US 12,127,514 B1
Solar farming system
Faramarz Djavanroodi, Dhahran (SA)
Assigned to Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Feb. 16, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/443,378.
Application 18/443,378 is a continuation of application No. 18/480,881, filed on Oct. 4, 2023.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A01G 31/02 (2006.01)
CPC A01G 31/02 (2013.01) 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A solar farming system, comprising:
a photovoltaic system configured to generate electrical energy;
a vertical column comprising a plurality of growth modules that are stacked over and connected to each other in a vertical direction and configured to grow plants in the vertical direction;
a base in the form of an open top rectangular container having four sides and a bottom positioned below the vertical column and configured to contain a liquid agricultural medium, wherein a bottom end of the vertical column rests on the bottom of the base, wherein the base comprises a pump electrically connected to the photovoltaic system; and
a perforated hose extending from the base to the vertical column in the vertical direction and configured as a conduit for the liquid agricultural medium to flow upward and cascade over roots of the plants, wherein
each growth module comprises a plastic pocket with an opening at the top of the plastic pocket and a hole, wherein the hole faces forward away from the vertical column and downward towards the base and is covered with
a membrane permeable to water vapor and impermeable to liquid water, and
the membrane consists of an outer laver and an inner layer, wherein the outer layer consists of PTFE facing away from the vertical column and an inner layer facing towards the vertical column, wherein the inner layer is adjacent the outer layer and consists of collagen or silica sol, the inner layer being a continuous layer having a thickness of 50-100 μm,
wherein the outer layer and the inner layer are configured for a plant root to grow through the inner layer and pores of the outer layer and extend outside the membrane for air exposure.