Modular Aeroponic System for Multi-Level Crop Growth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydroponic systems face limitations in root aeration, restricted production area, and high transportation costs due to being typically single-level and located far from urban areas, which affects efficiency and scalability.
Innovation Solution
A modular aeroponic system that allows crop growth on multiple levels, utilizing a modular structure with horizontal and vertical elements for efficient resource use, enabling excellent root aeration and continuous production by gravity, with automated irrigation and inspection systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If hydroponic systems are used to maximize resource use and enable controlled environment growth, then water efficiency and pest resistance are improved, but root aeration is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional single-level hydroponic systems to a multi-level vertical structure where plants are grown on multiple floors. This dimensional change allows roots to be suspended in air for optimal aeration while maintaining close proximity to nutrient delivery systems, resolving the contradiction between water efficiency and root aeration.
2Device complexity
If hydroponic systems are grown on a single floor to simplify structure, then device complexity is reduced, but production area is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes vertical space by implementing a multi-floor structure where each floor serves as a production level. This allows the system to expand from a single horizontal plane to multiple vertical levels, dramatically increasing production area without proportionally increasing structural complexity through standardized modular components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into modular floors that can be independently constructed and assembled. Each floor contains complete production units with their own irrigation and support systems, allowing the overall structure to scale while maintaining relative simplicity through repetition of standardized modules.
3Quantity of substance
If farms are located in agricultural areas far from cities to access land, then production costs are reduced, but transportation and distribution costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical multi-level structure enables farms to be built in urban environments where land value is high but space is limited. By utilizing vertical space rather than horizontal expansion, the system can locate near consumption centers, reducing transportation costs while maintaining economic viability through intensive vertical production.
4Productivity
If automated systems are implemented to increase productivity, then crop output is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes gravity-fed irrigation where nutrient solution flows downward through the vertical structure without requiring pumps for each level. This gravity-based distribution reduces mechanical energy consumption while maintaining automated delivery to all floors, resolving the contradiction between productivity and energy use.
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 approach maximizes space usage, reduces mechanization and energy consumption, and ensures sustainable high-quality crop production by enabling multi-level growth and efficient resource allocation.
Implementation Method 1
enabling the intensive use of the ground, by planting a crop on various levels, making maximum use of the area available
Implementation Method 2
Aeroponics is a crop-growing system that offers a major advantage over conventional hydroponic systems in that it allows excellent aeration of the roots. This is reflected by the fact that the amount of oxygen dissolved in water is measured in mg/L, or parts per million (ppm), this amount being 5-10 mg/L at 20°C, while the amount of oxygen dissolved in the air is measured as a percentage (21%), which tells us that the concentration of oxygen in the air is in the region of 20,000 times higher than the concentration of the same gas dissolved in water.
Data Source
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AI summary
Procedure and modular structure for continuously growing an aeroponic crop, characterised in that it comprises the following phases: - Phase involving the preparation of the seeding area, positioning on the line and germination. - Phase involving transfer and positioning on production bars. - Phase involving distribution by level and row, vegetative growth and maturing. - Phase involving irrigation and inspection. - Phase involving guiding, transport of production bars and harvesting. - Phase involving the cleaning and preparation of production bars and seed trays. These phases initially take place on the bottom floor (1) and during maturing on one or more successive floors (1.1) of a modular structure above the ground or beneath it.