WO2018193784A1 - Hydroponic culture apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A hydroponic culture apparatus (100) is equipped with a culture vessel (106) which constitutes a flow path through which a nutrient solution (50) can flow, a nutrient solution vessel (108) in which the nutrient solution (50) is to be stored, a supply flow path (109) through which the nutrient solution (50) is guided from the nutrient solution vessel (108) to the culture vessel (106), a discharge flow path (110) through which the nutrient solution (50) is guided from the culture vessel (106) to the nutrient solution vessel (108), a pump (107) which can circulate the nutrient solution (50) between the nutrient solution vessel (108) and the culture vessel (106) through the supply flow path (109) and the discharge flow path (110), and a discharge filter (202) which is arranged inside of the culture vessel (106) and through which a specific foreign matter is removed from the nutrient solution (50) that flows from the culture vessel (106) into the discharge flow path (110), wherein the discharge filter (202) has a function to prevent the rise of the liquid level of the nutrient solution (50) in the culture vessel (106) to a position above a position having a predetermined height when the discharge filter (202) is clogged.

Description

Hydroponics equipment

The present invention relates to a hydroponic cultivation apparatus for cultivating a plant without using soil.

Conventionally, a hydroponic cultivation device has been developed that feeds nutrient solution from a nutrient solution tank that stores the nutrient solution to a cultivation tank that grows the plant and absorbs the nutrient solution from the roots of the plant to provide nutrients to the plant. ing. In such a hydroponic cultivation apparatus, the nutrient solution is circulated between the cultivation tank and the nutrient solution tank using a pump (see Patent Document 1).

Utility model registration No. 3182775

In the conventional hydroponic cultivation apparatus described above, foreign matters such as old tissues that have fallen from the plants remain in the cultivation tank. When this foreign substance flows from the cultivation tank into the discharge channel, there are problems such as clogging of the discharge channel. Therefore, it is conceivable to provide a discharge filter in the cultivation tank that removes foreign substances from the nutrient solution flowing from the cultivation tank into the discharge channel. However, the discharge filter may be clogged. When clogging occurs in the discharge filter, the level of the nutrient solution in the cultivation tank increases. Thereby, the plant grown in the cultivation tank may come into contact with the nutrient solution. In this case, the plant may rot.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the conventional technology. And the objective of this invention provides the hydroponic cultivation apparatus which can suppress the raise of the liquid level of a nutrient solution to the extent which does not have a bad influence on a plant, even if clogging occurs in the discharge filter in a cultivation tank. That is.

A hydroponic cultivation apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a cultivation tank that forms a flow path through which a nutrient solution flows, a nutrient solution tank that stores the nutrient solution, and the nutrient solution from the nutrient solution tank to the cultivation tank. A supply channel that leads, a discharge channel that guides the nutrient solution from the cultivation tank to the nutrient solution tank, and between the nutrient solution tank and the cultivation tank via the supply channel and the discharge channel A pump that circulates the nutrient solution, and a discharge filter that is provided in the cultivation tank and removes foreign substances from the nutrient solution that flows from the cultivation tank to the discharge channel, and the discharge filter is clogged. In this case, the liquid level of the nutrient solution in the cultivation tank has a function of preventing the liquid level from rising to a position above a predetermined height position.

According to the present invention, even if the discharge filter in the cultivation tank is clogged, the increase in the level of the nutrient solution can be suppressed to the extent that the plant is not adversely affected.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the whole structure of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the discharge filter of embodiment of this invention, and the structure of the periphery. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the structure of the discharge filter of the other example of embodiment of this invention, and its periphery. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the structure of the discharge filter of the further another example of embodiment of this invention, and its periphery. It is a cross-sectional view which shows the structure of the discharge filter of the further another example of embodiment of this invention, and its periphery. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the discharge filter of embodiment of this invention, and the structure of the periphery. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the structure of the inflow filter of embodiment of this invention, and its periphery. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the whole structure of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus of other embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, the hydroponic cultivation apparatus of the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

In each embodiment, parts denoted by the same reference numerals have the same function. Therefore, unless otherwise necessary, the description of the function of the part to which the same reference numeral is attached will not be repeated.

(Embodiment 1)
As shown in FIG. 1, the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 100 of the present embodiment includes a multistage rack 200. A cultivation tank 106 is placed on each stage of the multistage rack 200. Hydroponic cultivation apparatus 100 of the present embodiment grows plant 10 without using soil. The plant 10 is assumed to be a potato as an example of root vegetables. The plant 10 includes a tuber 11, a main stem 12 extending from the tuber 11, a root 13 extending from an underground portion of the main stem 12, and a leaf 14 formed on the ground portion of the main stem 12.

The hydroponic cultivation apparatus 100 uses the power supply of the power supply box 300 to cause the illumination unit 101 to irradiate the plant 10 with light and to drive a pump 107 described later. The leaves 14 of the plant 10 perform photosynthesis with the light emitted from the illumination unit 101. It is preferable that a transparent heat suppression plate (not shown) that transmits light from the illumination unit 101 while suppressing adverse effects due to heat of the illumination unit 101 is provided between the illumination unit 101 and the plant 10. .

Furthermore, the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 100 has a horizontal bar 150 and a horizontal bar fixed to the vertical rail of the rack 200 so as to cross a position approximately in the middle of the height of the main stem 12 of the plant 10 in the ground space 102. And an intermediate illumination unit 151 extending in the horizontal direction along the bar 150. The rack 200 and the horizontal bar 150 are formed of a metal having high thermal conductivity such as aluminum. Therefore, the heat generated by the intermediate illumination unit 151 is conducted from the horizontal bar 150 to the rack 200. Accordingly, the heat generated by the intermediate illumination unit 151 can be diffused to the outside while realizing the promotion of photosynthesis of the plant 10 based on the light emitted by the intermediate illumination unit 151. As a result, the adverse effect of the heat generated by the intermediate illumination unit 151 on the plant 10 can be suppressed, and the growth of the plant 10 can be promoted.

The hydroponic cultivation apparatus 100 includes a cultivation tank 106. When the plant 10 is cultivated, the cultivation tank 106 stores the nutrient solution 50 therein. The tuber 11 of the plant 10 is held by a mesh-like holding unit 105, and the root 13 of the plant 10 passes through the mesh of the holding unit 105 and reaches the nutrient solution 50. However, the holding | maintenance part 105 may have many through-holes which the root 13 passes in a part of plate-shaped part. According to this structure, the plant 10 can absorb the nutrient solution 50 and grow. The nutrient solution 50 is supplied to each of the plurality of cultivation tanks 106 via the supply channel 109 by the pump 107.

The cultivation tank 106 includes a partition portion 103 attached in the vicinity of the upper end opening. The partition 103 divides the ground space 102 where the above-ground part of the plant 10 grows and the underground space 104 where the underground part of the plant 10 grows. The underground space 104 is surrounded by the partition 103 and the cultivation tank 106. On the other hand, the ground space 102 is open, and the leaves 14 of the plants 10 are emitted from the illumination unit 101 provided on the lower surface of the rack 200 and the intermediate illumination unit 151 provided on the lower surface of the horizontal bar 150. In response, photosynthesis is performed.

The hydroponic cultivation apparatus 100 includes a cultivation tank 106, a nutrient solution tank 108, a supply channel 109, a discharge channel 110, a pump 107, and a nutrient solution amount adjustment unit 120. In the present embodiment, the nutrient solution amount adjustment unit 120 is a valve that maintains a constant flow rate. In addition, in FIG. 1, although the example in which the two cultivation tanks 106 are arranged in the up-down direction is shown, three or more cultivation tanks 106 may be arranged in the up-down direction.

In the present embodiment, the plurality of cultivation tanks 106 are provided at different height positions. Each of the plurality of cultivation tanks 106 constitutes a part of a flow path through which the nutrient solution 50 flows. The nutrient solution tank 108 stores the nutrient solution 50 supplied to the cultivation tank 106. The supply channel 109 guides the nutrient solution 50 from the nutrient solution tank 108 to each of the plurality of cultivation tanks 106. The discharge channel 110 guides the nutrient solution 50 from each of the plurality of cultivation tanks 106 to the nutrient solution tank 108. A discharge filter 202 is provided in each of the flow paths from the plurality of cultivation tanks 106 to the discharge flow path 110. An inflow filter 301 is provided in a flow path from the discharge flow path 110 to the nutrient solution tank 108.

The pump 107 is provided in the nutrient solution tank 108 and circulates the nutrient solution 50 between the nutrient solution tank 108 and each of the plurality of cultivation tanks 106 via the supply channel 109 and the discharge channel 110. . Each of the plurality of nutrient solution amount adjusting units 120 is provided in each of the plurality of branch channels 109b branched from the main channel 109a of the supply channel 109, and adjusts the flow rate of the nutrient solution 50 flowing through the branch channel 109b. That is, the plurality of nutrient solution amount adjusting units 120 are provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of branch channels 109b. The plurality of nutrient solution adjustment units 120 are valves that make the amounts flowing through the plurality of branch channels 109b the same. In the discharge channel 110, the nutrient solution 50 discharged from the cultivation tank 106 flows through the plurality of branch pipes 110a, and then merges in the trunk pipe 110b. The nutrient solution 50 flows from the trunk pipe 110 b of the discharge channel 110 into the nutrient tank 108.

Therefore, even if a difference occurs between the pressures generated in the nutrient solution 50 flowing through each of the plurality of branch channels 109b due to the different height positions of the plurality of cultivation tanks 106, per unit time Almost the same amount of nutrient solution 50 can be supplied to the plurality of cultivation tanks 106. However, if the plurality of nutrient solution adjustment units 120 are suitable for cultivation of the plant 10 in the plurality of cultivation tanks 106, the flow rates of the nutrient solutions 50 supplied to the plurality of cultivation tanks 106 are different. You may adjust it. That is, the plurality of nutrient solution amount adjustment units 120 can prevent the flow rate of the nutrient solution 50 supplied to each of the plurality of cultivation tanks 106 from being determined depending on the height of the plurality of cultivation tanks 106. Anything can be used. In other words, the plurality of nutrient solution adjusting units 120 may adjust the flow rate of the nutrient solution 50 flowing into each of the plurality of cultivation tanks 106 in any manner.

2, the cultivation tank 106 constitutes a flow path through which the nutrient solution 50 flows, and has a discharge port 110X that discharges the nutrient solution 50. The nutrient solution 50 flows into the discharge channel 110 from the discharge port 110X. A discharge filter 202 is provided upstream of the discharge port 110X.

The discharge filter 202 has a function of suppressing the liquid level of the nutrient solution 50 in the cultivation tank 106 from rising to a position above a predetermined height position when clogged. The predetermined height position is a height position such that the nutrient solution 50 does not adversely affect the plant 10 in the cultivation tank 106. The predetermined height position may be, for example, a height position such that the liquid surface of the nutrient solution 50 does not come into contact with the tubers 11 and tubers (not shown) newly formed on the underground stems extending from the tubers 11. The predetermined height position may be, for example, a position below the holding unit 105 by a certain distance. Note that the reference position of the predetermined height position is the position of the bottom surface of the cultivation tank 106 in the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the discharge filter 202 has a film structure extending in the vertical direction. There is no filter at the position 202 a between the discharge filter 202 and the discharge port 110 </ b> X so that the nutrient solution 50 flows into the discharge flow path 110.

As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, in the present embodiment, since the discharge port 110 </ b> X is provided on the inner surface of the cultivation tank 106, the discharge filter 202 connects the inner surfaces facing each other of the cultivation tank 106. It is installed like a flat wall. In the present embodiment, the discharge filter 202 is disposed so as to extend upward from the bottom surface of the cultivation tank 106.

However, as shown in FIG. 4, the discharge filter 202 may have a shape obtained by cutting the circumferential surface of the cylinder with a plane along the central axis. Although not shown, the discharge filter 202 as a membrane structure extending in the up-down direction may have a shape obtained by cutting the peripheral surface of the square tube with a plane along the direction in which the square tube extends.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the discharge port 110 </ b> X is provided on the bottom surface of the cultivation tank 106 and the branch pipe 110 a is provided so as to extend downward from the lower side surface of the cultivation tank 106, The discharge filter 202 as a membrane structure extending in the vertical direction may have a cylindrical structure. In the structure having the cultivation tank 106 and the branch pipe 110a shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the discharge filter 202 may have a shape along the peripheral surface of the square tube.

That is, the vertically extending membrane structure constituting the discharge filter 202 has a shape in which the nutrient solution 50 flows over the upper end of the membrane structure and flows into the discharge channel 110 when the discharge filter 202 is clogged. Anything may be used. The nutrient solution 50 flows from the root side of the plant 10 of the discharge filter 202 to the discharge port 110 </ b> X side of the discharge filter 202 via the discharge filter 202. The discharge filter 202 removes predetermined foreign matter from the nutrient solution 50 flowing from the cultivation tank 106 into the discharge flow path 110.

Therefore, even if the discharge filter 202 is clogged, the nutrient solution 50 flows into the discharge flow path 110 from the position 202a between the discharge filter 202 and the discharge port 110X, as indicated by the dashed arrow. As a result, the nutrient solution 50 is prevented from rising above the upper end of the discharge filter 202. Therefore, the tuber 11 cultivated on the holding part 105 at a position higher than the position 202a between the discharge filter 202 and the discharge port 110X is not immersed in the nutrient solution 50. Therefore, the rot of the tuber 11 resulting from the tuber 11 being immersed in the nutrient solution 50 for a long time is suppressed.

As shown in FIG. 7, the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 100 includes a cultivation tank 106, a nutrient solution tank 108, and an inflow filter 301. The nutrient solution tank 108 has an inflow port 110 </ b> Y through which the nutrient solution 50 flowing through the discharge channel 110 flows. The inflow filter 301 is provided at a position where the nutrient solution 50 flowing into the nutrient solution tank 108 from the inlet 110Y passes. The inflow filter 301 removes specific foreign matters smaller than the predetermined foreign matter removed from the nutrient solution 50 by the discharge filter 202 described above. That is, the inflow filter 301 has a smaller mesh than the discharge filter 202, and can remove small specific foreign matters that cannot be removed by the discharge filter 202.

In the present embodiment, the inflow filter 301 is provided so as to completely block the flow path, but allows the nutrient solution 50 to pass therethrough. The inflow filter 301 is a commonly used filter, and has a planar film structure provided along a plane perpendicular to the direction in which the nutrient solution 50 flows. However, as long as the inflow filter 301 is provided so as to completely block the flow path, the inflow filter 301 may have any shape and arrangement.

Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility that small specific foreign matters that cannot be removed by the discharge filter 202 by the inflow filter 301 will flow into the nutrient solution tank 108. In addition, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the level of the nutrient solution 50 rises to the extent that it contacts the tubers 11 on the holding unit 105 in the cultivation tank 106 due to clogging of the discharge filter 202.

The exhaust filter 202 has a coarser mesh than the inflow filter 301 and is not easily clogged. Therefore, if the inflow filter 301 is replaced more frequently than the discharge filter 202, the nutrient solution 50 rises to a height position where the nutrient solution 50 contacts the plant 10 in the cultivation tank 106 due to clogging of the discharge filter 202. The possibility that it can be prevented increases. According to this, although the several discharge filter 202 is each provided in the some cultivation tank 106, since only one inflow filter 301 is provided in one nutrient solution tank 108, in the whole hydroponics apparatus The burden for replacing the filter is reduced.

(Embodiment 2)
As shown in FIG. 8, the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment has a nutrient solution 50 between one nutrient solution tank 108 and one cultivation tank 106, and one discharge channel 1100 and 1. It circulates through one supply channel 1090. The nutrient solution amount adjustment unit 120 is provided in the supply channel 1090. The rack 200 of the present embodiment is one stage fewer than the rack 200 of the first embodiment. Also in such a hydroponic cultivation apparatus 100, the discharge filter 202 and the inflow filter 301 of the first embodiment are provided in the cultivation tank 106 and the nutrient solution tank 108, respectively. Therefore, the same effect as that obtained by the discharge filter 202 and the inflow filter 301 of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 100 of the first embodiment can be obtained.

Hereinafter, the characteristic configuration of the hydroponic cultivation apparatus 100 of the embodiment and the effects obtained thereby will be described.

The hydroponic cultivation apparatus 100 includes a cultivation tank 106, a nutrient solution tank 108, a supply channel 109, a discharge channel 110, a pump 107, and a discharge filter 202. The cultivation tank 106 constitutes a flow path through which the nutrient solution 50 flows. The nutrient solution tank 108 stores the nutrient solution 50. The supply channel 109 guides the nutrient solution 50 from the nutrient solution tank 108 to the cultivation tank 106. The discharge flow path 110 guides the nutrient solution 50 from the cultivation tank 106 to the nutrient solution tank 108. The pump 107 circulates the nutrient solution 50 between the nutrient solution tank 108 and the cultivation tank 106 via the supply channel 109 and the discharge channel 110. The discharge filter 202 is provided in the cultivation tank 106 and removes predetermined foreign substances from the nutrient solution 50 flowing out from the cultivation tank 106 to the discharge channel 110. The discharge filter 202 has a function of suppressing the liquid level of the nutrient solution 50 in the cultivation tank 106 from rising to a position above a predetermined height position when clogged.

According to the above configuration, even if the discharge filter 202 in the cultivation tank 106 is clogged, the increase in the level of the nutrient solution 50 can be suppressed to the extent that the plant 10 is not adversely affected.

(2) The discharge filter 202 has a membrane structure extending in the height direction of the nutrient solution 50, and may be arranged so that the nutrient solution 50 flows over the upper end of the membrane structure and flows into the discharge channel 110.

According to this, it suppresses that the liquid level of the nutrient solution 50 in the cultivation tank 106 rises to a position above a predetermined height position with a simple configuration. It is preferable to further include an inflow filter 301 that is provided in the liquid tank 108 and removes specific foreign substances smaller than predetermined foreign substances from the nutrient solution 50 flowing into the nutrient solution tank 108 from the discharge channel 110.

According to this, the possibility that small foreign matters that cannot be removed by the discharge filter 202 by the inflow filter 301 flow into the nutrient solution tank 108 can be reduced.

(4) The cultivation tank 106 may be a plurality of cultivation tanks 106 provided at different height positions. Even if the supply flow path 109 has the trunk flow path 109a and the some branch flow path 109b branched from the trunk flow path 109a so that the nutrient solution 50 may be guide | induced to each of the some cultivation tank 106 from the nutrient solution tank 108, it is. Good. The plurality of branch channels 109b may be provided with a plurality of nutrient solution amount adjustment units 120 that adjust the flow rate of the nutrient solution 50 flowing into the plurality of cultivation tanks 106, respectively. According to this, it is possible to avoid the adverse effects caused by the amount of nutrient solution 50 supplied to each of the plurality of cultivation tanks 106 arranged in the vertical direction depending on the height of each cultivation tank 106. it can.

(5) It is preferable that the plurality of nutrient solution adjustment units 120 have the same flow rate of nutrient solution flowing into each of the plurality of cultivation tanks 106. According to this, even if a difference occurs between the pressures generated in the nutrient solution 50 flowing through each of the plurality of branch channels 109b due to the different height positions of the plurality of cultivation tanks 106, the unit A substantially equal amount of nutrient solution 50 can be supplied to the plurality of cultivation tanks 106 per hour.

This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-084400 filed on Apr. 21, 2017, and incorporates by reference all the contents described in the Japanese application. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 50 Nutrient solution 100 Hydroponic cultivation apparatus 106 Cultivation tank 107 Pump 108 Nutrient tank 109,1090 Supply flow path 109a Trunk flow path 109b Branch flow path 110,1100 Discharge flow path 120 Nutrient solution amount adjustment part 202 Discharge filter 301 Inflow filter

Claims (5)

A cultivation tank constituting a flow path through which the nutrient solution flows;
A nutrient solution tank for storing the nutrient solution;
A supply channel for guiding the nutrient solution from the nutrient solution tank to the cultivation tank;
A discharge channel for guiding the nutrient solution from the cultivation tank to the nutrient solution tank;
A pump for circulating the nutrient solution between the nutrient solution tank and the cultivation tank via the supply channel and the discharge channel;
A discharge filter that is provided in the cultivation tank and removes predetermined foreign substances from the nutrient solution flowing out from the cultivation tank to the discharge channel, and when the discharge filter is clogged, The hydroponic cultivation apparatus which has a function which suppresses that the liquid level of the said nutrient solution rises to a position above a predetermined height position. The said discharge filter is a film | membrane structure extended in the height direction of the said nutrient solution, It arrange | positions so that the said nutrient solution may get over the upper end of the said membrane structure, and may flow into the said discharge flow path. Hydroponic cultivation equipment. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an inflow filter that is provided in the nutrient solution tank and removes a specific foreign matter smaller than the predetermined foreign matter from the nutrient solution flowing from the discharge channel into the nutrient solution tank. The hydroponic cultivation apparatus described. The cultivation tank is a plurality of cultivation tanks provided at different height positions,
The supply channel has a trunk channel and a plurality of branch channels branched from the trunk channel so as to guide the nutrient solution from the nutrient tank to each of the plurality of cultivation tanks,
The plurality of branch liquid channels are provided with a plurality of nutrient solution amount adjusting units for adjusting the flow rate of the nutrient solution flowing into the plurality of cultivation tanks, respectively. Hydroponics equipment. The hydroponic cultivation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of nutrient solution amount adjustment units have the same flow rate of the nutrient solution flowing into each of the plurality of cultivation tanks.

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