Vertical Hydroponic Layout With LED and UV Nutrient Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural production systems in controlled environments require high investments, consume excessive energy, lack control over environmental variables, and result in variable crop quality and increased resource use, particularly in hydroponic systems like aeroponics, NFT, and drip systems, which suffer from pH variability, nutrient deficiencies, and inefficient lighting and humidification.
Innovation Solution
A vertical hydroponic system with environmental control combining NFT and floating root techniques, using stainless steel trays with polyethylene liners, UV disinfection, LED lighting, and ultrasonic humidification, along with a central pumping and disinfection system, to manage nutrient solution, temperature, and humidity, reducing energy consumption and enhancing crop quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If open-type hydroponic systems are used to allow natural light entry, then light availability is improved, but control over light intensity and quality is lost, causing variability in crop characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the lighting function from natural environment dependence and implements it through artificial LED lighting systems that can be independently controlled, allowing precise regulation of light intensity, quality, and photoperiod regardless of external conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs LED lighting systems with adjustable spectral composition and intensity parameters, allowing optimization of light quality (red:blue ratio) and quantity to meet specific crop requirements, thereby maintaining uniform crop characteristics across production cycles
2Reliability
If closed systems are used to eliminate environmental interaction, then control over cultivation conditions is improved, but equipment for CO2 generation and dehumidification is required, increasing production costs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of implementing a fully closed system with all associated equipment (CO2 generators, dehumidifiers), the patent adopts a partial control approach using selective environmental management - controlling only the most critical parameters (lighting, nutrient solution, basic temperature) while allowing passive air exchange, thereby reducing energy consumption and equipment requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes passive air circulation and natural convection for humidity and CO2 management where possible, relying on the plants' own transpiration and respiration to maintain atmospheric balance rather than requiring active mechanical systems for CO2 generation and dehumidification
3Quantity of substance
If aeroponics is used for nutrient delivery, then oxygenation is improved, but pH variability increases due to CO2 interaction, requiring frequent monitoring and adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated pH monitoring and adjustment systems with feedback control that continuously measure pH levels in the nutrient solution and automatically add acid or base as needed to maintain the optimal range (5.5-6.5), eliminating the need for manual frequent adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an intermediary buffering system in the nutrient solution that resists pH changes caused by CO2 dissolution, incorporating buffers that maintain stable pH levels even under aeroponic conditions with high oxygenation and CO2 interaction
4Illumination intensity
If conventional lighting systems are used, then light coverage is achieved, but energy consumption is excessive and light quality control is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional broad-spectrum lighting to LED lighting systems with specific spectral parameters optimized for photosynthesis (enhanced red and blue wavelengths), achieving better light quality and plant response while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to high-pressure sodium or fluorescent lamps
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements programmable photoperiod control with LED lighting, providing specific light durations and intensities that match crop requirements, using periodic on/off cycles and dimming schedules to optimize growth while minimizing energy consumption during non-productive periods
5Reliability
If automated control systems are implemented, then environmental monitoring is improved, but investment cost increases due to expensive software and hardware
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multi-functional control devices that perform multiple tasks - temperature sensing, humidity monitoring, pH measurement, and lighting control - all integrated into a single affordable controller unit, eliminating the need for separate expensive specialized equipment for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses simple automated control logic built into affordable controllers that self-regulate environmental parameters based on pre-programmed thresholds, reducing the need for expensive proprietary software and complex processing systems while maintaining reliable monitoring and control
Data Source
AI summary
A vertical hydroponic system with environmental control for horticultural production including a plurality of production structures with levels for separation of the production seedlings and short species. Each level contains a stainless-steel tray and a high-density polyethylene plastic liner. Each stainless steel tray and high density polyethylene plastic liner contain an insert through hole and a draining-filling system with a plurality of fill-drain lines connected to each of the plurality of stainless steel trays and high-density polyethylene liner through the insertion through holes, a central pumping-filtering-disinfection system; a hydraulic pump; a ring filter; and a UV lamp for disinfection of the nutrient solution and elimination of microorganisms that are pathogenic for plants; an automated LED lighting system having a plurality of modules each with at least two tubular LED lamps. Each tubular LED lamp is designed considering red and white horticultural diodes with specific light intensity and red:blue spectrum ratio.