CPC A01G 31/02 (2013.01) [B05B 9/0409 (2013.01); B05B 12/06 (2013.01)] | 8 Claims |
1. A system for pulsed aeroponic plant growth without using a media substrate to support plant roots comprises:
a growth platform having an elevated planar surface and configured to support multiple growth frames, wherein stem and leaf portions of plants extend above the elevated planar surface and root portions of plants extend below the elevated planar surface when the plants are disposed within the growth frames;
one or more mixing tanks configured to combine nutrients in water to generate one or more nutrient solutions;
a hydraulic delivery system configured to release a mist of the one or more nutrient solutions, the hydraulic delivery system comprising:
sensors hydraulically coupled to the one or more mixing tank;
a high pressure pump hydraulically coupled to the one or more mixing tank;
multiple flow control valves downstream of the high pressure pump; and micro-sprayers hydraulically coupled to the one or more mixing tank and positioned to direct the mist of the one or more nutrient solutions towards the plants disposed within the growth frames,
wherein the hydraulic delivery system is configured to pulse a release of the mist of the one or more nutrient solutions during a feeding cycle according to one or more patterns of incremental pressure thresholds that are based on a desired droplet size of the mist of the one or more nutrient solutions; and
a processor configured to execute instructions to:
receive pressure conditions from the sensors;
set a high pressure threshold at 1000 pounds per square inch and a lower pressure threshold at 500 pounds per square inch;
control the pulses of the release of the mist of the one or more nutrient solutions to decrease the pressure conditions within the hydraulic delivery system from the high pressure threshold to the low pressure threshold, wherein each decrease lowers the pressure conditions by 200 pounds per square inch; and
control the pulses of the release of the mist of the one or more nutrient solutions to increase the pressure conditions within the hydraulic delivery system from the low pressure threshold to the high pressure threshold, wherein each increase raises the pressure conditions by 200 pounds per square inch.
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