INTRODUCTION
- Hydroponic is a soil-less method of growing plants where their roots are suspended in water, offering substantial water conservation benefits which minimises the water usage as compared to soil-based cultivation. However, the usage of water to grow a hydroponic plant still requires a significant amount of water.
- We proposed a solution aimed at reducing the reliance on external water source which makes the system more environmental-friendly. HydroSustain is an innovative watering system that combines hydroponic plants with de-humidification technology to promote sustainable plant growth.
RELATED WORK
- The HydroSustain system draws inspiration from the Not Natural exhibition and builds upon multiple research studies that have concentrated on sustainable practices in hydroponic plant cultivation, and their demands in meticulous care and specialised treatment of plants.
- Our study has explored methods for improving the current hydroponic cultivation by incorporating the reuse of condensed water from dehumidifier, and by integrating various sensors into the system, users can monitor and track the growth of the plants. This real-time monitoring capability enables users to make informed decisions and adjustments, ultimately facilitating the maintenance of an optimal balance of nutrients.
DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION
- Throughout the design iteration, we have improvised the prototype based on our sketches in the brainstorming stage. To refine our idea, we have illustrated our idea through sketches.
- There are three main components in this system, each of them operates independently to collectively fulfil the intended goal: (1) Peltier thermo-electric cooler assembly, (2) Arduino circuit, and (3) laser cut case.
- The underlying principle of the system is using the Peltier effect to cool one side and condense water vapour from the air into liquid water. The Arduino circuit serves as the brain of the system, executing a sketch to automate and control various functions. An interactive touchscreen allows users to initiate actions like water delivery, while displaying real-time measurements of the environmental parameters, enabling users to monitor the growing conditions.
- We conducted two system evaluations: (1) technical evaluation, and (2) user evaluation to test various components in the system to ensure the functionalities work as expected, and its usability focused on the research question–"How well does our plant watering system perform compared to the manual process of watering?" respectively.
DISCUSSION
- This system was initiated to address various challenges associated with watering hydroponic plants, such as monitoring water level, keeping track of the environment conditions and minimising water wastage. It accomplished its purpose of using water collected from dehumidifiers for irrigation. The final prototype received many positive feedback from our users, particularly those who grow plants. The evaluation survey results indicated that our watering system enhanced the overall experiences of watering plants compared to manual methods.
- Some limitations include the air quality significant influence on the quality of the condensed water. This concern is particularly critical for irrigation systems or plant watering systems using recycled water. Additionally, the dehumidifier required an additional power supply to match the 12V requirement of the Peltier module, which resulted in excessive energy consumption. There is rapid growth in using renewable energy sources for electricity generation. Lastly, our user feedback from evaluation pinpointed on the importance draining water which was not addressed in our prototype. This overlooked problem can further be improved by incorporating a drainage port, to allow easy cleaning when needed.
