Plant Cultivation Water Supply Control Without Feed Water Circulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plant cultivation apparatuses face challenges with contamination of feed water in hydroponic systems and inefficient water supply in soil-based systems, leading to odor issues, nutrient solution deterioration, and limited installation flexibility due to circulation requirements and space constraints.
Innovation Solution
A plant cultivation apparatus with a non-circulating water supply system that uses a separate water tank, a residual water detection sensor, and a controller to ensure only the required amount of water is supplied, preventing contamination and allowing for easy maintenance and installation in compact spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If feed water is stored in a water storage tank and continuously circulated to multiple water storages, then water can be supplied to multiple plants, but contamination spreads easily when one tank becomes contaminated
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the water supply system into independent water storage tanks, each serving specific plants. The circulation pump circulates water within each tank independently, preventing contamination from spreading between tanks. This segmentation isolates contamination risks while maintaining water supply capability to multiple plants.
2Extent of automation
If the water storage tank is connected to the plant cultivation apparatus with a water supply hose, then water can be supplied automatically, but the water storage tank cannot be easily removed for cleaning or maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The water storage tank is designed with dynamic positioning capability, allowing it to be moved between an insertion state (connected to the plant cultivation apparatus for automatic water supply) and a removal state (detached for cleaning and maintenance). This dynamic design enables both automated operation and easy accessibility.
3Productivity
If a circulation structure is used to pump feed water from the growth chamber water storage to other water storages, then water distribution is efficient, but contamination spreads rapidly throughout the system
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation system is segmented into independent circulation loops for each water storage tank. Each tank has its own circulation pump that operates independently, ensuring that contamination in one tank does not spread to other tanks while maintaining efficient water distribution within each tank.
4Area of stationary object
If the plant cultivation apparatus is designed for built-in installation to save space, then installation space is optimized, but maintenance and water replenishment become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The water storage tank is designed with dynamic positioning capability, allowing it to be moved between an insertion state (stored within the plant cultivation apparatus for compact installation) and a removal state (taken out for maintenance and water replenishment). This dynamic design enables both space optimization and easy accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A plant cultivation apparatus and a method for controlling water supply in the plant cultivation apparatus are provided. The plant cultivation apparatus may supply feed water to a bed according to whether or not the feed water supplied to the bed to cultivate plants remains to prevent the feed water from being supplied more than necessary.