ASET Technology Alberta Winter 2019 - 24

NAIT

Electrical Design and
Automation for an Indoor Farm
D I S C I PL I N E :

Electrical Engineering Technology

TEAM MEMBERS:

Noah Neiman
Sebastian Potoniec

In Their Own Words...

Our Capstone Project

Noah: I was born and raised in Fort McMurray. I enjoy playing music and spending time with friends and family. I chose
to take the Electrical Engineering Technology program at
NAIT because I thought it would be fun to learn about working with electricity, and for the high probability of finding
good work after graduation.

We set out to design a fully automated indoor farm with
optimal lighting for the most efficient growth of lettuce. We
constructed a physical prototype using the Nutrient Film
Technique, a hydroponics growing method, to prove that
it could be automatically controlled using a PLC (programmable logic controller) and interfaced with an HMI (human
machine interface).

Sebastian: I was born and raised in Edmonton to a family of
tinkerers. I enjoy learning about the inner workings of things
and have always been particularly fascinated with how electricity can be conducted to billions of people and used in a
staggering variety of ways. I was searching for a program
that suited my lifelong interest in modern technology, while
providing me with the resources to pursue my goals and
support my family. As such, I was drawn to NAIT because of
its stellar reputation in industry-leading education.
In my spare time, I enjoy working on cars, toying with electronics, playing games, and competing in sports.

We determined that LED lighting produced the optimal
wavelengths for photosynthesis, while also being much
more energy efficient than alternative lighting sources. We
performed a lighting study using 3D modelling and identified the perfect lighting conditions for optimal results for
each of the three growth stages of lettuce.
Using the software package Ignition (inductive automation),
we were able to fully automate the indoor farm. Pump control, temperature and flow monitoring, as well as pH and
electrical conductivity, were all controlled and monitored
using the software. These parameters were selected as
they are the primary factors required to ensure a successful
crop with the highest yields. By combining the automated
physical model with the optimal growth conditions, we created a template for growing potentially massive amounts of
food at optimal growth rates with little human interaction.
These principles can be applied to a variety of crops such
as herbs, vegetables, and flowers. As the global population
continues to increase exponentially, such technology could
become crucial to human survival. Furthermore, these
methods conserve energy, and using hydroponics, coupled
with our indoor-use prototype, provides flexibility in terms
of growth locations. Since such farms can be constructed
in urban centres, the costs associated with importing vegetables from warmer climates can be reduced. Additionally,
reducing our reliance on growing seasons would allow consumers to purchase fresh produce year-round.
The project's design package contains a single line diagram,
site plan, growing table panel wiring diagram, PLC I/O wiring
diagram, and three lighting configuration wiring diagrams.

24 | WINTER 2019 | TECHNOLOGY ALBERTA

ASET Technology Alberta Winter 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASET Technology Alberta Winter 2019