Plant Cultivation Cabinet with Selective Nutrient Supply
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plant cultivation apparatuses face issues with culture solution contamination, leading to mold or green algae growth, which compromises the growing environment and user satisfaction.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features a water supply system that selectively delivers nutrients to seed packages, preventing contamination by ensuring water is only supplied to seated containers and drained completely, while using a shutter mechanism to control water flow and a blower system for independent airflow management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If culture solution is supplied to the entire tray, then all seed packages can receive nutrients, but the culture solution is exposed to the outside and contaminated
Solution Approach 1:
The tray is divided into multiple compartments, each corresponding to a seed package position. The water supply channel is segmented into multiple independent channels that can selectively supply water to specific compartments based on whether a seed package is present, preventing exposure and contamination of culture solution in the entire tray.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the tray have different water supply characteristics. The system provides localized water supply control where each compartment can be independently supplied or not supplied based on local conditions (presence of seed package), rather than uniform supply to the entire tray.
2Quantity of substance
If culture solution is injected to a portion where capsule is not mounted, then complete coverage is achieved, but the culture solution is exposed to the outside and contaminated
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection to identify which positions have seed packages mounted before supplying culture solution. Water is then selectively supplied only to positions where seed packages are present, avoiding unnecessary exposure and contamination in positions without capsules.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection unit provides feedback information about the presence or absence of seed packages at each position. The water supply control unit uses this feedback to adjust the water supply channels, enabling selective supply only to positions with seed packages and preventing contamination in empty positions.
3Reliability
If closed environment is provided for plant growth, then controlled growing conditions are achieved, but culture solution is easily contaminated leading to mold or green algae generation
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and removes the harmful factor (contaminated water) by implementing selective water supply that prevents standing water and exposure. The water supply channels are designed to supply water directly to seed packages without creating open pools of culture solution that could be contaminated by mold or green algae.
Solution Approach 2:
The system takes preliminary anti-action against contamination by preventing water exposure before contamination can occur. The selective water supply mechanism ensures water is supplied only where needed and is quickly absorbed by seed packages, preventing the formation of stagnant water that would attract mold and green algae.
Data Source
AI summary
A plant cultivation device may include a cabinet forming a space in which plants are cultivated: a door connected to the cabinet to open and close the space; at least one bed disposed in the space; at least one light assembly that irradiates light onto the at least one bed; a tank configured to store a fluid; a fluid supply module configured to supply the fluid to the at least one bed; and a sterilizer positioned outside of the tank and configured to sterilize the fluid within the tank.