Hydroponic nutrient aeration and flow control device and system

Abstract

The specification discloses a hydroponic nutrient aeration and flow control (NAFC) device and system, which both aerates and controls the flow of the hydroponic nutrient solution. The NAFC device has no moving parts. Each NAFC device mixes and aerates the nutrient from the nutrient reservoir with air and/or nutrient from one of the grow tanks. Each NAFC device additionally controls the flow of the aerated nutrient solution to the grow tank and the nutrient reservoir. The vertical position of the end of the nutrient return line in each grow tank may be adjusted to adjust the level of the nutrient solution within the grow tank.

1 . A hydroponic nutrient circulation system comprising:
 a nutrient reservoir;   a plurality of grow tanks;   a nutrient supply system for supplying nutrient from the nutrient reservoir to the grow tanks, the nutrient supply system including a nutrient supply line extending into each grow tank;   a nutrient return system for returning nutrient from the grow tanks to the nutrient reservoir, the nutrient return system including a nutrient return line extending into each grow tank;   an air supply line extending into each grow tank; and   a plurality of aeration devices, each aeration device within one of the grow tanks, each aerator device including:   a nutrient supply intake connected to the associated nutrient supply line;   an air intake connected to the associated air supply line;   a nozzle in fluid communication with the nutrient supply intake;   a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the nozzle and with the air intake; and   an outlet in fluid communication with the mixing chamber.