US20180359951A1 - Systems and methods for reclaiming water in an assembly line grow pod - Google Patents
Systems and methods for reclaiming water in an assembly line grow pod Download PDFInfo
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- US20180359951A1 US20180359951A1 US15/985,098 US201815985098A US2018359951A1 US 20180359951 A1 US20180359951 A1 US 20180359951A1 US 201815985098 A US201815985098 A US 201815985098A US 2018359951 A1 US2018359951 A1 US 2018359951A1
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- sanitizer
- solution
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
- A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
- A01G9/24—Devices or systems for heating, ventilating, regulating temperature, illuminating, or watering, in greenhouses, forcing-frames, or the like
- A01G9/247—Watering arrangements
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
- A01G27/00—Self-acting watering devices, e.g. for flower-pots
- A01G27/003—Controls for self-acting watering devices
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
- A01G31/00—Soilless cultivation, e.g. hydroponics
- A01G31/02—Special apparatus therefor
- A01G31/04—Hydroponic culture on conveyors
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
- A01G31/00—Soilless cultivation, e.g. hydroponics
- A01G31/02—Special apparatus therefor
- A01G31/04—Hydroponic culture on conveyors
- A01G31/042—Hydroponic culture on conveyors with containers travelling on a belt or the like, or conveyed by chains
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
- A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
- A01G9/06—Devices for cleaning flower-pots
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
- C02F1/001—Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance
- C02F1/004—Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance using large scale industrial sized filters
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
- C02F1/50—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by addition or application of a germicide or by oligodynamic treatment
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
- C02F1/68—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by addition of specified substances, e.g. trace elements, for ameliorating potable water
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
- A01G31/00—Soilless cultivation, e.g. hydroponics
- A01G2031/006—Soilless cultivation, e.g. hydroponics with means for recycling the nutritive solution
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F2103/00—Nature of the water, waste water, sewage or sludge to be treated
- C02F2103/002—Grey water, e.g. from clothes washers, showers or dishwashers
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F2103/00—Nature of the water, waste water, sewage or sludge to be treated
- C02F2103/26—Nature of the water, waste water, sewage or sludge to be treated from the processing of plants or parts thereof
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F2209/00—Controlling or monitoring parameters in water treatment
- C02F2209/003—Downstream control, i.e. outlet monitoring, e.g. to check the treating agents, such as halogens or ozone, leaving the process
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F2303/00—Specific treatment goals
- C02F2303/04—Disinfection
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F2303/00—Specific treatment goals
- C02F2303/18—Removal of treatment agents after treatment
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P60/00—Technologies relating to agriculture, livestock or agroalimentary industries
- Y02P60/20—Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions in agriculture, e.g. CO2
- Y02P60/21—Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures
Definitions
- Embodiments described herein generally relate to systems and methods for providing an assembly line grow pod and, more specifically, to an assembly line grow pod that minimizes the amount of water that is drawn in from an external source.
- Controlled environment growing systems may mitigate the factors affecting harvest.
- water may be utilized for a variety of functions. Water usage generally increases operation costs of the controlled environment growing systems, and accordingly a need exists for systems for conserving water within a controlled environment growing system.
- an assembly line grow pod includes a track extending between a growing region and a sanitizing region, a cart movably engaged with the track, a sanitizer system that applies a sanitizer solution to the cart at the sanitizing region, the sanitizer system including a gray solution tank for storing sanitizer solution runoff collected from the sanitizing region, a cycled solution tank fluidly coupled to the gray solution tank, and a sanitizer reservoir fluidly coupled to the cycled solution tank, and a watering system that provides water to plant matter on the cart at the growing region, the watering system including an untreated water tank for storing water collected from the growing region.
- a method for growing plant matter within an assembly line grow pod includes moving a cart carrying plant matter along a track through a growing region of the assembly line grow pod, dispensing water to the plant matter on the cart, collecting water runoff from the dispensing of the water to the plant matter on the cart, moving the collected water runoff to an untreated water tank, moving the cart to a sanitizing region of the assembly line grow pod, dispensing a sanitizer solution to the cart, collecting sanitizer runoff from the dispensing of the sanitizer solution to the cart, moving the collected sanitizer runoff to a gray solution tank, filtering the sanitizer solution in the gray solution tank and moving the filtered sanitizer solution to a cycled solution tank, detecting a concentration of sanitizer in the filtered sanitizer solution in the cycled solution tank, and dispensing sanitizer to the cycled solution tank based at least in part on the detected concentration of sanitizer in
- a method for sanitizing a cart in an assembly line grow pod includes moving a cart carrying plant matter along a track through a growing region of the assembly line grow pod, harvesting the plant matter on the cart, moving the cart to a sanitizing region of the assembly line grow pod, dispensing sanitizer solution to the cart, collecting sanitizer solution runoff from the dispensing of the sanitizer solution to the cart, filtering the collected sanitizer solution runoff and moving the filtered sanitizer solution to a cycled solution tank, detecting a concentration of sanitizer in the filtered sanitizer solution in the cycled solution tank, dispensing sanitizer to the cycled solution tank based at least in part on the detected concentration of sanitizer in the filtered sanitizer solution, and moving the cart to the growing region of the assembly line grow pod.
- FIG. 1 schematically depicts an assembly line grow pod, according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;
- FIG. 2 schematically depicts a watering system and a sanitizing system of the assembly line grow pod of FIG. 1 , according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;
- FIG. 3 schematically depicts a drainage trough of the assembly line grow pod of FIG. 1 , according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein:
- FIG. 4 schematically depicts an illustrative computing environment of the assembly line grow pod of FIG. 1 , according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;
- FIG. 5 schematically depicts a flow diagram of an illustrative method for dispensing water and collecting water runoff in an assembly line grow pod, according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;
- FIG. 6 schematically depicts a flow diagram of an illustrative method of managing water in an assembly line grow pod based on a detected flow rate, according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;
- FIG. 7 schematically depicts a flow diagram of another illustrative method of managing water in an assembly line grow pod based on a detected flow rate, according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;
- FIG. 8 schematically depicts a flow diagram of another illustrative method of managing water in an assembly line grow pod based on a detected flow rate, according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein:
- FIG. 9 schematically depicts a flow diagram of another illustrative method of managing water in an assembly line grow pod based on a detected flow rate, according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;
- FIG. 10 schematically depicts a flow diagram of an illustrative method of managing sanitizer within a sanitizer solution in an assembly line grow pod, according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein.
- Embodiments disclosed herein include systems and methods for reclaiming water in an assembly line grow pod. Some embodiments are configured with an assembly line of trays holding seeds and/or plants that follow a track that wraps around a first axis in a vertically upward direction and wraps around a second axis in vertically downward direction. These embodiments may utilize various components that provide customized water, nutrients, and environmental conditions (e.g., air composition/pressure) to individual cells that hold those seeds and/or plants. After the plants are harvested, the trays are washed. In order to minimize the amount of water that is used by the assembly line grow pod, runoff water from the trays and the water used for washing are reclaimed and reused. The systems and methods for reclaiming the water used by an assembly line grow pod will be described in more detail below.
- the assembly line grow pod may be a “zero waste” facility that does not generate wastewater, and instead re-uses water in growing and sanitizing processes.
- assembly line grow pods as described herein may have a comparatively low environmental impact as compared to conventional controlled environment growing systems.
- the amount of water consumed by the assembly line grow pod e.g., the amount of outside water required by the assembly line grow pod
- plant matter may encompass any type of plant and/or seed material at any stage of growth, for example and without limitation, seeds, germinating seeds, vegetative plants, and plants at a reproductive stage.
- the assembly line grow pod 100 includes a track 102 that is configured to allow one or more carts 104 to travel along the track 102 .
- the assembly line grow pod 100 includes an ascending portion 102 a , a descending portion 102 b , and a connection portion 102 c .
- the track 102 at the ascending portion 102 a moves upward in a vertical direction (e.g., in the +y-direction as depicted in the coordinate axes of FIG. 1 ), such that carts 104 moving along the track 102 move upward in the vertical direction as they travel along the ascending portion 102 a .
- the track 102 at the ascending portion 102 a may include curvature as depicted in FIG. 1 , and may wrap around a first axis that is generally parallel to the y-axis depicted in the coordinate axes of FIG. 1 , forming a spiral shape around the first axis.
- the connection portion 102 c is positioned between the ascending portion 102 a and the descending portion 102 b , and may be relatively level as compared to the ascending portion 102 a and the descending portion 102 b , such that the track 102 generally does not move upward or downward in the vertical direction at the connection portion 102 c .
- the track 102 at the descending portion 102 b moves downward in the vertical direction (e.g., in the ⁇ y-direction as depicted in the coordinate axes of FIG. 1 ), such that carts 104 moving along the track 102 move downward in the vertical direction as they travel along descending portion 102 b .
- the track 102 at the descending portion 102 b may be curved, and may wrap around a second axis that is generally parallel to the y-axis depicted in the coordinate axes of FIG. 1 , forming a spiral shape around the second axis. In some embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in FIG.
- the ascending portion 102 a and the descending portion 102 b may generally form symmetric shapes and may be mirror-images of one another.
- the ascending portion 102 a and the descending portion 102 b may include different shapes that ascend and descend in the vertical direction, respectively.
- the ascending portion 102 a and the descending portion 102 b may allow the track 102 to extend a relatively long distance while occupying a comparatively small footprint evaluated in the x-direction and the z-direction as depicted in the coordinate axes of FIG. 1 , as compared to assembly line grow pods that do not include an ascending portion 102 a and a descending portion 102 b .
- Minimizing the footprint of the assembly line grow pod 100 may be advantageous in certain applications, such as when the assembly line grow pod 100 is positioned in a crowded urban center or in other locations in which space is limited.
- the carts 104 of the assembly line grow pod 100 include trays 105 for holding plant matter.
- the trays 105 of the carts 104 are loaded with plant matter, such as through a seeding process.
- the plant matter is then grown within the carts 104 as the carts 104 move along the track 102 in a growing region 132 of the assembly line grow pod 100 .
- the carts 104 move up the track 102 on the ascending portion 102 a , across the connection portion 102 c , and down the track 102 on the descending portion 102 b .
- the plant matter within the trays 105 of the carts 104 grow and develop. After moving down the track 102 at the descending portion 102 b , the plant matter within the carts 104 may be harvested. In some instances, the plant matter within the carts 104 may not be ready for harvest after moving down the descending portion 102 b . In these instances, the carts 104 may proceed to take another lap up the track 102 of the ascending portion 102 a , across the connection portion 102 c , and down the track 102 of the descending portion 102 b.
- the assembly line grow pod 100 includes a watering system 130 and a sanitizing system 140 .
- the sanitizing system 140 includes a sanitizer device 120 , a cycled solution tank 206 a , a gray solution tank 206 b , and one or more water lines 110 fluidly coupling the sanitizer device 120 , the gray solution tank 206 b , and the cycled solution tank 206 a to one another.
- the sanitizing system 140 generally defines a sanitizing region 142 of the assembly line grow pod 100 , and the assembly line grow pod 100 .
- the growing region 132 of the assembly line grow pod 100 generally includes areas of the assembly line grow pod 100 positioned outside of the sanitizing region 142 .
- the carts 104 After harvesting, the carts 104 enter the sanitizing region 142 of the assembly line grow pod 100 . Once plant matter within the trays 105 of the carts 104 has been harvested, such as by a harvesting device or the like, the carts 104 enter the sanitizer device 120 , which removes plant matter and particulate that may remain on the cart 104 from harvesting.
- the sanitizer device 120 may include any of a number of different washing mechanisms to apply water and/or a sanitizer solution to the carts 104 , and may apply high pressure water, high temperature water, and/or other solutions for cleaning the cart 104 and/or tray 105 .
- the sanitizing region 142 may include one or more drainage troughs 122 positioned within the sanitizing region 142 .
- the one or more drainage troughs 122 may be positioned within the sanitizer device 120 .
- sanitizer solution runoff may be re-captured in the drainage trough 122 .
- the drainage trough 122 is fluidly coupled to the gray solution tank 206 b , such as through the one or more water lines 110 .
- the sanitizing system 140 generally includes the cycled solution tank 206 a and the gray solution tank 206 b fluidly coupled to the cycled solution tank 206 a .
- the cycled solution tank 206 a is a holding tank that generally holds sanitizer solution that is ready to be utilized by the sanitizer device 120
- the gray solution tank 206 b is a holding tank that generally holds gray solution that has been utilized by the sanitizer device 120 , such as gray solution collected by the drainage trough 122 ( FIG. 3 ).
- Gray solution may be sanitizer solution that has been used to wash the trays 105 and therefore may contain traces of dirt, grease, plant tissue, chemicals used by the sanitizer device 120 , or the like.
- a filter 150 is positioned between the gray solution tank 206 b and the cycled solution tank 206 a and is fluidly coupled to the gray solution tank 206 b and the cycled solution tank 206 a .
- the filter 150 is configured to filter and/or apply a treatment to sanitizer solution passing through the filter 150 .
- the filter 150 may apply chemical treatment, UV treatment, reverse osmosis heating, cooling, or the like, to remove contaminants in the sanitizer solution, such as plant matter, particulate matter, and/or chemicals from the sanitizer device 120 .
- sanitizer solution from the gray solution tank 206 b moves into the cycled solution tank 206 a for use in additional cleaning processes within the sanitizer device 120 . In this way sanitizer solution in the sanitizing system 140 may be reused.
- the sanitizer system 140 further comprises a sanitizer reservoir 208 fluidly coupled to the cycled solution tank 206 a , and a concentration sensor 224 positioned on the cycled solution tank 206 a .
- the sanitizer reservoir 208 may hold a concentrated sanitizer configured to be mixed with water to form sanitizer solution.
- the sanitizer may include acid, wetting agents, foaming agents and the like, and may be configured to be mixed with water at a preferred concentration.
- sanitizer from the sanitizer reservoir 208 may be dispensed to the sanitizer solution within the cycled solution tank 206 a to maintain a preferred concentration of the sanitizer within the sanitizer solution.
- the concentration sensor 224 positioned on the cycled solution tank 206 a is configured to detect the concentration of sanitizer within the sanitizer solution in the cycled solution tank 206 a.
- the watering system 130 includes the untreated water tank 206 d , the treated water tank 206 c , and one or more drainage troughs 122 positioned on the track 102 .
- the one or more water lines 110 extend up the ascending portion 102 a and the descending portion 102 b (e.g., generally in the +/ ⁇ y-direction of the coordinate axes of FIG. 1 ) to distribute water and nutrients to plant matter within carts 104 on the track 102 .
- the one or more water lines 110 distribute water and/or nutrients to carts 104 at predetermined areas of the growing region 132 of the assembly line grow pod 100 .
- water runoff may be re-captured in the drainage troughs 122 .
- the drainage troughs 122 of the watering system 130 are fluidly coupled to the untreated water tank 206 d , such as through the one or more water lines 110 .
- the untreated water tank 206 d the treated water tank 206 c fluidly coupled to one another.
- the untreated water tank 206 d may be a holding tank that holds untreated water and the treated water tank 206 c may be a holding tank that holds treated water.
- Untreated water may generally be water that has run off from the trays 105 throughout the growing region 132 of the assembly line grow pod 100 , has been collected and transferred to the untreated water tank 206 d . That is, the untreated water may be water that has been dispensed to a tray 105 , but has runoff from the tray 105 , such as due to overfilling, misalignment with a water source connected to the water line 110 , or the like.
- the untreated water may be generally clean water, but may also contain particles therein from plant matter, dust from metal-on-metal contact between portions of the cart 104 (e.g., the wheels of the cart 104 ) and the track 102 ( FIG. 1 ).
- a filter 150 is positioned between the treated water tank 206 c and the untreated water tank 206 d and is fluidly coupled to the treated water tank 206 c and the untreated water tank 206 d .
- the filter 150 is configured to filter and/or apply a treatment to water passing through the filter 150 (e.g., chemical treatment, UV treatment, reverse osmosis heating, cooling, etc.) to remove contaminants in the water, such as plant matter, particulate matter.
- a treatment e.g., chemical treatment, UV treatment, reverse osmosis heating, cooling, etc.
- the treated water tank 206 c and/or the untreated water tank 206 d may additionally be fluidly coupled to an outside water source, such as a water main, a cistern, a well, or the like to provide fresh water to the watering system 130 .
- an outside water source such as a water main, a cistern, a well, or the like to provide fresh water to the watering system 130 .
- the treated water tank 206 c may additionally be fluidly coupled to the cycled solution tank 206 a to provide additional water to the sanitizing system 140 , as will be described in greater detail herein.
- the sanitizer system 140 may lose sanitizer solution over time, such as by evaporation, spillage or the like. Accordingly, it may be desirable to periodically provide fresh water to the sanitizer system 140 , which may be provided from the treated water tank 206 c .
- the sanitizer within the sanitizer solution may generally prohibit the use of sanitizer solution within the watering system 130 (e.g., the sanitizer may generally be unsuitable for application to plant matter), however, fresh water from the watering system 130 may act to supplement lost sanitizer solution in the sanitizer system 140 .
- a filter may remove sanitizer from the sanitizer solution such that sanitizer solution from the sanitizer system 140 may be filtered to supplement lost water from the watering system 130 .
- each of the watering system 130 and the sanitizing system 140 include the one or more water lines 110 , one or more valves 108 , and one or more pumps 109 , drainage troughs 122 , and a water usage monitoring system 210 .
- Each one of the one or more valves 108 may be configured to direct water to different locations in the assembly line grow pod 100 , and the one or more pumps 109 may provide pressure to move water and/or sanitizer solution throughout the watering system 130 and the sanitizing system 140 , respectively. While FIG.
- valves 108 , pumps 109 , and water lines 110 depicts the various valves 108 , pumps 109 , and water lines 110 as being located in a particular location within the assembly line grow pod 100 , such location are merely illustrative.
- Each one of the one or more valves 108 , pumps 109 , and water lines 110 may be located at any location within the assembly line grow pod 100 , particularly locations that are fluidly coupled between a fluid source (e.g., the tanks 206 a - d ) and a fluid distribution point (e.g., the sanitizer device 120 , etc.).
- a single valve 108 , a single pump 109 , and/or a single water line 110 may be located between a fluid source and a fluid distribution point.
- a plurality of valves 108 , pumps 109 , and/or water lines 110 may be located between the fluid source and the fluid distribution point for the purposes of allowing fluid to be redirected on the fly as needed, to allow the fluid to pressurize, to ensure a balance of fluid, and/or the like.
- the assembly line grow pod 100 includes the water usage monitoring system 210 fluidly coupled to the sanitizing system 140 and the watering system 130 .
- the water usage monitoring system 210 generally includes one or more flowmeters 222 be fluidly coupled between the various portions of the sanitizing system 140 and the watering system 130 .
- the water usage monitoring system 210 includes a flowmeter 222 fluidly coupled to and positioned between the gray solution tank 206 b and the cycled solution tank 206 a , and a flowmeter 222 fluidly coupled to and positioned between the untreated water tank 206 d and the treated water tank 206 c .
- the water usage monitoring system 210 may further include flowmeters 222 positioned on the one or more water lines 110 between the drainage troughs 122 of the sanitizing system 140 ( FIG. 3 ) and the gray solution tank 206 b , and between the drainage troughs 122 of the watering system 130 ( FIG. 1 ) and the untreated water tank 206 d .
- the flowmeters 222 may include any suitable flowmeter device for measuring a flow rate, and may include a positive displacement flowmeter, a rotatameter, an electromagnetic flowmeter, an ultrasonic flowmeter, or the like.
- the flowmeters 222 may each include an input and an output and one or more measuring devices positioned between the input and output for detecting the flow of fluid through the flowmeter.
- the flowmeters 222 may include a rotatameter, the flowmeters 222 may include a float positioned between the inlet and the outlet, and a position of the float between the inlet and the outlet may be indicative of the flow rate of fluid through the flowmeter 222 .
- the flowmeters 222 may include one or more ultrasonic devices that are configured to emit ultrasonic energy and may determine a flow rate of fluid based on the reflection of the emitted ultrasonic energy.
- the information can be used by the water usage monitoring system 210 (particularly the flowmeters 222 ) to determine whether an excessive amount of water is being used, to determine steps for increasing or decreasing water usage, to control various components in a particular manner based on the amount of water usage, and/or the like, as described in greater detail herein.
- a water usage monitoring system 210 may determine an amount of water used in a particular one of the tanks 206 a - d ( FIG. 2 ). The data obtained from the water usage monitoring system 210 may then be used to estimate an amount of water or sanitizer solution that should be present in the ones of the tanks 206 a - d ( FIG. 2 ) by analyzing historical data relating to those particular tanks 206 a - d .
- the water usage monitoring system 210 determines that a first tank has a water volume of X and historically, when the first tank has had a water volume of X, a second tank coupled to the first tank has a corresponding water volume of Y. Therefore, it may be estimated that the second tank has a water volume of Y without actually measuring the volume of the water held by the second tank. This estimation may then be used in conjunction with an actual determination of the volume of the second tank to ensure that it is holding the expected amount of water therein.
- the assembly line grow pod 100 includes a master controller 106 .
- the master controller 106 may include various components that control particular portions of the assembly line grow pod 100 .
- the master controller 106 may contain components for controlling various environmental conditions within the assembly line grow pod 100 , such as light, temperature, humidity, and/or the like.
- the master controller 106 may contain components for controlling fluid flow throughout the assembly line grow pod, such as components that control the valves 108 ( FIG. 2 ), the pumps 109 ( FIG. 1 ), and/or the like to direct fluid to/from the tanks 206 a - d and the sanitizer device 120 ( FIG. 2 ), as described herein.
- the master controller 106 is communicatively coupled to the one or more valves 108 and may include a valve control module that provides control signals to one or more valves 108 and/or receive status signals from the one or more valves 108 .
- the valve control module can effectively direct the one or more valves 108 to direct fluid to any locations within the assembly line grow pod 100 .
- certain ones of the one or more valves 108 may be fluidly coupled to one or more water lines 110 and the treated water tank 206 c ( FIG. 2 ), and may direct water to carts 104 on the track 102 .
- Others of the one or more valves 108 may be fluidly connected to the one or more water lines 110 and the cycled solution tank 206 a ( FIG. 2 ), and may direct water and/or a sanitizer solution to the sanitizer device 120 ( FIG. 2 ).
- the master controller 106 is communicatively coupled to the one or more pumps 109 and may include a pump control module that provides control signals to one or more pumps 109 and/or receive status signals from the one or more pumps 109 .
- the pump control module can effectively direct the one or more pumps 109 to pump fluid through the one or more water lines 110 .
- the master controller 106 is communicatively coupled to the sanitizer reservoir 208 and/or the concentration sensor 224 .
- the master controller 106 may include a sanitizer concentration control module that provides control signals to the sanitizer reservoir 208 and/or receives status signals from the concentration sensor 224 .
- the sanitizer concentration control module can effectively direct the sanitizer reservoir 208 to release additional sanitizer into the cycled solution tank 206 a in response to a status signal from the concentration sensor 224 .
- the master controller 106 may include a computing device 520 .
- the computing device 520 includes a processor 530 , input-output hardware 532 , the network interface hardware 534 , a data storage component 536 (which stores systems data 538 a , plant data 538 b , and/or other data), and the memory component 540 .
- the memory component 540 may be configured as volatile and/or nonvolatile memory and as such, may include random access memory (including SRAM, DRAM, and/or other types of RAM), flash memory, secure digital (SD) memory, registers, compact discs (CD), digital versatile discs (DVD), and/or other types of non-transitory computer-readable mediums. Depending on the particular embodiment, these non-transitory computer-readable mediums may reside within the computing device 520 and/or external to the computing device 520 .
- the memory component 540 may store operating logic 542 , the systems logic 544 a , and the plant logic 544 b .
- the systems logic 544 a and the plant logic 544 b may each include a plurality of different pieces of logic, each of which may be embodied as a computer program, firmware, and/or hardware, as an example.
- the systems logic 544 a may monitor and control operations of one or more of the valves 108 ( FIG. 2 ), the pumps 109 ( FIG. 2 ), and/or the like, as well as control operation of the tanks 206 a - d ( FIG. 2 ), including any filtering and treatment of the water within the various tanks.
- the plant logic 544 b may be configured to determine and/or receive a recipe for plant growth and may facilitate implementation of the recipe via the systems logic 544 a.
- the operating logic 542 may include an operating system and/or other software for managing components of the computing device 520 .
- systems logic 544 a and the plant logic 544 b may reside in the memory component 540 and may be configured to perform the functionality, as described herein.
- FIG. 4 it should be understood that while the components in FIG. 4 are illustrated as residing within the computing device 520 , this is merely an example. In some embodiments, one or more of the components may reside external to the computing device 520 . It should also be understood that, while the computing device 520 is illustrated as a single device, this is also merely an example. In some embodiments, the systems logic 544 a and the plant logic 544 b may reside on different computing devices. As an example, one or more of the functionalities and/or components described herein may be provided by a user computing device and/or a remote computing device.
- computing device 520 is illustrated with the systems logic 544 a and the plant logic 544 b as separate logical components, this is also an example. In some embodiments, a single piece of logic (and/or or several linked modules) may cause the computing device 520 to provide the described functionality.
- a local interface 546 is also included in FIG. 4 and may be implemented as a bus or other communication interface to facilitate communication among the components of the computing device 520 .
- the processor 530 may include any processing component operable to receive and execute instructions (such as from a data storage component 536 and/or the memory component 540 ).
- the input/output hardware 532 may include and/or be configured to interface with microphones, speakers, a display, and/or other hardware.
- the network interface hardware 534 may include and/or be configured for communicating with any wired or wireless networking hardware, including an antenna, a modem, LAN port, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) card, WiMax card, ZigBee card, Bluetooth chip, USB card, mobile communications hardware, and/or other hardware for communicating with other networks and/or devices. From this connection, communication may be facilitated between the computing device 520 and other devices external to the computing device.
- Wi-Fi wireless fidelity
- WiMax WiMax card
- ZigBee card ZigBee card
- Bluetooth chip ZigBee card
- USB card USB card
- the assembly line grow pod 100 is coupled to a network 550 .
- the network 550 may include the internet or other wide area network, a local network, such as a local area network, a near field network, such as Bluetooth or a near field communication (NFC) network.
- the network 550 is also coupled to a user computing device 552 and/or a remote computing device 554 .
- the user computing device 552 may include a personal computer, laptop, mobile device, tablet, server, etc. and may be utilized as an interface with a user.
- a user may send a recipe to the computing device 520 for implementation by the assembly line grow pod 100 .
- Another example may include the assembly line grow pod 100 sending notifications to a user of the user computing device 552 .
- the remote computing device 554 may include a server, personal computer, tablet, mobile device, etc. and may be utilized for machine to machine communications.
- the computing device 520 may communicate with the remote computing device 554 to retrieve a previously stored recipe for those conditions.
- some embodiments may utilize an application program interface (API) to facilitate this or other computer-to-computer communications.
- API application program interface
- the watering system 130 and the sanitizing system 140 include tanks 206 a - d and drainage troughs 122 for storing and recapturing dispensed water and sanitizer solution.
- Methods for managing water flow within the watering system 130 and the sanitizing system 140 will now be described with reference to the appended figures.
- an example method for growing plant matter within an assembly line grow pod 100 is depicted.
- the cart 104 is moved along the track 102 .
- the cart 104 may be loaded with plant matter and moved along the track 102 through the growing region 132 of the assembly line grow pod 100 .
- water is dispensed to the cart 104 by the watering system 130 .
- treated water from the treated water tank 206 c is pumped through the one or more water lines 110 to the cart 104 to dispense the water to the cart 104 .
- water runoff from block 5120 is collected in drainage troughs 122 . As described above, the water runoff may result from the dispensing of the water to the cart 104 .
- the collected water runoff is moved from the drainage troughs 122 to the untreated water tank 206 d.
- the cart 104 is moved along the track 102 to the sanitizer device 120 .
- the cart 104 may be moved to the sanitizer device 120 after harvesting of plant matter positioned within the cart 104 .
- the sanitizer device 120 may apply sanitizer solution to the carts 104 at block 5200 .
- the sanitizer solution may assist in removing any remaining plant matter from the carts to clean the carts 104 for reuse in the assembly line grow pod 100 .
- sanitizer solution runoff from block 5200 is collected in the drainage trough 122 positioned within the sanitizer device 120 .
- the collected sanitizer solution runoff is moved from the drainage trough 122 to the gray solution tank 206 b.
- water and/or sanitizer solution may be moved, such as between the treated water tank 206 c and the carts 104 , between the drainage troughs 122 and the untreated water tank 206 d , between the cycled solution tank 206 a and the sanitizer device 120 , and between the drainage trough 122 and the gray solution tank 206 b via the pumps 109 and the one or more water lines 110 .
- the blocks described above may be directed by the master controller 106 , such as by directing one or more of the valves 108 and the pumps 109 to selectively direct water and/or sanitizer solution as described above. While blocks 5100 - 5240 are described and depicted as being performed in a sequential order, it should be understood that any of blocks 5100 may be performed in any suitable order and may be performed simultaneously on different carts 104 throughout the assembly line grow pod 100 .
- a flow rate of sanitizer solution dispensed to a cart 104 is measured.
- the flow rate of the sanitizer solution may be measured by a flowmeter 222 , such as a flowmeter 222 positioned between the cycled solution tank 206 a and the sanitizer device 120 .
- the flow rate of sanitizer solution being moved to the gray solution tank 206 b is measured.
- the flow rate of the sanitizer solution may be measured by a flowmeter 222 positioned between the drainage trough 122 and the gray solution tank 206 b to measure the flow rate of sanitizer solution runoff being moved the gray solution tank 206 b .
- a flowmeter 222 positioned between the drainage trough 122 and the gray solution tank 206 b to measure the flow rate of sanitizer solution runoff being moved the gray solution tank 206 b .
- the system e.g., the master controller 106 . If the measured flow rate of sanitizer solution being dispensed to the carts 104 does not exceed the measured flow rate of sanitizer solution being moved to the gray solution tank 206 b by the predetermined threshold, then the system (e.g., the master controller 106 ) returns to block 6100 .
- sanitizer solution is applied to the carts 104 by the sanitizer device 120 , and sanitizer solution runoff from the sanitizer device 120 is collected and returned to the gray solution tank 206 b . In this way, much or most of the sanitizer solution used by the sanitizer device 120 may be reused. However, if the flow rate of sanitizer solution being applied to the carts 104 exceeds the flow rate of sanitizer solution runoff being returned to the gray solution tank 206 b (e.g., because of loss of sanitizer solution due to evaporation, spillage, or the like), it may be necessary to provide additional water to the sanitizer system 140 .
- Additional water may be provided to the sanitizer system 140 by moving water from the treated water tank 206 c of the watering system 130 to the cycled solution tank 206 a .
- water may be added to the sanitizer system 140 to ensure that sanitizer solution is available to apply to the carts 104 .
- the blocks described above may be directed by the master controller 106 , such as by directing one or more of the valves 108 and the pumps 109 to selectively direct water from the treated water tank 206 c to the cycled solution tank 206 a , as described above. Additionally, the method depicted in FIG. 6 may be utilized simultaneously with other methods for managing water in the assembly line grow pod 100 , for example, the method described above with respect to FIG. 5 .
- the predetermined threshold may be selected to be any appropriate value to ensure that the cycled solution tank 206 a does not run out of sanitizer solution to apply to the carts 104 .
- the predetermined threshold may be that the measured flow rate of sanitizer solution to the carts 104 is twice (2 ⁇ ) the measured flow rate of sanitizer solution runoff being moved to the gray solution tank 206 b .
- the predetermined threshold may be that the measured flow rate of sanitizer solution to the carts 104 is three times (3 ⁇ ) the measured flow rate of sanitizer solution runoff being moved to the gray solution tank 206 b .
- the predetermined threshold may be that the measured flow rate of sanitizer solution to the carts 104 is five times (5 ⁇ ) the measured flow rate of sanitizer solution runoff being moved to the gray solution tank 206 b.
- the assembly line grow pod 100 an example method for managing water usage in the assembly line grow pod 100 is depicted.
- a first block 7100 the flow rate of sanitizer solution being moved from the gray solution tank 206 b being moved to the cycled solution tank 206 a , such as through the filter 150 , is measured.
- the flow rate of the sanitizer solution may be measured by a flowmeter 222 positioned between the gray solution tank 206 b and the cycled solution tank 206 a .
- the blocks described above may be directed by the master controller 106 , such as by directing one or more of the valves 108 and the pumps 109 to selectively direct water from the treated water tank 206 c to the cycled solution tank 206 a , as described above. Additionally, the method depicted in FIG. 7 may be utilized simultaneously with other methods for managing water in the assembly line grow pod 100 , for example the methods described above with respect to FIGS. 5 and 6 .
- the predetermined threshold may be selected to be any appropriate value to ensure that the cycled solution tank 206 a does not run out of sanitizer solution to apply to the carts 104 .
- the predetermined threshold may be any value greater than zero.
- the predetermined value may be based on the measured flow rate of sanitizer solution being applied to the carts 104 .
- the predetermined value may be selected to match the flow rate of sanitizer solution being applied to the carts 104 , such that water is moved from the treated water tank 206 c to the cycled solution tank 206 a if the flow rate of sanitizer solution being applied to the carts 104 exceeds the flow rate of sanitizer solution being moved from the gray solution tank 206 b to the cycled solution tank 206 a.
- the assembly line grow pod 100 an example method for managing water usage in the assembly line grow pod 100 is depicted.
- a first block 8100 the flow rate of sanitizer solution being dispensed to the carts 104 by the sanitizer device 120 is measured.
- the flow rate of the sanitizer solution may be measured by a flowmeter 222 , such as a flowmeter 222 positioned between the cycled solution tank 206 a and the sanitizer device 120 .
- a volume of sanitizer solution dispensed to the carts 104 is reduced to ensure that there is sufficient water/sanitizer solution in the cycled solution tank 206 a to apply sanitizer solution to the carts 104 . If the measured flow rate is not below the predetermined threshold, then the system (e.g., the master controller 106 ) returns to block 8100 .
- the blocks described above may be directed by the master controller 106 , such as by directing one or more of the valves 108 and the pumps 109 to selectively restrict sanitizer solution provided to the sanitizer device 120 , as described above. Additionally, the method depicted in FIG. 8 may be utilized simultaneously with other methods for managing water in the assembly line grow pod 100 , for example the methods described above with respect to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 .
- the predetermined threshold may be selected to be any appropriate value to ensure that the cycled solution tank 206 a does not run out of sanitizer solution to apply to the carts 104 .
- the predetermined threshold may be any value greater than zero.
- the predetermined value may be based on the measured flow rate of sanitizer solution being applied to the carts 104 .
- the predetermined value may be selected to match the flow rate of sanitizer solution being moved from the gray solution tank 206 b to the cycled solution tank 206 a , such that the volume of sanitizer solution being applied to the carts 104 is reduced if the flow rate of sanitizer solution being applied to the carts 104 exceeds the flow rate of sanitizer solution being moved from the gray solution tank 206 b to the cycled solution tank 206 a.
- the assembly line grow pod 100 an example method for managing water usage in the assembly line grow pod 100 is depicted.
- the flow rate of water being dispensed to the carts 104 by watering system 130 is measured.
- the flow rate of the water provided to the carts may be measured by a flowmeter 222 , such as a flowmeter 222 positioned between the treated water tank 206 c the one or more water lines 110 extending along the track 102 .
- a flowmeter 222 such as a flowmeter 222 positioned between the treated water tank 206 c the one or more water lines 110 extending along the track 102 .
- a volume of water being moved from the treated water tank 206 c to the cycled solution tank 206 a is reduced.
- water may be moved from the treated water tank 206 c to supplement sanitizer solution that may be lost by the sanitizer system 140 .
- a predetermined threshold e.g., if the plant matter on the carts 104 require more water than a predetermined threshold
- the system e.g., the master controller 106 may reduce water being moved from the treated water tank 206 c to the cycled solution tank 206 a to reduce the amount of water leaving the watering system 130 . If the measured flow rate is not below the predetermined threshold, then the system (e.g., the master controller 106 ) returns to block 9100 .
- the blocks described above may be directed by the master controller 106 , such as by directing one or more of the valves 108 and the pumps 109 to selectively restrict water being moved between the treated water tank 206 c and the cycled solution tank 206 a , as described above. Additionally, the method depicted in FIG. 9 may be utilized simultaneously with other methods for managing water in the assembly line grow pod 100 , for example, the methods described above with respect to FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8 .
- the predetermined threshold may be selected to be any appropriate value to ensure that the treated water tank 206 c does not run out of water to apply to the carts 104 .
- the predetermined threshold may be any value greater than zero.
- the predetermined threshold may be based on other measured flow rates, such as the flow rate of water from drainage troughs 122 to the untreated water tank 102 d.
- a concentration of sanitizer in a sanitizer solution within the cycled solution tank 206 a is detected with the concentration sensor 224 .
- sanitizer from the sanitizer reservoir 208 is dispensed to the cycled solution tank 206 a .
- the system (e.g., the master controller 106 ) proceeds to block 1016 .
- the system e.g., the master controller 106 . If the detected concentration of sanitizer is not below the first predetermined threshold, then the system (e.g., the master controller 106 ) proceeds to block 1016 .
- the system e.g., the master controller 106 . If the detected concentration of sanitizer is above a second predetermined threshold, then at block 1018 , water is moved from the treated water tank 206 c to the cycled solution tank 206 a . If the detected concentration of solution is not above the second predetermined threshold, the system (e.g., the master controller 106 ) returns to block 1010 .
- the blocks described above may be directed by the master controller 106 , such as by directing the sanitizer reservoir 208 to release sanitizer to the cycled solution tank 206 a and/or moving water between the treated water tank 206 c and the cycled solution tank 206 a via the one or more water lines 110 , as described above. Additionally, the method depicted in FIG. 10 may be utilized simultaneously with other methods for managing water in the assembly line grow pod 100 , for example, the methods described above with respect to FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 .
- the first predetermined threshold may be selected to be any appropriate value to ensure that an appropriate minimum amount of sanitizer is present in the sanitizer solution within the cycled solution tank 206 a .
- the first predetermined threshold may be any value greater than zero.
- the first predetermined threshold may be 5% solution by volume, 10% solution by volume, 15% solution by volume, or 20% solution by volume.
- the second predetermined threshold may be selected to be any appropriate value to ensure than an appropriate maximum amount of sanitizer is present in the sanitizer solution within the cycled solution tank 206 a .
- the second predetermined threshold may be any value greater than the first predetermined threshold.
- the concentration of sanitizer within the sanitizer solution may be automatically maintained at an appropriate level for use with the sanitizer device 120 .
- some embodiments may include an assembly line grow pod comprising one or more tanks fluidly coupled to one or more water collection devices, the one or more tanks receiving runoff water and/or used water from the one or more water collection devices, wherein the assembly line grow pod is configured to filter the runoff water and/or used water to remove particulate matter therefrom, treat the runoff water and/or used water, and store the runoff water and/or used water in the one or more water collection devices until the runoff water and/or used water can be used for watering of plants or seeds or for cleaning used trays in a sanitizer.
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Abstract
Description
- This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/519,405 filed Jun. 14, 2017 and entitled “Systems and Methods for Measuring Water Usage in an Assembly Line Grow Pod” and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/519,410 filed Jun. 14, 2017 and entitled “Systems and Methods for Reclaiming Water in an Assembly Line Grow Pod.” the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
- Embodiments described herein generally relate to systems and methods for providing an assembly line grow pod and, more specifically, to an assembly line grow pod that minimizes the amount of water that is drawn in from an external source.
- While crop growth technologies have advanced over the years, there are still many problems in the farming and crop industry today. As an example, while technological advances have increased efficiency and production of various crops, many factors may affect a harvest, such as weather, disease, infestation, and the like. Additionally, while the United States currently has suitable farmland to adequately provide food for the U.S. population, other countries and future populations may not have enough farmland to provide the appropriate amount of food.
- Controlled environment growing systems may mitigate the factors affecting harvest. In these controlled environment growing systems, water may be utilized for a variety of functions. Water usage generally increases operation costs of the controlled environment growing systems, and accordingly a need exists for systems for conserving water within a controlled environment growing system.
- In one embodiment, an assembly line grow pod includes a track extending between a growing region and a sanitizing region, a cart movably engaged with the track, a sanitizer system that applies a sanitizer solution to the cart at the sanitizing region, the sanitizer system including a gray solution tank for storing sanitizer solution runoff collected from the sanitizing region, a cycled solution tank fluidly coupled to the gray solution tank, and a sanitizer reservoir fluidly coupled to the cycled solution tank, and a watering system that provides water to plant matter on the cart at the growing region, the watering system including an untreated water tank for storing water collected from the growing region.
- In another embodiment, a method for growing plant matter within an assembly line grow pod includes moving a cart carrying plant matter along a track through a growing region of the assembly line grow pod, dispensing water to the plant matter on the cart, collecting water runoff from the dispensing of the water to the plant matter on the cart, moving the collected water runoff to an untreated water tank, moving the cart to a sanitizing region of the assembly line grow pod, dispensing a sanitizer solution to the cart, collecting sanitizer runoff from the dispensing of the sanitizer solution to the cart, moving the collected sanitizer runoff to a gray solution tank, filtering the sanitizer solution in the gray solution tank and moving the filtered sanitizer solution to a cycled solution tank, detecting a concentration of sanitizer in the filtered sanitizer solution in the cycled solution tank, and dispensing sanitizer to the cycled solution tank based at least in part on the detected concentration of sanitizer in the filtered sanitizer solution.
- In yet another embodiment, a method for sanitizing a cart in an assembly line grow pod includes moving a cart carrying plant matter along a track through a growing region of the assembly line grow pod, harvesting the plant matter on the cart, moving the cart to a sanitizing region of the assembly line grow pod, dispensing sanitizer solution to the cart, collecting sanitizer solution runoff from the dispensing of the sanitizer solution to the cart, filtering the collected sanitizer solution runoff and moving the filtered sanitizer solution to a cycled solution tank, detecting a concentration of sanitizer in the filtered sanitizer solution in the cycled solution tank, dispensing sanitizer to the cycled solution tank based at least in part on the detected concentration of sanitizer in the filtered sanitizer solution, and moving the cart to the growing region of the assembly line grow pod.
- The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplary in nature and not intended to limit the disclosure. The following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:
-
FIG. 1 schematically depicts an assembly line grow pod, according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; -
FIG. 2 schematically depicts a watering system and a sanitizing system of the assembly line grow pod ofFIG. 1 , according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; -
FIG. 3 schematically depicts a drainage trough of the assembly line grow pod ofFIG. 1 , according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein: -
FIG. 4 schematically depicts an illustrative computing environment of the assembly line grow pod ofFIG. 1 , according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; -
FIG. 5 schematically depicts a flow diagram of an illustrative method for dispensing water and collecting water runoff in an assembly line grow pod, according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; -
FIG. 6 schematically depicts a flow diagram of an illustrative method of managing water in an assembly line grow pod based on a detected flow rate, according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; and -
FIG. 7 schematically depicts a flow diagram of another illustrative method of managing water in an assembly line grow pod based on a detected flow rate, according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; -
FIG. 8 schematically depicts a flow diagram of another illustrative method of managing water in an assembly line grow pod based on a detected flow rate, according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein: -
FIG. 9 schematically depicts a flow diagram of another illustrative method of managing water in an assembly line grow pod based on a detected flow rate, according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; and -
FIG. 10 schematically depicts a flow diagram of an illustrative method of managing sanitizer within a sanitizer solution in an assembly line grow pod, according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein. - Embodiments disclosed herein include systems and methods for reclaiming water in an assembly line grow pod. Some embodiments are configured with an assembly line of trays holding seeds and/or plants that follow a track that wraps around a first axis in a vertically upward direction and wraps around a second axis in vertically downward direction. These embodiments may utilize various components that provide customized water, nutrients, and environmental conditions (e.g., air composition/pressure) to individual cells that hold those seeds and/or plants. After the plants are harvested, the trays are washed. In order to minimize the amount of water that is used by the assembly line grow pod, runoff water from the trays and the water used for washing are reclaimed and reused. The systems and methods for reclaiming the water used by an assembly line grow pod will be described in more detail below.
- In some embodiments, the assembly line grow pod may be a “zero waste” facility that does not generate wastewater, and instead re-uses water in growing and sanitizing processes. By accomplishing growing and sanitizing processes without the generation of wastewater, assembly line grow pods as described herein may have a comparatively low environmental impact as compared to conventional controlled environment growing systems. Furthermore, by re-using water in growing and sanitizing processes, the amount of water consumed by the assembly line grow pod (e.g., the amount of outside water required by the assembly line grow pod) may be minimized, which may be particularly desirable in dry and arid climates.
- As used herein, the term “plant matter” may encompass any type of plant and/or seed material at any stage of growth, for example and without limitation, seeds, germinating seeds, vegetative plants, and plants at a reproductive stage.
- Referring initially to
FIG. 1 , a front perspective view of an assembly line grow pod 100 is depicted. The assembly line grow pod 100 includes atrack 102 that is configured to allow one ormore carts 104 to travel along thetrack 102. In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 1 , the assembly line grow pod 100 includes anascending portion 102 a, a descendingportion 102 b, and aconnection portion 102 c. Thetrack 102 at theascending portion 102 a moves upward in a vertical direction (e.g., in the +y-direction as depicted in the coordinate axes ofFIG. 1 ), such thatcarts 104 moving along thetrack 102 move upward in the vertical direction as they travel along theascending portion 102 a. Thetrack 102 at theascending portion 102 a may include curvature as depicted inFIG. 1 , and may wrap around a first axis that is generally parallel to the y-axis depicted in the coordinate axes ofFIG. 1 , forming a spiral shape around the first axis. Theconnection portion 102 c is positioned between theascending portion 102 a and the descendingportion 102 b, and may be relatively level as compared to theascending portion 102 a and the descendingportion 102 b, such that thetrack 102 generally does not move upward or downward in the vertical direction at theconnection portion 102 c. Thetrack 102 at the descendingportion 102 b moves downward in the vertical direction (e.g., in the −y-direction as depicted in the coordinate axes ofFIG. 1 ), such thatcarts 104 moving along thetrack 102 move downward in the vertical direction as they travel along descendingportion 102 b. Thetrack 102 at the descendingportion 102 b may be curved, and may wrap around a second axis that is generally parallel to the y-axis depicted in the coordinate axes ofFIG. 1 , forming a spiral shape around the second axis. In some embodiments, such as the embodiment shown inFIG. 1 , theascending portion 102 a and the descendingportion 102 b may generally form symmetric shapes and may be mirror-images of one another. In other embodiments, theascending portion 102 a and the descendingportion 102 b may include different shapes that ascend and descend in the vertical direction, respectively. Theascending portion 102 a and the descendingportion 102 b may allow thetrack 102 to extend a relatively long distance while occupying a comparatively small footprint evaluated in the x-direction and the z-direction as depicted in the coordinate axes ofFIG. 1 , as compared to assembly line grow pods that do not include anascending portion 102 a and a descendingportion 102 b. Minimizing the footprint of the assembly line grow pod 100 may be advantageous in certain applications, such as when the assembly line grow pod 100 is positioned in a crowded urban center or in other locations in which space is limited. - In the embodiment depicted in
FIG. 1 , thecarts 104 of the assembly line grow pod 100 includetrays 105 for holding plant matter. In operation, thetrays 105 of thecarts 104 are loaded with plant matter, such as through a seeding process. The plant matter is then grown within thecarts 104 as thecarts 104 move along thetrack 102 in a growingregion 132 of the assembly line grow pod 100. For example, after plant matter is deposited within thecarts 104, thecarts 104 move up thetrack 102 on theascending portion 102 a, across theconnection portion 102 c, and down thetrack 102 on the descendingportion 102 b. As thecarts 104 move along thetrack 102, the plant matter within thetrays 105 of thecarts 104 grow and develop. After moving down thetrack 102 at the descendingportion 102 b, the plant matter within thecarts 104 may be harvested. In some instances, the plant matter within thecarts 104 may not be ready for harvest after moving down the descendingportion 102 b. In these instances, thecarts 104 may proceed to take another lap up thetrack 102 of theascending portion 102 a, across theconnection portion 102 c, and down thetrack 102 of the descendingportion 102 b. - Referring collectively to
FIGS. 1 and 2 , the assembly line grow pod 100 includes awatering system 130 and a sanitizingsystem 140. The sanitizingsystem 140 includes asanitizer device 120, a cycledsolution tank 206 a, agray solution tank 206 b, and one ormore water lines 110 fluidly coupling thesanitizer device 120, thegray solution tank 206 b, and the cycledsolution tank 206 a to one another. The sanitizingsystem 140 generally defines asanitizing region 142 of the assembly line grow pod 100, and the assembly line grow pod 100. The growingregion 132 of the assembly line growpod 100 generally includes areas of the assembly line growpod 100 positioned outside of the sanitizingregion 142. - After harvesting, the
carts 104 enter the sanitizingregion 142 of the assembly line growpod 100. Once plant matter within thetrays 105 of thecarts 104 has been harvested, such as by a harvesting device or the like, thecarts 104 enter thesanitizer device 120, which removes plant matter and particulate that may remain on thecart 104 from harvesting. Thesanitizer device 120 may include any of a number of different washing mechanisms to apply water and/or a sanitizer solution to thecarts 104, and may apply high pressure water, high temperature water, and/or other solutions for cleaning thecart 104 and/ortray 105. - Referring collectively to
FIGS. 2 and 3 , the sanitizingregion 142 may include one ormore drainage troughs 122 positioned within the sanitizingregion 142. In embodiments, the one ormore drainage troughs 122 may be positioned within thesanitizer device 120. As thesanitizer device 120 applies water and/or a sanitizer solution to thetrays 105 of thecarts 104, sanitizer solution runoff may be re-captured in thedrainage trough 122. Thedrainage trough 122 is fluidly coupled to thegray solution tank 206 b, such as through the one ormore water lines 110. - Referring particularly to
FIG. 2 , the sanitizingsystem 140 generally includes the cycledsolution tank 206 a and thegray solution tank 206 b fluidly coupled to the cycledsolution tank 206 a. The cycledsolution tank 206 a is a holding tank that generally holds sanitizer solution that is ready to be utilized by thesanitizer device 120, and thegray solution tank 206 b is a holding tank that generally holds gray solution that has been utilized by thesanitizer device 120, such as gray solution collected by the drainage trough 122 (FIG. 3 ). Gray solution may be sanitizer solution that has been used to wash thetrays 105 and therefore may contain traces of dirt, grease, plant tissue, chemicals used by thesanitizer device 120, or the like. - A
filter 150 is positioned between thegray solution tank 206 b and the cycledsolution tank 206 a and is fluidly coupled to thegray solution tank 206 b and the cycledsolution tank 206 a. Thefilter 150 is configured to filter and/or apply a treatment to sanitizer solution passing through thefilter 150. For example thefilter 150 may apply chemical treatment, UV treatment, reverse osmosis heating, cooling, or the like, to remove contaminants in the sanitizer solution, such as plant matter, particulate matter, and/or chemicals from thesanitizer device 120. Upon moving through thefilter 150, sanitizer solution from thegray solution tank 206 b moves into the cycledsolution tank 206 a for use in additional cleaning processes within thesanitizer device 120. In this way sanitizer solution in thesanitizing system 140 may be reused. - In the embodiment depicted in
FIG. 2 , thesanitizer system 140 further comprises asanitizer reservoir 208 fluidly coupled to the cycledsolution tank 206 a, and aconcentration sensor 224 positioned on the cycledsolution tank 206 a. Thesanitizer reservoir 208 may hold a concentrated sanitizer configured to be mixed with water to form sanitizer solution. For example and without limitation, the sanitizer may include acid, wetting agents, foaming agents and the like, and may be configured to be mixed with water at a preferred concentration. In embodiments, sanitizer from thesanitizer reservoir 208 may be dispensed to the sanitizer solution within the cycledsolution tank 206 a to maintain a preferred concentration of the sanitizer within the sanitizer solution. Theconcentration sensor 224 positioned on the cycledsolution tank 206 a is configured to detect the concentration of sanitizer within the sanitizer solution in the cycledsolution tank 206 a. - Referring again to
FIGS. 1 and 2 , the wateringsystem 130 includes the untreated water tank 206 d, the treatedwater tank 206 c, and one ormore drainage troughs 122 positioned on thetrack 102. The one ormore water lines 110 extend up the ascendingportion 102 a and the descendingportion 102 b (e.g., generally in the +/−y-direction of the coordinate axes ofFIG. 1 ) to distribute water and nutrients to plant matter withincarts 104 on thetrack 102. In embodiments, the one ormore water lines 110 distribute water and/or nutrients tocarts 104 at predetermined areas of the growingregion 132 of the assembly line growpod 100. As the wateringsystem 130 applies water and/or a nutrient solution to plant matter on thecarts 104 on thetrack 102, water runoff may be re-captured in thedrainage troughs 122. Thedrainage troughs 122 of the wateringsystem 130 are fluidly coupled to the untreated water tank 206 d, such as through the one ormore water lines 110. - The untreated water tank 206 d the treated
water tank 206 c fluidly coupled to one another. The untreated water tank 206 d may be a holding tank that holds untreated water and the treatedwater tank 206 c may be a holding tank that holds treated water. Untreated water may generally be water that has run off from thetrays 105 throughout the growingregion 132 of the assembly line growpod 100, has been collected and transferred to the untreated water tank 206 d. That is, the untreated water may be water that has been dispensed to atray 105, but has runoff from thetray 105, such as due to overfilling, misalignment with a water source connected to thewater line 110, or the like. As such, the untreated water may be generally clean water, but may also contain particles therein from plant matter, dust from metal-on-metal contact between portions of the cart 104 (e.g., the wheels of the cart 104) and the track 102 (FIG. 1 ). - A
filter 150 is positioned between the treatedwater tank 206 c and the untreated water tank 206 d and is fluidly coupled to the treatedwater tank 206 c and the untreated water tank 206 d. Thefilter 150 is configured to filter and/or apply a treatment to water passing through the filter 150 (e.g., chemical treatment, UV treatment, reverse osmosis heating, cooling, etc.) to remove contaminants in the water, such as plant matter, particulate matter. Upon moving through thefilter 150, water from untreated water tank 206 d to treatedwater tank 206 c for use in the assembly line growpod 100. In this way, water in the wateringsystem 130 may be reused. In embodiments, the treatedwater tank 206 c and/or the untreated water tank 206 d may additionally be fluidly coupled to an outside water source, such as a water main, a cistern, a well, or the like to provide fresh water to the wateringsystem 130. - The treated
water tank 206 c may additionally be fluidly coupled to the cycledsolution tank 206 a to provide additional water to thesanitizing system 140, as will be described in greater detail herein. For example, thesanitizer system 140 may lose sanitizer solution over time, such as by evaporation, spillage or the like. Accordingly, it may be desirable to periodically provide fresh water to thesanitizer system 140, which may be provided from the treatedwater tank 206 c. In embodiments, the sanitizer within the sanitizer solution may generally prohibit the use of sanitizer solution within the watering system 130 (e.g., the sanitizer may generally be unsuitable for application to plant matter), however, fresh water from the wateringsystem 130 may act to supplement lost sanitizer solution in thesanitizer system 140. In other embodiments, a filter may remove sanitizer from the sanitizer solution such that sanitizer solution from thesanitizer system 140 may be filtered to supplement lost water from the wateringsystem 130. - Referring to
FIG. 2 , each of the wateringsystem 130 and thesanitizing system 140 include the one ormore water lines 110, one ormore valves 108, and one ormore pumps 109,drainage troughs 122, and a waterusage monitoring system 210. Each one of the one ormore valves 108 may be configured to direct water to different locations in the assembly line growpod 100, and the one ormore pumps 109 may provide pressure to move water and/or sanitizer solution throughout the wateringsystem 130 and thesanitizing system 140, respectively. WhileFIG. 2 depicts thevarious valves 108, pumps 109, andwater lines 110 as being located in a particular location within the assembly line growpod 100, such location are merely illustrative. Each one of the one ormore valves 108, pumps 109, andwater lines 110 may be located at any location within the assembly line growpod 100, particularly locations that are fluidly coupled between a fluid source (e.g., thetanks 206 a-d) and a fluid distribution point (e.g., thesanitizer device 120, etc.). In some embodiments, asingle valve 108, asingle pump 109, and/or asingle water line 110 may be located between a fluid source and a fluid distribution point. In other embodiments, a plurality ofvalves 108, pumps 109, and/orwater lines 110 may be located between the fluid source and the fluid distribution point for the purposes of allowing fluid to be redirected on the fly as needed, to allow the fluid to pressurize, to ensure a balance of fluid, and/or the like. - The assembly line grow
pod 100 includes the waterusage monitoring system 210 fluidly coupled to thesanitizing system 140 and the wateringsystem 130. The waterusage monitoring system 210 generally includes one ormore flowmeters 222 be fluidly coupled between the various portions of thesanitizing system 140 and the wateringsystem 130. For example, in the embodiment depicted inFIG. 2 , the waterusage monitoring system 210 includes aflowmeter 222 fluidly coupled to and positioned between thegray solution tank 206 b and the cycledsolution tank 206 a, and aflowmeter 222 fluidly coupled to and positioned between the untreated water tank 206 d and the treatedwater tank 206 c. The waterusage monitoring system 210 may further includeflowmeters 222 positioned on the one ormore water lines 110 between thedrainage troughs 122 of the sanitizing system 140 (FIG. 3 ) and thegray solution tank 206 b, and between thedrainage troughs 122 of the watering system 130 (FIG. 1 ) and the untreated water tank 206 d. Theflowmeters 222 may include any suitable flowmeter device for measuring a flow rate, and may include a positive displacement flowmeter, a rotatameter, an electromagnetic flowmeter, an ultrasonic flowmeter, or the like. - For example, in some embodiments, the
flowmeters 222 may each include an input and an output and one or more measuring devices positioned between the input and output for detecting the flow of fluid through the flowmeter. As one example, when theflowmeters 222 include a rotatameter, theflowmeters 222 may include a float positioned between the inlet and the outlet, and a position of the float between the inlet and the outlet may be indicative of the flow rate of fluid through theflowmeter 222. In other embodiments, such as when the flowmeter comprises an ultrasonic flowmeter, theflowmeters 222 may include one or more ultrasonic devices that are configured to emit ultrasonic energy and may determine a flow rate of fluid based on the reflection of the emitted ultrasonic energy. - The information can be used by the water usage monitoring system 210 (particularly the flowmeters 222) to determine whether an excessive amount of water is being used, to determine steps for increasing or decreasing water usage, to control various components in a particular manner based on the amount of water usage, and/or the like, as described in greater detail herein. In some embodiments, a water
usage monitoring system 210 may determine an amount of water used in a particular one of thetanks 206 a-d (FIG. 2 ). The data obtained from the waterusage monitoring system 210 may then be used to estimate an amount of water or sanitizer solution that should be present in the ones of thetanks 206 a-d (FIG. 2 ) by analyzing historical data relating to thoseparticular tanks 206 a-d. That is, if the waterusage monitoring system 210 determines that a first tank has a water volume of X and historically, when the first tank has had a water volume of X, a second tank coupled to the first tank has a corresponding water volume of Y. Therefore, it may be estimated that the second tank has a water volume of Y without actually measuring the volume of the water held by the second tank. This estimation may then be used in conjunction with an actual determination of the volume of the second tank to ensure that it is holding the expected amount of water therein. - Referring again to
FIG. 1 , the assembly line growpod 100 includes amaster controller 106. Themaster controller 106 may include various components that control particular portions of the assembly line growpod 100. For example, themaster controller 106 may contain components for controlling various environmental conditions within the assembly line growpod 100, such as light, temperature, humidity, and/or the like. In another example, themaster controller 106 may contain components for controlling fluid flow throughout the assembly line grow pod, such as components that control the valves 108 (FIG. 2 ), the pumps 109 (FIG. 1 ), and/or the like to direct fluid to/from thetanks 206 a-d and the sanitizer device 120 (FIG. 2 ), as described herein. - For example, the
master controller 106 is communicatively coupled to the one ormore valves 108 and may include a valve control module that provides control signals to one ormore valves 108 and/or receive status signals from the one ormore valves 108. As a result of this providing and receiving of signals, the valve control module can effectively direct the one ormore valves 108 to direct fluid to any locations within the assembly line growpod 100. For example, certain ones of the one ormore valves 108 may be fluidly coupled to one ormore water lines 110 and the treatedwater tank 206 c (FIG. 2 ), and may direct water tocarts 104 on thetrack 102. Others of the one ormore valves 108 may be fluidly connected to the one ormore water lines 110 and the cycledsolution tank 206 a (FIG. 2 ), and may direct water and/or a sanitizer solution to the sanitizer device 120 (FIG. 2 ). - In another example, the
master controller 106 is communicatively coupled to the one ormore pumps 109 and may include a pump control module that provides control signals to one ormore pumps 109 and/or receive status signals from the one or more pumps 109. As a result of this providing and receiving of signals, the pump control module can effectively direct the one ormore pumps 109 to pump fluid through the one ormore water lines 110. - In yet another example, the
master controller 106 is communicatively coupled to thesanitizer reservoir 208 and/or theconcentration sensor 224. Themaster controller 106 may include a sanitizer concentration control module that provides control signals to thesanitizer reservoir 208 and/or receives status signals from theconcentration sensor 224. As a result of this providing and receiving of signals, the sanitizer concentration control module can effectively direct thesanitizer reservoir 208 to release additional sanitizer into the cycledsolution tank 206 a in response to a status signal from theconcentration sensor 224. - Referring now to
FIG. 4 , themaster controller 106 may include acomputing device 520. Thecomputing device 520 includes aprocessor 530, input-output hardware 532, thenetwork interface hardware 534, a data storage component 536 (which storessystems data 538 a,plant data 538 b, and/or other data), and thememory component 540. Thememory component 540 may be configured as volatile and/or nonvolatile memory and as such, may include random access memory (including SRAM, DRAM, and/or other types of RAM), flash memory, secure digital (SD) memory, registers, compact discs (CD), digital versatile discs (DVD), and/or other types of non-transitory computer-readable mediums. Depending on the particular embodiment, these non-transitory computer-readable mediums may reside within thecomputing device 520 and/or external to thecomputing device 520. - The
memory component 540 may store operatinglogic 542, thesystems logic 544 a, and the plant logic 544 b. Thesystems logic 544 a and the plant logic 544 b may each include a plurality of different pieces of logic, each of which may be embodied as a computer program, firmware, and/or hardware, as an example. Thesystems logic 544 a may monitor and control operations of one or more of the valves 108 (FIG. 2 ), the pumps 109 (FIG. 2 ), and/or the like, as well as control operation of thetanks 206 a-d (FIG. 2 ), including any filtering and treatment of the water within the various tanks. The plant logic 544 b may be configured to determine and/or receive a recipe for plant growth and may facilitate implementation of the recipe via thesystems logic 544 a. - The operating
logic 542 may include an operating system and/or other software for managing components of thecomputing device 520. As also discussed above,systems logic 544 a and the plant logic 544 b may reside in thememory component 540 and may be configured to perform the functionality, as described herein. - It should be understood that while the components in
FIG. 4 are illustrated as residing within thecomputing device 520, this is merely an example. In some embodiments, one or more of the components may reside external to thecomputing device 520. It should also be understood that, while thecomputing device 520 is illustrated as a single device, this is also merely an example. In some embodiments, thesystems logic 544 a and the plant logic 544 b may reside on different computing devices. As an example, one or more of the functionalities and/or components described herein may be provided by a user computing device and/or a remote computing device. - Additionally, while the
computing device 520 is illustrated with thesystems logic 544 a and the plant logic 544 b as separate logical components, this is also an example. In some embodiments, a single piece of logic (and/or or several linked modules) may cause thecomputing device 520 to provide the described functionality. - A
local interface 546 is also included inFIG. 4 and may be implemented as a bus or other communication interface to facilitate communication among the components of thecomputing device 520. Theprocessor 530 may include any processing component operable to receive and execute instructions (such as from adata storage component 536 and/or the memory component 540). The input/output hardware 532 may include and/or be configured to interface with microphones, speakers, a display, and/or other hardware. - The
network interface hardware 534 may include and/or be configured for communicating with any wired or wireless networking hardware, including an antenna, a modem, LAN port, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) card, WiMax card, ZigBee card, Bluetooth chip, USB card, mobile communications hardware, and/or other hardware for communicating with other networks and/or devices. From this connection, communication may be facilitated between thecomputing device 520 and other devices external to the computing device. - Additionally, the assembly line grow
pod 100 is coupled to anetwork 550. Thenetwork 550 may include the internet or other wide area network, a local network, such as a local area network, a near field network, such as Bluetooth or a near field communication (NFC) network. Thenetwork 550 is also coupled to auser computing device 552 and/or aremote computing device 554. Theuser computing device 552 may include a personal computer, laptop, mobile device, tablet, server, etc. and may be utilized as an interface with a user. As an example, a user may send a recipe to thecomputing device 520 for implementation by the assembly line growpod 100. Another example may include the assembly line growpod 100 sending notifications to a user of theuser computing device 552. - Similarly, the
remote computing device 554 may include a server, personal computer, tablet, mobile device, etc. and may be utilized for machine to machine communications. As an example, if the assembly line growpod 100 determines a type of seed being used (and/or other information, such as ambient conditions), thecomputing device 520 may communicate with theremote computing device 554 to retrieve a previously stored recipe for those conditions. As such, some embodiments may utilize an application program interface (API) to facilitate this or other computer-to-computer communications. - As described above, the watering
system 130 and thesanitizing system 140 includetanks 206 a-d anddrainage troughs 122 for storing and recapturing dispensed water and sanitizer solution. Methods for managing water flow within the wateringsystem 130 and thesanitizing system 140 will now be described with reference to the appended figures. - Referring collectively to
FIGS. 1, 2, and 5 , an example method for growing plant matter within an assembly line growpod 100 is depicted. In afirst block 5100, thecart 104 is moved along thetrack 102. For example, thecart 104 may be loaded with plant matter and moved along thetrack 102 through the growingregion 132 of the assembly line growpod 100. Atblock 5120, water is dispensed to thecart 104 by the wateringsystem 130. For example, treated water from the treatedwater tank 206 c is pumped through the one ormore water lines 110 to thecart 104 to dispense the water to thecart 104. Atblock 5140, water runoff fromblock 5120 is collected indrainage troughs 122. As described above, the water runoff may result from the dispensing of the water to thecart 104. Atblock 5160, the collected water runoff is moved from thedrainage troughs 122 to the untreated water tank 206 d. - At
block 5180, thecart 104 is moved along thetrack 102 to thesanitizer device 120. As described above, thecart 104 may be moved to thesanitizer device 120 after harvesting of plant matter positioned within thecart 104. Thesanitizer device 120 may apply sanitizer solution to thecarts 104 atblock 5200. As described above, the sanitizer solution may assist in removing any remaining plant matter from the carts to clean thecarts 104 for reuse in the assembly line growpod 100. Atblock 5220, sanitizer solution runoff fromblock 5200 is collected in thedrainage trough 122 positioned within thesanitizer device 120. Atblock 5240, the collected sanitizer solution runoff is moved from thedrainage trough 122 to thegray solution tank 206 b. - As described above, water and/or sanitizer solution may be moved, such as between the treated
water tank 206 c and thecarts 104, between thedrainage troughs 122 and the untreated water tank 206 d, between the cycledsolution tank 206 a and thesanitizer device 120, and between thedrainage trough 122 and thegray solution tank 206 b via thepumps 109 and the one ormore water lines 110. Additionally, the blocks described above may be directed by themaster controller 106, such as by directing one or more of thevalves 108 and thepumps 109 to selectively direct water and/or sanitizer solution as described above. While blocks 5100-5240 are described and depicted as being performed in a sequential order, it should be understood that any ofblocks 5100 may be performed in any suitable order and may be performed simultaneously ondifferent carts 104 throughout the assembly line growpod 100. - Referring to
FIGS. 1, 2, and 6 , an example method for managing water usage in the assembly line growpod 100 is depicted. In a first block 6108, a flow rate of sanitizer solution dispensed to acart 104 is measured. For example, the flow rate of the sanitizer solution may be measured by aflowmeter 222, such as aflowmeter 222 positioned between the cycledsolution tank 206 a and thesanitizer device 120. Atblock 6120, the flow rate of sanitizer solution being moved to thegray solution tank 206 b is measured. For example, the flow rate of the sanitizer solution may be measured by aflowmeter 222 positioned between thedrainage trough 122 and thegray solution tank 206 b to measure the flow rate of sanitizer solution runoff being moved thegray solution tank 206 b. Atblock 6160, if the measured flow rate of sanitizer solution to thecart 104 exceeds the measured flow rate of sanitizer solution being moved to thegray solution tank 206 b by more than a predetermined threshold, them atblock 6160, water is moved from the treatedwater tank 206 c to the cycledsolution tank 206 a. If the measured flow rate of sanitizer solution being dispensed to thecarts 104 does not exceed the measured flow rate of sanitizer solution being moved to thegray solution tank 206 b by the predetermined threshold, then the system (e.g., the master controller 106) returns to block 6100. - As described above, sanitizer solution is applied to the
carts 104 by thesanitizer device 120, and sanitizer solution runoff from thesanitizer device 120 is collected and returned to thegray solution tank 206 b. In this way, much or most of the sanitizer solution used by thesanitizer device 120 may be reused. However, if the flow rate of sanitizer solution being applied to thecarts 104 exceeds the flow rate of sanitizer solution runoff being returned to thegray solution tank 206 b (e.g., because of loss of sanitizer solution due to evaporation, spillage, or the like), it may be necessary to provide additional water to thesanitizer system 140. Additional water may be provided to thesanitizer system 140 by moving water from the treatedwater tank 206 c of the wateringsystem 130 to the cycledsolution tank 206 a. In this way, by measuring the flow rate of sanitizer solution applied to thecarts 104 and the flow rate of collected sanitizer solution runoff that is being moved back to thegray solution tank 206 b, water may be added to thesanitizer system 140 to ensure that sanitizer solution is available to apply to thecarts 104. - The blocks described above may be directed by the
master controller 106, such as by directing one or more of thevalves 108 and thepumps 109 to selectively direct water from the treatedwater tank 206 c to the cycledsolution tank 206 a, as described above. Additionally, the method depicted inFIG. 6 may be utilized simultaneously with other methods for managing water in the assembly line growpod 100, for example, the method described above with respect toFIG. 5 . - In embodiments, the predetermined threshold may be selected to be any appropriate value to ensure that the cycled
solution tank 206 a does not run out of sanitizer solution to apply to thecarts 104. In one example, the predetermined threshold may be that the measured flow rate of sanitizer solution to thecarts 104 is twice (2×) the measured flow rate of sanitizer solution runoff being moved to thegray solution tank 206 b. In one example, the predetermined threshold may be that the measured flow rate of sanitizer solution to thecarts 104 is three times (3×) the measured flow rate of sanitizer solution runoff being moved to thegray solution tank 206 b. In one example, the predetermined threshold may be that the measured flow rate of sanitizer solution to thecarts 104 is five times (5×) the measured flow rate of sanitizer solution runoff being moved to thegray solution tank 206 b. - Referring collectively to
FIGS. 1, 2, and 7 , the assembly line growpod 100 an example method for managing water usage in the assembly line growpod 100 is depicted. In afirst block 7100, the flow rate of sanitizer solution being moved from thegray solution tank 206 b being moved to the cycledsolution tank 206 a, such as through thefilter 150, is measured. For example, the flow rate of the sanitizer solution may be measured by aflowmeter 222 positioned between thegray solution tank 206 b and the cycledsolution tank 206 a. Atblock 7120, if the measured flow rate is below a predetermined threshold, then atblock 7140, water is moved from the treatedwater tank 206 c to the cycledsolution tank 206 a to ensure that there is sufficient water/sanitizer solution in the cycledsolution tank 206 a to apply sanitizer solution to thecarts 104. If the measured flow rate is not below the predetermined threshold, then the system (e.g., the master controller 106) returns to block 7100. - The blocks described above may be directed by the
master controller 106, such as by directing one or more of thevalves 108 and thepumps 109 to selectively direct water from the treatedwater tank 206 c to the cycledsolution tank 206 a, as described above. Additionally, the method depicted inFIG. 7 may be utilized simultaneously with other methods for managing water in the assembly line growpod 100, for example the methods described above with respect toFIGS. 5 and 6 . - In embodiments, the predetermined threshold may be selected to be any appropriate value to ensure that the cycled
solution tank 206 a does not run out of sanitizer solution to apply to thecarts 104. In one example, the predetermined threshold may be any value greater than zero. In other embodiments, the predetermined value may be based on the measured flow rate of sanitizer solution being applied to thecarts 104. For example, the predetermined value may be selected to match the flow rate of sanitizer solution being applied to thecarts 104, such that water is moved from the treatedwater tank 206 c to the cycledsolution tank 206 a if the flow rate of sanitizer solution being applied to thecarts 104 exceeds the flow rate of sanitizer solution being moved from thegray solution tank 206 b to the cycledsolution tank 206 a. - Referring collectively to
FIGS. 1, 2, and 8 , the assembly line growpod 100 an example method for managing water usage in the assembly line growpod 100 is depicted. In afirst block 8100, the flow rate of sanitizer solution being dispensed to thecarts 104 by thesanitizer device 120 is measured. For example, the flow rate of the sanitizer solution may be measured by aflowmeter 222, such as aflowmeter 222 positioned between the cycledsolution tank 206 a and thesanitizer device 120. Atblock 8120, if the measured flow rate is above a predetermined threshold, then atblock 8140, a volume of sanitizer solution dispensed to thecarts 104 is reduced to ensure that there is sufficient water/sanitizer solution in the cycledsolution tank 206 a to apply sanitizer solution to thecarts 104. If the measured flow rate is not below the predetermined threshold, then the system (e.g., the master controller 106) returns to block 8100. - The blocks described above may be directed by the
master controller 106, such as by directing one or more of thevalves 108 and thepumps 109 to selectively restrict sanitizer solution provided to thesanitizer device 120, as described above. Additionally, the method depicted inFIG. 8 may be utilized simultaneously with other methods for managing water in the assembly line growpod 100, for example the methods described above with respect toFIGS. 5, 6, and 7 . - In embodiments, the predetermined threshold may be selected to be any appropriate value to ensure that the cycled
solution tank 206 a does not run out of sanitizer solution to apply to thecarts 104. In one example, the predetermined threshold may be any value greater than zero. In other embodiments, the predetermined value may be based on the measured flow rate of sanitizer solution being applied to thecarts 104. For example, the predetermined value may be selected to match the flow rate of sanitizer solution being moved from thegray solution tank 206 b to the cycledsolution tank 206 a, such that the volume of sanitizer solution being applied to thecarts 104 is reduced if the flow rate of sanitizer solution being applied to thecarts 104 exceeds the flow rate of sanitizer solution being moved from thegray solution tank 206 b to the cycledsolution tank 206 a. - Referring collectively to
FIGS. 1, 2, and 9 , the assembly line growpod 100 an example method for managing water usage in the assembly line growpod 100 is depicted. In afirst block 9100, the flow rate of water being dispensed to thecarts 104 by wateringsystem 130 is measured. For example, the flow rate of the water provided to the carts may be measured by aflowmeter 222, such as aflowmeter 222 positioned between the treatedwater tank 206 c the one ormore water lines 110 extending along thetrack 102. Atblock 9120, if the measured flow rate is above a predetermined threshold, then atblock 9140, then a volume of water being moved from the treatedwater tank 206 c to the cycledsolution tank 206 a is reduced. As described above, water may be moved from the treatedwater tank 206 c to supplement sanitizer solution that may be lost by thesanitizer system 140. However, if the flow rate of water being dispensed to thecarts 104 by the wateringsystem 130 exceeds a predetermined threshold (e.g., if the plant matter on thecarts 104 require more water than a predetermined threshold), then it may be necessary to prioritize the availability of water within the wateringsystem 130. Accordingly, if the measured flow rate of water being dispensed to thecarts 104 exceeds the predetermined threshold, the system (e.g., the master controller 106) may reduce water being moved from the treatedwater tank 206 c to the cycledsolution tank 206 a to reduce the amount of water leaving the wateringsystem 130. If the measured flow rate is not below the predetermined threshold, then the system (e.g., the master controller 106) returns to block 9100. - The blocks described above may be directed by the
master controller 106, such as by directing one or more of thevalves 108 and thepumps 109 to selectively restrict water being moved between the treatedwater tank 206 c and the cycledsolution tank 206 a, as described above. Additionally, the method depicted inFIG. 9 may be utilized simultaneously with other methods for managing water in the assembly line growpod 100, for example, the methods described above with respect toFIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8 . - In embodiments, the predetermined threshold may be selected to be any appropriate value to ensure that the treated
water tank 206 c does not run out of water to apply to thecarts 104. In one example, the predetermined threshold may be any value greater than zero. In other embodiments, the predetermined threshold may be based on other measured flow rates, such as the flow rate of water fromdrainage troughs 122 to the untreated water tank 102 d. - Referring collectively to
FIGS. 1, 2, and 10 , an example method for managing a sanitizer level in sanitizer solution within an assembly line growpod 100 is depicted. In afirst block 1010, a concentration of sanitizer in a sanitizer solution within the cycledsolution tank 206 a is detected with theconcentration sensor 224. Atblock 1012, if the detected concentration of sanitizer is below a first predetermined threshold, then atblock 1014, sanitizer from thesanitizer reservoir 208 is dispensed to the cycledsolution tank 206 a. If the detected concentration of sanitizer is not below the first predetermined threshold, then the system (e.g., the master controller 106) proceeds to block 1016. Atblock 1016, if the detected concentration of sanitizer is above a second predetermined threshold, then atblock 1018, water is moved from the treatedwater tank 206 c to the cycledsolution tank 206 a. If the detected concentration of solution is not above the second predetermined threshold, the system (e.g., the master controller 106) returns to block 1010. - The blocks described above may be directed by the
master controller 106, such as by directing thesanitizer reservoir 208 to release sanitizer to the cycledsolution tank 206 a and/or moving water between the treatedwater tank 206 c and the cycledsolution tank 206 a via the one ormore water lines 110, as described above. Additionally, the method depicted inFIG. 10 may be utilized simultaneously with other methods for managing water in the assembly line growpod 100, for example, the methods described above with respect toFIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 . - In embodiments, the first predetermined threshold may be selected to be any appropriate value to ensure that an appropriate minimum amount of sanitizer is present in the sanitizer solution within the cycled
solution tank 206 a. In one example, the first predetermined threshold may be any value greater than zero. In other embodiments, the first predetermined threshold may be 5% solution by volume, 10% solution by volume, 15% solution by volume, or 20% solution by volume. The second predetermined threshold may be selected to be any appropriate value to ensure than an appropriate maximum amount of sanitizer is present in the sanitizer solution within the cycledsolution tank 206 a. In one example, the second predetermined threshold may be any value greater than the first predetermined threshold. By monitoring the concentration of sanitizer in the cycledsolution tank 206 a with theconcentration sensor 224 and selectively adding sanitizer from thesanitizer reservoir 208 or water from the treatedwater tank 206 c, the concentration of sanitizer within the sanitizer solution may be automatically maintained at an appropriate level for use with thesanitizer device 120. - Accordingly, some embodiments may include an assembly line grow pod comprising one or more tanks fluidly coupled to one or more water collection devices, the one or more tanks receiving runoff water and/or used water from the one or more water collection devices, wherein the assembly line grow pod is configured to filter the runoff water and/or used water to remove particulate matter therefrom, treat the runoff water and/or used water, and store the runoff water and/or used water in the one or more water collection devices until the runoff water and/or used water can be used for watering of plants or seeds or for cleaning used trays in a sanitizer.
- While particular embodiments and aspects of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described herein, various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Moreover, although various aspects have been described herein, such aspects need not be utilized in combination. Accordingly, it is therefore intended that the appended claims cover all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of the embodiments shown and described herein. It should now be understood that embodiments disclosed herein include systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable mediums for reclaiming water in an assembly line grow pod. It should also be understood that these embodiments are merely exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure.
Claims (20)
Priority Applications (6)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US15/985,098 US20180359951A1 (en) | 2017-06-14 | 2018-05-21 | Systems and methods for reclaiming water in an assembly line grow pod |
CA3069917A CA3069917A1 (en) | 2017-06-14 | 2018-05-23 | Systems and methods for reclaiming water in an assembly line grow pod |
EP18769865.9A EP3638014A1 (en) | 2017-06-14 | 2018-05-23 | Systems and methods for reclaiming water in an assembly line grow pod |
KR1020207001168A KR20200029458A (en) | 2017-06-14 | 2018-05-23 | Systems and methods for recycling water in assembly line cultivation pods |
PCT/US2018/034161 WO2018231468A1 (en) | 2017-06-14 | 2018-05-23 | Systems and methods for reclaiming water in an assembly line grow pod |
TW107118885A TW201907787A (en) | 2017-06-14 | 2018-06-01 | System and method for recovering water in an assembly line growth storage tank |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
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US3432965A (en) * | 1966-07-05 | 1969-03-18 | Charles M Smith | Hydroponics apparatus |
US5097627A (en) | 1988-05-25 | 1992-03-24 | Gourmet Gardens Corporation | Method and apparatus for hydroponic gardening |
JP3778900B2 (en) * | 2002-11-21 | 2006-05-24 | 三洋電機株式会社 | Sterilizer and hydroponics system using the same |
US7832144B2 (en) | 2006-12-21 | 2010-11-16 | Marie-Christine Steffanetti | Hydroponic growing system |
US20090050174A1 (en) * | 2007-08-20 | 2009-02-26 | Gheparde Mycheal A | Cart and basket washer and method |
US8234812B1 (en) * | 2008-12-03 | 2012-08-07 | Terry Colless | Fodder-growing enclosure |
WO2011043326A1 (en) * | 2009-10-05 | 2011-04-14 | 東洋バルヴ株式会社 | Nutriculture system, and water treatment apparatus for sterilization and purification purposes |
EP2773182A4 (en) | 2011-11-02 | 2015-08-26 | Plantagon Int Ab | Method and arrangement for growing plants |
US9675014B2 (en) * | 2011-11-02 | 2017-06-13 | Plantagon International Ab | Method and arrangement for growing plants |
US8627598B1 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2014-01-14 | Sprouting Works, LLC | Sprouted seed grain growing and harvesting apparatus and method |
US20150223491A1 (en) * | 2014-02-07 | 2015-08-13 | Precision Harvest, Llc | System and method for fodder generation |
US20150250115A1 (en) * | 2014-03-10 | 2015-09-10 | Snowbird Environmental Systems Corporation | Automated hydroponic growing and harvesting system for sprouts |
US9795097B2 (en) | 2014-09-05 | 2017-10-24 | Leo Tech Holdings, Inc. | Growing system |
US20160302369A1 (en) * | 2015-03-09 | 2016-10-20 | Snowbird Environmental Systems Corporation | Automated hydroponic growing and harvesting system for sprouts with a paddle-equipped linear seed head |
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US20170035002A1 (en) * | 2015-08-09 | 2017-02-09 | Craig Ellins | Apparatus for optimizing and enhancing plant growth, development and performance |
US20170354100A1 (en) | 2016-06-10 | 2017-12-14 | Jason Snyder | Safety Grow Pod |
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US10750687B2 (en) * | 2016-11-15 | 2020-08-25 | Roto-Gro Ip Inc. | Automated nutrient injection system |
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CA3069917A1 (en) | 2018-12-20 |
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