DE102022104106B3 - Hydroponic system with nebulizer - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a hydroponic system with a nebulizing device. The nebulizing device comprises an ultrasonic atomizer (1) and an atomizer attachment (2) which is designed in the form of a hollow barrel body (3) with a constriction (6) around the entire circumference of the casing wall. This shape of the barrel body (3) allows almost noiseless generation of mist, since the drops (16) generated by the ultrasonic atomizer (1) run down the inner wall of the barrel body (3) instead of falling. The hydroponic system with this nebulizer thus allows silent operation.

Description

The invention relates to a hydroponic system with an atomizing device, by means of which a noiseless atomizing of a liquid is made possible.

Hydroponic systems in general allow the cultivation of (crop) plants in sterile environments, especially indoors, without soil. For this purpose, the roots of the plants are supplied with water and nutrient solutions. Herbs and vegetables are preferred, but also mushrooms and berries, grown industrially or by private individuals in such systems.

Seeds, spores and cuttings are kept in a thin layer of substrate, with the roots growing in a container filled with nutrient solution. This container is often a trough or a basin, or in large systems it is also a pipe system through which nutrient solution flows.

A well-known difficulty of plant cultivation as hydroponics is the optimal supply of oxygen to the roots. In small systems that work with tubs or basins, this often leads to undersupply of the roots, which leads to the death of the plants. This is usually counteracted either by changing the nutrient solution frequently or by blowing air into the nutrient solution with compressors or pumps. Pumps and compressors are difficult to maintain and generate noise, which is why such systems are of limited use in private households.

A hydroponic system that dispenses with pumps and compressors is in WO 2021/061064 A2 shown. Plant pots in which the useful plants can be cultivated are arranged in a container. An ultrasonic nebulizer placed below the plant pots creates a moist mist and thus supplies the roots of the plants with both air and mineralized water.

Ultrasound is a commonly used method of generating mist in nebulizers. An ultrasonic transducer is placed in a liquid in which it generates ultrasonic waves that are imperceptible to humans, causing the surface to vibrate at high frequencies. Drops are released from the liquid and mixed with the surrounding air to form a fine mist.

A nebulizer with an ultrasonic nebulizer is in DE 10 2004 019 198 A1 described. In addition to a splash guard placed on the ultrasonic atomizer, this also includes a fan integrated into this splash guard to enrich the mist generated by the ultrasonic atomizer with air. Thus, the fan is an additional source of noise integrated into the nebulizer.

CN 107225066A discloses an ultrasonic atomizer device with an ultrasonic atomizer arranged in the bottom area of a barrel-shaped water tank. A cylindrical mist outlet pipe is placed on the ultrasonic atomizer, within which the liquid contained in the water tank is nebulized by means of the ultrasonic atomizer. The mist generated in the mist outlet tube is discharged from a central, frontally arranged spray tube of the ultrasonic atomizer device.

CN 110043996A describes a humidifier in the form of a tea maker. A vessel designed as a teapot with a recessed bottom is placed over an ultrasonic atomizer located in the pedestal of the tea maker. The mist generated by the ultrasonic atomizer is discharged from the interior of the teapot into the environment via the spout or spout of the teapot.

CN 213334763 U discloses a barrel-shaped ultrasonic atomizer device with an outlet nozzle arranged in the shell wall for the directed delivery of atomized liquid onto a spot to be moistened.

U.S. 2019/0183176 A1 describes an ultrasonic nebulizer device and electronic cigarette. The ultrasonic atomizer is arranged inside a barrel-shaped housing of the ultrasonic atomizer device, from which the mist generated by means of the ultrasonic atomizer emerges from a tube of the ultrasonic atomizer device arranged at the end.

U.S. 10,681,876 B2 discloses an above-ground agricultural module in which the roots of plants are nourished by a mist of nutrient solution, the mist of nutrient solution being produced by means of an ultrasonic nebulizer located at the bottom of a nebulization cell provided with an opening for mist propagation.

Comparatively small and compact hydroponic systems that should work as quietly as possible are particularly required for the cultivation of herbs in the home kitchen. Both In known systems, however, there is always a clearly audible rippling noise caused by the water supply and the oxygen supply, which in noise-sensitive environments - like the noise from the pump - can be perceived as very annoying.

An ultrasonic nebulizer also causes a rippling noise due to the system, since the generated mist contains liquid droplets in a wide range of sizes. In particular, the larger drops cause a noise when falling back into the liquid, which is often perceived as annoying.

The object of the invention is to overcome this disadvantage of the prior art, whereby a nebulizer that operates largely noiselessly and a compact hydroponic system that can be operated without great effort - especially in the private sector - is to be provided with this noiseless nebulizer.

This object is achieved by a hydroponic system having a nebulizer with the features of claim 1; expedient developments of the invention are listed in claims 2 to 9.

According to the disclosure, the nebulizing device of the hydroponic system comprises, in a basically known manner, an ultrasonic atomizer and an atomizer attachment arranged on or above the same. When the nebulizer is used as intended, a device is understood as an atomizer attachment which is placed on the ultrasonic atomizer, slipped over the ultrasonic atomizer (or the ultrasonic atomizer is inserted into the atomizer attachment) or is arranged above the ultrasonic atomizer.

According to the invention, the atomizer attachment is detachably connected, for example with a positive or non-positive fit, to the ultrasonic atomizer or arranged in the immediate vicinity of the ultrasonic atomizer "above" the same, for example fastened in such a way that it hangs at a small distance above the ultrasonic atomizer.

The atomizer attachment is in the form of a hollow barrel body with two front end portions, i. H. a first front end area and a second front end area opposite the first end area, as well as a casing wall arranged between the first and the second end area of the drum body. In this case, the second end region faces the ultrasonic atomizer. The drum body has a closed top surface on its first front end area and preferably an open base surface on its second front end area, i. That is, the drum body is preferably open on one side in the axial direction—in the direction of the ultrasonic atomizer.

Alternatively it can be provided that the barrel body also at its second end, d. H. the base, is closed, with the ultrasonic atomizer being arranged inside the drum body on the base. In this case, therefore, the atomizer attachment has a base plate on its lower end region, which is connected to the casing wall in a material, non-positive or positive manner, for example.

According to stereometry, a barrel body is understood here as a cylinder whose generatrix is any curve, but in particular not a straight line. The barrel body can have a rotationally symmetrical geometry, for example, but it can also have an oval or angular cross-sectional shape.

In this sense, the generatrix has in particular a concave portion, i. That is, between the first and second end regions, the drum body has a constriction of the jacket wall running around the entire circumference. As a result of this constriction, the atomizer attachment thus has a narrowing.

At least one outlet opening is made in the casing wall of the barrel body, through which the mist generated by the ultrasonic atomizer can exit from the atomizer attachment. At least two outlet openings are preferably introduced along the circumference. If a plurality of outlet openings are provided, these can be arranged symmetrically to one another - the symmetry here denoting quite generally a symmetry of the Euclidean geometry, i. H. means no restriction to mirror symmetry.

During operation of the nebulizing device, the ultrasonic atomizer, which has a piezoelectric oscillating element for generating ultrasonic waves, for example, generates a mist from a liquid. For this purpose, the ultrasonic atomizer can be placed in a liquid bath. If the ultrasonic nebulizer is aligned as intended, a mixture of air and droplets of the liquid forms during operation, i. H. Nebula, above the ultrasonic nebulizer, whereby the nebulization is largely silent.

Caused by the vibrations of the ultrasonic atomizer, the liquid droplets receive an upward impulse. The atomizer attachment fills with the mist, also throwing droplets against the inner walls of the atomizer cap. Due to adhesive forces, the droplets stick to the inner walls, whereupon they finally - if the mass is sufficient - move downwards again, driven by gravity.

The nebulization thus takes place inside the hollow barrel body, with the nebula being able to emerge from the atomizer attachment through the at least one lateral outlet opening of the jacket wall.

Thanks to the geometric shape of the atomizer attachment according to the invention in the form of a hollow barrel body with all-round constriction, the larger droplets formed during nebulization do not fall down noisily, but instead run down the inner wall of the jacket without making a sound. Consequently, dripping or splashing noises that are perceived as annoying are prevented.

The fogging device can be used, for example, in air humidifiers, indoor fountains, aquariums, terrariums or in plant cultivation (for example in a hydroponic system).

The invention can also be designed in such a way that the barrel body tapers steadily from the base area to the plane parallel to the top area, in which the constriction lies (hereinafter referred to as the constriction plane), the inner diameter of the barrel body decreases in this area from the base area down to the constriction plane. Farther from the constriction plane in the direction of the top surface, the inner diameter of the drum body can be at least partially, i. H. in a sub-area above the constriction plane that does not extend all the way to the top surface, the reduction in the inner diameter in this sub-area being less than the reduction in the area between the base surface and the constriction plane. Alternatively, the inner diameter above the constriction level can remain largely constant or even steadily (slightly) increase again. In any case, a circumferential bead is formed inside the barrel body by the constriction. The inside diameter preferably decreases again in a transition area between the jacket wall and the top surface, i. That is, a transition radius from the inner wall of the shell to the top surface can be provided inside the barrel body.

Advantageously, the diameter of the top surface of the barrel body is smaller than the diameter of its base.

In addition or as an alternative, it can be provided that the barrel body is designed to be rotationally symmetrical, i. That is, according to the stereometry, the body of the barrel is formed by rotating its generatrix around the longitudinal axis of the body of the barrel. According to this embodiment, it can be provided in particular that the barrel body has the shape of a hyperboloid.

According to one embodiment, the constriction plane is at a position closer to the top than to the base with respect to the longitudinal axis of the barrel body. Advantageously, the distance from the constriction plane to the base is at least twice as great as the distance from the constriction plane to the top surface, i. That is, the constriction is positioned in the "upper" third of the nebulizer attachment.

The drum body preferably has a casing wall with a wall thickness that is largely the same, at least between the base area and the constriction plane.

One embodiment provides that the wall thickness of the drum body increases from the area of the constriction to the top surface, at least in a transition area between the casing wall and the top surface. In particular, a transition radius from the transition between the casing wall and the top surface can be provided inside the hollow barrel body. This enables the drops collected on the top surface to run off better on the jacket wall.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the atomizer attachment has a resonant frequency at the ultrasonic frequency generated by the ultrasonic atomizer. As a result, the nebulizer attachment forms a resonant system with the ultrasonic nebulizer, which intensifies the sound field. This has the advantage that a more effective generation of fog is made possible, with less ultrasound emerging from the nebulization device at the same time. This aspect is particularly important for pet owners and anxious people.

Additionally or alternatively, it can be provided that the minimum diameter, in particular the minimum inner diameter, of the barrel in the area of the constriction is 75% ± 5% of the diameter of the base, in particular the inner diameter of the barrel in the plane of the base.

According to one embodiment, the at least one outlet opening is made in the casing wall of the drum body in an area between the base area and the constriction plane.

It can further be provided that the at least one outlet opening in the jacket wall of the barrel body has an elongated shape extending along the longitudinal axis of the barrel body with a width of at least 10% of the height of the atomizer attachment.

Furthermore, the at least one outlet opening in the casing wall can have a rounded shape (for example as an oval or as a rectangle with rounded corners or as a combination of both). This prevents drops from being able to settle in the corners of the outlet opening.

An advantageous embodiment of the nebulizer provides that the atomizer attachment has a height of between 5 cm and 10 cm. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one outlet opening can have a minimum width (parallel to the constriction plane) of 1 cm. Here, the length of the outlet opening (in the direction perpendicular to the constriction plane) is greater than its width (parallel to the constriction plane).

According to the invention, a hydroponic system for plant cultivation based on aerosols is provided, which comprises a trough-shaped, preferably opaque liquid container for receiving a nutrient solution, in which a nebulizing device with the features described above is arranged.

Furthermore, the hydroponic system comprises a substrate holder, having one or more plant container recesses for accommodating one plant container each. The substrate holder is arranged in or on the liquid container in such a way that the plant container or containers are positioned in the vicinity of or around the nebulizer, whereby plants or cuttings placed in the plant container receive optimal care from the aerosols generated by the nebulizer. In particular, when the hydroponic system is used as intended, the plant containers are arranged above a nutrient solution introduced into the liquid container, for which purpose the substrate holder with the plant container recesses containing the plant containers is placed on the liquid container.

During operation of the hydroponic system, the nebulizer efficiently enriches the nutrient solution with oxygen and supplies the plants or cuttings placed in the plant containers with air, water and nutrients. At the beginning of their growth, the roots usually do not have direct contact with the nutrient solution in the liquid container due to the special structure of the hydroponic system. Your supply is secured by the nutrient-rich mist generated by the nebulizer. With increasing plant size, the roots can come into contact with the nutrient solution in the liquid container after a certain period of time. However, since the nutrient solution is also aerated with air, i. H. Oxygen is enriched, it does not harm the plants when the roots are hanging in the water.

Because the nebulizer according to the invention with its noise-reducing atomizer attachment is used in the hydroponic system, it works almost noiselessly. Thanks to its simple structure, consisting of just an ultrasonic nebulizer and an atomizer attachment, the nebulizer can be maintained - even by laypersons - without any technical effort or specialist knowledge.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the substrate holder comprises, on its underside facing the liquid container, a fastening device for the detachable fastening of the nebulizer attachment of the atomizing device to the substrate holder. The substrate holder can thus be removed from the liquid container together with the atomizer attachment and, if necessary, placed with the atomizer attachment as a stand on a table, for example, or in a sink during system maintenance. The fastening device can be embodied as a bayonet catch, as a stamp that can be inserted in a form-fitting manner into a recess, or as resilient lugs that engage in a groove.

One embodiment provides that the hydroponic system has a timer and/or a control unit, which are connected to the ultrasonic atomizer of the atomizing device. The nebulizing device can thus advantageously be switched on and off in a controlled manner, so that a mist for supplying the plant roots can only be generated when required and/or at predeterminable times. It is usually sufficient to mist the plants for a few minutes, i. H. regularly 10 minutes or less, every hour.

According to one embodiment, the hydroponic system comprises a lamp that can be attached to the liquid container with a lamp neck. The lamp neck consists of a plurality of identical lamp neck modules that can be detachably connected to one another, as a result of which the length of the lamp neck can be adjusted individually by inserting or removing individual lamp neck modules. Thus, in particular, the distance between the lamp and the substrate holder can be successively increased during the growth of the plants. For a detachable connection to each other, the lamp neck module have recesses and nose-like extensions that can be inserted in the same in a form-fitting manner.

According to a further embodiment, the lamp neck modules have a continuous groove or channel. When the lamp neck is constructed as intended, a continuous guide for an electric cable, for example, is formed as a result of all connected lamp neck modules.

Provision can be made for the lamp to comprise one or more light-emitting elements, for example LEDs, the wavelength of which can be varied. The light spectrum can thus advantageously be adapted to the needs of the plants to be raised--for example to the type of plant to be cultivated or to different stages of growth. In particular in connection with a timer and a control unit, a daily rhythm with sunrise and sunset can be simulated by changing the wavelength of the light emitted by the light-emitting elements depending on the time of day. Additionally or alternatively, the timer and the control unit can be used to switch the light on and off automatically at predefinable times, so that there is no need for the plant breeder to intervene.

Furthermore, a preferably closable refill opening can be provided in the substrate holder, through which the nutrient solution can be filled into the liquid container.

Due to the lack of sensors and its modular design with only a few individual parts, the hydroponic system can be produced inexpensively, operated without specialist knowledge, easily maintained and, in the unlikely event of an accident, can be repaired by a layman by replacing individual components without tools.

The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments, with identical or similar features being provided with the same reference symbols.

• 1: eine Ausgestaltung des Vernebelungsgeräts im Querschnitt, maßstabsgetreu für das Größenverhältnis der Komponenten;
• 2: eine Ausgestaltung des Zerstäuberaufsatzes in perspektivischer Ansicht, maßstabsgetreu für das Größenverhältnis der Komponenten;
• 3: das Vernebelungsgerät im Querschnitt während des Betriebs;
• 4: ein Detail des hydroponischen Systems in perspektivischer Ansicht; und
• 5: ein Detail des hydroponischen Systems im Querschnitt, maßstabsgetreu für das Größenverhältnis der Komponenten.

This is shown in a schematic representation:

• 1 : an embodiment of the nebulizer in cross-section, true to scale for the size ratio of the components;
• 2 1: an embodiment of the atomizer attachment in a perspective view, true to scale for the size ratio of the components;
• 3 : the nebulizer in cross section during operation;
• 4 : a detail of the hydroponic system in a perspective view; and
• 5 : a detail of the hydroponic system in cross-section, to scale for the proportions of the components.

The nebulizer according to the 1 has the ultrasonic nebulizer 1 and the nebulizer attachment 2 placed on it in a form-fitting manner. The atomizer attachment 2 is designed in the form of the hollow barrel body 3 with the closed top surface 4 and the open base surface 5 . The barrel body 3 has the constriction 6 in its upper area. The outlet opening 7 is introduced into the casing wall of the barrel body 3 .

2 shows the nebulizer attachment 2 of the nebulizer 1 again true to scale in a perspective view.

When the nebulizer is operated as intended, the ultrasonic atomizer 1 immersed in the liquid nutrient solution 15 produces the droplets 16 of the nutrient solution 15, which are thrown upwards over the surface of the nutrient solution 15 into the atomizer attachment 2, as shown in 3 schematically demonstrated. The drops 16 stick to the inner wall of the barrel body 3 . Due to the constriction 6 in the wall of the barrel body 3, the drops 16 do not fall back into the nutrient solution 15, but instead run down the wall of the barrel body 3 and flow silently back into the nutrient solution 15 (indicated by the arrows).

In 4 the liquid container 8 is shown with the attached substrate holder 9 of the hydroponic system. In the substrate holder 9, the planting container recesses 10 for accommodating planting containers 13 (in 4 not shown) introduced. In addition, the substrate holder 9 has the lamp neck module receptacle 11, in which a lamp neck module (not shown) can be fastened by plugging it in. The refill opening 12 for filling the liquid container 8 with the nutrient solution 15 (in 4 not shown).

In cross section according to 5 the ultrasonic atomizer 1 placed on the trough floor of the liquid container 8 can be seen, which is completely immersed in the nutrient solution 15 . The nebulizer attachment 2 is attached to the substrate holder 9 so that it hangs above the ultrasonic nebulizer 1 . The plants 14 growing in the plant containers 13 extend with their roots into the fog generated by the fogging device in an area of the Liquid container 8 above the nutrient solution 15.

Reference List

1

Ultrasonic Atomizer

2

atomizer attachment

3

barrel body

4

top surface

5

Floor space

6

constriction of the mantle wall

7

exhaust port

8th

liquid container

9

substrate holder

10

planter recess

11

Lamp neck module mount

12

refill opening

13

planter

14

plant

15

nutrient solution

16

drops

Claims (9)

Hydroponic system, having a trough-shaped liquid container (8) and a substrate holder (9) with one or more plant container recesses (10) for receiving plant containers (13), wherein the substrate holder (9) with the plant container recesses (10) containing the plant containers (13) is placed on the liquid container (8), and wherein a nebulizing device is arranged in the trough-shaped liquid container (8), which has an ultrasonic atomizer (1) and an atomizer attachment (2), wherein - the atomizer attachment (2) is designed in the form of a hollow barrel body (3), the barrel body (3) having a closed top surface (4) on a first front end area, and the ultrasonic atomizer (1) on a second, the first end area opposite end area of the barrel body (3) is arranged, - at least one outlet opening (7) is introduced into a jacket wall formed between the first and second end area of the drum body (3), and - The barrel body (3) has a full-circumferential constriction (6) of the jacket wall between the first and second end area. Hydroponic system after claim 1 , characterized in that the substrate holder (9) on its underside facing the liquid container (8) comprises a fastening device for the detachable fastening of the atomizer attachment (2) of the atomizing device on the substrate holder (9). Hydroponic system after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that at least two outlet openings (7) arranged symmetrically along the circumference are introduced into the casing wall of the drum body (3). Hydroponic system according to one of Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the constriction (6) is positioned in an area between the top surface (4) and the first third of the longitudinal extent to the base surface (5) of the barrel body (3). Hydroponic system according to one of Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the atomizer attachment (2) has an open base area (5) at its second end area opposite the first end area, which faces the ultrasonic atomizer (1). Hydroponic system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the atomizer attachment (2) has a resonant frequency at the ultrasonic frequency generated by the ultrasonic atomizer (1). Hydroponic system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the minimum diameter of the barrel body (3) in the area of the constriction (6) is 70% to 80% of the diameter of the base area (5). Hydroponic system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one outlet opening (7) is made in an area between the base area (5) and the area of the constriction (6) in the casing wall of the barrel body (3). Hydroponic system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one outlet opening (7) in the casing wall of the barrel body (3) has an elongated shape extending along the longitudinal axis of the barrel body (3) with a width of at least 10% of the height of the barrel spray attachment (2).

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