EcoLux UV sterilizer in action
Featured as part of the DPI’s Water Smart Farms channel, this video highlights the water savings and fertilizer savings after installing an EcoLux.
This unit was designed and supplied Powerplants.
NextGen Victoria
In November 2012 I Joined the Nextgen Committee in Victoria .
Nextgen is a group of young horticulturalists who host regular events. These span many different locations and professions in the nursery industry.
The events give all young people involved a chance to meet other young people like themselves, have a chat over a beer and learn about something new.
The intention is to allow people to network in a enjoyable low pressure environment while building a strong more vibrant future for the industry.
Solar Selections - Plant Growth in One Week!
Recently Solar Selections has joined forces with Powerplants, a brain child David Van Loon (Director Carl Van Loons brother).
Solar selections produce a number of products including hanging wall gardens through to small Hydroponic NFT setups.
These products are aimed at the residential sector, restaurants with a fresh green image and schools.
This video shows growth of plants in the Auto Harvest over 1 week. We shot it in our office using a stop motion camera.
Nora Valley - Trendy Tomatoes.
Recently this video was posted showing the daily operations of a modern glasshouse.
Nora Valley are one of our long time customers located in Queensland
Trendy Tomatoes - A Documentary from Sarah Kate Creations on Vimeo.
Flavorite Hydroponics are Victoria’s largest producer of tomatoes for supermarkets.
The total site is over 20 hectares. Flavorite have been a loyal customer of Powerplants for many years.
Recently we have embarked on building 5 more hectares. The enormity of the construction site can be seen below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AUqIlZcpOg (Video Awaiting Flavorite’s Permission)
The Bio Research Project
Click (here) to view a video about the project.
AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, is a joint initiative of the Victorian Government, through the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), and La Trobe University (La Trobe). DPI and La Trobe have formed a Joint Venture, through the BRC Company, to invest in the development of AgriBio.
AgriBio will have a major impact on the quality of scientific research to be conducted in Victoria through enhanced science programs, collaboration, increased research capability and attraction of world-leading scientists and collaborators. It will strengthen Victoria’s international reputation for plant, animal and microbial biosciences, and bioprotection research and diagnostics. The project represents a further development of the biosciences industry in Victoria, Australia.
My role was to design and implement a custom irrigation controller that allows scientists to irrigate with any fertiliser recipe, on any bench, in any glasshouse across the site. This was completed and commissioned in December 2011. Powerplants have interfaced with Honeywell air handling units that air condition the rooms using boiling and chilled water to heat or cool air. Cold steam is also injected to increase the humidity of the glasshouses when needed.
These greenhouses are designed to house plants, bugs, bacteria and viruses. Because of this some greenhouses are completely sealed rooms with air-locks and strict quarantine control.
Ultra-Violet Sterilisation
Many commercial greenhouses implement hydroponics in order to improve efficiency. When plants are grown in a sponge like material, every an irrigation occurs, some water is lost through the bottom of the sponge. In the past this water has been dumped down the drain, however there is a trend towards greenhouse growers recycling this water to reduce their fertiliser and water bill (as it still contains some dissolved nutrients).
The role of the Powerplants Ecolux (UV Steriliser), is to draw water from the drain tank, sterilize it and transfer to the disinfected tank. This process can occur over a 24 hour period or can be modified in many ways to suit the growers’ schedule. The system is controlled by tank levels in both the Drain and Disinfected tanks.
My role is to design a controller for the new Powerplants EcoLux. This will include an LCD touch panel that will display every component of the system with changing measurements and tank levels. This will enable growers to easily visualise graphs of the EcoLux’s performance and will allow them to easily change disinfection settings.
As part of SEWPAC (Aust Gov) grants EOI which is under their Urban Stormwater Harvest and Re-use program. The Australian Government are looking to fund projects which primarily harvest water from urban catchment areas and recycle/reuse and thereby reduce dependence on potable/town water. A bid has recently been lodged and UV disinfection technologies being key to this program if it gets up.
TAFE Chisholm
Click (here) to read a news article about the project.
The controlled environment training facility built in Cranbourne will provide students with a unique opportunity to learn about the most up to date horticultural control systems in the world. The project was part of the Chisholm Institute of Technical and Further Education. Financial support was given by the Australian government.
