Integrated Fluid Routing Frames for Reconfigurable Indoor Grow Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing indoor grow facilities face inefficiencies due to separate and ad-hoc routing of air, water, and carbon dioxide supply lines, leading to wasted space, reconfiguration challenges, and high maintenance costs, particularly in large facilities where lengthy supply lines require complex and costly air handling systems.
Innovation Solution
A fluid routing system comprising a series of interchangeable frames that support multiple supply lines for air, nutrient, and carbon dioxide distribution, allowing for consolidated and efficient fluid delivery directly to plants, reducing the need for overhead air handling systems and enhancing space utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate supply lines for air, water, and carbon dioxide are routed independently through the facility, then each system can be installed and maintained separately, but the supply lines interfere with each other and waste potential grow space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate supply lines (air, water, carbon dioxide) into a single integrated routing structure. This consolidation eliminates interference between separate lines while maximizing space utilization by organizing all fluid routing through a unified framework rather than allowing independent, scattered routing throughout the facility.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated routing structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it routes conditioned air, delivers nutrient-enriched water, and transports carbon dioxide to plants. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate routing paths for each fluid type, thereby preventing interference and optimizing grow space while maintaining the ability to service each system independently.
2Reliability
If air handling systems are installed adjacent to the ceiling and sized to condition air throughout the entire floor-to-ceiling space, then complete air conditioning is achieved, but both initial cost and maintenance cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements localized air conditioning by delivering conditioned air directly to the root zone of plants through the integrated routing structure. Rather than conditioning the entire floor-to-ceiling space, the system provides targeted cooling and humidification where it is most needed—at the plant level—thereby reducing the size and cost of air handling equipment while maintaining effective environmental control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from traditional overhead air handling to a horizontal, plant-level delivery approach. By routing conditioned air through the same structure that delivers water and carbon dioxide at the root zone level, the system achieves effective air conditioning without requiring large ceiling-mounted equipment, thus reducing both initial and maintenance costs.
3Reliability
If lengthy supply lines are routed to plants throughout large facilities, then all plants can receive necessary fluids, but re-routing supply lines to accommodate reorganization becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated routing structure is designed to be dynamically reconfigurable, allowing supply lines to be easily rerouted to accommodate changes in plant layout or facility organization. The unified structure provides access points and routing flexibility that enable adaptation without requiring complete system overhaul, thus maintaining both reliable fluid delivery and operational flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid routing system for use in an indoor grow facility includes a plurality of supply lines, and a plurality of frames aligned in series and spaced apart from each other. Each of the frames includes a plurality of support openings. Each of the support openings is sized to receive and retain a corresponding one of the supply lines.