Vertical Farm in Dubai Uses Seawater

Lloyd Alter
Design / Sustainable Product Design
March 5, 2009

Images from Studiomobile via DesignboomA good rendering is a thing of beauty, and when it is of an amazing vertical farm, so much the better. Italian architects Studiomobile has developed a Seawater vertical farm to be built in Dubai.

"The seawater vertical farm uses seawater to cool and humidify greenhouses and toconvert sufficient humidity back in to fresh water to irrigate the crops."

It is designed to work with seawater:

phase 01The air going into the greenhouse is first cooled and humidified by seawater,which is trickled over the first evaporator. this provides a fresh and humid climatefor the crops that in these conditions need very little water as they are not stressedby excessive transpiration.

phase 02As the air leaves the growing area it passes through the second evaporator whichhas seawater flowing over it. during this phase the humid air mix with the warmdry air of the ceiling interspace. thus the air is made much hotter and more humid.

phase 03The warm air is forced to flow upward by the stack effect that is temperature induced.in the central chimney the warm and humid air will condense when in contact withplastic tubes where cool sea water is pumped. in the surface of the condenser manydrops of fresh water will appear, ready to be recollected in a tank to water the cropsand for other uses.

Designboom via PSFK