Vertical Greening Irrigation via Absorbent Mineral Materials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vertical greening systems for buildings are complex, fragile, and require high maintenance due to clogged nozzles and complex assembly processes, making them expensive and difficult to implement extensively without ground constraints.
Innovation Solution
A system using water-absorbent and water-permeable mineral materials with embedded irrigation channels for indirect irrigation, eliminating the need for separate pipes and nozzles, allowing for simple and inexpensive construction and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate pipes and nozzles are used for irrigation, then water can be supplied to plants, but the system becomes complex and fragile with frequent clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the separate irrigation pipes and nozzles from the system. Instead of using conventional piping infrastructure, the irrigation function is integrated directly into the building facade material itself, removing the problematic components that cause clogging and complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The irrigation function is merged with the building facade material. The facade material itself serves dual purposes: structural/architectural function and water distribution function. This integration eliminates the need for separate irrigation infrastructure
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional irrigation systems with pipes and nozzles are used, then water supply is achieved, but assembly effort and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The irrigation channels are merged into the building facade elements themselves during manufacturing. This integration means that water distribution infrastructure is built-in rather than installed separately, dramatically simplifying both manufacturing and assembly processes
Solution Approach 2:
The irrigation channels are pre-formed as integral parts of the facade elements during manufacturing. This preliminary integration of irrigation infrastructure into the building components eliminates the need for complex field assembly of separate piping systems
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 system provides efficient, indirect irrigation through capillary forces and gravity, preventing clogging and reducing assembly complexity, enabling extensive and cost-effective vertical greening with minimal maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
The liquid transport in the material of the components is preferably carried out both due to gravity - through macropores of the element material and across contact surfaces of adjacent elements - and due to capillary forces
Implementation Method 2
The liquid transport in the material of the components is preferably carried out both due to gravity - through macropores of the element material and across contact surfaces of adjacent elements
Implementation Method 3
the component is made or consists of a water-permeable material and that the construction element preferably has at least one irrigation channel for preferably only indirect irrigation of the greenery through the material
Data Source
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AI summary
A building element and a system for vertical greening are proposed, wherein a water-absorbing material, in particular calcium silicate brick and/or at least one irrigation channel for indirect irrigation of the greening through the material is provided.