Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Dubai Double: Seawater Vertical Farm

Another one of those cadre of cool yet perhaps impractical proposals for vertical farming - this time from Dubai. The Seawater Vertical Farm, a project proposal by studiomobile, uses an interesting process to combat the lack of available water in growing vegetables. The building uses the stack effect and, according to Designboom: "...uses seawater to cool and humidify greenhouses and to convert sufficient humidity back in to fresh water to irrigate the crops. the project has been presented in dubai where there is an absence of fresh water and local cultivations, a problem of urban transport and a high soil value, making this concept a feasible one."


:: image via Designboom


:: image via SpaceInvading

A little about the process, via Treehugger (and a detail enlargement of the above image):

"phase 01: The air going into the greenhouse is first cooled and humidified by seawater,which is trickled over the first evaporator. this provides a fresh and humid climatefor the crops that in these conditions need very little water as they are not stressedby excessive transpiration.

phase 02: As the air leaves the growing area it passes through the second evaporator whichhas seawater flowing over it. during this phase the humid air mix with the warmdry air of the ceiling interspace. thus the air is made much hotter and more humid.

phase 03: The warm air is forced to flow upward by the stack effect that is temperature induced.in the central chimney the warm and humid air will condense when in contact withplastic tubes where cool sea water is pumped. in the surface of the condenser manydrops of fresh water will appear, ready to be recollected in a tank to water the cropsand for other uses. "


:: image via Treehugger

Some additional pics:


:: image via SpaceInvading


:: image via Treehugger
Posted by Jason King at 7:52 PM
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2 comments:

  1. If you have an opportunity try visiting TerraSphere Systems http://terraspheresystems.com/, they are currently have of Vertical farms up and running and their website is very informative. (watch the "Two Seeds Two Stories" video.
    Also visit another company I have been researching, Converted Organics http://convertedorganics.com/, they produce organic fertilizer by using food waste that is composted in a weeks time, and they are a partner of Terrashpere and just announced that they will be building a vertical farm in Rhode Island.

    Respectfully,

    Jake G.
    ReplyDelete
  2. To add further to my comment, I can see were Terrasphere and the Dubai project can easily work very well together. Terrasphere is already producing and selling food products in Canada and soon in the United States. Their equipment is versital and can be stacked 10 to 15 levels. You wouldnt even have to wait for these towers to be built, you can use any warehouse. But when the towers are built, That is going to be a sight to behold.

    I am not affiliated with Terrasphere or Converted Organics, just thought you might want to start with a company what I have found in my research to be ahead of the game.

    Respectfully,

    Jake G.
    ReplyDelete

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