Vertical Ecological Building with Internal Waste Circulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ecological building technologies fail to utilize vertical external wall space for large-scale organic agricultural production and lack internal circulation treatment for domestic waste, resulting in limited yield and inefficient waste management.

Innovation Solution

An ecological building design featuring multi-storey family units with replaceable planting boxes on the outer wall, integrated irrigation systems, symbiotic aquaculture devices, and an internal circulation treatment system that includes an artificial wetland, biogas digester, and biogas slurry drip irrigation, enabling efficient water and fertilizer reuse and zero discharge of domestic waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional roof, balcony and courtyard planting methods are used, then agricultural crops can be cultivated on the building, but the planting area is small and the yield is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveagricultural yieldVSAvoidplanting area
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from horizontal planting surfaces (roof, balcony, courtyard) to vertical wall surfaces by installing planting boxes on the external walls. This dimensional change from 2D horizontal planes to 3D vertical surfaces dramatically increases the available planting area and corresponding agricultural yield.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The external wall is divided into multiple segments with planting boxes installed at different heights and positions. Each planting box operates as an independent modular unit, allowing the system to effectively utilize the entire wall surface area for cultivation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If polluted wastewater is discharged through the sewage pipeline system, then wastewater can be removed from the building, but internal circulation treatment and reuse of domestic waste cannot be realized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaste treatment efficiencyVSAvoiddomestic waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of simply discharging wastewater through the sewage system, the patent implements a treatment system that recovers and reuses domestic waste. The treated wastewater is circulated back to the planting boxes for irrigation, transforming waste into a valuable resource and eliminating discharge losses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The building's own wastewater is treated and reused within the building system for irrigation purposes. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external sewage treatment facilities and achieves zero discharge of domestic waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Area of stationary object

If the vertical face of the external wall is utilized for planting, then the planting area can be significantly increased, but the complexity of the irrigation and maintenance system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplanting areaVSAvoidirrigation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The irrigation system is divided into modular planting boxes, each with its own irrigation connection to the multi-row pipe network. This segmentation allows for simplified individual units that can be independently maintained and replaced, reducing overall system complexity despite the large total planting area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The irrigation system uses a standardized multi-row pipe network that serves all planting boxes uniformly. This universal design simplifies the overall system architecture by using consistent components and layouts throughout, making maintenance and operation more manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 design creates significant new plantable land, reduces urban sewage treatment costs, produces organic crops and biogas, purifies air, and promotes resourceful waste treatment, achieving large-scale organic production and zero waste discharge.

Implementation Method 1

a biogas digester, a gas storage tank, a vacuum base station and a biogas slurry storage pool provided below the ground. The biogas digester is in communication with the vacuum base station

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAnaerobic digestion: Anaerobic Digestion

Implementation Method 2

an artificial wetland system, a biogas digester, a gas storage tank

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 3

functions to wastewater recycling, purification and rainwater collection by using the community artificial wetland system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBiological degradation: Decomposition (biological)

Implementation Method 4

The bottom of the flip plate is provided with an LED light source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission from LED: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 5

a circulating pump provided on the agricultural and aquacultural box

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPumping: Pump

Data Source

PatentEP3783172B1Ecological building with organic agricultural aquaculture function and internal circulation treatment function
Publication Date: 2023.08.02 SONG ZHIYUAN
  • EP3783172B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3783172B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3783172B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

Disclosed is an ecological building with an organic agricultural aquaculture function and an internal circulation treatment function. The ecological building comprises a production maintenance passage (20) arranged on the building and located on an elevation of an external wall of each storey. Replaceable planting boxes (3) are arranged on an external wall of the building, each kitchen in the building is provided with a garbage crusher, and each toilet in the building is provided with a vacuum toilet system. A biogas digester (7) is in communication with a vacuum base station (8), the vacuum base station (8) is connected to the vacuum toilet system via a vacuum pipeline (10), the biogas digester (7) is in communication with a biogas slurry storage pool via a biogas slurry pipeline (11), and an inlet end of the biogas digester (7) is connected to a discharge port of the garbage crusher via a black water delivery pipeline (12). The ecological building realizes ecological environmental protection and zero discharge of household garbage, and has an organic agriculture production function and an internal circulation treatment function.