Refine Your Search

Search Results

Technical Paper

Development of a Porous Tube Based Plant Growth Apparatus

2002-07-15
2002-01-2389
The Porous Tube Insert Module (PTIM) is a plant growth apparatus utilizing a porous tube design. The PTIM is under development by the Bionetics Corporation and has been designed as an insert to the Plant Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (PGBA: Developed by Bioserve Space Technologies). The Water Offset Nutrient Delivery ExpeRiment (WONDER) will perform a side by side evaluation of the PTIM's Porous Tube Nutrient Delivery System (PTNDS) and a Substrate Nutrient Delivery System (SNDS). The PGBA will serve as the environmental chamber and environmental control system for the PTIM. The PGBA will also host the WONDER sequencer software within its control computer. The PTIM integrates six porous tubes wrapped with seed mats. In the SNDS, the tubes and mats are embedded within a substrate material while in the PTNDS, they are exposed to the chamber environment. The PTIM hydraulic equipment includes porous tubes fed by computer controlled miniature pumps and valves.
X