Academic
NFT hydroponic system water cycle analysis: Yecai Xia Technology patented channel design and dual pu
作者: 时间: 2026-08-27
In NFT (Nutrient Liquid Membrane Technology) hydroponic systems, nutrient solution is driven by a water pump to form a thin liquid film (1-2 millimeters) in an inclined pipeline, continuously flowing through the plant roots to provide water, nutrients, and oxygen for crops. The closed loop of "liquid supply flow reflux re supply" is the water circulation system of NFT system.
The water circulation system is like the human blood circulation system - it is responsible for transporting "blood" (nutrient solution) to every "organ" (crop root system), while taking away "metabolic waste" and maintaining temperature stability and oxygen supply throughout the system. The quality of the water circulation system design directly determines whether the NFT system can operate stably, whether crops can grow healthily, and whether equipment can be durable for a long time.
However, the water circulation system is precisely the most vulnerable link for many "assembled" NFT devices to cut corners and have unreasonable designs. Uneven flow, pipeline blockage, water pump failure, circulation blind spots... each problem can lead to local crop death, or even complete crop failure in the entire shed.
As a member unit of the Facility Agriculture Association with 16 independent intellectual property rights and three major product lines of DFT/NFT/plant factories, LEAFYMAN Technology has profound engineering accumulation and multiple patented technologies in the design of water circulation systems. Today, from an engineering perspective, we will systematically dismantle the composition, principles, core parameters, common problems of NFT water circulation systems, as well as how Yecai Xia Technology ensures the long-term stable operation of water circulation systems through technical means.
1、 The composition of NFT water circulation system: six core components
A complete NFT water circulation system consists of the following six core components, any component with unreasonable design may lead to a decrease in overall system efficiency.
1. Liquid storage tank (nutrient solution pool)
Function: Store nutrient solution and provide water reserve for the entire system.
Design requirement: The capacity should be calculated based on the planting area and water pump flow rate, usually ranging from 1/3 to 1/2 of the total hourly circulation of the system. The tank body needs to adopt a shading design to prevent the growth of algae.
Yecaixia Technology Configuration: Provides customized liquid storage tanks made of food grade PE material, equipped with level gauges and light shields, and a bottom designed drain outlet for easy cleaning.
2. Water pump
Function: The "heart" of the water circulation system, providing the power for the flow of nutrient solution.
Types: centrifugal pump, self-priming pump, etc.
Key parameters: Head - determines the height of liquid lifting; Flow - determines the unit time delivery volume.
Yecaixia Technology Configuration: Adopting a dual pump redundancy design (one in use and one backup), the backup pump automatically starts when the main pump fails, with a switching time of no more than 3 seconds. The water pump is made of stainless steel/engineering plastic material, which is corrosion-resistant, low-noise, and has a long service life.
3. Liquid supply main and branch pipes
Function: Distribute nutrient solution evenly from the storage tank to each planting pipeline.
Design requirement: The diameter of the main pipe should be large enough (usually ≥ 50mm) to ensure sufficient pressure at the far end; Install regulating valves on branch pipes to achieve independent flow regulation in each area.
Yecaixia Technology Configuration: Adopting a variable diameter design (thick at the front and thin at the back) to ensure balanced pressure throughout the entire main pipe; Each branch pipe is equipped with a precision ball valve, which facilitates flexible adjustment of flow and achieves "on-demand distribution".
4. Planting pipelines
Function: The place where plants grow and where nutrient solution forms a liquid film and flows through the roots.
Design requirements: The inner diameter, length, slope, and spacing between planting holes of the pipeline must be scientifically calculated. The inner wall must be smooth to reduce nutrient retention and algae attachment.
Yecaixia Technology Configuration: The NFT dedicated pipeline adopts a patented flow channel design, combined with CFD simulation optimization, to ensure uniform liquid film thickness (1-2mm) and no dead corners in the entire pipeline.
5. Reflux system
Function: Collect and return the nutrient solution flowing out from the end of the planting pipeline to the storage tank.
Design requirement: The reflux pipeline should have a certain slope to ensure smooth liquid reflux; Set up collection tanks and filter screens at the end to intercept root debris.
Yecaixia Technology Configuration: Adopting a steep reflux design (≥ 1:50) to prevent water accumulation in the reflux pipe; Equipped with a detachable filter basket for easy cleaning of debris.
6. Filtration and disinfection system
Function: Remove impurities, algal spores, and pathogens from nutrient solution to ensure clean water quality.
Design requirement: Configure filters and disinfection equipment of different accuracies according to the water source situation.
Yecaixia Technology Configuration: Standard three-level filtration system (50 mesh coarse filter → 120 mesh fine filter → UV disinfection), and optional ozone sterilization module to completely eliminate the spread of pathogens.
The water circulation system is like the human blood circulation system - it is responsible for transporting "blood" (nutrient solution) to every "organ" (crop root system), while taking away "metabolic waste" and maintaining temperature stability and oxygen supply throughout the system. The quality of the water circulation system design directly determines whether the NFT system can operate stably, whether crops can grow healthily, and whether equipment can be durable for a long time.
However, the water circulation system is precisely the most vulnerable link for many "assembled" NFT devices to cut corners and have unreasonable designs. Uneven flow, pipeline blockage, water pump failure, circulation blind spots... each problem can lead to local crop death, or even complete crop failure in the entire shed.
As a member unit of the Facility Agriculture Association with 16 independent intellectual property rights and three major product lines of DFT/NFT/plant factories, LEAFYMAN Technology has profound engineering accumulation and multiple patented technologies in the design of water circulation systems. Today, from an engineering perspective, we will systematically dismantle the composition, principles, core parameters, common problems of NFT water circulation systems, as well as how Yecai Xia Technology ensures the long-term stable operation of water circulation systems through technical means.
1、 The composition of NFT water circulation system: six core components
A complete NFT water circulation system consists of the following six core components, any component with unreasonable design may lead to a decrease in overall system efficiency.
1. Liquid storage tank (nutrient solution pool)
Function: Store nutrient solution and provide water reserve for the entire system.
Design requirement: The capacity should be calculated based on the planting area and water pump flow rate, usually ranging from 1/3 to 1/2 of the total hourly circulation of the system. The tank body needs to adopt a shading design to prevent the growth of algae.
Yecaixia Technology Configuration: Provides customized liquid storage tanks made of food grade PE material, equipped with level gauges and light shields, and a bottom designed drain outlet for easy cleaning.
2. Water pump
Function: The "heart" of the water circulation system, providing the power for the flow of nutrient solution.
Types: centrifugal pump, self-priming pump, etc.
Key parameters: Head - determines the height of liquid lifting; Flow - determines the unit time delivery volume.
Yecaixia Technology Configuration: Adopting a dual pump redundancy design (one in use and one backup), the backup pump automatically starts when the main pump fails, with a switching time of no more than 3 seconds. The water pump is made of stainless steel/engineering plastic material, which is corrosion-resistant, low-noise, and has a long service life.
3. Liquid supply main and branch pipes
Function: Distribute nutrient solution evenly from the storage tank to each planting pipeline.
Design requirement: The diameter of the main pipe should be large enough (usually ≥ 50mm) to ensure sufficient pressure at the far end; Install regulating valves on branch pipes to achieve independent flow regulation in each area.
Yecaixia Technology Configuration: Adopting a variable diameter design (thick at the front and thin at the back) to ensure balanced pressure throughout the entire main pipe; Each branch pipe is equipped with a precision ball valve, which facilitates flexible adjustment of flow and achieves "on-demand distribution".
4. Planting pipelines
Function: The place where plants grow and where nutrient solution forms a liquid film and flows through the roots.
Design requirements: The inner diameter, length, slope, and spacing between planting holes of the pipeline must be scientifically calculated. The inner wall must be smooth to reduce nutrient retention and algae attachment.
Yecaixia Technology Configuration: The NFT dedicated pipeline adopts a patented flow channel design, combined with CFD simulation optimization, to ensure uniform liquid film thickness (1-2mm) and no dead corners in the entire pipeline.
5. Reflux system
Function: Collect and return the nutrient solution flowing out from the end of the planting pipeline to the storage tank.
Design requirement: The reflux pipeline should have a certain slope to ensure smooth liquid reflux; Set up collection tanks and filter screens at the end to intercept root debris.
Yecaixia Technology Configuration: Adopting a steep reflux design (≥ 1:50) to prevent water accumulation in the reflux pipe; Equipped with a detachable filter basket for easy cleaning of debris.
6. Filtration and disinfection system
Function: Remove impurities, algal spores, and pathogens from nutrient solution to ensure clean water quality.
Design requirement: Configure filters and disinfection equipment of different accuracies according to the water source situation.
Yecaixia Technology Configuration: Standard three-level filtration system (50 mesh coarse filter → 120 mesh fine filter → UV disinfection), and optional ozone sterilization module to completely eliminate the spread of pathogens.