Air treatment method and system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air treatment systems for living walls lack efficient recirculation and control mechanisms for air quality and humidity, limiting their effectiveness in improving indoor air quality and environmental aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
A living wall system comprising interconnected modules with a recirculation plenum and directional blowers that circulate air through growth media, combined with a humidity control mechanism using temperature-adjusted irrigation water to enhance air treatment and humidity management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If air is drawn through growth media in living wall modules, then air quality is improved, but air recirculation efficiency is insufficient without a recirculation plenum
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the air treatment function into multiple living wall modules, each with its own growth media chamber and duct ports. This segmentation allows air to be distributed through multiple parallel pathways, increasing overall recirculation efficiency while maintaining effective air quality treatment in each module.
Solution Approach 2:
A recirculation plenum is introduced as an intermediary component that collects air from multiple modules and redistributes it systematically. The plenum acts as a central hub that enhances air recirculation efficiency by coordinating flow between modules, ensuring consistent air treatment throughout the system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If humidity control is added to the living wall system, then humidity management is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The irrigation system is designed to serve multiple functions: providing water to growth media for plant health and simultaneously controlling humidity levels in the air treatment process. By using temperature-adjusted irrigation water, the system achieves both plant irrigation and humidity control without requiring separate dedicated systems, thereby managing complexity while enhancing versatility.
3Ease of operation
If directional blowers are installed in recirculation plenum, then air flow control is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Directional blowers are strategically positioned within the recirculation plenum at specific locations where air flow direction needs to be controlled. Rather than installing blowers throughout the entire system, the invention applies them locally where needed to optimize air flow patterns, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining effective air flow control.
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
The system effectively recirculates air through plant growth media, enhancing air quality and allowing for controlled humidity adjustment, thereby improving indoor air quality and aesthetic appeal.
Implementation Method 1
at least one directional blower received within the recirculation plenum, the at least one directional blower mounted between at least one upstream living wall module and at least one downstream living wall module to draw the ambient air through the growth media and growth media port of the upstream living wall module into the recirculation plenum
Implementation Method 2
growth media mounted to the living wall module for supporting living plants, the growth media disposed between the growth media port and ambient air
Implementation Method 3
a humidity control mechanism using temperature-adjusted irrigation water to enhance air treatment and humidity management
Implementation Method 4
a humidity control mechanism using temperature-adjusted irrigation water to enhance air treatment and humidity management
Data Source
AI summary
A living wall system or method involving a plurality of living wall modules. Each living wall module has a module body enclosing a module plenum, the module body having a growth media port and at least one duct port in fluid communication with the growth media port via the module plenum. The plurality of module plenums are interconnected through the plurality of duct ports to form a recirculation plenum. At least one directional blower is received within the recirculation plenum, the at least one directional blower between at least one upstream living wall module and at least one downstream living wall module to direct fluid flow from the at least one upstream living wall module to the at least one downstream living wall module.