MULTI-TIERED THERMODYNAMICALLY EFFICIENT FOOD, FEED, AND BIOENERGY PRODUCTION SYSTEM

Abstract

A tiered, modular agriculture system includes a livestock module at ambient ground level and a second module having a second interior microclimate elevated with respect to the livestock module. The second module receives air from the livestock module by way of a noncorrodible, graduated slope, heat collection duct. Each module has an interior microclimate.

Claims

1. A tiered, modular agriculture system, comprising: a livestock module at ambient ground level and having a first interior microclimate; and a second module having a second interior microclimate elevated with respect to the livestock module and receiving air therefrom by way of a noncorrodible, graduated slope, heat collection duct.

2. The tiered, modular agriculture system of claim 1, wherein the second module is a greenhouse containing vertical horticulture towers.

3. The tiered, modular agriculture system of claim 2, wherein the vertical horticulture towers comprise a self-watering mechanism comprising a wicking rope with spaced apart reservoirs affixed thereto.

4. The tiered, modular agriculture system of claim 2, wherein the vertical horticulture towers have a central column with a bowl-shaped concrete base floatingly resting on a layer of water within a bowl-shaped concrete support.

5. The tiered, modular agriculture system of claim 2, wherein the greenhouse further comprises floor vents operative to receive the air from the livestock module.

6. The tiered, modular agriculture system of claim 1, further comprising a wind generator fluidly communicating with an outlet of the second module and a vertical axis turbine operative to receive wind generated from the wind generator and to generate electricity therefrom.

7. The tiered, modular agriculture system of claim 6, further comprising a solar heat collector operative to heat air entering the vertical axis turbine.

8. The tiered, modular agriculture system of claim 1, further comprising bladeless wind turbines operative to generate electricity from air exiting the second module.

9. The tiered, modular agriculture system of claim 1, wherein the livestock module further comprises a variable frequency driven fan.

10. The tiered, modular agriculture system of claim 1, further comprising a wind generator fluidly communicating with an inlet of the livestock module.

11. The tiered, modular agriculture system of claim 1, further comprising a geothermal trench module having an insulative roof, the geothermal trench module being vertically recessed with respect to the livestock module, wherein the geothermal trench module is operative to house vertical horticulture towers or mushroom media bags.

12. The tiered, modular agriculture system of claim 11, wherein the geothermal trench module further comprises a floating marina dock.

13. The tiered, modular agriculture system of claim 1, further comprising an air filtration system.

14. The tiered, modular agriculture system of claim 1, further comprising a dehumidifying chamber.

15. The tiered, modular agriculture system of claim 1, further comprising a pivotable wind scoop.

16. The tiered, modular agriculture system of claim 1, further comprising a liquid desiccant air cooling system.

17. The tiered, modular agriculture system of claim 1, further comprising an effluent collection system comprising a chemical composition sensor.

18. The tiered, modular agriculture system of claim 1, further comprising a module selected from the group consisting of an aquaponics module, a hydroponics module, an aquatic plant production module, and any combination thereof.

19. The tiered, modular agriculture system of claim 1, further comprising a control system operative to control one or more components selected from the group consisting of rollup doors, fan speeds, pumps, activating solenoids, valves, shades, air ventilation louvers, motors, LED lights, and circuits.

20. The tiered, modular agriculture system of claim 1, wherein the livestock module and the second module each have an internal weather station operative to measure air characteristics selected from the group consisting of oxygen content, carbon dioxide content, methane content, relative humidity, dew point, air speed, temperature, and any combination thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a positive pressure ventilated agricultural production system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of tiered units thereof;

[0049] FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of a tiered configuration according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0050] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a wind scoop thereof;

[0051] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a transition region across tiered units thereof;

[0052] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a fungiculture unit thereof;

[0053] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a fungiculture unit according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0054] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of climate-isolated livestock housing unit thereof;

[0055] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a greenhouse module thereof;

[0056] FIG. 9 is a side schematic view of a positive pressure ventilation turbine system thereof;

[0057] FIG. 10 is another schematic view thereof;

[0058] FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a serpentine aquaculture pond of the system of FIG. 1;

[0059] FIG. 12 is a schematic view of biochar production system thereof; and

[0060] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a positive pressure ventilated agricultural production system according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

[0061] FIG. 14 is a top schematic view of the turbine system therefor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0062] The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

[0063] Broadly, one embodiment of the present invention is a comprehensive system that produces conventional agriculture products and byproducts such as fertilizer; harnesses heat from livestock as a component of an internal combustion bio-engine; and produces wind and solar energy in a zero-waste process. This system may harness wind and heat energy to create vacuum ventilation in a multi-tiered ductile system, thereby reducing energy needed for ventilation.

[0064] The system utilizes a tunnel, dome, trench, or a series thereof, to move the most air with the least energy while using a vacuum vortex wind silo to harness energy from naturally rising heat. Exterior wind energy may be harnessed to further reduce energy needed for ventilating and maintaining multiple interior microclimate zones.

[0065] In some embodiments of the present invention, the system may comprise pre-engineered clear span buildings, including both clear translucent and white insulated coverings for clear span buildings. A white-colored building can reduce cooling cost by up to 60% as opposed to a black building. To collect solar energy in the form of heat, a black interior layer may be provided within a translucent glass or poly surface to absorb heat.

[0066] Building orientation may be selected to increase solar energy efficiency via solar geometry of buildings, enabling a smaller air conditioning system. For example, increasing photosynthesis efficiency per dollar of investment means that a farmer can purchase more acres of marginally productive land for less money than prime farmland because this system increases the value of feed and forage calories produced. In the Northern Hemisphere, a building facing south is subject to increased direct sunlight so that less energy is required to heat the building during cold weather and more electricity and/or heat can be produced. Building orientation can also be optimized to reduce the air conditioning system size that might otherwise be required to keep the building interior cool during warm weather.

[0067] Ruminant animals are furnaces that may be used to heat a greenhouse, poultry, and egg operations. The livestock housed in a temperature and humidity-controlled environment can optimize health and food production while beneficial use nutrient recovery systems can be optimized for maximum value recovery in food, feed, medicine, distillates, and energy. All food, feed, and energy value increases come sustainably from animal agriculture organic nutrient streams and exothermic animal heat. A system housing sheep differs from a system housing cattle. For example, small ruminants like sheep give off less heat than a larger ruminant like a cow, so the sheep livestock tunnel, the down gradient geothermal tunnel, and the upgradient greenhouse may be sized appropriately to achieve the ideal air flow, relative humidity, and temperature needs of sheep.

[0068] A conventional free stall livestock barn may be modified to serve as the ground level livestock housing facility within hybrid system conversion of existing livestock housing systems.

[0069] A swine production facility may supplant the room in the livestock production facility at ground level.

[0070] Air from the livestock module may be routed to a greenhouse with vertical horticulture towers. The vertical towers may be manufactured, for example, of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The plants may be watered without pumps utilizing the following self-watering mechanism. A rayon wicking rope may be routed through the tower. Sealed funnels pointed downwards (reservoirs) are waxed or glued (affixed) to the rope, spaced apart about every 8 inches in series with cotton gin trash in the air space therebetween. Rayon is a highly absorbent fiber that wicks nutrient water or compost tea into the cotton gin trash at each level. The difference in wicking ability between the rayon rope to the cotton gin trash enables nutrient water to form a pool at the bottom of each sealed funnel. The pool waters the roots of the plants and enables water to wick upwards through the rayon rope to the next funnel.

[0071] In some embodiments, the center of each vertical column is mirrored to reflect sunlight, or light emitted by LEDs, to the plants in surrounding vertical columns.

[0072] In some embodiments, the nutrient water is formulated to mimic region-specific conditions representative of a physically separate location. Biochar may be used in the formulation process.

[0073] In some embodiments, the vertical farming greenhouse module may have a central PVC column having as a base a precast concrete bowl-shaped base that rides/floats (floatingly rests) within another concrete bowl-shaped support. About 2 inches of water separates the two concrete bowls, reducing friction between them. This allows the full weight of the growing columns in the vertical farming greenhouse to be turned with a very small motor, such as a ½ hp or 2 hp motor. The structural beam serves to keep them in balance from above.

[0074] The heat derived from the exothermic metabolism of livestock and heat derived from solar energy within the greenhouse may form an updraft which collects in the graduated up-gradient sloped heat collection duct. From the duct, the heated air is vacuumed into the vacuum vortex silo where it joins an updraft from the heat of a dry kiln and biochar process, generating interior wind with sufficient energy to turn a vertical axis turbine retrofitted with a scoop fan. The turbine and scoop fan force the air entrained in the rising vortex up through a raised solar heat collector, operative to generate electricity from air exiting the system and throttling diaphragm to combine with the atmospheric wind.

[0075] Alternatively, the heat from livestock can first be harnessed to lower the heating costs for up-gradient poultry, eggs, and greenhouse operations. For example, heat from livestock may generate an updraft into a graduated slope heat collection duct and pulled by a solar vacuum vortex silo into the floor level vents of the vertical tower hydroponic greenhouse. In other words, the floor vents are operative to receive air from the livestock module.

[0076] In some embodiments, an elevated poultry or egg production operation may be added. A poultry production or egg production facility may supplant ruminant animals.

[0077] In some embodiments, a livestock production housing facility and/or elevated greenhouse may be added upgradient of a ground level unit in the livestock facility or upgradient of the poultry and egg production facility.

[0078] In some embodiments, heated air from a livestock tunnel may rise and be collected in an upgradient sloped heat collection duct where the air is filtered and purified with salt infused biochar and an ultraviolet (UV) filter before being distributed into upgradient greenhouse floor vents.

[0079] In some embodiments, a water curtain is positioned between the modules to both cool the air and to aid in air filtration.

[0080] In some embodiments, activated carbon air filtration may be used in the system to address odor issues commonly associated with animal agriculture. For example, residential facilities up gradient of livestock production operations may be heated with air from the livestock production operations after it is filtered through activated carbon air filtration systems. The activated carbon used in these air filtration systems may be bio char produced onsite. Residential facilities may also or alternatively be located up gradient of a geothermal trench and may help regulate the temperature of the residential housing facility.

[0081] Warm air rises through the greenhouse and may be collected in an upgradient sloped heat collection duct and is deposited in the vacuum vortex silo at an angle which aids a turning of the modified vertical axis turbine. The vertical axis wind generator may be elevated to vacuum air or recessed to push air through the system. Alternatively, a vertical axis wind generator may be placed in both locations (i.e., lowest elevation and highest elevation) and modified to push and pull air simultaneously through the system. An augmented vertical axis wind generator or a standard vertical axis wind generator may assist with vacuum ventilation, or no wind generator may be used. The combination of wind and solar can achieve 80% of energy needs.

[0082] A ribbon of rollup doors on tracks act as a diaphragm throttling system for the vortex silo. The doors may be transparent, made of PVC or glass, and may roll on bearings on a track that is slightly twisted to create a leading-edge Vortex at the bottom to create and compound vibrations of bladeless wind turbines positioned on the floor of the vortex silo. This compounds the energy in electricity created as heat escapes the thermodynamically efficient multi-tiered ductile system. Bladeless wind turbines generate electricity for 40% less money as compared to traditional wind turbines. Bladeless turbines can be used both on and off the grid and in hybrid wind-solar systems.

[0083] Non-corrodible air distribution ducts and variable frequency driven fans may serve as a low-grade heat transfer system.

[0084] Moving parts in the system may be reduced by including pneumatic air cylinders, opening and closing air ventilation louvers, and water flush valves for livestock housing and hydroponic tower grow systems.

[0085] In some embodiments, a geothermal trench may be present at the ventilation system input to address livestock heat stress, depending on the climate. The geothermal trench is an ideal environment for mushroom production, addressing concerns with livestock, and the livestock heat rises to address a high heating cost in poultry production. However, plants that produce oxygen and take in carbon dioxide may also be grown under LED light in the geothermal trench. Exterior air may enter a geothermal trench or geothermal pipe system under an elevated greenhouse base. The greenhouse base may be supplied by earth and excavated from the geothermal trench. Air may be regulated by harnessing low input energy transfers in temperature and oxygen or CO.sub.2 concentration for a benefit of the upgradient downstream portion of the system in which the air will enter. Appropriate climate parameters in each climate zone may be maintained as described herein.

[0086] The geothermal trench may be covered by insulative roofing material such as hollow core concrete panels. If water collects naturally in the geothermal trench, then a temperature regulated environment for aquaculture may exist and a floating marina dock may be assembled under a rack hanger structure for vertical farming and mushroom media bags.

[0087] A microclimate regulation relationship may exist between some or all microclimate zones. A geothermal fungiculture microclimate may be regulated by geothermal energy and prepares the air as it moves through a bioball, salt infused biochar air filtration, cooling, dehumidifying chamber and into a noncorrodible air duct distribution system to regulate livestock temperature. Each of the microclimate systems under clear span tunnel buildings may be up gradient of the previous microclimate and use the heat generated by the exothermic digestion of feed and forage calories.

[0088] If a system omits the use of a geothermal tunnel, cooling and dehumidifying of ventilation air distributed to livestock may be maintained and regulated by liquid desiccant systems.

[0089] Exterior air may enter the geothermal trench through a pivoting wind scoop which always faces into the wind and filters the air using salt infused biochar. The wind scoop creates a positive pressure air space in the geothermal trench independent of exterior wind direction to prevent any pathogens found in backflow of air from the livestock facility. The air may move through the trench and may be regulated before entering the bio ball and salt infused biochar air filter within the liquid desiccant air cooling system as cool air is distributed to livestock in non-corrodible air distribution ducts.

[0090] The dual concrete floatation construction described with respect to horticulture towers above may also be applied to the rotating wind scoop to reduce the number of moving parts and reduce any friction to fluid friction levels.

[0091] Subterranean temperatures in the geothermal trench cool air entering the livestock housing facility from the atmosphere at ground level, and the heat that the livestock produce rises to heat poultry and or hydroponic or aquaponics systems producing vegetables, fruits, herbs, and fish. The system may be a component of decentralized food production and can be applied at most latitudes worldwide addressing food shortages, fiber deficiencies, nutrient deficiencies renewable energy production, soil health, and supply chain issues at a local level. Decentralization of food production results in lower food insecurity through supply chain issues and fossil fuel dependance. These systems can be used in aggregate surrounding large population centers to increase food security and decrease fragility in this food supply chain. The anti-fragile approach to the farming business model runs counter to consolidation due to inflationary monetary policy that has been in place since the inception of the petrodollar system.

[0092] The base of the multi-tiered ductile system may be prepared using earth moving equipment, such as self-propelled dirt pans, bull dozers, track hoes, and dump trucks. Earth may be excavated from the geothermal trench and deposited to grade the livestock housing facility to flush to drain, and most of the excavated earth may be deposited around large diameter geothermal pipes to form the elevated base of the greenhouse, pyrolysis biochar production system, dry kiln, and vacuum vortex wind turbine silo.

[0093] In some embodiments, geologies with clay-based soils and/or impermeable chalk layers protect the water table. If soil type and geology features require pond liners or tanks, for example due to high percolation features, then those materials can be used in construction of system to protect the water table in those environments.

[0094] In some embodiments, the system comprises a promising alternative to land application of manure. Wood waste, biomass and manure solids can be converted via pyrolysis or gasification to heat, electricity, and biochar for a variety of uses. Pyrolysis of livestock manure produces biochar, bio-oil, and syngas. Pyrolysis at a temperature between 400-550° C. reaches a compromise between char pH and electrical conductivity for biochar use as soil amendment.

[0095] When used as a soil amendment, biochar increases the percolation rate and water absorption of clay-based soils, thereby reducing overland flow of organic nutrients. Biochar also increases the water retention capacity of sand-based soils. This system may address soil health by producing valuable nutrient sinks using bio char nutrient filtration systems to absorb organic nutrients.

[0096] Biochar in livestock feed rations reduces livestock methane emissions and antibiotic use.

[0097] Biochar may also be used in developing crop specific compost teas with region-specific nutrient profiles. Some biochar may provide soil nutrients and increase soil microbial populations from specific regions and microclimates, assisting in the growth of crops with flavor and nutrient profiles from a specific terroir or region. The chemical composition of agricultural effluent may be determined in a pipeline of an effluent collection system with chemical composition sensors. Designer hydroponic soil microbes and micronutrients may be added to replicate soil microbe and nutrient profiles in combination with terroir and region-specific microclimates via interior microclimate generation to produce high value crops with this system. In some embodiments, the system may include algorithms to produce designer bio char with crop and application specific profiles.

[0098] The bio char can be used in air filtration applications. Biochar may also be used to recover nutritional and microbial value from livestock nutrient streams and distribute nutrients and microbes to crops grown in vertical hydroponic towers or in flow bed medias. The bio char organic nutrient filtration of animal waste nutrients streams may also be used in many other organic nutrient filtration systems, such as municipal wastewater systems.

[0099] The system may comprise an aquaponics module and/or a hydroponics module. If hydroponic vertical tower farming methods are more appropriate for the local market than aquaponic systems, for example due to return on investment, then hydroponic systems can then be utilized within the system instead of aquaponic systems.

[0100] In some embodiments, the ventilation and vortex vacuum systems may be assisted by a multiple power source wind generator rotation assist system to improve efficiency on a more consistent basis.

[0101] Using lithium ion and salt flow batteries and aqueous sulfur flow battery technologies, energy can be stored for when the sun doesn't shine, and the wind doesn't blow. Stored energy can turn modified vertical axis wind turbines to directly ventilate from both the inlet and the outlet of the multi-tiered ductile food production system. The modified direct ventilation turbines can also be powered by alternating current electrical service from utilities in addition to being powered via motors powered by the direct current energy stored in batteries with energy generated by the wind turbines.

[0102] In some embodiments, the system may operate with standard AC power systems using fans with or without variable frequency drives. A Tunnel Jet Fan operated via weather stations and variable frequency motor drives can maintain optimal airflow within the multi-tiered habitats independent of modified vertical axis turbines (VATs with windmill scoop blades perpendicular to the ground which push air into the system and pull air out of the system depending on application and orientation of windmill blades). Airflow created by tunnel jet fans create vacuum at intake, exhaust at the vortex silo turns “direct drive” windmill blades and VATs even in the absence of any exterior atmospheric wind which generates electricity as air enters and escapes the system. The resultant generation of electricity by the turning of the modified VATs in the absence of atmospheric wind further increases the efficiency of energy applied to the tunnel jet fan. The circular configuration of the thermodynamically efficient food, feed, and bio energy production system could be considered an “internal combustion vortex engine”. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,086,823 B2 to Michaud, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0103] Duckweed and aquatic plant production systems may be utilized in some geologies and topographies. Duckweed and aquatic plant production modules can be covered with low tunnel clear span greenhouse covers or surrounded with windbreaks.

[0104] The free-floating aquatic plant production, fermentation, and fractionation system may be land based or water-based on a modified barge producing food grade glucose and protein, ethanol, and animal feed or exclusively ensiled animal feed.

[0105] Duckweed protein is more like animal protein than any other edible plant. Duckweed protein can more cost effectively produce plant-based food products than any other source with lower fossil fuel use and lower pesticide and herbicide use. Sugars created by duckweed may be used for fermentation of synthetic proteins, animal feed, glucose production, ethanol, and food, and may also be used in gel caps for nutraceuticals and medicinal herbs produced in the greenhouse and fungiculture operation within the multitiered thermodynamically efficient food, feed, and bioenergy production system.

[0106] Evergreen trees and bamboo\switch cane can be configured in a north-south configuration to allow for greater efficiency as wind breaks to block the prevailing wind direction to increase the efficiency of duckweed and algae growth in aquatic feed production operations. To be eligible for organic certification, land may have no prohibited materials applied for three years immediately preceding harvest. Bamboo takes about three years to get established which coincides with the length of time to obtain organic certification.

[0107] Duckweed starch can be used as feed or converted into valuable sugar for fermentation into fuels, food ingredients or feed products. The aquatic feed can then be fermented to produce sugar, ethanol, and products derived from sugar and ethanol. The fermented remainder of the feed can be fed to livestock.

[0108] This energy produced by warm-blooded animals mostly comes from food. Food represents stored chemical energy (potential energy), which is converted into other forms of energy within the body when the food is metabolized. Metabolism refers to all a body's chemical reactions. A variety of plant types, including shrubs, grass, legumes, and forbs can make up the forage and browse components. Choices depend on the livestock component, must be tolerant of grazing, and must be productive under shade.

[0109] A small amount of seaweed in cattle feed may reduce methane emissions in beef cattle by 82%. Molasses may be used to ensure the seaweed is well mixed into the cattle feed.

[0110] Increases in caloric energy conversion efficiencies may also be achieved by utilizing forms of Vermiculture such as worm, cricket, and black soldier fly protein to reduce a “per dollar of investment” exposure to heat stress horticulture. Other forms of the systems benefit most by the ability to use the energy products and byproducts produced. In addition, vermifuge crop seeds can be blended into seed blends of the cropping system to address internal parasites of livestock without use of antibiotics.

[0111] Technologies such as fenceless grazing technologies and herding drones lower the capital costs of land improvements and operational costs on farms. A “zero grazing machine” may mow the outlying tracks of sod and bring the forage back to the system, creating feed and bio energy. In sod farm areas where housing and growth is expected to reduce the value of hundreds of thousands of acres of sod for lawns, this system can maintain the sod farm until the housing sector comes back in a low-cost manner. Zero Grazer technology allows more forage calories (crops) to be collected from greater distances than livestock can productively walk. This increases the capital efficiency of livestock infrastructure, increases revenue, and allows tax advantaged growth while addressing fractionation/division of farmland for higher utilization within the system. For example, zero grazing can optimize production yields of meat or milk.

[0112] As used herein, silvopasture when applied to open pastureland (without trees) refers to planting bamboo/river cane which is fast growing and can be used in a variety of products such as building materials, pulp/paper, biomass for energy production, and ruminant feed (leaves). The bamboo can provide shade and can be harvested incrementally without having to be replanted, thereby increasing the profitability and efficiency of the silvopastured operation. Currently, silvopasture systems primarily involve cattle, goats, or sheep but can incorporate poultry and rabbits as well.

[0113] The system enhances the profitability of silvopasture operations and growing systems by providing a form of harvestable concentrated energy. Timberland, which has been falling in real value over the past 15 years, can be purchased and partially harvested, leaving a double row of trees adjacent to a strip of pasture in an east-west configuration so that livestock can graze the grass in between the double rows of trees. The shade from the trees predominantly shades other trees rather than the grassy area, thereby increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis and enhancing the profitability and yield of the silvopastured operation. The livestock benefit from the microclimate around the trees including the shade and use the calories that would otherwise have been exerted for cooling, heating, or body maintenance to produce milk and meat, while fertilizing the soil and sequestering carbon. On existing pastureland, conical shaped trees can be grown to further increase photosynthesis in the pastured rows in an east-west configuration to minimize shade on the pasture, thereby increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis. The east-west configuration also allows the west to east Jetstream to move air (prevailing wind direction) to cool livestock in low wind via evaporative cooling/evapotranspiration. In high wind areas such as the plains states where wind breaks are beneficial to livestock in winter, a north/south configuration of trees is more suitable.

[0114] Food processing systems may be used in some embodiments.

[0115] Drone mapping of topography and soil and geological conditions specific to each location in which the system is placed can be used to reduce surface water runoff or groundwater pollution as well as topographically mapping areas, such as maps used for road construction.

[0116] Decentralized microcomputer controls may be utilized to maximize efficiency. With artificial intelligence and machine learning control systems, a multiple market food system can be specialized across the wide variety of crops and animals local to population centers. Control systems could be decentralized or centralized or a hybrid. Algorithms are employed to coordinate with weather stations within the system to create ideal environments for whatever is being produced within the specific microclimates. The algorithms control the rollup doors and diaphragm fan speeds, variable frequency drive on tunnel jet fan motors, variable frequency drives on pump motors pumping compost tea or recirculating water for aquaponic systems, activating solenoid and valve systems to operate misters on livestock affecting evaporative cooling of livestock, motors operating shade reels in a greenhouse, air vent bypass valves, knife valves, etc.

[0117] Each microclimate may be measured and controlled by weather stations operative to measure air characteristics and connected to a programmable logic control system that uses electric powered motors and pneumatic air actuated ball valves to increase or decrease the speed of ventilation fans or open and close louvers, diaphragms, valves, circuits and increase or decrease the rotation speed of pump motors. For example, the speed at which water is flowing within tanks may be optimized for fish growth, health, and energy expenditures. Controlling power of a pump motor can increase or decrease the speed of water passing through a venturi valve entraining oxygen into an aquaponic or hydroponic system.

[0118] In some embodiments, rollup doors or air louvers may be set and adjusted manually based on internal climate conditions.

[0119] Microcomputers may operate and monitor various parts of the system to maintain ideal microclimates for production of various food and energy products within the system. These microcomputers such as Raspberry Pi® may be interconnected via ethernet, WI-FI®, and/or Bluetooth®.

[0120] Air and water inflows and outflows (oxygen content, relative humidity, CO.sub.2 content, dew point, air speed, air temperature, methane content) may be controlled and regulated through the various internal microclimate zones using data from internal weather stations to modulate louvers, valves, fan motor rotation, and pump motor rotation using programmable logic control programs. Roll up doors and air louvers may be controlled by weather stations, feeding information into operating systems that control airflow and relative humidity levels within the microclimates. Pneumatic water flush valves for livestock preprocessed feed and forage nutrients may be activated at intervals adequate to maintain a certain threshold of air quality, for example.

[0121] Use of planting and harvesting robots can lower labor costs, reduce management costs, and increase long term productivity by addressing issues associated with aging farm labor populations. The robots may be operated using AI and Machine Learning.

[0122] The system may also be used to predict how eating certain foods affects a person's specific metabolism, microbiome, endocrine system, etc. These predictive systems may utilize artificial intelligence (AI). In other words, the predictive analysis artificial intelligence system can be fluidly used from seed to human health consequence and outcome. AI fluid predictive analysis can be used in many other areas of food and energy production, medicine production, transportation, and logistics.

[0123] Pre-processed organic nutrients may be transferred into bio energy value and food and feed value within the system for the purpose of maximizing the value of each feed and forage calorie.

[0124] A software system that analyzes local markets for maximum value may identify scarcity and seasonality of food and feed products. The system may account for transportation cost of production scarcity and proximity to achieve the highest output with the lowest input, thereby maximizing feed and forage caloric value.

[0125] Market analysis software systems may be used in some embodiments for predictive fluid analysis to maximize feed caloric value. The airflow systems, water pumping systems, air quality monitoring systems and LED lighting systems may all be controlled by a central control system using predictive analysis.

[0126] The predictive analysis software system may also predict restaurant and food service needs and the time food products take to grow from a seed to delivery at the restaurant or food service system, while measuring and predicting nutrient requirements, microclimate requirements, labor requirements, and transportation requirements to deliver the product on time. As a result, the restaurant or grocery can reduce the amount of inventory while still meeting demand. Algorithms employed to predict crop growth rates and delivery dates enable chefs, for example, to better manage their inventories and provide the freshest ingredients possible. A fluid predictive analysis control system may measure the nutrient requirements from a seed or seedling in a hydroponic system to predict delivery time to a food service customer. Ladder logic adaptations using “yes when” or “if then” scenarios for nutrient, microclimate, and crop variety information, as well as timed scenarios, can fluidly predict a time from planting a seed until the product delivers to the customer, based on variations within the nutrient stream and the microclimate, seasonal hours of sunlight, and supplemental LED lighting.

[0127] Algorithms to produce batch mixes of designer bio char inoculated by compost tea with the soil nutrient and enzymatic profiles of specific soil types in microclimates to grow products that closely resemble food products produced in specific terroirs and microclimates at most latitudes worldwide within the system to access scarcity while addressing supply chain issues. The designer compost tea and designer bio char are grown and scaled using glucose produced by enzymatic conversion of starches from free-floating aquatic plants used as a feedstock to grow the nutrient profiles specific to crops from specific regions, soil types, and microclimates. Algorithms may also be employed to predict the greatest scarcity and highest profitability crops to grow within certain markets based on demographic and income criteria along with location and proximity to microclimates growing products that must be transported long distances. Variables and transportation costs such as fuel cost, oil price, and electricity cost can be fluidly factored into production analysis and control systems to predict return on investment (ROI) in real time. The fluid predictive analysis of cropping systems for on-time delivery may serve both agricultural uses and medical uses.

[0128] Algorithms within the multitiered thermodynamically efficient food feed and bio energy production system can be employed to create efficiencies in the exchange of monetary energy with respect to trade between countries. Specific to the system, labor-intensive crops such as berries can be traded from low labor cost countries for commodity grains or other goods that are needed, for example. In this way, the exchange of monetary energy is made more efficient for both parties (countries/populations) involved. The low cost of labor has a value add to the industrialized (berry/herb/fruit/vegetable) importing country where labor costs are high and the industrialized country which has infrastructure necessary to support large scale mechanized agriculture can supply the underdeveloped country more efficiently with grain crops, for example, that can be harvested more efficiently by machines as technology is applied. Regarding livestock proteins, their production is made more efficient by reducing heat stress within the system located in hot humid equatorial regions, for example, that can more efficiently produce fruits and vegetables than typically lower labor cost than non-equatorial industrialized countries. In addition, the less developed, low labor cost country may use materials such as bamboo to create the clear span structures and vertical grow towers to reduce infrastructure cost, whereas the industrialized country may have infrastructure and technological support to employ higher levels of technology, such as computerized control and monitoring systems, harvest robots etc.

[0129] The algorithms predict energy needs within the system at a given time based on what products are being produced and what season it is or what historical weather pattern may occur. The algorithms predict whether energy is best used within the system to maintain a microclimate or sold to the grid during peak energy demand.

[0130] This bio system design may reduce water use per unit of production for animal agriculture by incorporating integrated biosystems to generate fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, fish, and shrimp while providing low energy heating and cooling systems such as liquid desiccant cooling systems and absorption chillers integrated into renewable energy production systems such as geothermal, solar, anaerobic, biologically produced heat, and wind energy systems. Various low grade heat energy reuse and recovery systems may be used to reduce multiple forms of heat energy waste. Low grade heat recovery systems, such as orientation and shape of multi-tiered ducted buildings, liquid desiccant air cooling and dehumidifying, and absorption chilling systems, are low energy utilization systems that can be applied to most locations to decentralize food and medicine production, reducing dependence on petrochemical and fossil fuels, herbicides, pesticides, and antibiotic use in livestock.

[0131] Liquid desiccant cooling systems may be utilized in some environments.

[0132] Salt water retentate applications may include aquaculture, liquid desiccant cooling systems, evaporative cooling systems, etc., adding value, for example, to drinking water infrastructure for populated areas.

[0133] In most climates worldwide, soil types, and topographies, a hydroponic and aquaponic vertical farming system may be set up local to a population. Energy involved in heat conversions and transfers may be optimized in each climate zone in the most efficient design based on the local environment and market needs.

[0134] If the system is in a latitude or climate with colder temperatures, then a greater number of livestock may be used in system design to generate adequate heat to maintain a vertical farm greenhouse climate zone. On the more extreme north and south latitudes where winters are harsh, the system creates monetary efficiencies through higher heat recovery values and local production of fruits and vegetables within the system increasing the food value and enzymatic value of fruits and vegetables and increasing supply chain efficiencies through local production. If the exterior climate is not conducive for year-round growth of biological nutrient recovery and filtration, then the system can incorporate larger mechanical filtration systems to a greater extent.

[0135] If the system is in a low humidity and temperate environment, more naturally suited to reducing livestock heat stress through evaporative cooling systems, then ventilation systems may comprise entrained air technologies such as tunnel jet fan ventilation systems. The volume of each segment of the tunnel systems may be based on the ideal temperature and air flow rate for each specific species of plant or animal product being produced. A range of 1 mph to 15 miles per hour may be appropriate for a wide variety of plant and animal species.

[0136] If the system is in a hot, humid environment, then the volume and length of geothermal trench or cistern may be increased to provide a constant regulated air temperature to the livestock housing unit. If the warm season temperatures are too warm to require excess exothermal heat from livestock housing unit, floor vents in the greenhouse may close and allow heat to pass through to the vacuum vortex silo.

[0137] The system may produce or assist in producing algae products and plant-based products. Fermentable sugars, cultured meat products, cultured dairy products, and cultured egg products may be produced within the system. The products of the system may also be used in cosmetic, health, and beauty applications, including medicine. There are many bio energy applications that can benefit by being produced within the system. This biosystem may be used to provide fresh, local, minimally processed, enzyme- and nutrient-rich foods as well as feed, including fruits, vegetables, herbs, fungi, meat, fish, shrimp, dairy, renewable energy, and bioenergy near population centers for efficient distribution.

[0138] The system may also produce various forms of bio energy, as well as collect low grade sources of heat to reduce livestock heat stress as well as keep food products cold and other forms of useful heat exchange within the system, thereby reducing energy cost and dependence on fossil fuels.

[0139] To grow monetary energy sustainably, the model may take advantage of volatility created by a weakness in conventional agriculture in which mono crop growing systems which are concentrated to the highest yielding soil types or topographies can be affected by weather such as drought, creating scarcity and price increases, or bumper crops creating abundance and price drops.

[0140] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, and 3 through 14, FIG. 1 illustrates a food production system according to an embodiment of the present invention, including vertical farming 50, a milking parlor 39, livestock modules 30 having a livestock traffic lane/feed lane, with positive airflow and a climate gap 38 at each end, liquid desiccant cooling, aquaculture, a geothermal trench, pretreated water pumped to hydroponic/aquaponic units, biochar production, bladder hot water and an anaerobic digester 80, cold storage utilizing an absorption chiller system 170, fungiculture grow rooms 20 with exiting air treated utilizing bio balls, biogas boiler, containers for flush water, desiccant, fermentation, water, ethanol, glucose, and pretreated water, and a steam turbine. Effluent produced from an anaerobic digester is discharged to a pond 90 which may have perennial evergreen bamboo cane windbreaks.

[0141] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate the tiered nature of the inventive food production system. The modules are illustrated as tunnels, which are advantageous because they contain less airspace than a barn, requiring less energy to heat and cool the space, i.e., the energy does not dissipate within the tunnel. However, existing structures can be retrofitted to serve as modules for the inventive system. As shown in FIG. 2A, air is drawn into a below ground level fungiculture module 20, for example, using a wind scoop 70 that rotates to receive wind regardless of which direction the wind blows. The fungiculture module 20 may have a geothermal trench, which is operative to maintain an ideal temperature of about 53-60° F. The fungi consume oxygen and produce carbon dioxide. Warm air rises and is routed to a ground level livestock module 30, within which livestock such as ruminants or pigs are kept in a microclimate having a temperature ranging from the temperature of the fungiculture module up to about 65 or 75° F. The livestock consume oxygen and produce carbon dioxide. Due to the exothermic nature of livestock, hot air is produced and is routed to an above ground module 40 containing poultry, perhaps for egg production, within a microclimate having a temperature of about 70-75° F. Hot air rising from the poultry module 40 is routed to an elevated vertical tower farm or greenhouse 50, which may be kept at a temperature of about 75-85° F. The greenhouse crops consume carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. Air exiting the greenhouse 50 is combined with air from a kiln heated with bio-oil and/or biochar production, to drive a vertical vortex turbine 60, thereby recovering energy from the exhaust air. As FIG. 2B demonstrates, the modules may be reconfigured. In this case, the illustrated system includes a fungiculture module 20; a poultry, egg production, and/or ruminant module 30; and a vertical hydroponic farm 50. As shown, the air is collected and transported via graduated ascending ducts 34. While not shown, pipes may be run from the geothermal trench under other modules to further control the temperatures.

[0142] FIG. 3 illustrates the weathervane windsock/wind scoop 70 of the system. As shown, the wind scoop 70 has a body 74, rotatable on a base 76 via a track 77, with a horizontally oriented inlet 75 and a vertically oriented outlet (not shown). A sail or fin 72 mounted on top of the body 74 enables the wind scoop 70 to always face the wind. In the event that insufficient airflow is produced, windmill blades 78 may be used to draw air into the module 20.

[0143] Turning to FIG. 4, a geothermal cistern or trench module 20 is shown, which may have an inner space 22 about 15-20 feet deep to precool incoming air. The air is drawn in via a weathervane windsock 70 which pivots on a bearing track (see FIG. 3) so that it always faces into the wind. Solar panels 24 installed on top of the module may heat desiccant. The panels may have polymer/glass covers, a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liner, and a low tunnel passing therethrough. The panels may be separated from the trench by a layer of hard insulation and hollow core insulative panels 26. Rising air leaving the module is filtered utilizing biochar 27 and cooled with a liquid desiccant cooling system 29 in a duct 28 having bio balls to increase surface area before being distributed in a livestock module 30, via ducts 34, to livestock in free stalls 32.

[0144] FIG. 5 illustrates a fungiculture and aquaculture module 120 in a geothermal cistern. The airspace 122 is separated from a water region 121 with a floor or barrier 126. Mushroom bags 123 are suspended in the airspace 122. Water or nutrients 80 are released into the water region 121.

[0145] FIG. 6 illustrates a fungiculture/aquaculture module 220 according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the module 220 is provided with a floating dock 226, enabling a worker to access the mushroom bags 123. Air rising from the module 220 is additionally cooled and filtered by a water wall 229.

[0146] A schematic of a multiple livestock module 30 is shown in FIG. 7. The module 30 may house a variety of livestock within a common structure, such as pork, dairy cattle, beef cattle, poultry, sheep, goats, and egg-laying poultry. Midway along the unit 30, climate gaps 38 are provided on each end of a feed lane 36 to maintain livestock health. A climate gap 38 may be provided for access to, for example, a milking parlor 39. The unit 30 may have a flush lane 31 for collecting waste between each segment, as well as at least one livestock traffic lane (not shown). Air flow may be enhanced utilizing tunnel jet fans 35, in addition to the air delivered by vent 36.

[0147] FIG. 8 illustrates a greenhouse 50 containing multitiered vertical growing towers 52 which draw water from an aquaculture pond 54, e.g., wicked via rayon rope and/or by drip irrigation (not shown), which may contain free floating aquatic plants, such as duckweed. The towers 52 may have a central reflective coating and LED strip lights (not shown) to distribute light to the crops. As shown, the base of each tower 52 is a concrete bowl 51, which floats on a layer of water within another concrete bowl 53. The towers 52 may be rotatably supported by an overhead structural beam 56, such as by cables and steel rods connected by turnbuckles (not shown). Air rises from floor level vents (not shown) to enter a gradually elevated duct 58, delivering air to a turbine module 60 including bladeless turbines 62 and a vertical vortex turbine 64. Waste may be collected and treated within an anaerobic digester 80.

[0148] As shown in FIG. 9, the vertical turbine 64 and the bladeless turbines 62 may be housed in a modified silo or grain bin 66, helping to drive the air through the system. Raised solar heat collectors 68 on the dome of the silo 66 further heat the air.

[0149] As shown in FIG. 10, ducts 58 from various modules 50 may be routed directly to a common turbine silo 66 in some embodiments.

[0150] FIG. 11 discloses an artificial wetland or serpentine duckweed pond 90. Effluent from the anaerobic digester 80 is discharged to an entrance 92 to the pond and moves slowly through the serpentine track, enabling duckweed and/or azolla to grow. Between lengths, bamboo/river cane windbreaks 94 allow the plants to grow undisturbed. The aquatic plants may be harvested at an oil boom 96 that extends from one edge to the other edge of one corner of the track. Water leaving 98 the pond may have solids separated and dewatered for further use, while the water remaining may be reused or discharged. The plants may be fermented, for example.

[0151] Biomass may be converted at about 800° F. to biochar and heated water utilizing a system 100 such as the one shown in FIG. 12, although a biomass kiln may be produced by retrofitting a roll-of dumpster with a lid (for biochar removal), a water pipe loop system, a high heat duct fan, a supply control valve, and a variable speed air supply fan (not shown). The biomass enters a primary pit 101 to produce an intermediate byproduct that may be delivered to a hygienization unit 102, and then to a digester 103, adding or removing gas to a gas flare 104. Biomass from the digester 103 may be routed through a gasometer 105 and combusted in a furnace 106 to produce electrical energy. Heat is recovered by a heat exchanger 107. Solids from the digester may be removed as raw fertilizer for agricultural use. Exhaust gas 108 may be routed to the turbine silo 66.

[0152] While a linear or parallel module arrangement is envisioned, the system 110 may have modules 120, 130, 150, 160 arranged in a ring, with air being collected at a central turbine 164, as shown in FIG. 13.

[0153] FIG. 14 illustrates a series of angled vents 158 feeding air into turbine dome 166 from several modules 150, further creating a vortex.

[0154] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.