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Title:
COMPLETELY AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR AEROPONIC CULTIVATION
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2017/207508
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A description is given of a closed device (100) for the aeroponic cultivation of plants, also on several floors, having a completely automatic management of the cultivation parameters, formed by a box-shaped structure (10) containing at least one closed cultivation compartment (5) provided with a source of artificial light (4) in the form of LEDs whose light intensity is regulated by a CPU (70), a system for the regulation and control of the temperature and humidity inside said cultivation compartment (5) formed by an air conditioner, an automatic system for the recycling of air, a main irrigation tank (1) with relative hydraulic circuit fed by a pump (33) controlled by the CPU (70), a plurality of nutrients tanks placed adjacent one to the other and said main tank (1 ), provided with relative pumps controlled by said CPU (70).

Inventors:
MONTELEONE FABIO (IT)
Application Number:
PCT/EP2017/062933
Publication Date:
December 07, 2017
Filing Date:
May 29, 2017
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
MONTELEONE FABIO (IT)
International Classes:
A01G31/06
Foreign References:
US20110232186A12011-09-29
GB2516515A2015-01-28
FR2913303A12008-09-12
US20140033609A12014-02-06
US20120060416A12012-03-15
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
PETRUZZIELLO, Aldo (IT)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

1. Closed device (100) for aeroponic growing of plants and/or the like, even on multiple levels, with a fully automatic control of the cultivation parameters, said device comprising

a box-like structure (10) within which at least one closed compartment of cultivation (5) is defined, said structure (10) being equipped with a front wall including at least one window, inside said structure (10) being arranged

at least one perforated grid (2) for the housing of the plants; and

at least one collecting tank (3) disposed below said grid (2) to collect the irrigation liquid (water or nutrients) sprayed on the roots of plants housed in said grid (2);

at least one artificial light source (4) in the form of red light LED and a blue light LED, placed above said perforated grid (2), whose light intensity is regulated by a CPU (70), optionally connected to a touch screen (80) arranged externally on the structure (10) of the device (100);

at least one video camera (35, 36) installed inside the closed cultivation compartment (S), and connected to said CPU (70);

at least one system for the regulation and control of the temperature and/or humidity inside said cultivation compartment (5) connected to said CPU (70);

at least one system for the input of clean air in the cultivation compartment (S) from the external environment and for the emission of the saturated air outside the cultivation compartment (5);

at least one main tank (1) of irrigation, hermetically separated from said cultivation compartments) (S) and arranged on the bottom of said box-like structure (10), said tank containing a level probe (42) connected to said CPU (70);

at least one delivery pipeline (31) to put said main irrigation reservoir (1) into liquid communication with said grid (2) inside said cultivation compartment (5);

at least one return line (32) which branches off from said collecting tank (3) to put said collecting tank (3) into liquid communication with said main tank (1) so as to create a continuous closed loop of the irrigation liquid;

one or more reservoirs (20, 21, 22) of specific nutrients (Nl, N2, N3), each one in liquid communication with said main tank (1) of irrigation, said reservoirs being arranged alongside said main tank (1)

characterized in that there are provided one or more of the following characteristics: - said LED lights are controlled by a LED power repeater (4^ connected to said CPU (70) to modulate gradually the light intensity of said LEDs from 0% to 100% depending on the brightness detected by a brightness sensor (37) disposed inside of cultivation compartment (5) and connected to said CPU (70);

- said camera (35, 36) detects the color of the plant leaves so that when a deficit in the pigment is detected, said CPU (70) triggers one or more supplies of specific nutrients (Nl, N2, N3) and optionally supply of at least one generic nutrient (Nec),

- said system for the adjustment and control of temperature and/or humidity is formed of at least one temperature and/or humidity probe (38) disposed inside said cultivation compartment (5) and connected to said CPU (70), and of an air conditioning system (30) arranged outside of said cultivation compartment (5), said system (30) being connected to the CPU (70) in order to vary the temperature and/or humidity gradually during the growth cycle of the plant contained in the cultivation chamber (S);

- said automatic system for the input of clean air and emission of saturated air comprises a CO2 sensor (39) disposed within the compartment (S) and connected to said CPU (70), and it comprises one or more fans (8, 9) in fluid communication with said compartment (5) and controlled by the CPU (70) to recycle the CO2- saturated air until the CO2 sensor (39) detects an acceptable value;

- said main irrigation tank (1) is provided with a respective pump (33), connected to the CPU (70) for automatically regulating the flow feed of said pipe (31) in accordance with a program set in said CPU (70).

2. Device (100) according to claim 1, wherein said device further comprises, inside said box-like structure (10), a CC¾ cylinder (50) connected to a respective solenoid valve (40) disposed on a pipe (41) of CO2 feeding, said solenoid valve (40) being controlled by said CPU (70) to supply CO2 to said cultivation room (5) when said CO2 sensor (39) detects C<¾ values below a preset minimum value.

3. Device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said specific nutriment tanks (Nl, N2, N3) include, each, a respective pump connected to said CPU (70) to adjust automatically, through a software, the addition and/or mixing of said nutrients (Nl, N2, N3) in said main irrigation tank (1) in function of the liquid level detected by said level probe (42) and/or over time according to a specific timetable;

said pumps being able to be optionally operated, individually or in combination between them, by said CPU (70) depending on the electrical conductivity value detected by an electrical conductivity probe (43) disposed in the irrigation tank (1).

4. Device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a generic nutriment (Nec) tank (23) with a relevant pump connected to the CPU (70), to adjust automatically, through a software, the addition of said generic nutriment (Nec) in said main irrigation tank (1) depending on the liquid level detected by said level probe (42) and/or over time according to a specific timetable;

said pump being also allowed to be actuated by said CPU (70) depending on the electrical conductivity value detected by an electrical conductivity probe (43) disposed in the irrigation tank (1) for detecting the quantity of mineral salts dissolved in said main irrigation tank (1).

5. Device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said main irrigation tank (1) is connected to the external hydric system through a solenoid valve (34) controlled by said CPU (70) that receives an appropriate signal of minimum/maximum liquid level from said level probe (42) so as to add to the water in the main tank (1) a suitable amount of nutrients (Nl, N2, N3) to achieve an appropriate dilution of said nutrients (Nl, N2, , N3) in the water.

6. Device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an automatic system for pH adjustment formed by

a reservoir (24) of a solution (pH-) including the relevant pump which is connected to the CPU (70) to decrease the pH of the irrigation liquid in the main tank (l), and

a reservoir (25) of a solution (pH +) including the relevant pump connected to the CPU (70) to raise the pH

a pH sensing probe connected to the CPU (70) and housed in said tank (1) to send an appropriate signal of pH value to said CPU (70) so as to add to said main tank (1) a suitable amount of pH + solution or pH- solution to bring the pH value to a preset value of pH depending on the type of cultivation. 7. Device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising one or more of the following minor tanks, arranged side by side to said main tank (1): a "liquid oxygen" reservoir (26) and the relevant pump; and/or

a reservoir (27) of a solution containing cyan-bacteria and blue-green algae, and the relevant pump; and/or

a ''liquid nitrogen" reservoir (28) and the relevant pump; and/or

a tank (29) of potassium chloride solution and the relevant pump; and/or a tank (30) of disinfectant solution based on "liquid chlorine", and the relevant pump; each of said pumps of said tanks (24; 25; 26; 27; 28; 29; 30) being associated to, and controlled by, said CPU (70) depending on respective signals received from at least one multiparameter probe (43) placed in the main tank irrigation (1) and adapted to detect one or more of the values of following parameters, preferably all: dissolved oxygen, oxidation redox potential (ORP) of the water, turbidity, cyanobacteria and blue-green algae, ammonium and nitrate, chloride potassium, so as to reach an appropriate quality of water/irrigation liquid contained in said main tank irrigation (1). 8. Device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said main irrigation tank (1) farther comprises a probe, connected to said CPU (70), to detect

- Temperature of the irrigation solution of the tank (1) to activate, in case of low temperature, a heater (51) positioned in said irrigation tank (1); and/or

- TDG (total gas dissolver), for assessing when the water is too saturated by dissolved gases so as to replace said water.

9. Device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the window of the front wall of said cultivation compartment (5) is an electrically sliding glass panel whose opening mechanism (60) is connected to said CPU (70) which operates the opening/closing thereof through a software,

the glass of said sliding panel being able to be an electrically darkened glass (61), photochromic, thermochromic, electrochromic (LCD, liquid crystals, polarized LCD), the dimming thereof being controlled by said CPU (70). 10. Device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein inside said box-like structure (10) a dryer (62) is provided to allow the user to dry the grown product

Description:
COMPLETELY AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR AEROPONIC CULTIVATION

DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a closed device for the aeroponic cultivation of plants, fully automatic in the management of optimum cultivation conditions and intended to be placed inside or outside restaurants, homes, attics, garages, cellars, sheds and outdoor environments of all kinds, suitable for cultivation even on multiple levels without substantial user intervention.

Aeroponic cultivation of plants is a fairly widespread technique that does not provide for the use of terrain as medium since water with nutrients coming from a main tank is vaporised directly on the roots of the plants and that which the plant does not absorb falls into a collecting tank from where it is collected and redirected into the main tank, thus creating continuous recycling of water/irrigation liquid, reducing consumption thereof by 90%.

The plants are in fact housed, in rows, on a perforated grid inserted in open or closed special containers, wherein the roots of each plant housed in a respective grid hole are sprinkled with appropriate nutrients coming from a tank underneath the grid.

Since growth in an aeroponic environment of a plant depends not only on the type and quantity of nutrients, but also on other parameters such as irrigation liquid quality, it is evident that the greater the control of the parameters of the growth environment of the plant, the greater the guarantee of optimum growth of the plant

Hydroponic systems known in the art (i.e. with roots inserted in a medium such as terrain or water) are automatically managed where the nutrient temperature, temperature and humidity within the greenhouse, plant growth and duration of exposure of the plant to the nutrients and to the air are regulated automatically.

However, since mere is no closed cycle of irrigation water in hydroponic systems, the control of irrigation water quality parameters is not critical, as instead it may be in aeroponic systems with water/irrigation liquid recycling.

As apparent, a closed cycle in respect of the irrigation water is extremely advantageous in order to cultivate with reduced consumption of water and even of nutrients, but it can lead to the accumulation of substances that beyond a certain value can be harmful to the growth of the plant. As far as is known to the Applicant, fully automatic aeroponic cultivation systems are not known in the art with automatic control also of the parameters of the quality of the water/irrigation liquid which recycles.

The object of the present invention is to overcome, at least in part, the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a closed aeroponic cultivation device suitable for being housed also in a closed place, which ensures optimal growth without substantial human intervention.

Another object is to provide a closed device as defined above that is simple to make, economical and easy to manage.

A further object is to provide a device as defined above where there is also an automatic control of the parameters that ensure quality of closed cycle irrigation water, suitable for optimum growth of the plant

These and other objects are achieved by the closed loop aeroponic cultivation device according to the invention having the features listed in the appended independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed by the dependent claims.

An object of the present invention relates to a closed device for the aeroponic cultivation of plants, also on multiple superimposed levels, having fully automatic and more efficient management of cultivation parameters such as air quality in the closed cultivation chamber (greenhouse), CO 2 saturation, temperature, humidity, type of irrigation liquid and the quality of the same, as well as having modulated regulation of the light intensity and the ratio of exposure to light and dark.

In particular, automatic detection and control of the parameters of the quality of the water/irrigation liquid are provided such as pH, dissolved salts quantity and optionally one or more of the following parameters: turbidity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, quantity of ammonium (chloride or nitrate), sterility, presence of cyanobacteria.

This device therefore always works by ensuring the right quantity and quality of nutrients at any time.

This makes cultivation very simple, given that the whole program is set at the start of cultivation and a CPU deals with it as long as is necessary.

Further features of the invention will be made clearer by the following detailed description, referring to a purely exemplifying, and hence non-limiting, embodiment thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the closed aeroponic cultivation system according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a more detailed exploded perspective view of the system of Fig. 1 ;

Figure 3 is a schematic view of the operating diagram of the system of Fig. 1 ;

Figure 3a is an enlarged view of the central area of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the aeroponic cultivation system for the cultivation of plants, vegetables or the like, denoted overall by reference numeral 100, is a closed system and comprises, essentially, a box-like structure 10 formed of four uprights, closed by two flanks (side panels), a rear wall, a front or anterior wall fitted with at least one glass panel, a bottom panel, and a head panel (upper panel).

Said box-like structure 10 can be made with top-quality panels so as to be able to insert the present device 100 in any room as a decorative element, for example in the kitchen or in a living room or other central environment, similarly to aquariums.

Within said box-like structure 10 which delimits a closed environment, at least one closed cultivation compartment 5 is provided.

The inner space of said closed box-like structure 10 can also be divided into several compartments such as to form more closed cultivation compartments 5, separated one from the other by means of watertight separator panels. The following description will refer to a cultivation compartment 5, but it is understood that it is also applicable to the case wherein the present system 100 provides more than one closed compartment S, superimposed or side by side one in relation to the other, depending on the end user's needs.

The following are arranged inside said closed cultivation compartment 5:

at least one perforated grid 2 for the housing of the plants, and

at least one collecting tank 3 positioned below said grid 2 to collect the irrigation liquid (water or nutrients) sprayed on the roots of the plants housed in said grid 2.

Further, within said closed cultivation chamber 5 mere is provided at least one appropriately ventilated artificial light source 4, positioned above said perforated grid 2.

Said artificial light source is characterised by being in the form of LED lights whose light intensity and type of light (day/night) is automatically controlled by a control unit 70 (CPU).

In particular, red light (630nm) LEDs are provided for 80% and blue light (470nm) LEDs are provided for 20%, suitably ventilated and controlled by a LED power repeater 4' (light control unit) connected to the CPU 70: a luminosity probe 37 placed inside the cultivation compartment S transmits data to the CPU 70 which acts on the LED power repeater 4' which goes to gradually modify the luminous intensity of said LEDs from 0% to 100% in a manner in itself known in the art of LED lights.

This modulation allows imitation of the daily solar cycle in the closed cultivation compartment 5, starting from darkness (night), increasing the intensity gradually (dawn) until reaching a peak of maximum intensity (at noon), to then initiate the decreasing reverse cycle (sunset), until returning to darkness.

The time of lighting and the time of switching off is set through a software which then manages the light cycle, thus succeeding in controlling over time both the light and darkness exposure ratio and the light intensity.

The CPU control unit 70 is preferably a raspberry type CPU, although other types of CPU can be used without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.

Said CPU unit is intended to process the detected data of the parameters that influence the growth of a plant (as will be defined below in detail) and to manage control of the same so as to make the present aeroponic cultivation device 100 completely automated. Said CPU 70 is connected in turn to a screen, preferably a touch screen 80, placed outside the structure of the system 100, which displays all the parameters that can be set depending on the type of cultivation to be implemented.

The growth of the plant inside the cultivation compartment is monitored via one or more video cameras 35, 36 (both normal ones 35 and infrared ones 36) installed inside the closed cultivation compartment 5: the video cameras 35, 36 connected to the CPU 70 allow detection not only of the size of the plants, vegetables or the like (in a manner known in itself in the art) but also the colorimetry of the product: if when detecting the colour of the leaves a deficit in pigment is observed, the CPU 70 advantageously activates the feed of one or more supplies (i.e. pumps) of different nutrients, as will be described here below in detail, in order to overcome the lack of nutrition of the plant and ensure the optimal or maximum potential growth rate.

As far as the Applicant knows, a control on the supply of nutrients based on plant colour detection has never been put into place in known aeroponic systems.

In addition, the television cameras 35, 36 are also very useful for the web application as it is possible to control remotely the progress of the future crops in any part of the world and with any device that secures Internet access, for example through a network 71 that can be connected to a server 72 through a direct login on a website 73 or through a mobile app 74.

Said system 100 is characterised in that in said at least one closed cultivation compartment 5, in addition to the automatic system of regulation of the light and of light exposure to obtain the maximum potential growth of the plants as described above, the following is also provided

an automatic air conditioning system or air conditioner 30 for the air conditioning (or climatisation) of the cultivation compartment 5 comprising means for measuring and controlling temperature and humidity, connected to the CPU 70 in order to more efficiently regulate the temperature and/or humidity of the air in the closed cultivation compartment 5 during the cultivation cycle phases. The automatic air conditioning system 30 may also be connected to other closed cultivation compartments 5, if provided, or for each compartment 5 it is possible to provide its own air conditioning system 30 without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.

The means for measuring and controlling the temperature and the humidity of the air in the at least one closed cultivation compartment 5 are composed of at least one probe 38, placed inside the closed cultivation compartment S, which detects bom the temperature and the internal humidity and sends the item of data to the CPU 70: if a change is observed from the predefined parameter (the parameter is chosen on the basis of the type of cultivation because each type of cultivation has different needs) the air conditioner 30 is activated which increases or decreases the temperature and/or the humidity.

The presence of the air conditioner 30 controlled by the CPU 70 allows advantageously varying of the temperature and/or humidity gradually during the growth cycle of the plant contained in the cultivation compartment 5, imitating the seasonal variations typical of spring, summer, autumn or winter crops: thanks to the air conditioner 30, it is possible to cultivate, in any geographical area and at any time of the year, particular vegetable species that require special temperatures and/or humidity levels.

Said system 100 is further characterised by the fact that in said at least one closed cultivation compartment S there is provided, in addition to the automatic light modulation system and the air conditioner 30, also

an automatic system for feeding clean air from the outside environment and for the vent of saturated air in the cultivation compartment 5 to the outside of the present system 100.

Said automatic system for the feeding of clean air from the outside environment and for the emission to the outside of saturated air, consists of

at least one air feed conduit 6 positioned above the light source 4 and provided with a respective manual or automatic (actuated by the CPU) fan 8,

at least one air emission conduit 7 positioned above the light source 4 and provided with a respective manual or automatic (actuated by the CPU) fan 9, and means for measuring and controlling the C(¾ saturation in the air of the closed cultivation compartment 5, connected to the CPU.

The. means for measuring air saturation are composed of a probe 39 (quantitative sensor) of CO 2 that measures the CO 2 level in the respective cultivation compartment 5, a fundamental parameter for the development of photosynthesis and therefore the growth of the plants.

When the temperature/humidity probe 38 and CC¾ probe 39 detect in the closed compartment 5 concentrations of CC¾ that are greater than the set range values, generally 1200-1500ppm, which is the range in which it is advantageous to maintain the concentration of CO 2 , the fans 8 and/or 9, which are independent one in relation to the other, are activated by starting the recirculation of saturated air, blocking when the CO 2 probe 39 detects an acceptable value.

When the CQ_ concentration detected by the probe 39 is too low, i.e. well below the range set, for example below 1200 ppm, the CPU commands opening of a solenoid valve 40 connected to a cylinder SO of CO 2 placed on the bottom of the box-like structure 10 of the present system 100: through a channel (pipe) 41 leading to the corresponding cultivation compartment 5, said solenoid valve 40 allows, when open, the feeding of C<¾ until the acceptable minimum value of C<¾ is reached, i.e. at least 1200 ppm.

Said fans 8, 9 can also work, if required, in manual mode set by the user, releasing them from the CC¾ probe 39, and therefore they can be always lit or lit at particular times of the day.

With reference to the irrigation system, on the bottom of said box-like structure 10 an irrigation tank 1 is placed, hermetically separated from all the cultivation compartments S provided.

Said irrigation tank 1 comprises an irrigation liquid which is periodically transferred to the plants by means of a respective irrigation pump 33 housed in the tank 1, connected to the CPU 70 and controlled by said CPU 70 in such a way as to regulate the irrigation of the plants in the at least one cultivation compartment 5, acccnxling to a program set in said CPU 70. Said pump 33 can work in manual or automatic mode, for example being constantly active or activated at alternating hours, all automatically decided by the CPU 70 or by the user.

From said main irrigation tank 1, at least one delivery pipe 31 branches oil; fed by the main irrigation pump 33, to place in fluid communication said main irrigation tank 1 and said grid 2 contained in the at least one cultivation compartment S. Said irrigation liquid delivery pipe 31 terminates with one or more sprinklers (nozzles) positioned under the roots of each plant in order to vaporise the irrigation liquid of the tank 1 directly on the roots of the plants housed in the perforated.grid 2.

In addition, a return pipe 32 which branches off from said collecting tank 3 is provided for placing in fluid communication said collecting tank 3 and said tank 1 so as to create a continuous closed cycle of irrigation liquid which reduces consumption of water and nutrients.

Generally, the irrigation tank or bath 1 is first filled with water, in manual mode or by connection to the external water system via a solenoid valve 34 operated by the CPU 70 which receives a suitable minimum/maximum level signal from an ultrasonic level probe 42.

The level probe 42 that is connected to the CPU 70 measures a distance which, through a small calculation performed by the CPU, gives information on the amount of water present in the main tank 1: in the case wherein the water is fed manually into the main tank 1, the CPU only warns the user about a low level and therefore of the imminent end of the liquid contained in the tank 1. In the case wherein the main tank 1 is instead connected directly to the water system, the CPU 70 activates in opening the water solenoid valve 34 when the ultrasonic level sensor 42 detects a value below the threshold value, allowing automatic filling of the main tank 1, then closing it when die ultrasonic level probe 42 detects the total filling of the tank 1.

Said irrigation tank 1 is also conventionally associated with, and in liquid communication with, at least three smaller tanks 20, 21, 22 of three different nutrients Nl, N2, N3, which can be used individually or in various mixtures one with the other depending on the phase of cultivation of the plant (germination, growth, flowering), where each of said smaller tanks 20, 21, 22 is, independently of the others, in liquid communication with said main irrigation tank 1 by means of a respective pump actuated by the CPU 70.

In fact, in aeroponic cultivations generally three different types of liquid nutrient are provided, which can be added in the main bath 1 separately in sequence over time or mixed together depending on the type of cultivation and cultivation phase (germination, growth and flowering).

The regulation of the amounts of specific nutrients Nl, N2, N3, to be added individually to the main irrigation bath 1 and/or to be mixed together in the irrigation bath 1, as well as the management over time of the transport of said nutrients into the bath 1, takes place automatically through a software that processes the data sent to the CPU 70 by the ultrasonic level probe 42 placed inside the irrigation bath 1.

The amount of water detected at a given time by the ultrasonic level probe 42 is used in an algorithm that calculates the right amount of a given nutrient Nl, N2, N3 to be dissolved into the main bath 1 depending on the amount of water already present in the bath 1 in order to achieve an appropriate dilution of said Nl, N2, N3 nutrients in water. The pump associated with a given nutrient Nl, N2, N3 placed in the respective tank 20, 21, 22 is automatically activated by the CPU 70 in order to add the right amount of nutrient in millilitres to the water of the main tank 1 according to the quantity of water present in the main bath 1. Therefore, the functioning of one or more of the pumps dedicated to the nutrients Nl, N2, N3 associated with the respective tanks 20, 21, 22 can be programmed manually over time according to a specific time schedule in which the dates are set when the pumps of the nutrients Nl, N2, N3, must be activated, and the amount of specific nutrient to be fed into the main bam 1, starting from the first day of cultivation.

For example, in the germination phase, with duration defined according to the cultivation, the three different pumps can be actuated alternately, or all three together.

In the schedule, the standard cycle provides for a pre- set schedule of 3 months. If, instead, the user wants to manage independently the nutrients to be dissolved in the main solution, he or she can set the time schedule by programming the entire time of the duration of his or her cultivation, deciding on what day and how much nutrient Nl , N2, N3 to add to the main bath without limits of any kind. Since such nutrients Nl, N2, N3 supply important mineral salts for plant growth, the present device 100 provides inside the irrigation tank 1 a sensor for detecting the electrical conductivity of the irrigation solution so as to measure also the amount of mineral salts dissolved in water. Said sensor, which is connected to the CPU, can be a single probe or be included, for simplicity, in a multi-parameter probe 43 capable of detecting several water parameters in order to evaluate the quality thereof as will be described here below.

It is preferable that the electrical conductivity probe be included in a single probe 43.

The more mineral salts are dissolved in water, the greater the electrical conductivity of the same and vice versa: when the probe, which continuously measures this conductivity, detects a value thereof below a predetermined value or critical point (for the germination phase between 0.4 and 0.6, for the growth phase between 12 and 1.5, for the flowering phase between l.S and 2.2), the CPU 70 activates a specific pump relating to one of the nutrients Nl, N2, N3 or activates more than one pump relating to the nutrients Nl, N2, N3, interrupting the functioning of one or more of said pumps when the electrical conductivity value is above a prefixed value. An algorithm is provided in the CPU 70 to calculate the right proportion between the specific nutrients Nl, N2, N3 to be sent to the main bath 1 according to the amount of nutrient set in the last release of the three nutrients Nl , N2, N3 or more.

Moreover, said irrigation tank 1 can optionally also be associated with at least one generic nourishment tank 23 (Nec), provided with relative pump connected to the CPU 70, wherein said tank 23 is in liquid communication with said main irrigation bath 1 independently with respect to the tanks 20, 21, 22 of the nutrients Nl, N2, N3.

Said generic nourishment Nec is good for all stages of plant growth, but is particularly useful when the value of salts dissolved in the water is to be increased.

The addition of generic nourishment Nec in the main irrigation bath 1 is regulated by the CPU 70 through a software: the addition of said generic nourishment (Nec) into said main irrigation bath 1 is adjusted according to the level detected by said level probe 42 and/or over time according to a specific schedule.

Further, said addition of the generic nourishment Nec into the main irrigation bath 1 can be regulated also, or only, by the electrical conductivity probe 43 previously described and contained in the main bath 1. Since also the pH of the irrigation liquid leaving the bath 1 is an important parameter for the growth of the plant, there is a pH detection probe in the irrigation bath 1: in this case too it is possible to provide a separate pH measuring probe or, preferably, provide for measuring the pH through the abovementioned multi-parameter probe 43 capable of detecting several water parameters.

Associated with said bath 1, also provided are a tank 24 of a specific solution, with relative pump, to decrease the pH (hereinafter referred to as pH-) of the irrigation liquid contained in the main bath 1, and a tank 25 of a specific solution, with relative pump, to increase the pH (hereinafter referred to as pH +) of the irrigation liquid contained in the main bath 1.

When the pH level detected by the pH probe, preferably by the probe 43, exits the set range, generally comprised between 4 and 6, the CPU 70 activates one of the two small pumps placed in the pH + and pH- containers, feeding the appropriate liquid solution into the main bath 1 so as to return the pH value to the preset value considered appropriate for the selected cultivation.

The CPU 70 performs this operation whenever a pH value is detected outside the range initially set for the selected cultivation.

However, the pH + or pH- pumps can still be activated also manually. It should be noted that when said ultrasonic probe 42 that controls the level of the liquid contained in the irrigation tank 1 detects a limit level value (i.e. low), suitably set, the CPU 70 acts on all the pumps of the device 100 which are switched off to avoid breakage thereof due to the aspiration of air and not of water.

Since for the irrigation of plants in a closed cycle the quality of the irrigation liquid is very important, it is of fundamental importance to make as automatic as possible also the correction of the parameters that can determine poor quality thereof (pH, amount of dissolved salts, and also turbidity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, amount of ammonium (chloride or nitrate), sterility, presence of cyanobacteria), in addition to control of the irrigation and the preparation of the appropriate irrigation solutions according to the type of plant and the various times of growth of a certain plant It is for this reason that in the present device the main irrigation tank 1 is advantageously also associated with, and in liquid connection with, one or more smaller tanks, in addition to the nutrient tanks 20, 21, 22, 23 already described above, said smaller tanks being selected from among

a tank 26 of so-called "liquid oxygen "consisting of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), and relative pump; and/or

a tank 27 of solution containing cyanobacteria and blue-green algae, and relative pump; and/or

a tank 28 of so-called "liquid nitrogen "constituted by a liquid fertiliser for fertigation suitable for the supply of ammoniacal nitrogen, nitric nitrogen and urea nitrogen, and relative pump; and/or

a tank 29 of potassium chloride solution which is a very important natural fertilizer for yield, quality and resistance to stress (diseases and droughts), and relative pump; and/or

a tank 30 of so-called "liquid chlorine "disinfectant solution consisting of a solution of sodium hypochlorite and relative pump,

without prejudice to the feet that other tanks may be provided in the present device 100 according to the requirements of the cultivation, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention. Each pump of these smaller tanks, denoted by reference numerals from 24 to 30, is actuated by the CPU 70 following receipt of the data of one or more probes, preferably from the multi-parameter probe 43, which detects the corresponding water quality parameters.

Said multi-parameter probe 43, for example Hydrolab DSSX probe, advantageously detects one or more of the following parameters, preferably all:

- dissolved oxygen (measured as LDO and/or with Clark cell), present in the irrigation liquid, very useful for the life cycle of the plants: in case of shortage the CPU 70 automatically activates the pump relative to the tank 26 which adds "liquid oxygen "in the main irrigation bath 1, said addition of "liquid oxygen", being able to function both in standard automatic mode and manually time programmed, also in schedule mode;

- temperature of the irrigation solution of the bath 1, and in the case of low temperature, the CPU 70 automatically activates a heater 51 placed in the bath 1 which shuts off when the ideal temperature is reached. Said heater 51 can be any type of immersion heater with resistance, for example of the type used in aquariums.

- the oxidation redox potential (ORP) of water,

- turbidity,

- cyanobacteria,

- blue-green algae,

- ammonium (nitrate and/or chloride of -),

- TDG (total dissolver gas),

where it is understood that each of these parameters may also be detected by a respective probe dedicated thereto, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.

The dissolved oxygen, measured as LDO or CLARK CELL, is an important parameter for cultivation. When the value of oxygen dissolved in the water drops below the safety threshold, the pump relative to the tank 26 is activated, which feeds "liquid oxygen" to bring the value above a certain minimum level. It should be noted that a concentration of oxygen in fresh water equal to 9.1 mg/L corresponds to 100% saturation while oxygen concentrations below 75% (i.e. <6.8 mg/L) are a sign of pollution.

Oxidation redox potential (ORP) is a measurement in millivolts (mV) of the water oxidation level. This value reflects the activity of the disinfectant product used, in manual mode, for disinfection from bacteria, algae and other organic material of the main bath 1 that contains the stagnant irrigation liquid.

More resistant organisms such as listeria, salmonella, yeast and moulds may require high quantities of disinfectant in order to be lolled, resulting in a redox potential of 750 MV or greater.

In order to have an irrigation liquid which is always sterile in the main bath 1, it is necessary to have a correct proportion between the pH and the chlorine derived from the disinfectant product: by acting appropriately on the pumps relative to the tanks 24, 25, 30 of pH+, pH- and liquid chlorine it will be possible to dissolve the relative products in the right quantities to create a proper proportion between pH and chlorine so as to ensure the sterility of the main bath 1 and therefore of the roots of the plants.

In general, maintaining the pH between 4 and 6, the ORP value suitable for disinfection is greater than 653: if the relative probe detects in the water an ORP value lower than the optimal range, a pump immersed in tank 30 of "liquid chlorine" is activated that works until bringing the ORP value to the appropriate level to kill the infesting bacteria. Turbidity in the water can denote the presence of pathogenic agents, as well as those of non-soluble solid substances such as metal oxides, fats, algae and microorganisms, so that the turbidimetry is of great importance for the prevention of epidemics. Cloudiness of the water is above all an optical disorder which can, however, lead to quite significant consequences such as heating of the irrigation liquid due to the heat absorption of the surface particles. This heating determines a reduction in the level of dissolved oxygen: this can affect the life of aquatic plants or even kill them. In addition, the reduction of chlorophyll synthesis causes a further reduction in the dissolved oxygen. If excessively high turbidity is detected (generally equal to 4 NTU (nephelometric turbidity units)) the CPU 70 activates the water disinfestation mechanisms.

The presence in the irrigation water of cyanobacteria and blue-green algae is advantageous because the cyanobacteria and the blue-green algae are nitrogen-fixing and thus provide a great help in terms of nourishment given to the cultivation.

When the level of algae and cyanobacteria detected by the relative probe is below a certain threshold (generally below 1,000,000 cells/mm), the CPU 70 activates a pump immersed in a hypercolonized compartment (i.e. in tank 27) that feeds the substance in the solution contained in the main tank 1 to initiate or implement the new colonization of the bath 1. An appropriate concentration of cyanobacteria and algae ranges from 1 ,000,000 to 2,000,000 cells/mm.

Potassium chloride, nitrate and ammonium are among the most important compounds used as fertilizers in agriculture. The peculiarity of the "liquid nitrogen" solution lies in the fact that it contains both nitrogen that can be used immediately by the plant (nitrate group) and slow release nitrogen (ammonia group).

The relative probe detects nitrogen (ammonium and/or nitrate) and potassium chloride in the solution: if it fails below a predetermined value, the CPU 70 activates the pump immersed in the respective liquid nitrogen solution tank 28 (ammonium and/or nitrate) and/or the pump immersed in the tank 29 until it reaches the selected value.

Generally, me threshold value of nitrogen (ammonium and/or nitrate) and potassium chloride below which it is not advisable to descend is

Ammoniurn/nitrate: 10 milligrams/litre;

Potassium chloride: 500 milligrams/litre.

The TDG (total dissolver gas) measurement gives an indication of water saturation/irrigation solution in the bath 1 by the various gases dissolved in it: when the partial pressure value detected by the relative probe is greater than a threshold value, for example around 1000 mm of mercury (mmHg), this means that the water is too saturated and must therefore be changed.

It is understood that other smaller tanks of other nutrients may also be provided in the present system 100, provided with a respective service pump, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, it is possible to add other smaller tanks with nitrogen* iron and similar pumps to recreate specific nutritional characteristics of particular soils. For example, by increasing the iron concentration in the irrigation solution the product will grow rich in iron and become almost a natural supplement. It is further understood that it is possible to provide, optionally, respective ultrasonic level probes in one or more of the storage tanks for nutrients in order to measure the relative levels of the nutrients Nl, N2, N3, Nec and in the tanks of the pH+/pH- solutions, in order to alert the user when a specific kind of nutrient or pH+, pH- solution is about to end so as to remind him or her about replenishment

Advantageously, electrically sliding glass panels are also provided, whose opening mechanism 60 is connected to the CPU 70 and controlled by a command provided by the touch screen 80 or by the web application, which activates the opening/closing thereof through a software.

Said panels guarantee the user's accessibility to the support grid 2 of the plants.

As sliding glass panels, electrically-obscured 61, photochromic, thermochromic, electrochromic (LCD, liquid crystals, polarized LCD) glass panes can be used whose obscuring and/or opening is controlled by the CPU 70 via the touch screen 80 or a mobile application 74 and through a website 73.

The presence of the touch screen 80 on the present device 100 is advantageous in order to allow convenient control of all the different sensors, different pumps and other elements.

It is also possible to provide a dryer 62 inserted inside the present device 100 to allow the user to dry his or her product and to keep it conveniently.

The present device 100 is very innovative because, thanks to the high number of parameters detected, far greater man known aeroponic systems, it is possible to control cultivation more efficiently and effectively, thus making cultivation simple and completely automatic, such as to ensure green fingers for anyone.

If it is decided to cultivate a single cultivation on each level, the appropriate profiles can be set, such as lettuce, and the system automatically completes the entire development cycle. Through the web application it is possible to manage the entire present device 100 remotely when away from own cultivation as if in situ.

With the present technology, it is possible to foresee the realisation of fully insulated containers for industrial production or garden design and the technology can be applied directly in a closed environment such as a the room of a dwelling, a restaurant or a large shed. This device 100 is also very interesting for restaurants which can cultivate, in multiple modules with multiple levels, their own vegetables for use in the kitchen and placed in a central setting would become an excellent item of furniture.

In the industrial field, and in any case also in the domestic one, the present device 100 allows elimination of the role of the agronomist, which is instead performed by the CPU 70 and by the relevant management software which work 24 hours.

The present invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings but may be subject to numerous detail modifications within the reach of the person skilled in the art without thereby departing from the scope of the same invention as defined in the appended claims.