TU Delft – Hortus Botanicus

The Hortus Botanicus is the technical botanical garden of TU Delft. For over 100 years, research has been conducted here on plants and their applications in food, technology, and innovation. The garden serves both as a research environment and a public space where nature and technology come together.

Situation & challenge

Within the greenhouses of the Hortus, maintaining a stable humidity level is essential for plant growth and health. When humidity drops below a certain threshold, a misting system is automatically activated. This system disperses water as a fine mist throughout the greenhouse to quickly restore the climate.

However, this application also introduces a risk. Due to aerosol formation, the misting system can become a potential transmission route for bacteria, including Legionella.

The technical team, therefore, looked for a solution that:

• Effectively eliminates risk during misting
• Can be applied decentrally, directly upstream of the sprinkler system
• Is simple and reliable in operation
• Complies with relevant guidelines and certification

Solution & result

The chosen solution was the HW Ulfima®, a decentralized ultrafiltration system, installed directly upstream of the misting system. Through ultrafiltration, this system ensures that the water being dispersed is microbiologically secure.

• Removes bacteria and viruses, including Legionella
• Operates without chemicals
• Compact and easy to integrate
• Applied as a targeted solution at the point of risk

With this approach, the risk is controlled precisely where it originates: at the point of misting. The installation is safe to use within the greenhouse environment, remains practical and manageable for the technical team, and provides an effective and reliable solution in daily operations.

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