Hydroponic Vessel Segmentation for Culture Solution Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydroponic cultivation systems require a large quantity of culture solution, leading to high equipment costs and space requirements due to the need for strong frames and high-performance pumps to support and circulate the solution.
Innovation Solution
A hydroponic cultivation system with a configuration of multiple vessels and a plant holding plate that spans across them, reducing the amount of culture solution needed by only providing it under the plant holding region, allowing for efficient circulation and reduced equipment costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large quantity of culture solution is used in conventional hydroponic cultivation systems, then plants can be grown, but the frame body becomes heavy and requires high strength, and the pump requires high performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single large vessel into multiple smaller vessels (first vessel, second vessel, third vessel, etc.) arranged in parallel. Each vessel contains a smaller amount of culture solution, reducing the total weight and required structural strength while maintaining adequate culture solution availability for plants through multiple root contact points
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions vessels locally beneath specific plant holding regions rather than using a continuous large vessel. The plant holding plate has through-holes that align with vessels, ensuring culture solution is present only where plants are held, avoiding waste of culture solution in non-plant regions and reducing overall quantity required
2Quantity of substance
If a large quantity of culture solution is used, then plants can be cultivated, but the system requires a large space and considerable equipment cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a horizontal spread configuration with a single large vessel to a vertical stacking configuration with multiple smaller vessels arranged beneath the plant holding plate. This dimensional reorganization reduces the horizontal footprint and overall space requirement while maintaining adequate culture solution volume for plant growth
3Ease of manufacture
If one large vessel is used with plant holding plates floated on culture solution, then plants can be grown, but culture solution is present under regions where no plants are held, wasting space and resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the continuous culture solution environment into discrete portions within separate vessels, each positioned beneath specific plant locations. This segmentation allows culture solution to be confined to only those regions where plants are actually held, eliminating waste in non-plant areas
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the culture solution from a continuous large vessel and redistributes it into multiple smaller vessels positioned only where needed beneath plant holding regions. This extraction and redistribution eliminates the waste of culture solution occupying space under regions where no plants are held
Data Source
AI summary
In order to provide an efficient hydroponic cultivation system, the disclosure provides a hydroponic cultivation system comprising a plurality of vessels extending in a predetermined direction; a plant holding plate that holds a plant and is disposed to span across the plurality of vessels; and a support mechanism provided between vessels adjacent to each other among the plurality of vessels, wherein each of the plurality of vessels is configured to contain a culture solution required for the growth of the plant, and the support mechanism supports the plant holding plate above the plurality of vessels.