Vertical Plant Column with Enclosed Headspace for Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plant growing systems face inefficiencies in controlling temperature and airflow, leading to high energy consumption and loss, particularly when heating or cooling the ambient air around plants.
Innovation Solution
A vertical growing system comprising a column of pots with separators and a duct system that allows air to flow unimpeded over the plants, minimizing energy loss by using a heat exchanger to control air temperature and circulation, while maintaining a controlled environment with reduced water and heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If ambient air is heated or cooled around the plants, then plant growth in unsuitable temperature environments is enabled, but large amounts of energy are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the growing space into individual enclosed chambers (headspaces) around each plant, allowing independent temperature control for each plant rather than heating/cooling large volumes of ambient air. This segmentation enables precise thermal management with minimal energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention provides localized temperature control at the immediate vicinity of each plant's leaves and stems through individual headspaces, rather than uniformly heating or cooling the entire growing environment. This local quality approach reduces energy waste by targeting only the specific areas where temperature control is needed for plant growth.
2Volume of moving object
If a column of growing containers is used, then space efficiency is improved, but control of temperature and airflow around plants is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The column structure is segmented into individual enclosed headspaces for each plant, with separators creating distinct chambers. This segmentation enables independent temperature and airflow control for each plant within the vertical column, combining space efficiency with precise environmental control.
Solution Approach 2:
Heated or cooled air acts as an intermediary medium that is introduced into the column and flows through the enclosed headspaces, transferring thermal energy to the plants without requiring direct contact with the growth substrate. This intermediary approach enables temperature control while maintaining the compact column structure.
3Reliability
If air flows through the chamber, then the growth substrate is aerated, but water and heat loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the air flow path into two distinct zones: enclosed headspaces for plant foliage and open chambers for growth substrate. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each zone - the headspaces can be sealed to prevent heat/water loss while the substrate chambers remain open for natural aeration.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the air flow function from the growth substrate chamber and relocates it to the enclosed headspace above the plants. Air is introduced to flow over the leaves and stems in the headspace, separating the aeration function from the substrate management function and eliminating the trade-off between substrate aeration and heat/water loss.
4Use of energy by stationary object
If the inlet is located below the lowermost pot and outlet above the uppermost pot, then heated air circulation is optimized, but the system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the natural buoyancy-driven flow of heated air by positioning the inlet at the bottom and outlet at the top of the column, creating a passive convection current that circulates air through the enclosed headspaces without requiring additional energy input or complex mechanical 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
This system efficiently regulates temperature and airflow, reducing energy consumption and fungal growth, while maintaining a controlled environment for plant growth without the need for rehousing, by using a duct system that allows air to flow over the plants without passing through the growth substrate, thus minimizing water and heat loss.
Implementation Method 1
using a heat exchanger to control air temperature and circulation
Implementation Method 2
the flow of air over the leaves, stems, or propagation plug in which the stems, roots, bulbs or leaves are embedded, surface of a growth substrate and/or surfaces of the apparatus may help to reduce fungal, algal and bacterial growth
Data Source
AI summary
This invention concerns apparatus for growing plants comprising a column (100) of pots (102) stacked one above the other to define an enclosure for housing plants. Each pot (102) defines a chamber (104) for holding a plant. Separators for separating pots of the column are provided and the separators define an enclosed headspace around a top of at least two of the pots where plants project from the chamber. The chamber comprises a passageway (106) that provides a continuous flow path for air through the column (100) without requiring the air to flow through the chamber (104). This flow path includes the headspaces above the at least two of the pots (102).