Growing System and Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vertical farming systems face challenges in air flow, irrigation, lighting, nutrient distribution, and atmospheric conditions due to the confined spaces of stacked growing modules, making plant deployment and harvesting difficult.
Innovation Solution
A comprehensive system comprising a conveyor system with a buoyant plant tray, multifunction beams for gas and irrigation distribution, a microclimate exchanger device for controlled environments, and a nutrient distribution system with software control, addressing airflow, irrigation, and climate control within the growing system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If plants are stacked in multiple rows and modules within the same growing room, then space utilization and productivity are improved, but air flow, irrigation, lighting, and atmospheric control become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The growing system is divided into individual grow bags that can be independently positioned and managed on conveyor belts. Each grow bag acts as a discrete unit, allowing air flow, irrigation, and lighting to be controlled independently for each plant, thereby maintaining ease of operation while achieving high space utilization through vertical stacking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from traditional horizontal row-based planting to vertical stacking of grow bags in multiple dimensions. Conveyor belts enable plants to be transported and positioned in three-dimensional space, allowing multiple layers and columns of plants to coexist without interfering with air flow and resource distribution to each individual plant.
2Productivity
If multiple growing modules are stacked vertically, then productivity is improved, but deployment and harvesting operations become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor belt system automatically transports grow bags between different vertical levels and operational zones. Plants are self-served through automated positioning, watering, and harvesting mechanisms that access each grow bag individually, eliminating the need for manual retrieval from difficult-to-reach vertical positions and maintaining ease of operation despite high vertical stacking.
3Productivity
If confined spaces are used for vertical stacking, then space efficiency is improved, but irrigation and nutriment distribution become challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor belt system serves multiple functions: it transports grow bags vertically, distributes irrigation water through integrated channels, delivers nutriment solutions, and facilitates harvesting. This multi-functional design allows all these operations to occur within the confined vertical space without requiring separate systems, thereby maintaining ease of operation while achieving high space efficiency.
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 plant growth by ensuring uniform distribution of gases, precise climate control, efficient irrigation, and optimized nutrient supply, improving plant health and ease of harvesting within vertically stacked growing modules.
Implementation Method 1
a buoyant body, the buoyant body comprising a plurality of insertion points for accepting a plant substrate
Implementation Method 2
a conveyor belt extending from one end of a row in the growing system to the other end of the row; a first drive assembly coupled to the conveyor belt at the one end of the row; a second drive assembly coupled to the conveyor belt at the other end of the row
Implementation Method 3
a body comprising an air flow guide to guide air from an inlet through a cool coil assembly, through a hot coil assembly, and to an outlet
Implementation Method 4
a pump unit coupled to the at least one tank and coupled to a growing system in a plant space; and a software module configured to control distribution of the nutriment from the nutriment station to the plant space via the tank structure
Data Source
AI summary
A growing system is described. The growing system includes a conveyor system, at least one floating tray, a plurality of multifunction beams arranged to contain at least one row, a microclimate exchange system, and a nutriment supply system.