Floating Carrier Apertures for Staged Root Watering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plant cultivation methods are costly, susceptible to failure, and prone to diseases and rot, with inefficiencies in water usage and substrate management.
Innovation Solution
A floating cultivation method using a panel-shaped carrier with continuous apertures, where roots are placed in an air-containing intermediate space above the water supply, allowing for controlled moisture delivery and root growth, with a large free water surface area to improve water quality and reduce substrate waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the water level is raised to contact the carrier bottom for direct root water supply, then water usage efficiency improves, but disease and rot susceptibility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier bottom is segmented into multiple aperture regions, with some apertures positioned at different heights to create staged water contact zones. This allows progressive root exposure to water while maintaining air circulation spaces, balancing moisture efficiency with disease prevention
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the carrier bottom have different aperture configurations - some areas have apertures closer to the water surface for direct water contact, while other areas have apertures higher up for air exposure. This local variation optimizes both water uptake and disease prevention for different plant zones
2Reliability
If substrate is provided for plant growth, then plant development is supported, but substrate waste is produced during harvesting
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the substrate component from the cultivation system, replacing it with direct water-based nutrition delivery through the carrier apertures. Plants grow directly in water without requiring substrate, thereby eliminating substrate waste while maintaining plant development support
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier system provides self-service nutrition delivery through its aperture structure, allowing water and nutrients to reach roots directly without requiring substrate as an intermediary. The system serves itself by using the carrier geometry to control water distribution
3Productivity
If the carrier surface area in contact with water is increased, then water supply efficiency improves, but water quality deterioration accelerates
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier bottom is divided into multiple discrete aperture regions rather than a continuous water contact surface. This segmentation limits the total water contact area while maintaining efficient water supply through distributed apertures, preventing rapid water quality deterioration
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier bottom functions as a porous structure with multiple apertures that control water flow. This porous configuration allows efficient water supply through the apertures while minimizing the total surface area in contact with water, thereby maintaining water 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
This method optimizes plant growth by controlling root development, reducing disease risk, and minimizing water usage, while allowing for precise temperature and fertilizer management, leading to healthier plant development and reduced logistical complexities.
Implementation Method 1
providing a panel-shaped carrier with continuous apertures for said plants and providing a water supply, wherein said carrier is provided on said water supply in a floating manner
Implementation Method 2
During the first stage, it is however possible to provide moisture to the plant and more particularly to the root system via the intermediate space. According to the present invention, this is preferably carried out solely in the form of vapour
Implementation Method 3
that part of the carrier which faces towards the water surface is provided with a number of recesses which form gas-tight chambers towards the top side of the panel
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Method for the floating cultivation of a plant (9), in which, in a first stage of growth, the roots of the plant are kept at a distance from a water supply (8) which is situated underneath the plant. The supply of moisture to said plant can be effected via the intermediate space (10) between the float for said plant and the water supply and from the top side of the plant (leaf part). As the plant develops further, the root system grows in the direction of the water supply and, in a second stage of growth, the vast majority of the water requirement is satisfied directly by said water supply. This is achieved by means of a panel (3) which floats on the water supply and is provided with holes (6) for accommodating the plant. If desired, this panel may be provided with recesses which are closed at their top sides and reduce the area of contact with the water and provide closed chambers (7).