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?