Energy efficient smart indoor fogponics farming system

Abstract

Fogponics is a modern modified version of an Aeroponics farming system which may also be known as “Aeroponics 2.0”. This kind of farming method has been practiced and introduced by NASA through a lot of researches and experiments. To explain further, Fogponics operates similarly like the Aeroponics which uses soilless cultivation and the process of growing plants is by suspending it in the air or a fog without relying on soil to give the nutrients that plants required to grow. In addition to that, the fog is produced by placing an ultrasonic fog generator inside the mixture of water and nutrients within an enclosed base chamber. The ultrasonic fog generator capable to vibrates at supersonic frequencies and produced micro droplets of water nutrient make it easier and faster for the plant to absorb via the roots with enough amount of mixture and oxygenation. In general, one of the main factors to grow plants is the existence of sunlight energy where it will later be converted into chemical energy through the process of photosynthesis. During this process, water is broken down through a chemical reaction to separate oxygen and hydrogen with the released of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Thus, by the practice of indoor Fogponics farming system, the sunlight energy will be replaced with the use of suitable LED light wavelengths. LED lights are capable to emits a full photosynthetically active radiation. Another factor that contributes to the system is by monitoring the temperature, humidity, pH of the water nutrients as well as the light intensity projection. Therefore, these parameters will be monitored and controlled with the use of sensors and through the implementation of the Real-Time Clock (RTC) functionality which is benefited to operate the system with enough amount of time throughout the day, suitable for plant’s growing condition.

Engineering Hydroponic Systems for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment and Plant Growth

“…The DO concentration increases through surface interaction with the atmosphere [34]. In hydroponic systems, the water movement increases DO compared to stagnant water, such as in wetlands [35]. This increased availability of DO improved efficiency of biofilm oxidation of organic matter and increased survival chances for non-flood-tolerant plants.…”