Aeroponic Plant Production System with Root Soaking and Selective Harvesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing plants in aeroponics or hydroponics for extracting valuable substances are not scalable for industrial use and do not efficiently separate and harvest metabolites without compromising plant viability.
Innovation Solution
An installation with mobile trays that support plants, featuring a soaking station with an elevator for root soaking and a cutting station with a movable cutting bar to harvest plant parts without harming the plants, along with a transfer trolley and test station for controlled conditions, allowing for efficient metabolite extraction and plant recultivation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If plants are grown hydroponically and roots are soaked in liquid to extract metabolites, then productivity and substance concentration are improved, but plant viability is compromised and plants cannot be reused
Solution Approach 1:
The plant is divided into two parts: the root system remains in the hydroponic system for continued growth and metabolite production, while the aerial parts are harvested separately. This segmentation allows the valuable root system to be preserved and reused while still enabling extraction of metabolites from the harvested portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic harvesting cycles where aerial parts are harvested at specific growth stages while the root system continues to grow and can be reused for multiple cycles. This periodic action maintains plant viability across multiple extraction cycles while consistently producing metabolites.
2Quantity of substance
If traditional maceration or distillation methods are used to extract substances, then complete extraction is achieved, but the whole plant is destroyed and productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes only the aerial parts of the plant for processing through traditional extraction methods, while leaving the root system intact in the hydroponic system. This selective extraction allows complete metabolite recovery from harvested portions without destroying the entire plant, enabling continued production from the surviving root system.
3Productivity
If industrial-scale plant production is implemented, then productivity increases, but system complexity and difficulty of controlling growth conditions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hydroponic system is designed with universal components that can accommodate multiple plants simultaneously in standardized containers. The root suspension system, nutrient delivery, and harvesting mechanisms are multi-functional, serving both cultivation and extraction purposes across industrial-scale production while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from traditional soil-based horizontal planting to vertical hydroponic suspension, utilizing the vertical dimension for root growth and nutrient delivery. This dimensional change enables higher plant density and improved space utilization for industrial production while simplifying the cultivation environment through controlled nutrient solutions.
4Quantity of substance
If complete plant harvesting is performed for substance extraction, then maximum substance yield is obtained, but plant survival is lost and recultivation is impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary harvesting of aerial parts at optimal growth stages while the root system remains alive and capable of regrowth. This preliminary action allows extraction of metabolites from harvested portions without waiting for complete plant death or decomposition, significantly reducing the time loss associated with full plant lifecycle waiting periods.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the efficient extraction of valuable substances from plants on an industrial scale while maintaining plant viability, allowing for repeated use and valorization of plant parts through filtration, maceration, or distillation, and facilitating comparative testing of different growth conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the metabolites are recovered using a liquid brought into contact with the roots by percolation or immersion
Implementation Method 2
the metabolites are recovered using a liquid brought into contact with the roots by percolation or immersion
Implementation Method 3
the cutting station comprising a cutting bar extending either transversely and being movable longitudinally relative to the tray, or longitudinally and being movable transversely,to shorten one of the parts of the plants without compromising their survival
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 2~4
AI summary
An installation for the aeroponic/hydroponic production of plants (P) comprises at least a table (1), trays (2) able to move on the table (1) and intended to support the plants (P) so as to transfer the plants (P), the installation being characterized in that it comprises a dipping station (14) comprising a lift for lowering and raising at least one tray (2) between a raised position and a lowered position so as to dip the roots (PR) in a dipping bath (140) containing a liquid in the lowered position for a predetermined length of time.