Establishing and Improving Control Strategies That Sustain Plant
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Purdue University Purdue e-Pubs Open Access Theses Theses and Dissertations 1-1-2016 Establishing and Improving Control Strategies That Sustain Plant Health In a Botanical Bio-Filter Bhargav Ronjoy Rajkhowa Purdue University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/open_access_theses Recommended Citation Rajkhowa, Bhargav Ronjoy, "Establishing and Improving Control Strategies That Sustain Plant Health In a Botanical Bio-Filter" (2016). Open Access Theses. 1195. https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/open_access_theses/1195 This document has been made available through Purdue e-Pubs, a service of the Purdue University Libraries. Please contact [email protected] for additional information. Graduate School Form 30 Updated PURDUE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL Thesis/Dissertation Acceptance This is to certify that the thesis/dissertation prepared By Bhargav R Rajkhowa Entitled ESTABLISHING AND IMPROVING CONTROL STRATEGIES THAT SUSTAIN PLANT HEALTH IN A BOTANICAL BIO-FILTER For the degree of Master of Science Is approved by the final examining committee: William Hutzel Chair Michael Dana Eckhard Groll To the best of my knowledge and as understood by the student in the Thesis/Dissertation Agreement, Publication Delay, and Certification Disclaimer (Graduate School Form 32), this thesis/dissertation adheres to the provisions of Purdue University’s “Policy of Integrity in Research” and the use of copyright material. Approved by Major Professor(s): William Hutzel Approved by: Duane Dunlap 7/8/2016 Head of the Departmental Graduate Program Date ESTABLISHING AND IMPROVING CONTROL STRATREGIES THAT SUSTAIN PLANT HEALTH IN A BOTANICAL BIOFILTER A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Purdue University by Bhargav R Rajkhowa In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science August 2016 Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank Professor Hutzel and Dr. Dana. I would not be here without Professor Hutzel. Dr. Dana, your guidance and patience helped me complete this research. My mother, whose love and support got me through a difficult time. My father, for accepting the choices I made. Nonaipara, Mumbai and Assam, for teaching me what education could not. Shyamala, I am lucky I have a friend like you. Bablu mama and sadhika mami, for being my home away from home. My new found friends at Purdue, for helping me adjust and for making grad school tolerable. Thanks to ASHRAE and the EPA, for funding this project. My friends and family back home, I miss you every day. Hope you are doing alright. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. vi LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... vii ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER 1-INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 1 1.1 Problem Statement ............................................................................................ 1 1.2 Research Question ............................................................................................ 2 1.3 Scope ................................................................................................................ 2 1.4 Significance ...................................................................................................... 3 1.5 Definitions ........................................................................................................ 4 1.6 Assumptions ..................................................................................................... 5 1.7 Limitations ........................................................................................................ 5 1.8 Delimitations .................................................................................................... 6 1.9 Summary ........................................................................................................... 6 CHAPTER 2-REVIEW OF LITERATURE ....................................................................... 7 2.1 Energy Use and Conservation .......................................................................... 7 2.2 Indoor Air Quality ............................................................................................ 8 2.3 Indoor Air Pollution and Productivity .............................................................. 9 2.4 Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) ...................................................................... 11 2.5 Indoor AIr Contamination Sources................................................................. 12 2.6 Growing Fresh Air in Space ........................................................................... 14 2.7 Phytoremediation and Bio-filtration ............................................................... 17 2.8 Botanical Bio-filters ....................................................................................... 19 2.9 Purdue's Biowall ............................................................................................. 24 iv Page 2.10 Continued Research ........................................................................................ 26 2.11 Chapter Summary ........................................................................................... 29 CHAPTER 3-RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ............................................................... 30 3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 30 3.1.1 Plant Propagation ........................................................................................ 31 3.1.2 Plant Production .......................................................................................... 32 3.1.3 Growth Medium .......................................................................................... 34 3.1.4 Plant Nutrition ............................................................................................. 37 3.2 Biowall Design ............................................................................................... 40 3.2.1 Biowall Plenum / Apparatus ....................................................................... 40 3.2.2 Controller with Sensors............................................................................... 42 3.3 Mechanical and software components ............................................................ 44 3.3.1 Irrigation hoses and control program .......................................................... 44 3.3.2 LED lights and control program ................................................................. 47 3.3.3 Biowall fan and control program ................................................................ 50 3.4 Laboratory Evaluation .................................................................................... 52 3.4.1 Data Collection ........................................................................................... 59 3.4.2 Experimental Variables .................................................................................. 62 3.5 Chapter Summary ........................................................................................... 62 CHAPTER 4-RESULTS ................................................................................................... 64 4.1 Biowall Control Programs .............................................................................. 64 4.1.1 Light Control ............................................................................................... 65 4.1.2 Fan Control ................................................................................................. 66 4.1.3 Irrigation Control ........................................................................................ 68 4.1.4 Soaker Hose Operation ............................................................................... 72 4.2 Horticultural Results ....................................................................................... 73 4.2.1 SPAD Meter Data ....................................................................................... 73 4.2.2 Plant Images ................................................................................................ 79 4.3 Chapter Summary ........................................................................................... 83 v Page CHAPTER 5-SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .............. 84 5.1 Biowall Moisture Impact ................................................................................ 84 5.2 Plant Cover Quantification ............................................................................. 87 5.3 Biowall Differential Pressure Profile ............................................................. 93 5.4 Irrigation Improvements ................................................................................. 96 5.4.1 Fan Runtime Input Calibration ................................................................... 97 5.4.2 Differential Pressure Input Optimization .................................................. 100 5.5 Secondary Improvements ............................................................................. 101 5.5.1 Light Optimization .................................................................................... 101 5.5.2