Plant Cultivation Cabinet Ventilation for Clean CO2 Supply

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing plant cultivation apparatuses face issues with contamination, inadequate ventilation, pest penetration, dew condensation, and lack of carbon dioxide supply, leading to unsanitary conditions and inefficient growth environments.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus incorporates a suction duct for external air intake, a discharge duct for air circulation, and a sealed door system with a gasket to prevent contamination and pest entry, while ensuring ventilation and carbon dioxide supply through external air, and includes an evaporator and blower assembly for temperature control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the cabinet is sealed to prevent contamination and pest entry, then sanitation is improved, but dew condensation occurs inside the cultivation space

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecontaminationVSAvoiddew condensation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A sealed door with gasket creates a flexible barrier that prevents contamination and pest entry while maintaining the enclosed cultivation environment, allowing controlled ventilation without compromising sanitation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The ventilation system adjusts air flow parameters to balance moisture removal with prevention of dew condensation, changing the humidity and air exchange rates to maintain optimal conditions inside the sealed cabinet

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the cabinet is sealed to prevent pest penetration, then sanitation is improved, but carbon dioxide supply becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepest penetrationVSAvoidcarbon dioxide
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The sealed door with gasket acts as a selective barrier that blocks pests while allowing controlled gas exchange through the ventilation system, maintaining both sanitation and carbon dioxide supply

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The ventilation system serves as an intermediary mechanism that facilitates carbon dioxide entry and moisture removal without requiring an open structure that would allow pest penetration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the nutrient solution is circulated through the recovery container, then water supply efficiency is improved, but contamination occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater supply efficiencyVSAvoidcontamination
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The drainage and recovery container system extracts and separates used nutrient solution from the cultivation environment, allowing it to be recovered and reused while preventing contamination of the growing plants

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback control by monitoring and adjusting nutrient solution flow based on plant needs and solution quality, optimizing water supply efficiency while maintaining sanitation through controlled circulation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

The apparatus maintains a clean and controlled environment by preventing contamination and dew condensation, ensuring adequate ventilation and carbon dioxide supply, and maintaining optimal temperature and humidity levels for plant growth.

Implementation Method 1

an evaporator provided inside the cultivation space to adjust a temperature of the cultivation space

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefrigeration cycle:

Implementation Method 2

a compressor configured to be disposed in the machine room and to be connected to the evaporator to compress the refrigerant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 3

a heat dissipation fan configured to be disposed in the machine room and configured to dissipate heat generated by the compressor to the outside

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 4

a suction duct formed to pass through the insulating material from the upper portion of the cabinet and through which outside air flows therein

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNatural convection: Convection

Implementation Method 5

a discharge duct formed to pass through the insulating material from a lower surface of the cabinet to discharge air inside the cultivation space to the machine room

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4088564B1Plant cultivation apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP4088564B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4088564B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4088564B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus for cultivating plants according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a cabinet including an outer case forming an outer appearance, an inner case forming a cultivation space, and an insulating material disposed in a space between the inner case and the outer case; an evaporator provided inside the cultivation space to adjust a temperature of the cultivation space; a door configured to open and close the cultivation space; a cultivation shelf configured to be disposed inside the cultivation space, on which a seed package containing plants for cultivation is seated; a water supply module configured to supply water to the cultivation shelf; a machine room having a separate space formed under the cultivation space; a compressor configured to be disposed in the machine room and to be connected to the evaporator to compress the refrigerant; a heat dissipation fan configured to be disposed in the machine room and configured to dissipate heat generated by the compressor to the outside; a suction duct formed to pass through the insulating material from the upper portion of the cabinet and through which outside air flows therein; and a discharge duct formed to pass through the insulating material from a lower surface of the cabinet to discharge air inside the cultivation space to the machine room.