Project Overview
I spent a considerable amount of time thinking about which topic I would explore in order to satisfy the requirements for this project. I have been exploring with micro-processors and their ability to control automated systems for some time now. For this project, I decided to incorporate a couple of concepts that were revealed to me while completing the first two courses in this Masters program. During course EDUC 6101, we were introduced to the “Bronx Green Machine” and the transformative ways of Stephen Ritz. I was particularly drawn to the idea of a “Green Wall” and his desire to grow food. I have begun to look into the possibility of participating in a “Green Wall” project with a few of my colleagues at my high school. While reflecting on this assignment, I came to the conclusion that I could start with a small prototype in my own back yard. Every spring my wife plants herbs and spices in a small garden container on our deck. I occurred to me that I could start my “Green Wall” by incorporating our annual growing of spices and herbs while adding a few additions such as green onions or shallots. I plan to construct a 3 tier green wall built with eavestrough to use as a prototype for my proposal at school. I will attach the framework for the green wall to the outside of my garage in an area that receives sun during the midday. The second component, inspired by EDUC 6103, will demonstrate sustainable technologies that will be used to create a solar powered automated irrigation system for the green wall. This project will act as a prototype for a larger venture I would like to pursue in the future. If successful, I can use the information gathered during development of the prototype and scale it up to a larger version that may be implemented in the school environment. The following is my plan for the design of the automated irrigation system based on my research of the technologies needed to complete the project.
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The Inspiration for My Project
The following videos outline the work of Stephen Ritz. I was introduced to his vision and work during my studies in the EDUC 6101 course. I plan to incorporate some of his ideas into my DLFC project in the form of a living or "Green Wall" used for the production of food. Stephen's Website Stephen's Twitter |
Green Wall Design and Planning
I wanted to keep the project as basic as possible in its design. I researched a few ideas for building the containers when I came across the idea of using eavestrough. I had previously decided that I was going to need to add a bypass to the eavestrough on my garage so that I may gather rain water for the plant irrigation system. I figured I might as well purchase extra eavestrough and as I would be a good container for the vertical garden levels and I had seen it used in similar gardens. I was able to purchase a 10 foot length from the local habitat for humanity restore for under $10. The components needed for the rain water diversion on the garage were also purchased at the habitat for humanity restore.
I will make a bypass of the down spout of my eavestrough to route the water into a collection barrel. The collection barrel will have a lid that I will cut a hole in for the downspout. I will cover the hole with a screen to prevent leaves and twigs from entering. The screen will also aid in preventing mosquitoes from accessing the water supply.
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How to Build a Gutter Garden
Resources:
How to make a gutter garden - Cottage Life DIY Rain Gutter Garden How to build a gutter garden The following link is to a Website with instructions on how to build an automated watering system. I took this idea as a basis for developing my irrigation plan. I would like my irrigation system to be solar powered and self sustaining. How to build automated watering system |
Automated Irrigation System Design and Planning
I am not re-inventing the wheel!
I want to make this project as effective as possible in terms of demonstrating technologies for sustainability. Automated micro-processor controlled irrigation systems are not a new concept. I have found a select few tutorials on Youtube that outline the process for accomplishing this goal. I want to add a solar charging system that will take the project "off the grid". Essentially, the microprocessor and pumps will need to work off power supplies that can be recharged with solar power. I believe I can accomplish the task. My research has led me to information on how to create solar power based system for both the Arduino and the peristaltic pump systems. Initially, I wanted to combine the power supplies and I have since come to discover that seperate charging systems is the way to go considering the Arduino requires a 5 Volt system and the pumps are 12 Volt DC. I will complete the automated systems builds in two seperate phases.
Phase 1: Build the irrigation system control electronics and Arduino charging system.
Phase 2: Build the peristaltic pump solar power grid with 12 volt battery power supply.
I want to make this project as effective as possible in terms of demonstrating technologies for sustainability. Automated micro-processor controlled irrigation systems are not a new concept. I have found a select few tutorials on Youtube that outline the process for accomplishing this goal. I want to add a solar charging system that will take the project "off the grid". Essentially, the microprocessor and pumps will need to work off power supplies that can be recharged with solar power. I believe I can accomplish the task. My research has led me to information on how to create solar power based system for both the Arduino and the peristaltic pump systems. Initially, I wanted to combine the power supplies and I have since come to discover that seperate charging systems is the way to go considering the Arduino requires a 5 Volt system and the pumps are 12 Volt DC. I will complete the automated systems builds in two seperate phases.
Phase 1: Build the irrigation system control electronics and Arduino charging system.
Phase 2: Build the peristaltic pump solar power grid with 12 volt battery power supply.
Phase 1: Arduino Control System
The Arduino will be used to maintain an automated watering system. A schedule will be programmed into the Arduino that will activate 12 volt DC pump motors that will be used to drive water from a source (the barrel) to each of the three “Gutter Garden” levels. Links to required components: Arduino UNO Data Logging Sheild with RTC Peristaltic Pumps (x3) The solar powered charging system for the Arduino will be constructed using a technique similar to the following tutorial. Links are provided for purchasing the required parts. Basic electronic parts can be purchased at a local wholesale electronics store. Solar Powered Arduino Charging System The required parts list is supplied in the tutorial
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Irrigation System Build Process: The Garduino
I will use the follwoing tutorial as a guide to build the Arduino control system. The system I have in mind will use different components and is not going to be set up to gather data. I will have to adapt my design beyond the scope of the following video but I believe I can make it work. Peristaltic Pump Tutorial: Used to build Pump System
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Phase 2: The 12 Volt Solar Charged Power Supply
The peristaltic pumps used in this project will requied a 12 Volt power supply. One of the most common sources of 12 Volts DC is a car battery. There are plenty of solutions for solar charging systems that work with car batteries. Solar power can be tricky and the issues that arrise are limitless. There are plenty of warnings about what not to do when it comes to solar power. I have located a solution that I am going to pursue that uses a 10 Watt solar panel as a charging source. I have the sense it may be a trial and error sort of situation as I have no experiece working with solar charging systems.
The peristaltic pumps used in this project will requied a 12 Volt power supply. One of the most common sources of 12 Volts DC is a car battery. There are plenty of solutions for solar charging systems that work with car batteries. Solar power can be tricky and the issues that arrise are limitless. There are plenty of warnings about what not to do when it comes to solar power. I have located a solution that I am going to pursue that uses a 10 Watt solar panel as a charging source. I have the sense it may be a trial and error sort of situation as I have no experiece working with solar charging systems.
10 Watt Solar Panel with 12 Volt Power Source:
The following link is to a DIY kit for an effective solution. I will be adapting this kit to suit the needs of my project. Do It Yourself Kit The Kit Includes:
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Newbies Beware: 7 mistakes people make when going solar
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Feasibility of Project and Costs
As mentioned above, I have plans to incorporate what I have learned into a lesson or project that may be implemented at my school. With all said and done, the project needs to be within the capability of the students who will attempt the design and build. Furthermore, the cost most be reasonable and well within the budgetary limitation of the school. Most of the components used are available in the electronics department and are part of the annual purchase. The issue is the charging system that I plan to use. I can justify the cost on a personal note as I plan to use the components to power my tent trailer lighting system later in the summer. In the school environment, another solution may need to be examined. I have priced out the components in three categories. Each of the price lists are available as notes attached to the tutorial video descriptions on Youtube or through another listed site.
Pump 12 Volt charging system: $90.00
Arduino, pumps, and solar kit: $90.00
Gutter garden supplies and Water Barrel: $50.00
Pump 12 Volt charging system: $90.00
Arduino, pumps, and solar kit: $90.00
Gutter garden supplies and Water Barrel: $50.00
Potential Project Barriers
Peristaltic Pumps
I will only be growing simple herbs and the system will be limited to output of the peristaltic pumps in terms of fluid volume. I selected the pumps due to the compatibility with the Arduino and their low current demands. Having researched their output I was able to determine that an acceptable rate of fluid volume can be transmitted in set amount of time. An issue I foresee could be the maximum distance that the pumps can transmit fluid before a noticeable issue is observed. I believe a little trial and error may be in required in order to get the system to an effective balance.
Pump Flow Rate: 100ml per minute
The flow rate translates to about 1.5 litres per 15 minutes watering cycle per pump (one pump per level of the vertical garden). I plan to set the pump cycles to be 3 intervals of 5 minutes. I plan to adjust this rate with some trial and error.
Solar Powered Charging Systems
Solar power is tricky. Placement of the panel, the time of day, and the power demands of the battery all come into play. I have limited experience with solar power and both the charging system may have to be revamped during the process. With this in mind, I may have to scale back the amount of pumps used in order to successfully demonstrate the concept. Higher Wattage panels are available but have a significant cost which may be prohibitive in the end.
Solar Energy Peak Hours: 5.23 Hours per day on average for Winnipeg durign the summer months.
The following tool can be used to calculate the peak solar energy hours based on location on panel placement.
Solar Radiation Calculation Tool
I will only be growing simple herbs and the system will be limited to output of the peristaltic pumps in terms of fluid volume. I selected the pumps due to the compatibility with the Arduino and their low current demands. Having researched their output I was able to determine that an acceptable rate of fluid volume can be transmitted in set amount of time. An issue I foresee could be the maximum distance that the pumps can transmit fluid before a noticeable issue is observed. I believe a little trial and error may be in required in order to get the system to an effective balance.
Pump Flow Rate: 100ml per minute
The flow rate translates to about 1.5 litres per 15 minutes watering cycle per pump (one pump per level of the vertical garden). I plan to set the pump cycles to be 3 intervals of 5 minutes. I plan to adjust this rate with some trial and error.
Solar Powered Charging Systems
Solar power is tricky. Placement of the panel, the time of day, and the power demands of the battery all come into play. I have limited experience with solar power and both the charging system may have to be revamped during the process. With this in mind, I may have to scale back the amount of pumps used in order to successfully demonstrate the concept. Higher Wattage panels are available but have a significant cost which may be prohibitive in the end.
Solar Energy Peak Hours: 5.23 Hours per day on average for Winnipeg durign the summer months.
The following tool can be used to calculate the peak solar energy hours based on location on panel placement.
Solar Radiation Calculation Tool
Potential Additions and Future Expansion
While designing this system I came to the conclusion that I may want to include moisture sensors as a “Smart” tech that may be used to activate the pumps. The sensors may become a reality as the current system is set to a clock. The clock based system will draw a set amount of power based on the total time of activation. The sensors could preserve power in the overall system be only initiating the pumps during times of low moisture. Intigration of the sensor will require a moderate code adjustment that will activate the pumps based on a measure of humidity instead of a timed schedule. The moisture sensors are available by following the link below.
Arduino Moisture Sensor
The sensor is not completely waterproof and will need to be installed with a protective cover.
Arduino Moisture Sensor
The sensor is not completely waterproof and will need to be installed with a protective cover.
Reflections, Connections, and Conclusions
If successful, this project will help me develop a frame work for a similar project at my school. I believe that it would be a good example of PBL with elements of entrepreneurial education. I don’t think the demands of the project will exceed the capabilities of the students. Students will need to collaborate with different programs (science and electronics) in order to gain access to the tools and components needed to complete the project.
I plan to finalize the build of the system during the month of May or early June. I have already acquired some of the materials and plan to order the rest in the upcoming weeks. I want to put more effort into the research of the Solar power grid before I make a final decision.
I believe that I have made an effective plan for the design of my automated irrigation system. I have already come across the potential for error and a need for refinement in the some of the systems. Unfortunately, I believe that I will only be able to refine the system on a trial and error basis. As mentioned above, the charge system may be problematic in terms of the amount of available energy. If the batteries run dry I may need to reset the Arduino on a scheduled basis. Furthermore, the pump system may not deliver an adequate amount of fluid per unit of demand or the distance of the tubing is too great and exceeds the force provided by the pumps. These are all factors that will potentially need to be worked out during the process. Overall, I am confident that the system will achieve its goal of demonstrating the use of sustainable technologies for the purpose of growing food.
I plan to finalize the build of the system during the month of May or early June. I have already acquired some of the materials and plan to order the rest in the upcoming weeks. I want to put more effort into the research of the Solar power grid before I make a final decision.
I believe that I have made an effective plan for the design of my automated irrigation system. I have already come across the potential for error and a need for refinement in the some of the systems. Unfortunately, I believe that I will only be able to refine the system on a trial and error basis. As mentioned above, the charge system may be problematic in terms of the amount of available energy. If the batteries run dry I may need to reset the Arduino on a scheduled basis. Furthermore, the pump system may not deliver an adequate amount of fluid per unit of demand or the distance of the tubing is too great and exceeds the force provided by the pumps. These are all factors that will potentially need to be worked out during the process. Overall, I am confident that the system will achieve its goal of demonstrating the use of sustainable technologies for the purpose of growing food.
References:
http://cottagelife.com/news/how-to-make-a-gutter-garden
http://easyverticalgardening.com/building-a-vertical-gutter-garden/
http://preparednessmama.com/gutter-garden/
https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/igorF2/solar-charged-battery-powered-arduino-uno-645d89
http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/old_data/nsrdb/1961-1990/redbook/atlas/
Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNkU-mrKr9Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_Q1WKCtWiA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryJlPA3hn80
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiBrAAaABkE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W7tiLa5zGU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHOulpxI4Us
Images:
https://gardenseason.com/indoor-herb-garden-ideas/
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/52f0c920e4b001d22eed6166/t/53372890e4b028c3f3207b15/1396123794590/culinary+herbs
http://www.gogreenplanthire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Sustainability.png
http://pngimg.com/uploads/grass/grass_PNG10865.png
http://perfectplants.co.uk/wp_blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/parsley.png
http://www.solardirect.com/outdoor-lighting/solar/street/area-light/solar-insolation-map.html
http://www.genderwatchers.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/HTB1pOSILVXXXXaPXXXX760XFXXXT.png
http://cottagelife.com/news/how-to-make-a-gutter-garden
http://easyverticalgardening.com/building-a-vertical-gutter-garden/
http://preparednessmama.com/gutter-garden/
https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/igorF2/solar-charged-battery-powered-arduino-uno-645d89
http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/old_data/nsrdb/1961-1990/redbook/atlas/
Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNkU-mrKr9Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_Q1WKCtWiA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryJlPA3hn80
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiBrAAaABkE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W7tiLa5zGU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHOulpxI4Us
Images:
https://gardenseason.com/indoor-herb-garden-ideas/
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/52f0c920e4b001d22eed6166/t/53372890e4b028c3f3207b15/1396123794590/culinary+herbs
http://www.gogreenplanthire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Sustainability.png
http://pngimg.com/uploads/grass/grass_PNG10865.png
http://perfectplants.co.uk/wp_blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/parsley.png
http://www.solardirect.com/outdoor-lighting/solar/street/area-light/solar-insolation-map.html
http://www.genderwatchers.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/HTB1pOSILVXXXXaPXXXX760XFXXXT.png