Hydroponic Air and Water Conditioning Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydroponic cultivation systems require specific design for the placement of water and air treatment devices within the cultivation environment, leading to increased costs and complexity in maintenance, and are not compatible with pre-existing environments.
Innovation Solution
A compact apparatus with an upper air conditioning unit and a lower water treatment unit, allowing for independent control of air and water parameters, which can be placed outside the cultivation environment to prevent damage from humidity and temperature, and includes recirculation and conditioning means for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If treatment devices are placed inside the cultivation environment, then control of air and water parameters is achieved, but the environment requires specific design and maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the treatment devices (air treatment unit and water treatment unit) from the cultivation environment and places them in an external housing. This allows the devices to function reliably for controlling air and water parameters while being protected from the harsh humid conditions, thereby reducing maintenance complexity and eliminating the need for specialized environment design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces conduits and piping systems as intermediaries to connect the external treatment devices with the internal cultivation environment. These intermediaries enable the transfer of conditioned air and treated water between the protected external devices and the cultivation chamber, resolving the contradiction by allowing device separation while maintaining functional control.
2Reliability
If treatment devices are placed inside the cultivation environment, then air and water conditioning is achieved, but specialized environment design is required
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting the treatment devices from the cultivation environment and placing them externally, the system can be applied to pre-existing environments without requiring specialized design modifications. The external housing protects the devices while conduits provide the necessary connections, enabling versatility and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The external housing design with integrated air and water treatment units creates a universal system that can be applied to various cultivation environments. The modular design with separate treatment units and connection conduits allows the system to adapt to different pre-existing setups, enhancing versatility while maintaining reliable air and water conditioning.
3Productivity
If electrical devices are placed within humid environment, then air and water treatment functions are provided, but construction measures are required to preserve operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts all electrical treatment devices from the humid cultivation environment and places them in an external housing. This physical separation protects the electrical components from humidity damage while maintaining their air and water treatment functions through conduits and piping connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The external housing acts as a protective shell that isolates electrical devices from the harmful humid environment. This enclosure allows the treatment functions to operate effectively while protecting the electrical components from moisture, eliminating the need for specialized humidity-resistant construction measures.
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
Enables efficient and cost-effective automation of hydroponic cultivation and plant drying, allowing for precise control of air and water parameters without the need for specialized environments, reducing maintenance complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
said air conditioning means being suitable for dehumidifying and cooling said air
Implementation Method 2
air heating means suitable for being operated in a combined and/or selective manner to vary the temperature and/or humidity parameters of the air
Implementation Method 3
lower water treatment unit provided with water pumping means having a water collection tank to be treated with an inlet pipe for water coming from the external cultivation environment and a delivery pipe for the treated water to the external cultivation and/or drying environment
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
An apparatus for the automation of hydroponic cultivation and/or the drying of plants comprises a containment casing (2) which contains at its inside an upper air conditioning unit (3) having a conduit (5) for withdrawal of the air to be conditioned and a delivery conduit (6) for the conditioned air and a lower water treatment unit (4) provided with water pumping means (30) having a collection tank (7) of the water to be treated. The upper conditioning unit (3) comprises air conditioning means (10, 14) for cooling and dehumidifying the air and air heating means (26) adapted to be operated in a combined and/or selective manner to vary the temperature and/or humidity parameters of the air to be sent to the external environment (A). The lower water treatment unit (4) comprises water conditioning means (31, 32) for conditioning the water collected in the tank (7), dosing means (40, 42) of manuring and/or fertilizers and/or nutrients substances in the tank (7), means (40, 42) for regulating the chemical and/or physical parameters of the water collected in the tank (7).