MODULES

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a growing module, in particular for a vertical growing system. Vertical growing is a large-scale cultivation technique aimed at maximizing cultivations and minimizing land occupation.

Vertical growing is carried out through structures called vertical farms, built inside buildings (preferably large and developed in height, even if limited), within which the environmental conditions necessary for the development and growth of plants and vegetables are artificially recreated.

Known vertical farms comprise a plurality of growing modules, in which the cultivation of plants and vegetables takes place, stacked on each other in a vertical direction, in order to maximize the production density per square metre.

To carry out the cultivation of plants, the growing modules are irrigated by means of an irrigation system that unfolds through the vertical farm, in order to connect all the growing modules in a capillary way and supply water and nutrients to the plants.

Furthermore, in known vertical farms a centralized or non-centralized lighting system is provided, preferably with low-energy-consumption LEDs, suitable for supplying the plants of the growing modules with the light necessary for the photosynthesis process.

Vertical growing carried out by known vertical farms has numerous advantages compared to traditional cultivation, in addition to the above-mentioned higher production density per square metre.

A further advantage of vertical growing compared to traditional cultivation lies in a greater saving of water and fertilizers, in addition to a higher growth speed of the plants and an almost absent use of pesticides and herbicides.

Known vertical farms, however, still have various limits and drawbacks.

The irrigation systems used for irrigating traditional growing modules using nutrient-enriched water, for example, consist of pipes and ducts with complex and bulky conveyance, which occupy a space which could otherwise be used for growing additional plants.

These irrigation systems, moreover, are subject to leakages, which increase the consumption of water and energy, as well as the need for maintenance.

The wiring of the lighting systems used for illuminating known growing modules is also complex and cumbersome, and increases the set-up costs of the vertical farm. Furthermore, in known vertical farms a space must be provided, to be used for implanting structures to allow operators to reach the various floors of the vertical farm, in which the operators effect control and maintenance operations. These structures take away additional space that could otherwise be used for growing plants.

The objective of the present invention is therefore to provide a growing module and a vertical farm comprising a plurality of said growing modules, having characteristics that overcome at least some of the drawbacks indicated in the known art.

A particular objective of the invention is to provide a growing module and a vertical farm with a higher production density per square meter and cubic meter, i.e. maximizing the spaces in terms of area and volume.

A further particular objective of the invention is to provide a growing module and a vertical farm that reduce the use of manpower.

Another particular objecctive of the invention is to provide a growing module and a vertical farm having reduced complexity, encumbrance and installation, management and maintenance costs.

These and other objectives are achieved through the conception and creation of a self- sufficient growing module, i.e. an actual independent "microcosm". Only with this solution, of course, can the system conceived be created. The self-sufficient "microcosm" "MODULE" contains all the resources for growing plants for a few days of independence, in particular at least 10-15 days, that can be handled by automatisms, and free of critical issues and costs, such as various connections.

The dependent claims relate to preferred and advantageous embodiments.

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the description of some preferred embodiments, provided hereunder by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached figures, in which:

- figure 1 is a schematic view of a growing module, according to an embodiment of the invention;

- figure 2 is an axonometric view of a vertical farm, according to an embodiment of the invention;

- figure 3 is an axonometric view of a vertical farm, according to a further embodiment of the invention;

- figure 4 is a schematic front view of a growing module, according to an embodiment of the invention;

- figure 5 is a side view of the growing module represented in figure 4; - figure 6 comprises a front view of a vertical farm with growing modules (left) and two side views of the same vertical farm (right) according to an embodiment of the present invention;

- figure 7 is a front view of an embodiment of a growing module according to the invention, having the following dimensions 260(H) cm x 120 cm (depth) xlOO cm (width).

With reference to the figures, a growing module, in particular for a vertical growing system, is indicated as a whole with the reference number 1.

The growing module 1 comprises at least one growing floor 2, on which plants and vegetables 3 are grown.

The growing module 1 preferably comprises various growing floors 2.

The growing module 1 also comprises at least one sensor 4, suitable for detecting physical and/or chemical properties of the at least one growing floor 2.

The at least one sensor 4 is preferably managed by Wi-Fi or other connections with central hardware and software.

The plurality of sensors 4 is preferably suitable for measuring the pH, humidity and temperature of the at least one growing floor 2, the liquid level, the funcitoning of pumps, the concentration of CO ₂ and the like.

The growing module 1 also comprises an electrical connection interface 5, suitable for receiving electric power from an electril power source.

The growing module 1 also comprises a lighting source 6, which can be powered by the electric power received from the electrical connection interface 5, and suitable for illuminating the plants and vegetables 3 of the growing floor 2.

According to one embodiment, the lighting source 6 comprises specific and low-energy- consumption LEDs, arranged at a distance of about 10-30 cm from the growing floor 2.

Furthermore, the growing module 1 comprises a storage and dispensing system 17 suitable for storing water and nutrients, and for spraying a nutrient mixture of water and nutrients into the growing floor 2.

The growing module 1 also comprises a pH regulator 18 suitable for storing a pH corrector and injecting the pH corrector into the growing module 1.

In addition, the growing module 1 comprises a circulation pump 13, suitable for recirculating the nutrient mixture.

The growing module 1 further comprises a command processor 14, configured for processing the data received by one or more sensors 4, and controlling the lighting source 6, the storage and dispensing system 17, the pH regulator 18 and the circulation pump 13, and setting the temperature, humidity and pH of the at least one growing floor 2.

The growing module 1 thus configured is self-sufficient for at least 10 days, in particular from about 10 to 25 days.

This means that the growing module 1 does not require the supply of water or nutrients, or interventions by an operator, or long and complicated and also critical external connections, for at least 10 days.

Furthermore, as the growing module 1 has no external connections, except for the connection to an electricity source, the growing module 1 is less bulky, and reduces the complexity and costs of its installation and handling.

As the growing module 1 is self-sufficient, moreover, its management and maintenance costs are reduced.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the growing module 1 comprises more than one growing floor 2, for the cultivation of plants and vegetables on different growing floors 2.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the growing module 1 comprises 7 growing floors 2 for growing sprouts and microgreens, 5 growing floors 2 for growing basil and strawberries, 6 growing floors 2 for growing salads and "baby leaves" and so forth according to the required heights.

This configuration increases the production density and versatility of the growing module 1. According to an embodiment of the invention, the electrical connection interface 5 comprises an electromagnetic induction connection interface 15, suitable for receiving electric power through electromagnetic induction.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the vertical farm 100 is configured for transmitting electric power to the plurality of growing modules 1 through electrification of the metal structures.

This advantageously allows the supply of electricity in the growing module 1 without the use of cumbersome and complex electric wires and cables. This therefore eliminates a further complication of the set-up of the growing module 1 and the vertical farm as a whole, eliminating long and critical connections.

According to a further alternative embodiment, the electrical connection interface 5 can comprise an interface for attaching an electrical connector.

According to one embodiment, the pH regulator 18 is configured for injecting the pH corrector directly into the storage and dispensing system 17. Alteratively, the pH regulator 18 can be configured for injecting the pH corrector directly into the growing floors 2.

The pH corrector is preferably injected dropwise.

According to an embodiment, the growing module 1 is constructed from one or more of the materials selected from the following list: steel, aluminum, plastic.

The growing module 1 is advantageously suitable for production in series.

According to an embodiment, the growing floor 2 comprises an inert substrate 16, and is configured for effecting a hydroponic cultivation.

According to an alternative embodiment, the growing module 1 is configured for effecting an aeroponic cultivation.

According to an embodiment, the growing module 1 has dimensions of 260 (H) cm x 120cm x 100cm. Alteratively, the dimensions of the growing module 1 can be different, according to the requirements.

According to an embodiment, two structures (base and roof) are arranged on a lower surface of the growing module 1, suitable for increasing the robustness of the growing module 1 and allowing the module to be raised and transferred by the "Transelevators and/or Satellites”forming part of the automatisms.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a vertical farm 100 comprises a vertical warehousing structure, inside which a plurality of growing modules 1 as previously described, is installed.

A vertical cultivation effected in a vertical farm 100 configured as a vertical warehouse (Warehousing vertical system), and with a plurality of growing modules 1 installed in the vertical farm 100 (pallet in warehousing), advantageously maximizes the use of available space and the space destined for the cultivation of the vertical farm 100 and allows reaching a maximum height of about 40 meters .

As the growing module 1 is self-sufficient for at least 10 days, the intervention of operators, or the installation of bulky and complex conduits for conveying water and nutrients, is in fact avoided, and it is therefore possible to install the growing modules 1 inside an automated vertical farm 100 with transelevators and/or satellites, otherwise impossible.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the vertical farm 100 is self-supporting.

This allows the vertical farm 100 to be further extended in height, and to obtain a more rapid set-up. According to an advantageous embodiment, the vertical farm 100 is configured for transmitting electric power to the plurality of growing modules 1 through electromagnetic induction.

This allows the dimensions of the vertical farm 100 to be simplified and reduced, as the installation of electric wiring for transferring the electric power to the plurality of growing modules 1 is avoided.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the vertical farm 100 comprises automated handling and reprovisioning systems (transelevators and/or satellites) 102, controlled by a central computer, which withdraw/deposit the growing modules 1 in the vertical farm 100, transferring them from the vertical farm 100 to a periodic maintenance and dispensing point of the plurality of growing modules 1.

The periodic maintenance and reprovisioning preferably consist of carrying out quality controls and reprovisioning the storage and dispensing system 17 and reprovisioning the pH 18 dispenser of the plurality of growing modules 1.

The vertical farm 100 thus configured maximizes production minimizing space, it eliminates problems relating to the transporting of water and nutrients, and is completely automated, it also limits the consumption of air conditioning by reducing the "dead" spaces up to 1/3 of the known vertical farms.

The vertical farm 100 configured in this way can produce, for example, in 200 x 200 x 36 meters, >100,000 tons of products per year (in an example mix: > 40,000 of Salads, > 40,000 of baby leaves, > 15,000 of Sprouts/Microgreens and > 5.000 of Basil/Parsley), creating >800.000 net vegetative sqm.

The production concentrated in 4 hectares is therefore equivalent to those in > 80 hectares according to traditional cultivation. Compared to known vertical farms, the production is many times higher for the usual volume and area.

According to an embodiment, each growing module 1 of the vertical farm 100 weighs about

200 kg.

According to an embodiment, each growing module 1 comprises two growing floors 2 arranged adjacent to each other (fig. 4).

According to an embodiment, each growing floor 2 has a useful surface area of about 1.0 m ² . A growing module 1 comprising six growing floors 2 therefore has a useful area of approximately 6 m ² . According to an embodiment, the vertical farm 100 comprises air-conditioning systems, such as aerators and/or dehumidifiers, and CO ₂ injection systems.

According to an embodiment, the plurality of circulation pumps 13 are configured for conveying liquids into each of the growing modules 1 of the vertical farm 100.

Alteratively, the plurality of circulation pumps 13 can be configured for conveying liquids in only the upper growing module 1 of the vertical farm 100, so that these liquids are distributed to the lower growing modules 1 by gravity.

According to an embodiment, the storage and dispensing system 17 and the pH regulator 18 are positioned on top of the plurality of growing floors 2, i.e. on top of the growing module 1.

Alteratively, the storage and dispensing system 17 and the pH regulator 18 are positioned at the bottom of the plurality of growing floors 2, i.e. at the bottom of the growing module 1.

In order to meet contingent and specific requiremments, skilled persons in the field can naturally apply further modifications and variations, all of which however are included within the protection scope defined by the following claims.