METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTENSIVE BIOLOGICAL HYDROSYNTHESIS, ENERGY GENERATION AND STORAGE, AND/OR TOPSOIL RESTORATION

Abstract

A growing unit for biological hydrosynthesis, energy generation and storage and/or topsoil restoration, the growing unit comprising: a container configured for growing plants and containing a growth media located therein; a reservoir located in a lower portion of the container and associated with an outlet portion of the container, and a substantially vertical liquid inlet pipe associated with the reservoir, wherein the growth media comprises a mixture including a first catalyst, wherein the first catalyst stimulates formation of a humified soil and wherein the growth media is amended with an irrigation liquid which stimulates biological activity in the growth media and in and adjacent to the reservoir.

Claims

1. A growing unit for biological hydrosynthesis, energy generation and storage and/or topsoil restoration, the growing unit comprising: a container configured for growing plants and containing a growth media located therein; a reservoir located in a lower portion of the container and associated with an outlet portion of the container, and a substantially vertical liquid inlet pipe associated with the reservoir, wherein the growth media comprises a mixture including a first catalyst, wherein the first catalyst stimulates formation of a humified soil and wherein the growth media is amended with an irrigation liquid which stimulates biological activity in the growth media and in and adjacent to the reservoir.

2. A growing unit for biological hydrosynthesis, energy generation and storage and/or topsoil restoration according to claim 1, wherein the irrigation liquid comprises one or more liquids selected from the group consisting of a second catalyst, a third catalyst, a liquid fertiliser, or a source of water.

3. A growing unit for biological hydrosynthesis, energy generation and storage and/or topsoil restoration according to claim 1, wherein the irrigation liquid comprises a liquid prepared from continuous fermentation of an organic material.

4. A growing unit for biological hydrosynthesis, energy generation and storage and/or topsoil restoration according to claim 1, wherein the irrigation liquid comprises a liquid recovered from the reservoir of the growing unit.

5. A growing unit for biological hydrosynthesis, energy generation and storage and/or topsoil restoration according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir is configured to contain at least a portion of the irrigation liquid therein and to provide an air gap above the irrigation liquid.

6. A system for biological hydrosynthesis, energy generation and storage and/or topsoil restoration, the system comprising: one or more growing units comprising: a container configured for growing plants and containing a growth media located therein, a reservoir located in a lower portion of the container and associated with an outlet portion of the container, and a substantially vertical liquid inlet pipe associated with the reservoir, wherein the growth media comprises a mixture including a first catalyst, wherein the first catalyst stimulates formation of a humified soil. one or more irrigation systems configured to provide one or more irrigation liquids to the one or more growing units; and a liquid recovery system configured to recover a liquid from the one or more growing units, wherein the recovered liquid is a third catalyst, wherein the one or more irrigation liquids are selected from the group consisting of a second catalyst, the third catalyst, a liquid fertiliser, or a source of water, and wherein the third catalyst comprises one or more liquids selected from the group consisting of excess irrigation liquid, a liquid byproduct of biological activity in and/or on the growth media, a water byproduct of biological activity in and/or on the growth media, a liquid generated as a result of biological activity in and/or on the liquid located in the reservoir, or a source of extrinsic water.

7. A system for biological hydrosynthesis, energy generation and storage and/or topsoil restoration according to claim 6, wherein the reservoir of the growing unit is configured to contain a liquid therein and to provide an air gap above the liquid.

8. A system for biological hydrosynthesis, energy generation and storage and/or topsoil restoration according to claim 6, wherein a liquid in the reservoir of the growing unit circulates through the growth media.

9. A method for biological hydrosynthesis, energy generation and storage and/or topsoil restoration, the method comprising the steps of: growing one or more plants in one or more growing units, wherein each of the one or more growing units comprises a container configured for growing plants and containing a growth media located therein; transferring one or more irrigation liquids using one or more irrigation systems to the one or more growing units, and recovering a liquid from an outlet portion of each container associated with a reservoir of the one or more growing units and transferring the recovered liquid using a liquid recovery system to a storage container, wherein the recovered liquid is a third catalyst, wherein the growth media comprises a mixture including a first catalyst, wherein the first catalyst stimulates formation of a humified soil, wherein the one or more irrigation liquids are selected from the group consisting of a second catalyst, the third catalyst, a liquid fertiliser, or a source of water, and wherein the third catalyst comprises one or more liquids selected from the group consisting of excess irrigation liquid, a liquid byproduct of biological activity in and/or on the growth media, a water byproduct of biological activity in and/or on the growth media, a liquid generated as a result of biological activity in and/or on the liquid located in the reservoir, or a source of extrinsic water.

10. A method for biological hydrosynthesis, energy generation and storage and/or topsoil restoration according to claim 9, the method further comprising the step of: transferring the recovered liquid using an irrigation system to the growing unit.

11. A method for biological hydrosynthesis, energy generation and storage and/or topsoil restoration according to claim 9, the method further comprising the step of: transferring the recovered liquid using an irrigation system to a nutrient depleted substrate and/or nutrient depleted soil.

12. A method for biological hydrosynthesis, energy generation and storage and/or topsoil restoration according to claim 9, wherein use of the growth media comprising a mixture including a first catalyst and the one or more irrigation liquids constructs a matrix of biological energy generation points in and/or on the growth media sufficient to facilitate sustained and more efficient energy generation and storage in and/or on the growth media.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0111] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

[0112] FIG. 1 illustrates a system for biological hydrosynthesis, energy generation and storage and/or topsoil restoration according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0113] FIG. 2 illustrates a growing unit for biological hydrosynthesis, energy generation and storage and/or topsoil restoration according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0114] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of a growing unit for biological hydrosynthesis, energy generation and storage and/or topsoil restoration according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0115] FIG. 4 illustrates an end view of a growing unit for biological hydrosynthesis, energy generation and storage and/or topsoil restoration according to an embodiment of the invention; and

[0116] FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of a growing unit for biological hydrosynthesis, energy generation and storage and/or topsoil restoration according to an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0117] In FIG. 1, a system 10 for biological hydrosynthesis, energy generation and storage and/or topsoil restoration is illustrated. System 10 comprises one or more growing units 50 comprising a container 52 configured for growing plants and containing a growth media 60 located therein, a reservoir 72 located in a lower portion of the container 52 and associated with an outlet portion 78 of the container 52, and a substantially vertical liquid inlet pipe 62 associated with the reservoir 72, wherein the growth media 60 comprises a mixture including a first catalyst, wherein the first catalyst stimulates formation of a humified soil. System 10 further comprises one or more irrigation systems 18, 20 configured to provide an irrigation liquid to the one or more growing units 50, wherein the irrigation liquid stimulates biological activity in the growth media and in and adjacent to the reservoir. The irrigation liquid comprises one or more liquids selected from the group consisting of a second catalyst, a liquid recovered from the one or more growing units (a third catalyst), a liquid fertiliser, a source of water. System 10 further comprises a liquid recovery system 24 configured to recover the third catalyst from the one or more growing units 50, wherein the third catalyst comprises one or more liquids selected from the group consisting of excess irrigation liquid, a liquid byproduct of biological activity in and/or on the growth media, a water byproduct of biological activity in and/or on the growth media, a liquid generated as a result of biological activity in and/or on the liquid located in the reservoir, a source of extrinsic water.

[0118] Irrigation system 18 comprises pump 14 configured to transfer an irrigation liquid from one or more storage containers 12 in the form of IBCs through one or more main pipes 26 and one or more interrow pipes 28 to individual growing units 50 which are connected to interrow pipes 28 by one or more branch pipes (not shown).

[0119] Irrigation system 20 transfers the irrigation liquid from one or more storage containers 12 by gravity through one or more main pipes 30 and one or more interrow pipes 32 to individual growing units 50 which are connected to interrow pipes 32 by one or more branch pipes (not shown). Irrigation system 20 comprises one or more valves 24.

[0120] Liquid recovery system 22 transfers recovered liquid (the third catalyst) from one or more growing units 50 via one or more branch pipes (not shown) to one or more interrow pipes 36 and then to main pipes 34 where it is received in a sump 16.

[0121] In use, it is envisaged that liquid generated by biological hydrosynthesis may rise in evapotranspiration from the growing unit and return as precipitation, wherein the precipitation may include rainfall as well as the return of dewfall and humidity during atmospheric inversion events, such as the natural cycle of cooling at the end of the day. In this instance, it will be understood that the third catalyst may not be recovered from the one or more growing units but may be recycled through evapotranspiration and precipitation cycles.

[0122] In FIG. 2-5, a growing unit 50 for intensive biological hydrosynthesis is illustrated. Growing unit 50 comprises a container 52 configured for growing plants and containing a growth media 60 located therein, a reservoir 72 located in a lower portion of the container 52 and associated with an outlet portion 78 of the container 52, and a substantially vertical liquid inlet pipe 62 associated with the reservoir 72, wherein the growth media 60 comprises a mixture including a first catalyst, wherein the first catalyst stimulates formation of a humified soil.

[0123] Container 52 comprises at least one side wall 54 and a bottom wall 56. Reservoir 72 is located in a lower portion of container 52 and comprises a substantially dome shape in cross section. Outlet portion 78 of container 52 is in fluid communication with reservoir 72 and is configured to be connected to a branch pipe 38 to drain excess liquid from reservoir 72. Liquid inlet pipe 62 in the form of a substantially hollow tube comprises an inlet end 64 configured to be connected to a branch pipe (not shown) to receive an irrigation liquid and an outlet end 66 associated with reservoir 72. A screen 68 is located in an upper portion of the liquid inlet pipe 62 in order to filter particulate matter from entering the liquid inlet pipe. Liquid inlet pipe 62 is fastened to a side wall 54 of container 52 by a C-clip 70. Outlet end 66 is retained within reservoir 72 by frictional engagement with aperture 76.

[0124] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word ‘comprising’ and its derivatives including ‘comprises’ and ‘comprise’ include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

[0125] Reference throughout this specification to ‘one embodiment’ or ‘an embodiment’ means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases ‘in one embodiment’ or ‘in an embodiment’ in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

[0126] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.