aeroponic control system for efficient growth
TRANSCRIPT
Aeroponic Control System for Efficient
GrowthECE 480 - Spring 2016 - Design Team 8
Samuel Metevia ~ Patrick Pomaville ~ Justin Fecteau Patricia Huang ~ Jacob Jones ~ Saleh Alghamdi
Outline
● Introduction and Goal● Background● Design Specifications● Technical Description● Verification of Functionality● Suggestions for Future Work● Budget● Demonstration and Questions
Introduction and Goal
● A controlled closed-loop indoor system for growing leafy greens suspended in air that is easy to use and efficient
● Users are able to monitor and control the growth cycle through a Human Machine Interface (HMI)
● Goal: That this system will lay the foundation for future work on developing an aeroponic system for commercial use
Sponsors: Justin Walz and Ryan Palmer
Facilitator: Dr. Robert McGough
Background● Aeroponic Growing
○ Root chamber separated from lighting○ Roots contained in net pots○ Roots misted with a nutrient rich solution
at regular intervals○ Allows more plants to fit in a smaller
area, not limited by root growth○ Allows plants to grow more efficiently
due to increased oxygen intake through the roots
Design Specifications
● Run off of 120VAC● Vegetation misted with 5-50 micron droplets at about 80 PSI● Monitor temperature ( ℉ with an accuracy of ± 1%), humidity, pH,
electrical conductivity, nutrient levels● LEDs and cooling fans● Control and monitor system through HMI (Human Machine Interface) ● House electrical components in an enclosure● WiFi accessible● Emphasis on ease of use and efficiency
Technical Description - Overall
● Housed in aluminum frame● Control and monitor all system features
through HMI● Electrical components within steel
enclosure● Plumbing system mists vegetation● Controlled via microcontroller and relay
system● Temperature, humidity, pH sensors● Red and blue lights and cooling fans● WiFi accessible with custom recipe website
Frame
● Made of aluminum - light and workable
● 6’x4’x2’ with adjustable shelves● Top shelf for lights, center shelf for
vegetation● Plexiglass housing holds misting
nozzles, protect roots● Steel plate mounted on side, holds
electrical and plumbing components
Plumbing
● Water reservoir on floor● Aquatec 8800 pump and pressure switch● WellxTrol 2 gallon expansion tank, prevents frequent
pressurizing● Pressure gauge● 12VDC electric solenoid valve, controlled via HMI and
relay system● Six misting nozzles within plexiglass● Water return for reusability
Enclosure
● 14’’x12’’x6’’ and made of steel● Houses all electrical components● HMI screen mounted to front● 120VAC, 12VDC, 5VDC sources● 120VAC outlet, powered by 14 AWG cable● Main power switch● Several cord grips for cabling
Relay Board and PCB
● Sainsmart 8-channel 5VDC relay controls lights, fans, solenoid valve
● PCB circuit designed to protect microcontroller
● Each relay connected to collector of TIP31A transistor, emitter to ground, base to microcontroller through 1.8kΩ
● 3.3VDC WiFi module power supply
Sensors
● DS18B20 5VDC temperature sensor, +/- 0.5℉ accuracy○ Mounted to center of vegetation shelf
● Phantom YoYo DHT11 5VDC humidity sensor, +/-5% accuracy○ Mounted inside metal box for protection
● 5VDC pH sensor: Atlas Scientific pH EZO, circuit carrier board, American Marine Pinpoint pH probe○ Measures via probe, sent to sensor via BNC
connector○ Sensor mounted in enclosure, probe mounted in
reservoir
Lights and Fans
● CBconcept SMD5050 120VAC red and blue LED strips
● Four strips cut, rubber shielding removed to solder 18AWG two conductor cable
● Activate individual stips for varying intensity● Two Arctic F12 12VDC cooling fans 16’’ apart● Lights and fans controlled via HMI and relay● Automatic activation based on temperature
and time
Microcontroller
● Arduino MEGA 2560○ 54 digital I/O and 16 analog input
pins○ Powered with 12 VDC source○ Key feature: 4 Serial ports
● Hub of the entire system○ Communicates with sensors,
HMI, relay board, and WiFi
HMI (Human Machine Interface)
● 7’’ Nextion NX8048T070● 5 VDC power supply● Serial connection to the Arduino● Displays system status on 4 pages
○ Sensor data, current recipe, state of lights, fan, and pump
● User can also control system components and update recipe
WiFi Module and Recipe Website
● 3.3VDC ESP8266 Thing Development board
● Grabs recipe data and transmits to Arduino
● Website developed for sending recipes to the system
Verification of Functionality - Overall
Verification of Functionality - Plant Growth
● Grated shelf covered with landscape fabric and visqueen to protect roots from light
● Growth medium of coconut coir to support plants
● House and Garden Aqua Nutrient Flakes A & B● Tested using baby leaf lettuce● Successful in growing● More ideal results would be achieved in a
location other than the lab and with more time
Budget
Suggestions for Future Work
● Black root enclosure● Reduce height of root housing● Design PCB for whole system, reduce size of enclosure● Attach reservoir to frame, add wheels● Add conductivity and nutrient sensors● Water agitator● Digital pressure readings on HMI● More permanent water return
Demonstration
Questions?