Bio Inspired Design Challenge - Inspiration from nature
Biology
In my first year of the Master’s Bio Inspired innovation, I took the elective course “Bio Inspired Design Challenge”. The course was focused on practical, hands-on learning through the development of a real-world product, using biological models. Working in teams, we had to create a design concept that mimics natural functions and forms, drawing inspiration from nature, imitating natural functions and forms. This is what is called biomimicry and is the base of this project.
Sustainable goals
The first step was to choose the problem we would like to base our project into solving it, considering one or several sustainable development goals. We all agreed to focus our project on the major agricultural pollutant issue taking place in The Netherlands. This small country is one of the largest agricultural exporters in the world, but its intensive use of land and fertilizers has led to high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus runoff. As a result, The Netherlands has become the second-largest nitrogen polluter in Europe, posing a threat to biodiversity, water quality, and greenhouse gas emissions. Current solutions include creating buffer zones and reducing livestock or fertilizer use, but these cut profits for farmers. We thought that creating a device able to reduce nutrient runoff without compromising their business would be a good goal.
Inspiration from nature: ram suspension-feeding fish and ascidians
During our research and design process, we identified clogging as a major challenge for effective filtration. To find solutions, we turned to nature and studied ram suspension-feeding fish, such as the paddlefish and basking shark. We found that these fish use branchial arches as a pre-filter for their gills, which prevents particle accumulation and enables vortical cross-step filtration. We used this as inspiration for our own filter design, which is separated into three compartments. The first compartment serves as a pre-filter and is slightly conically shaped to prevent larger particles from being collected and washed out, with a separate outlet for these particles. This helps prevent clogging of the nutrient filtration in the second compartment.
In addition to fish, we also studied Ascidians, filter feeding marine invertebrates. They use a dual siphon mechanism to filter particles and chemicals from seawater, with ciliary tracts creating a current that draws water in through a larger siphon and out through a smaller one in a single flowing motion. We incorporated this concept into our design to create a flowing motion within the filter and help water flow through the ditches. By using these natural models, we aim to improve the effectiveness of our filter and reduce clogging.
The GiLLter model
We developed the model that we named “The GiLLter”. It is a filter designed to remove nitrogen and phosphates from agricultural ditches, solving the problem mentioned above. The device is made up of several parts, including a prefilter that uses vortical cross-step filtration inspired by the branchial arches of paddlefish and basking sharks to concentrate and transport particles. The main filter body is made of double-hulled recycled PC and contains mesh cages with filter media discs. The filter media discs have biofilm beads, containing Acinetobacter biofilms which absorb nitrogen compounds such as nitrates, and aluminosilicate zeolite crystals, which absorb phosphates through their porous structure and high ion-exchange capabilities.
The filter will be anchored to the bottom of the ditch and positioned 4-60 cm below the water surface. Its effectiveness can be monitored by measuring the levels of oxygen and nitrogen concentrations. The media discs are removable in order to process their biomass to produce slow-release fertilizers or recycled nutrients.
Reflecting on a journey: my experience with the design challenge
We completed a comprehensive work which involved studying intellectual properties, consulting with different experts, interviewing stakeholders, outlining the limitations of our model, stating questions for further research, crating sketches and designs for the Gillter, writing an executive summary or even creating a promotional video.
We were thrilled to deliver our final pitch to the jury and showcase the three months of hard work we put in. Though we did not win the competition, we had the opportunity to show our work to our teachers and peers and learn about the remarkable projects of the other teams. Also, we received valuable feedback and established connections with individuals who expressed interest in our design.
All in all, this project was an incredible enriching experience, as I had the chance to collaborate with exceptional people working towards a common objective, celebrating our progress and seeing our ideas come together. We are so proud of what we accomplished and aspire to bring our Gillter further in a future.
Written by María Luisa García Marín
