Stackable growth module for supporting plants in a vertical farming system
A stackable module has a functional component. The stackable module has a load-bearing frame including a first support member and a second support member held in a spaced apart and parallel configuration by a cross-member. The cross-member forms a part of the functional component. The load-bearing frame is configured to enable the stackable module to occupy a cuboidal volume within which the functional component is supported, and wherein the load-bearing frame includes upper and lower load-transferring edge surfaces. The functional component may be a growth board for supporting plants in a vertical farming system, the growth board having a drain.
1. A stackable growth module comprising a vertically arranged growth board having a vertical surface for supporting plants, the growth board comprising:
a porous growth medium supported by the vertical surface;
a watering trough arranged along an upper edge of the growth board, the watering trough having water distribution holes for distributing water to the growth medium;
a water collection trough arranged along a lower edge of the growth board to collect water draining from the growth medium, the water collection trough having a valve that is configured to open and permit water to flow out of the collection trough when the valve is an open position and which prevents water from flowing out of the collection trough when the valve is in a closed position, and
a drain comprising a liquid passage from the watering trough to the water collection trough, said liquid passage bypassing the porous growth medium, the drain having an inlet within the watering trough, the inlet being elevated at a distance D 1 above a lowest point in the watering trough;
the stackable growth module comprising a load-bearing frame comprising a first support member and a second support member held in a spaced apart and parallel configuration by the growth board,
whereby the load-bearing frame is configured to enable the stackable growth module to occupy a cuboidal volume within which the growth board is supported,
and wherein the load-bearing frame comprises upper and lower load-transferring edge surfaces.
2. A stackable growth module according to claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a liftable sealing member, and wherein the growth board comprises a protruding body projecting upwardly above the upper edge of the growth board, the protruding body being in axial alignment with the sealing member, wherein the projecting body of a lower growth module among a plurality of growth modules in a stack is configured to push up the sealing member of the valve of an upper growth module of the stack.
3. A stackable growth module according to claim 2 , wherein the drain comprises a drain tube arranged along the vertical surface of the growth board, and wherein the drain tube is in axial alignment with the valve and the protruding body is an upper end, or a piece connected to an upper end of the drain tube.
4. A stackable growth module according to claim 3 , wherein a water deflection piece in a shape of a cone is arranged at the upper end of the drain tube, base of the cone having a diameter greater than the diameter of the drain tube, and an upper end of the cone being or forming a part of the protruding body.
5. A stackable growth module according to claim 1 , wherein the drain comprises a drain tube arranged along the vertical surface of the growth board.
6. A stackable growth module according to claim 1 , wherein the distance D 1 is from 25% to 75% of a height of the watering trough.
7. A stackable growth module according to claim 1 , wherein the growth board is a functional component of a vertical farming system.
8. A stackable growth module according to claim 1 , wherein the upper load-transferring edge surface is provided with recesses arranged to be engaged by a gripping mechanism of a module handling vehicle of a vertical farming facility.
9. A stackable growth module according to claim 1 , wherein the first support member and the second support member are each side support members, optionally in a form of a strut, and optionally wherein the side support members have an I-shaped outline.
10. A stackable growth module according to claim 9 , wherein each of the side support members comprises a vertical guide, optionally configured as a slot, for receiving a portion of the growth board.