Dust Reduction Wall with Modular Plant Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for reducing fine dust pollution, such as sound insulation walls with greenery, often require complex irrigation systems and are not easily installable or cost-effective.

Innovation Solution

A wall design featuring vertically arranged posts with dimensionally stable functional elements that incorporate a vegetable layer, such as moss, and a rainwater collection system for irrigation, eliminating the need for extensive watering infrastructure and allowing for simple and quick installation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If complex irrigation systems are used to maintain plant-based functional layers, then plant activity and dust binding capability are improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplant activityVSAvoidirrigation system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The functional element is designed to collect and store rainwater autonomously in an integrated reservoir, eliminating the need for external irrigation infrastructure. The system serves itself by capturing natural precipitation and making it available for plant irrigation through gravity-driven distribution channels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The irrigation function is merged with the structural base body of the functional element. The water reservoir, distribution channels, and plant substrate are integrated into a single unified structure, eliminating separate irrigation systems and reducing overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If continuous substrate layers are used in functional elements, then plant growth is improved, but assembly complexity and installation time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplant growthVSAvoidassembly speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous substrate layer is segmented into modular sections that can be independently assembled and installed. Each module contains pre-positioned plants and substrate, allowing for rapid assembly without requiring complex in-situ substrate installation while maintaining continuous coverage when modules are joined.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If dimensionally stable base bodies are used without internal supporting structures, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but structural strength may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebase body constructionVSAvoidstructural strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The base body is designed with locally reinforced zones only where structural support is needed, rather than uniformly thick construction throughout. This allows for simplified manufacturing in non-critical areas while maintaining adequate strength at load-bearing points through targeted reinforcement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 solution effectively reduces fine dust pollution and improves air quality while providing noise reduction and simplified installation, using a rainwater collection system to irrigate the plant layer, which binds dust and CO2, and includes optional features like sun protection and heating to maintain plant activity at low temperatures.

Implementation Method 1

The plant-based functional layer binds fine dust

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

At the same time, CO2 is bound, thus improving air quality

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotosynthesis: Photosynthesis

Implementation Method 3

the irrigation device directs the collected rainwater to the planting area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3322855B1Wall and functional element for reducing fine dust pollution
Publication Date: 2019.09.11 ED ZUBLIN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
  • EP3322855B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3322855B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3322855B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A wall for reducing fine dust pollution has posts (2, 92, 102, 112), wherein a plurality of functional elements (3, 33, 43, 73, 83, 93, 103) are retained in each case between two adjacent posts (2, 92, 102, 112) for the purpose of reducing the fine dust pollution. The functional elements (3, 33, 43, 73, 83, 93, 103) have at least one functional side (4) serving for reducing the fine dust pollution. The functional elements (3, 33, 43, 73, 83, 93, 103) have a dimensionally stable main body (5, 35, 45), which is formed by an upper side (6), an underside (7) and at least one side which connects the upper side (6) and underside (7). A plant-based functional layer (9) is secured to the main body (5, 35, 45), on the functional side (4). The wall (1) has a collecting device (10) for collecting rainwater. An irrigation device (11), by means of which the rainwater collected is fed to the functional layer (9), is provided.