Design of the Controlled Environment Vertical Farming facility supplied from PV system
Vertical farming is a facility in which crops are grown in special grow trays or PVC?s pipes stacked vertically on top of each other under the influence of lighting and water supply either through constant flow of water or through moist spray from sprinklers. A controlled environment vertical
2025-06-28 16:26:36 - Adil Khan
Design of the Controlled Environment Vertical Farming facility supplied from PV system
Project Area of Specialization Electrical/Electronic EngineeringProject SummaryVertical farming is a facility in which crops are grown in special grow trays or PVC’s pipes stacked vertically on top of each other under the influence of lighting and water supply either through constant flow of water or through moist spray from sprinklers.
A controlled environment vertical farming facility is an automated controlled based closed system in which the internal factors like humidity, temperature, lighting, CO2 level, plant watering, pH concentration is controlled with the help of ATmega chip. The system will have a user interface where the desired requirements for the seed germination, plant flowering and growth will be fed into it and the system will ensure that the requirements are met. Each factor is controlled in a closed loop with a sensory feedback.
The closed system will consist of two vertical racks for the prototype version which later can be scaled up to ten to twelve racks high, one rack for seed germination and the other rack for the plant growth. The system will be totally sustainable using solar renewable energy powering itself. The solar energy will be stored in a battery which will power the system day and night thus making it reliable and independent to any external factor. The sensors and other electronic will be energized directly from the solar battery by using suitable convertors.
Project Objectives Objectives:- The system should be able to take data from users via user interface.
- Successful comparison of input data with feedback data
- The quick response of the system via actuators
- Maintaining desired conditions & constant monitoring
- An efficient automated system
- Reliability and self-sustainability
Our goal in this project is the utilization of both hardware and software for the optimum growth of plants. The software part is covered by using Arduino IDE and C++ language.
The system is assembled in an insulated containment with a front window, to make it ineffective towards outdoor conditions.
It has two portions vertically assembled. The upper portion has a growth tray. For the first few days, seeds are planted in the growth tray having Rockwool as a growing medium. These are provided water by water showers.
Once seeds have grown some roots they are transferred to growth tubes at the bottom portion. These are made of PVC pipes and water is circulated through them.
The water tank is used for the supply and recycling of used water. There is a submersible water pump inside the tank which channels the water through the whole system.
The system is powered by solar energy. A solar panel combined with a solar battery and various converters will be used for powering the components according to need.
For the control part, Arduino Due (microcontroller) would be the backbone of our system. Data from the sensors would be sent to it to be compared with the values given by the user and it would initiate operating commands to respective actuators to get desired results.
A touch-based TFT LCD Module would be used for system and user interaction, mounted on the front window. Using the software, the user can adjust the values of environmental parameters.
For the feedback purpose, multiple sensors (DHT22, FC-28, E-201C, MG-811) are used to measure environmental factors and send values to the controller for comparison.
For the actuators, LED grow light modules are used to provide light to plants. A liquid cooling system and heating coils are used to balance the temperature of the system. A dehumidifier is attached to control humidity and carbon dioxide is maintained using a CO2 tank.
Electric valves and relay modules are used to perform switching actions for the water pump and other actuators.
Benefits of the Project Benefits of the Project:We propose to develop this controlled environment facility which will be a solution to some of the worldwide concerns regarding food shortage in near future and problems faced by the agriculture sector.
With this indoor controlled facility, every individual household can cover their large percentage of vegetables and green consumption from within, at the minimal cost of energy.
Our purpose is to build a facility that is 90% water efficient using hydroponic and aeroponic farming techniques tackling the concerns of water shortage in some areas.
The facility will have its own artificially created atmosphere making it in-subjective to external abnormal weather conditions and diseases.
Organic food growth, more yields per area, and less human supervision are among the other mentioned purposes of developing this controlled environment vertically stacked farming facility.
Technical Details of Final Deliverable Technical Details:The system includes multiple features making it user-friendly, efficacious, and financially feasible for practical use.
The system is aimed to be brought into the market therefore the cost factor is kept into consideration and the most cost-effective remedies are utilized while designing it.
Energy efficiency and water efficiency are the factors around which the system is built.
Lighting technique like smart LED lighting is used which have a longer life, low power consumption, and improved efficiency.
The system is also made 95% water efficient as compared to traditional farming by using the hydroponic farming technique which minimizes water wastage.
Another fundamental feature of the system is its reliability. The system has its own source of powering itself 24/7 through solar energy thus making it more reliable. Solar batteries will store the additional energy which will be utilized during nighttime and during cloudy days. All the sensors and products used are of top quality and easily accessible ensuring a reliable system. The system is certified to be mechanical strength-wise and electrical working wise reliable and dependable.
Furthermore, the system is built to be self-intelligent which will constantly monitor all the parameters and ensure that minimal human supervision is required. From the seed germination to the crop harvesting the system will make sure to fulfill the entire plant requirements by itself.
Final Deliverable of the Project HW/SW integrated systemCore Industry AgricultureOther Industries Food , Energy Core Technology OthersOther TechnologiesSustainable Development Goals Zero Hunger, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and ProductionRequired Resources| Item Name | Type | No. of Units | Per Unit Cost (in Rs) | Total (in Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total in (Rs) | 72400 | |||
| Grow Light for Indoor Plants 45W 60 LED | Equipment | 2 | 7000 | 14000 |
| Water Pump High Pressure 12V DC | Equipment | 2 | 2500 | 5000 |
| Water Sprinkler | Equipment | 1 | 1500 | 1500 |
| Soil Moisture Meter | Equipment | 1 | 250 | 250 |
| Water flow pipes | Equipment | 1 | 500 | 500 |
| Temp. and Humidity Sensor | Equipment | 1 | 800 | 800 |
| CO2 Sensor | Equipment | 1 | 5500 | 5500 |
| pH Sensor | Equipment | 1 | 6500 | 6500 |
| 4 Channel Relay Module | Equipment | 1 | 650 | 650 |
| CO2 Tank | Equipment | 1 | 8000 | 8000 |
| 12V DC fan | Equipment | 3 | 300 | 900 |
| Arduino DUE | Equipment | 1 | 5000 | 5000 |
| TFT LCD | Equipment | 1 | 3000 | 3000 |
| Solar Storage Bank | Equipment | 1 | 5000 | 5000 |
| Liquid Cooling System | Equipment | 1 | 5000 | 5000 |
| Heating Coils | Equipment | 1 | 1500 | 1500 |
| Mechanical Structure(PVC pipes, Acrylic Sheets, Angle Iron, screws) | Equipment | 1 | 5000 | 5000 |
| Spray Paints | Miscellaneous | 2 | 450 | 900 |
| Printing | Miscellaneous | 1 | 1500 | 1500 |
| Growing Medium | Equipment | 1 | 1900 | 1900 |