photosynthesis. But more importantly, CEA allows for the optimal production of the highest quantity of the healthiest food in the smallest possible area and the shortest possible time.

[0006] Each organism has optimal growing conditions, including but not limited to temperature, humidity, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, light intensity, duration, and wavelength, pH, and nutrient levels, among others. Current shipping container farms are designed with only one climate zone, where the entire container has the same growing conditions.

[0007] In order to make shipping container farming cost-effective, aesthetically pleasing, and space-efficient, a system that addresses these concerns must be made available. In order to optimize the conditions for multiple species of food-producing organisms, plants, fungi, and animals, a system with multiple precisely controlled climate zones is required.

[0008] This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.Summary of the Invention

[0009] With the above in mind, embodiments of the present invention are related to a self-contained underground growing apparatus (SCUGA) containing a hydroponic or aquaponic closed-loop growing system capable of growing plants, fungi, insects, and aquatic life. The apparatus can be buried in the ground partially or up to 10 meters deep as required to optimize heat transfer conditions and installation cost.The apparatus may be installed via open excavation in a similar method to that used to install a drop-in swimming pool. The apparatus may be made accessible from the surface of the ground by means of a staircase, integrated ladder, elevator, or similar apparatus. The external container may be reinforced to withstand the pressure, corrosive, and abrasive conditions of an underground environment. The hydroponics and / or aquaponics growing system may comprise a recirculating aqueous solution that flows between the plants and aquatic life or hydroponic nutrient solution tank. The concentration of nutrients in the aqueous solution may be carefully monitored and controlled with automated sensors and controllers. The apparatus may be pressurized to optimize atmospheric conditions for growth and life support. A rebreather system is used to control the partial pressures of gases in different compartments. Gases are separated, stored in pressurized vessels, and then distributed as necessary to different compartments using a series of pressurized gas pipes and computer- controlled valves. A system of closed-loop liquid heat exchangers is used to transfer heat into and out of the system and also between different compartments within the system. The individual compartments have varying levels of precise control used to optimize precise growing conditions. Light intensity, duration, and wavelength are precisely controlled by a computerized control system to optimize growth parameters. The entire system is modular to allow for the interchangeability of numerous growth chambers that are optimized for specific types of plants, fungi, and animals.

[0010] Further embodiments of the invention may be directed to a self- contained underground growing apparatus comprising at least one container configured to be positioned underground, at least one opening into the apparatus configured to allow human access from a surface of the ground and comprising a releasable hatch, at least one holding tank configured to contain therewithin an aqueous solution, at least one internal container configured to enable growing of at least one of aquatic animal life, plants, or fungi, including a lighting source and a connector configured to connect to an aqueous solution circulation system and operable to permit hydroponic fluid to flow therethrough. The apparatus may furthercomprise a computerized control system configured to monitor and control the concentration of chemicals in the aqueous solution, a rebreather system configured to monitor and control the partial pressures of gases in an atmosphere inside the apparatus, and a heat transfer system configured to maintain a target air temperature within at least a portion of the container.

[0011] In some embodiments, the container and the hatch may be configured to establish a sealed gas-tight environment within the container, and the apparatus may further comprise one or more pressurized gas pumps operable to maintain a predetermined atmospheric pressure.

[0012] In some embodiments, at least one of the at least one internal container, the computerized control system, the rebreather system, and the heat transfer is configured to establish independent control of multiple control zones within the apparatus.

[0013] In some embodiments, the container may be large enough to house several people and reinforced to withstand the pressure applied by the surrounding soil when buried underground. In some embodiments, a first internal container of the at least one internal container may be configured to contain therewithin aquatic animal life and a second internal container of the at least one internal container may be configured to contain therewithin at least one of plants or fungi. The aquatic animal life may comprise at least one of fish, shellfish, or crustaceans.

[0014] In some embodiments, the container may be formed from a shipping container having applied to a surface thereof at least one of a protective primer layer and a corrosion-resistant material layer. In other embodiments, the container may comprise a plurality of sacrificial anodic structures.

[0015] In some embodiments, the heat transfer system may comprise a passive heat transfer system configured to passively permit the flow of heat between the container and an underground environment. The container may comprise at least one exterior wall that at least partially defines the passive heat transfer system, the at least one exterior wall comprising an exterior surface configured to interface with the underground environment and an interior surface configured to be exposed to an atmosphere within the container. The at least one exterior wall may be configured to have an R-value responsive to at least one of a target temperature within the container and a constant ground temperature of the underground environment. In some further embodiments the apparatus may further comprise a thermally conductive materialpositioned outside of and in contact with an exterior surface of the at least one exterior wall. The thermally conductive material may comprise silica sand and may be positioned to substantially surround the exterior of the container.

[0016] In some embodiment, the apparatus may further comprise a fluid dispersal system configured to disperse fluid on an exterior of the container. The fluid dispersal system may further comprise a reverse osmosis system and the fluid dispersed by the fluid dispersal system may be produced by the reverse osmosis system.

[0017] In some embodiments, the heat transfer system may comprise an active heat transfer system configured to monitor and maintain a target temperature for an environmental control zone within the container.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements.

[0019] The nature and various advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout.

[0020] FIG. 1 depicts a plot showing depth in meters vs. ground temperature at a location with a constant ground temperature of ~26 °C.

[0021] FIG. 2 depicts a plot showing depth in meters vs. ground temperature at a location with a constant ground temperature of ~9 °C.

[0022] FIG. 3 depicts a plot showing depth in meters vs. ground temperature at a location with a constant ground temperature of ~6 °C.

[0023] FIG. 4 depicts a map of the continental United States showing the constant ground temperature at various locations primarily as a function of latitude.

[0024] FIG. 5 depicts a side elevation view of a subterranean self-contained growing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0025] FIG. 6 depicts a side elevation view of another subterranean self- contained growing apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0026] FIG. 7 depicts a top schematic view of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0027] FIG. 8 depicts a top schematic view of another apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.Detailed Description of the Invention

[0028] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Those of ordinary skill in the art realize that the following descriptions of the embodiments of the present invention are illustrative and are not intended to be limiting in any way. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

[0029] Although the following detailed description contains many specifics for the purposes of illustration, anyone of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention.Accordingly, the following embodiments of the invention are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention.

[0030] In this detailed description of the present invention, a person skilled in the art should note that directional terms, such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” and other like terms are used for the convenience of the reader in reference to the drawings. Also, a person skilled in the art should notice this description may contain other terminology to convey position, orientation, and direction without departing from the principles of the present invention.

[0031] Furthermore, in this detailed description, a person skilled in the art should note that quantitative qualifying terms such as “generally,” “substantially,” “mostly,” and other terms are used, in general, to mean that the referred to object, characteristic, or quality constitutes a majority of the subject of the reference. The meaning of any of these terms is dependent upon the context within which it is used, and the meaning may be expressly modified.

[0032] One embodiment of the invention is directed to a self-contained underground growing apparatus (SCUGA) built into a shippable container. In one embodiment, this container is a standard 20- or 40-foot shipping container. In another embodiment, this container is a torpedo-shaped or cylindrical tank, such as those used to store fluids underground. In either case, the container is shaped or reinforced to withstand the forces of ground soil pressing inwardly on the container. In the standard rectangular prism-shaped shipping container embodiment, the container is reinforced on the inside walls by welding steel c-channel to the cross members at intervals not less than twelve inches apart. In some embodiments, the container may be placed upside down so that the reinforced I-beams, normally in the floor, are on top to provide structural support from overhead pressure. With the I-beams on top of the container, steel-reinforced concrete is poured to a depth of not less than 12 inches deep to further reinforce the ceiling. The apparatus is buried in the ground up to, but not more than, 10 meters deep.

[0033] Embodiments of the invention may be installed in a similar manner to a drop-in-place in-ground swimming pool. If a standard 20- or 40-foot shipping container is used, either a foundation or a plurality of mini-pylons are placed at the four corners of the container, as a majority and / or all of the weight is supported at the corners. After being installed into the excavated hole, the corners are welded to the mini-pylons or otherwise affixed to the foundation.

[0034] The heat transfer conditions for the apparatus can be improved by placing the container underground,. At a depth of ten meters, the ground temperature at any given location is constant. As the depth increases from zero meters to ten meters, the ground temperature rapidly approaches a constant temperature. FIGS. 1 , 2, and 3 show plots of depth vs ground temperature at three different locations. FIG.1 shows the plot at a location where the ground temperature at depth is approximately 26 °C (79 °F). FIG. 2 shows the plot of a location where the constant ground temperature is approximately 10 °C (50 °F). FIG. 3 shows the plot of a location where the constant ground temperature is approximately 6 °C (43 °F). At a constant ground temperature of 26 °C, the depth to approach near-constant temperatures is less than three meters. As the ground temperatures get colder, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the depths increase up to 10 meters; however, in all cases, as the depth increases, it rapidly approaches a constant temperature. FIG. 4 shows a map of the continental United States with general guidelines indicating the constant ground temperature atdepth in different locations. Constant ground temperature is generally a function of distance from the equator.

[0035] There are three types of heat transfer: radiation, convection, and conduction. By placing the container comprised by the apparatus underground, radiation and convection become negligible. By placing the container at a depth underground, in some embodiments at a depth of at least 10 meters, the conduction rate becomes predictably constant and steady-state. In many situations, the ground temperature is lower than a target inside temperature. This ensures an outward flow of heat. The equipment inside the container, such as lighting, pumps, computers, and other control devices, may generate heat that needs to be transferred to the outside of the container. The heat generated inside the container can be passively offset by the heat transfer flowing out of the container as a function of the basic heat transfer equation shown in Equation 1 below:Q = U * A * (AT) (Eq 1 )

[0036] Where Q equals the heat transfer (W), II equals the overall heat transfer coefficient (W / m2K), A equals the surface area of the container (m2), and AT = the difference between the temperature inside and outside the container (K or °C). When Qin = Qout, the heat transfer is balanced, and there is no positive or negative accumulation of heat, which means the temperature remains constant without active heating or cooling and / or with only minimal active heating or cooling, which results in either zero energy consumption or in minimal energy consumption. To achieve this, Qin is determined based on the heat produced by the equipment inside the container. The surface area and temperature difference are known, and II can be varied based on location. When radiation and convection are negligible, U is reduced to thermal conductivity, and thermal resistance, R = 1 / U. Therefore, Equation 1 can be rewritten as Equation 2:Q=A*ATR (Eq 2)

[0037] Equation 2 can be rearranged to solve for the R-value, as shown below in Equation 3: R=A*ATQ (Eq 3)

[0038] The R-value can be varied by increasing or decreasing the amount of insulation placed on the outside of the container before it is buried. The apparatus uses this heat transfer relationship to determine how much closed-cell spray foam insulation may be added to the outside of the container to ensure that the heat transferis primarily passive. In other embodiments, it is possible to use alternative types of insulation either on the inside or the outside of the container.

[0039] In this way, the size of the HVAC system can be minimized to make minor adjustments to the inside temperature as necessary, rather than needing to adjust for huge seasonal changes in AT. The container walls are used as heat transfer mechanisms to transfer heat to the cooler ground outside, which acts as an endless heat sink. To further facilitate this, in some embodiments, the container is buried with a thermally conductive material surrounding, substantially surrounding, or at least partially surrounding an exterior surface of the container. Referring now to FIG. 5, an apparatus 500 according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a container 502 that is positioned underground at a depth d. The apparatus 500 further comprises a layer of thermally conductive material 504 substantially surrounding the container 502 and interfacing with an exterior surface 503 of the container 502. The thermally conductive material 504 may be a material or material blend configured to increase the outflow of heat from the container 502 to the subterranean environment surrounding the container 502. In some embodiments, the thermally conductive material 504 may comprise silica sand, which contains quartz, and has comparatively greater thermal conductivity than most other soil types likely to be in the environment.

[0040] In addition, in some embodiments, the apparatus 500 may further comprise a fluid dispersal system 506. The fluid dispersal system may be operable to drain a fluid on the exterior surface 503 of the container 502. The fluid may be any fluid that may increase at least one of the volumetric heat capacity the thermal flow capacity between the exterior surface 503 and the layer of thermally conductive material 504 and / or the environment surrounding the container 502. In some embodiments, the fluid may be the output of a reverse osmosis wastewater system(not shown) comprised by the apparatus 500. The fluid dispersal system may further comprise a reservoir (not shown) to contain the fluid to be dispersed and a plurality of fluid dispersal ports 508 positioned about the exterior surface 503 and operable to disperse fluid from the reservoir to the exterior surface 503 and the surrounding area. The plurality of fluid dispersal ports may be positioned on one, a plurality, or all exterior surfaces that may be comprised by the container 502, e.g. upper, lower, sides, front, and back.

[0041] Placing the container in a subterranean environment results in several challenges, including access limitations, ventilation limitations, and corrosionproblems. To address the corrosion problems, in one embodiment, the container 502 may be a shipping container that is made of weathering steel, which oxidizes on the outer layer helping to prevent corrosion inside this oxidation layer. Furthermore, in some embodiments, some or all of the exterior surface 503 of the container 502 may be sandblasted to bare metal, and a protective primer is applied, followed by a second layer of corrosion-resistant surface preparation material. This provides protection against corrosion and / or abrasion. Additionally, in some embodiments, a plurality of sacrificial anode structures 510 may be positioned on the exterior surface 503 and configured to provide cathodic protection, further preventing oxidative corrosion of the container. In some embodiments, the plurality of sacrificial anode structures 510 may be magnesium anodes structures.

[0042] Maintaining an atmosphere within the container 502 that is conducive to plant growth is a further object of the invention. In some embodiments, the apparatus 500 may comprise a rebreather system (not shown), similar to other scenarios where natural gas circulation is not possible, such as in submarines, spacecraft, and the like.The rebreather system may be operable to change the chemical composition of atmospheric air within the container 502 to facilitate one or more of plant growth, airfluid gas exchange for tanks containing aquatic life, and human existence and activity within the container 502.

[0043] Human access to the apparatus 500 may be facilitated by one or more structures of the apparatus 500. As shown in FIG. 5, a ladder 512 extending from the container 502 to the ground surface may be provided. The apparatus 500 may further comprise a hatch 514 that may cooperate with the ladder 512, which may be split into two components, to create a sealed environment within the container 502 as will be discussed in greater detail below. In the present embodiment, the hatch 514 is integral with the container 502. It is contemplated and included within the scope of the invention that the hatch 514 may be at any position along an opening 513 between the container 502 and the ground surface and operable to establish the sealed environment between the container 502 and the environment above ground. An alternative embodiment is shown in FIG. 6, where an apparatus 600 comprises a container 602 that can be accessed via a staircase 612 installed adjacent to container 602, with access to the container 602 being provided by a hatch 614. This can be through a basement-like structure of one or more levels constructed of concrete block, concrete poured in place, or similar materials. In other embodiments, an elevator mayprovide access to any or all containers comprised by an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0044] Referring back to FIG. 5, the apparatus 500 may be configured to be sealed, gas-tight, and pressurized. This may be accomplished via the hatch 514 and the construction of the container 502. This allows the apparatus 500 to grow organisms at a target air pressure or within a target air pressure range, such as that found at sea level when the apparatus 500 is at higher altitudes with lower ambient air pressures. Altitude and the attended lower air pressure and / or oxygen content of air can have a negative impact on growth conditions for many organisms. In some embodiments, the rebreather system may comprise an air separator (not shown) that may be placed within the container 502 and be positioned in fluidic communication with a snorkel 520 extending from the container 502 to above the ground surface. The air inside the container 502 may be separated into >95% oxygen and >95% nitrogen. Atmospheric air contains -21 % oxygen in the form of O2 gas, and -78% nitrogen in the form of N2 gas. The apparatus 500 stores these gases, along with additional gases such as carbon dioxide in the form of CO2 gas, in pressurized containers (not shown).

[0045] Referring now to FIG. 7, an apparatus 700 according to an embodiment of the invention is presented. The apparatus 700 comprises a container 702 and a plurality of independent zones 704, 706, 708 that may have the atmospheres therein independently controlled. The container 702 may further comprise a wet storage room 710 and a dry storage room 720 configured to facilitate the positioning therewithin of liquid elements for use in the apparatus 700 and dry elements for use in the apparatus 700, respectively. The wet storage room 710 may have stored therein a plurality of pressurized containers 712 configured to contain gasses for use by the rebreather system as described hereinabove. In some embodiments, the plurality of pressurized containers 712 may be contained within the dry storage room 720. The apparatus 700 may further comprise a plurality of fluid containers 714 configured to contain therewithin an aqueous solution configured to facilitate the growth and production of aquatic life in an aquatic life farming system of the apparatus 700 and / or plants or fungi in a hydroponic system of the apparatus 700. The apparatus 700 may further comprise a control device 722 positioned within the dry storage room 720 that is configured to control the operation of the hydroponic system and the aquatic life farming system described above. The control device 722 may comprise all necessary componentry for controlling the various electronic components of the apparatus 700, including aprocessor, a storage medium, a communication device configured to communicate with the componentry, such as a universal serial bus (USB) device, a network communication device such as an Ethernet controller or Wi-Fi device, or any other computer communication device as is known in the art.

[0046] The apparatus 700 may further comprise a plurality of internal containers730. Each internal container 730 may be positioned within an independent zone of the plurality of independent zones 704-709 of the container 702. Each internal container 730 may be configured to facilitate the growth of at least one of fungi and plants. Each internal container 730 may take any form conducive to plant or fungi growth, particularly containers configured to operate as part of a hydroponic growing system, including racks, towers, and the like. Other internal containers 730 may be in the form of a tank, aquarium, or indoor pond for housing aquatic life such as fish, shrimp, or crustaceans, or other aquatic life. Additionally, each internal container 730 may further comprise a light source 732 configured to emit light to promote the growth of at least one of aquatic animal life, plants, or fungi. The operation of the light sources 732 may be controlled by the control device 722 and may be configured to operate to simulate solar light patterns and spectral power distribution, and / or may have a periodicity and spectral power distribution configured to enhance aquatic animal life, plant, or fungi growth beyond typical solar illumination. In other embodiments, the light source 732 may be independent from the internal container but configured and operable to emit light into the internal containers 730 holding aquatic animal life or onto plants and / or fungi comprised by the internal containers 730.

[0047] It is contemplated and included within the scope of the invention that embodiments of apparatuses of the present invention may consist of internal containers 530 designed for holding aquatic animal life or consist of internal containers 530 designed for hydroponics, and other embodiments may comprise a plurality of internal containers 530 with at least a first internal container thereof being configured to hold aquatic animal life and a second internal container thereof being configured for hydroponics. The number and ratio of internal containers configured for aquatic animal life and hydroponics may vary, and all such numbers and ratios are contemplated and included within the scope of the invention.

[0048] The apparatus 700 may further comprise a plurality of pressurized gas lines 740 as part of the rebreather system. Each gas line of the plurality of pressurized gas lines 740 may be operable to deliver gas comprised by at least one pressurizedcontainer of the plurality of pressurized containers 712 to each independent zone 704- 709. Each independent zone 704-709 may comprise one or more sensors 742 operable to detect the partial pressures of gases, and a series of controlled gas valves (not shown) add the appropriate amount of each gas to each individual zone 704-709 based on preprogrammed parameters. The signals from the sensors 742 and the control of the gas valves may be operated by the control device 722. In this way, traditional ventilation may be avoided and heat transfer is minimized. Excess nitrogen gas may be exhausted outside the apparatus 500 as oxygen gas is consumed, thereby maintaining a target ratio of gases or a target ratio range of gases in the system. This method further allows for the partial gas pressures to be controlled to facilitate growing conditions within the individual zones704-709 individually. Additionally, humidity levels within the container 702 generally and within each independent zone 704-709 may be controlled.

[0049] In some embodiments, a fluid control system comprised by the apparatus 700 may be operable to enable delivery of an aqueous solution comprised by the plurality of fluid containers 714 to the internal containers 730. Aqueous solution from the plurality of fluid containers 714 may be circulated through each individual zone 704-709 or can be isolated to a self-contained system within each internal container 730 via a system of pipes, pumps, and valves and a connector comprised by each internal container 730. The aqueous solution is monitored for chemical concentrations, and a system of dosing controllers adds or removes chemical components as necessary to maintain target concentrations or target concentration ranges within each aqueous solution control zone.

[0050] The temperature of both the atmosphere and aqueous solution within each control zone may be controlled by a series of closed-loop heat exchangers that are part of a heat exchange system 670, as described above. In some embodiments, the heat exchangers may be co-located with the lines 740, 752, while in other embodiments they may be separated. Such a heat exchange system 760 may further be in thermal communication with an interior surface of the container 702 to facilitate heat dissipation therefrom as described above. The heat exchange system 760 may be operable to independently control the temperature of the internal containers 730, the aqueous solution in the fluid control system, in the atmosphere of each individual zone 704-709, and each other independent part within the container 702. Moreover, such temperature control may vary depending on the function of each device, such asthe type of aquatic animal life, plant, or fungus comprised by a given internal container 730.

[0051] The fluid control system may further comprise a plurality of fluid delivery lines 752 configured to deliver hydroponic fluids, aqueous solutions, or any other fluid from the plurality of fluid containers 714 to the internal containers 730. Fluid from the internal containers 730 may be recirculated in a closed-loop system. This may enable greater utilization of nutrients from the aquatic life in the one or more of the internal containers 730 to another internal container 730 comprising plants or fungi. A system of biofilters and bioreactors (not shown) may remove solid waste produced by the aquatic life in the internal containers 730 and transform the solid waste it into bioavailable nutrients for the plants and / or fungi comprised by the internal containers 730.

[0052] Each of the fluid control system, the aqueous solution control system, the heat exchange system 760, as well as the lighting, may be integrated and controlled by the control device 722. In some embodiments, one or more of the control systems may be operated on discrete computing hardware separate from one or more of the other control systems.

[0053] In some embodiments, oxygen may be pumped into the aqueous solution traveling through the plurality of fluid delivery lines 752 to increase the dissolved oxygen concentration in the aqueous solution. Further, in some embodiments, the fluid control system may employ a nanobubble mixer 754 that suspends oxygen nanobubbles drawn from the plurality of pressurized containers 712 in the aqueous solution delivered by the plurality of fluid delivery lines 752, helping to maintain high dissolved oxygen levels. Oxygen that is not absorbed into the solution or consumed by biological reactions may be reintroduced back into the atmosphere within the container 702.

[0054] In embodiments where a traditional 20 or 40-foot shipping container is used, the added advantage of modular stacking is gained. In this embodiment, individual apparatuses can be stacked on top of each other. In this embodiment, the top container may be the only container that is positioned upside-down, as it may provide structural reinforcement for the containers below it. Multiple containers can be placed side by side, and access can be provided from one container directly through to another, or from a space outside the containers as previously described.

[0055] In addition to controlling the atmospheric conditions of each of the independent zones, additional parameters within each of the internal containers 730 may also be monitored and controlled. The conditions in the aqueous solution within a given internal container can be isolated from the greater system and precisely controlled to include variations in temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and ionic concentrations, including, but not limited to, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, calcium carbonate, and iron. This is beneficial to allow respective species, which have different conditions for optimal growth, to thrive.

[0056] Additionally, in some embodiments, within each internal container there may be a plurality of individual growth chambers (not shown) that are further isolated from the rack and room-level zones. At this level, in some embodiments, the growth chambers are pressurized, allowing for precise control of partial gas pressures, temperature, and humidity. In other embodiments, these growth chambers are open to the atmosphere within the climate zone (room) in which they are housed. In many embodiments, each growth chamber controls lighting conditions, including intensity, duration, and wavelength, and has differentiated structural support for different species of plants. For example, some grow chambers are designed with vine trellises for plants that grow vines, like tomatoes or grapes. Other growth chambers are designed to house dwarf trees, while still others are optimized for root vegetables.

[0057] The container 702 may further comprise a plurality of internal hatches750. Each internal hatch 750 may serve to facilitate atmospheric separation of the individual zones 704-709 from each other.

[0058] FIG. 8 depicts an apparatus 800 having a larger container 802 with a greater number of independent zones 810. Particularly, where the apparatus 700 of FIG. 7 has a container 702 produced from a 20-foot shipping container, the container 802 of the apparatus 800 of FIG. 8 is formed from a 40-foot shipping container. It is contemplated and included within the scope of the invention that any sized container with any number of zones may be used in the apparatus.

[0059] Some of the illustrative aspects of the present invention may be advantageous in solving the problems herein described and other problems not discussed which are discoverable by a skilled artisan.

[0060] While the above description contains much specificity, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any embodiment, but as exemplifications of the presented embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations arepossible within the teachings of the various embodiments. While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best or only mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given.

Claims

What is claimed is:1 . A self-contained underground growing apparatus (500) comprising: at least one container (502) configured to be positioned underground; at least one opening into the apparatus (500) configured to allow human access from a surface of the ground and comprising a releasable hatch (514); at least one fluid container (714) configured to contain therewithin an aqueous solution; at least one internal container (530) configured to enable growing of at least one of aquatic animal life, plants or fungi, comprising: a lighting source (732); and a connector configured to connect to an aqueous solution circulation system and operable to permit the aqueous solution to flow therethrough; a computerized control device (732) configured to monitor and control the concentration of chemicals in the aqueous solution; a rebreather system configured to monitor and control the partial pressures of gases in an atmosphere inside the apparatus (500); and a heat exchange system (760) configured to maintain a target air temperature within at least a portion of the container (502).

2. The apparatus (500) of claim 1 wherein: the container (502) and the hatch (514) are configured to establish a sealed gas-tight environment within the container (502); and the apparatus (500) further comprises one or more pressurized gas pumps operable to maintain a predetermined atmospheric pressure.

3. The apparatus (500) of claim 1 wherein at least one of the at least one internal container (530), the computerized control system, the rebreather system, and the heat exchange system is configured to establish independent control of multiple control zones within the apparatus (500).

4. The apparatus (500) of claim 1 wherein the container (502) is large enough to house several people and reinforced to withstand the pressure applied by the surrounding soil when buried underground.

5. The apparatus (500) of claim 1 wherein: a first internal container (530) of the at least one internal container (530) is configured to contain therewithin aquatic animal life; and a second internal container (530) of the at least one internal container (530) is configured to contain therewithin at least one of plants or fungi.

6. The apparatus (500) of claim 1 wherein the aquatic animal life comprises at least one of fish, shellfish, or crustaceans.

7. The apparatus (500) of claim 1 wherein the container (502) is formed from a shipping container (502) having applied to a surface thereof at least one of a protective primer layer and a corrosion-resistant material layer.

8. The apparatus (500) of claim 1 wherein the container (502) comprises a plurality of sacrificial anodic structures.

9. The apparatus (500) of claim 1 wherein the heat exchange system (760) comprises a passive heat exchange system (760) configured to passively permit the flow of heat between the container (502) and an underground environment.

10. The apparatus (500) of claim 9 wherein the container (502) comprises at least one exterior wall that at least partially defines the passive heat exchange system (760), the at least one exterior wall comprising: an exterior surface (503) configured to interface with the underground environment; and an interior surface configured to be exposed to an atmosphere within the container (502); wherein the at least one exterior wall is configured to have an R-value responsive to at least one of a target temperature within the container (502) and a constant ground temperature of the underground environment.11 . The apparatus (500) of claim 9 further comprising a thermally conductive material (504) positioned outside of and in contact with an exterior surface (503) of the at least one exterior wall.

12. The apparatus (500) of claim 11 wherein: the thermally conductive material (504) comprises silica sand; and the thermally conductive material (504) is positioned to substantially surround the exterior of the container (502).

13. The apparatus (500) of claim 1 1 further comprises a fluid dispersal system configured to disperse fluid on an exterior of the container (502).

14. The apparatus (500) of claim 13 wherein the fluid dispersal system further com prises a reverse osmosis system; and the fluid dispersed by the fluid dispersal system is produced by the reverse osmosis system.

15. The apparatus (500) of claim 1 wherein the heat exchange system (760) comprises an active heat exchange system (760) configured to monitor and maintain a target temperature for an environmental control zone within the container (502).

16. A self-contained underground growing apparatus (500) comprising: at least one container (502) configured to be positioned underground; at least one opening into the apparatus (500) configured to allow human access from a surface of the ground and comprising a releasable hatch (514); at least one fluid container (714) configured to contain therewithin an aqueous solution; at least one internal container (530) configured to enable growing of at least one of aquatic animal life, plants, or fungi, comprising: a lighting source (732); and a connector configured to connect to an aqueous solution circulation system and operable to permit aqueous solution to flow therethrough;a computerized control device (732) configured to monitor and control the concentration of chemicals in the aqueous solution; a heat exchange system (760) configured to maintain a target air temperature within at least a portion of the container (502), the heat exchange system (760) comprising: a passive heat exchange system (760) configured to passively permit the flow of heat between the container (502) and an underground environment; and an active heat exchange system (760) configured to monitor and maintain a target temperature for an environmental control zone within the container (502).

17. The apparatus (500) of claim 16 wherein: the container (502) comprises at least one exterior wall that at least partially defines the passive heat exchange system (760), the at least one exterior wall comprising: an exterior surface (503) configured to interface with the underground environment; and an interior surface configured to be exposed to an atmosphere within the container (502); and the apparatus (500) further comprises a silica sand positioned outside of and in contact with the exterior surface (503) of the at least one exterior wall, such that the silica sand substantially surrounds an exterior of the container (502).

18. The apparatus (500) of claim 16 further comprises a fluid dispersal system configured to disperse fluid on an exterior of the container (502).

19. The apparatus (500) of claim 18 wherein the fluid dispersal system further com prises a reverse osmosis system; and the fluid dispersed by the fluid dispersal system is produced by the reverse osmosis system.

20. A self-contained underground growing apparatus (500) comprising: at least one container (502) configured to be positioned underground;at least one opening into the apparatus (500) configured to allow human access from a surface of the ground and comprising a releasable hatch (514), the releasable hatch (514) being configured to establish a sealed gas-tight environment within the container (502); at least one fluid container (714) configured to contain therewithin an aqueous solution a plurality of internal container (530)s for growing at least one of aquatic animal life, plants, or fungi, comprising: a lighting source (732); and a connector configured to connect to an aqueous solution circulation system and operable to permit aqueous solution to flow therethrough; a computerized control device (732) configured to monitor and control the concentration of chemicals in the aqueous solution; a rebreather system configured to monitor and control the partial pressures of gases in an atmosphere inside the apparatus (500); and a heat exchange system (760) configured to maintain a target air temperature within at least a portion of the container (502), the heat exchange system (760) comprising: a passive heat exchange system (760) configured to passively permit the flow of heat between the container (502) and an underground environment; and an active heat exchange system (760) configured to monitor and maintain a target temperature for an environmental control zone within the container (502).

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