Air Purifier Flowerpot with Sensor-Driven Root Air Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing natural air purifiers using plants as filters face inefficiencies due to suboptimal air flow to the roots and inadequate management of environmental conditions, affecting their air purification performance.
Innovation Solution
An air purifier design featuring a control unit with sensors (temperature, humidity, and air quality sensors) and a self-watering system, which optimizes air flow through the plant roots by adjusting humidity levels and fan velocity based on sensor data, and allows for remote monitoring and control via a Wi-Fi module, ensuring improved air filtration and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a natural air purifier uses plants as filters without optimized air flow control, then the structure remains simple, but the air purification efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic air flow control through a fan whose velocity is adjusted based on sensor data about environmental conditions and air quality. This dynamic adjustment optimizes the air flow to the plant roots according to real-time conditions, thereby improving air purification efficiency without requiring an overly complex fixed system
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor environmental conditions and air quality, providing feedback to a control unit. This feedback mechanism enables the system to automatically adjust fan velocity and self-watering operations to optimize air purification efficiency while maintaining manageable system complexity through intelligent control
2Productivity
If the air flow to the roots is not optimized, then the system structure remains simple, but the absorption of toxic substances by the plant is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fan velocity is dynamically adjusted based on sensor data regarding environmental conditions and air quality, optimizing the air flow to the plant roots in real-time. This dynamic control maximizes the absorption of toxic substances by the plant while avoiding the need for a complex fixed air flow system
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of air flow velocity by adjusting fan operation based on sensor feedback. This parameter adjustment optimizes the delivery of air to the plant roots, enhancing toxic substance absorption without requiring a fundamentally complex system architecture
3Productivity
If environmental conditions are not monitored and managed, then the system remains simple, but the air purification performance is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors monitor environmental conditions and air quality, providing continuous feedback to a control unit that adjusts system operations accordingly. This feedback loop optimizes air purification performance by adapting to changing environmental conditions while managing system complexity through automated control
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors its own environmental conditions and automatically adjusts its operations through the control unit and sensors. This self-service capability optimizes air purification performance without requiring external manual intervention, balancing performance improvement with system simplicity
4Productivity
If the humidity level in the matrix is not optimized, then the system operation remains simple, but the air flow through the roots is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The self-watering unit automatically manages humidity levels in the matrix based on sensor feedback, optimizing air flow through the roots without requiring complex manual intervention. The system serves itself by monitoring and adjusting its own environmental conditions
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors monitor humidity levels in the matrix, providing feedback that triggers the self-watering unit to adjust humidity as needed. This feedback mechanism optimizes air flow through the roots while managing the complexity of humidity control through automated response
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
Enhances air purification efficiency by optimizing air flow and humidity levels, increasing the absorption of toxic substances, and providing users with valuable data for environmental adjustments, leading to improved indoor air quality and reduced energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a fan and preferably a grid covering said fan with respect to the outside of said first flower pot
Implementation Method 2
a self-watering unit, wherein the microcontroller contains an algorithm which, in case of low air quality signals from the air quality sensor, controls the self-watering unit of the air purifier such that the humidity in the matrix present in the second flower pot is raised
Implementation Method 3
In the roots live microorganism that actively bio-filter toxic agents and degrade them
Implementation Method 4
microorganism that actively bio-filter toxic agents and degrade them
Implementation Method 5
a temperature sensor; (b3) a humidity sensor; (b4) at least one air quality sensor
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is an air purifying flowerpot (2; 402) that implements the phytodepuration properties of plants. The flowerpot comprises an inner perforated flower pot (4; 404) and an outer flower pot (6; 406) inserted in the first flower pot (4; 404) and includes a control unit (12; 412) that enforces the air flow in the roots (422) of the plant (20; 420), this also thanks to the presence of a fan (32; 432) in the first flower pot (4; 404). The control unit (12; 412) includes also several sensors, in particular a temperature (38), a humidity (40) and an air quality sensor (36) and a microcontroller (34); it can be connected to smart devices and thanks to it there will be a precise measurement of pollutants and other metrics. The fan (32; 432) and external devices can be piloted by the microcontroller (34) on the bases of environmental data collected by the sensors (36, 38, 40).