Heating system for plant cultivation

Abstract

To provide a heating system for cultivating plants that minimizes the frequency of heat exchange during heating, ensures good drainage, requires low electric power consumption, and has a structure with high heat efficiency.SOLUTION: A heating system comprises: a tray (2) integrally formed with a plurality of pots (6) arranged in vertical and horizontal directions; and a heating element (10) that generates heat upon supply of electric power, the heating element (10) being disposed between the pots (6) and configured to transfer heat from the side surface of the pots (6).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heating system for cultivating plants by supplying power to a heating element using a carbon material manufactured from a plant-based raw material and heating the plants with the supplied power.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 1, pots 6 each having a square pyramid-shaped hole with a side length of 3 cm are arranged vertically and horizontally, and a cell tray 2 integrally formed with about 90 to 120 of them as a set is used as a seedling raising tray. Soil 5 such as culture soil is placed in the pot 6, and seeds are sown inside the soil 5 to germinate and raise seedlings. In particular, when raising seedlings in winter, a heating facility using heavy oil or the like is operated in the greenhouse to warm the entire greenhouse, and seeds are sown in the cell tray 2 to raise seedlings.

[0003] Due to the recent soaring prices, fuel costs have increased, and in the method of warming the entire greenhouse, the cost has become quite high. Therefore, a local air conditioning system is required, and various local heating systems have been proposed. As one example, a heating system has also been proposed in which power is supplied to an electric heating mat in which a nichrome wire or the like laid below the cell tray is embedded to perform local heating.

[0004] Also, as another method, for example, in Patent Document 1, this plant growing pot 10 includes an inner pot 11 for storing soil for cultivating plants and an outer pot 12 for storing the inner pot 11 therein. A liquid flow path pipe 13 having a liquid flow path 13A formed therein is provided spirally at intervals in the vertical direction between the inner pot 11 and the outer pot 12, and a gas flow path 14 formed spirally is provided between the liquid flow path pipes 13 separated by the liquid flow path pipe 13. An invention is disclosed in which at least a side portion of the inner pot 11 is provided with a slit 11A for allowing gas to flow into the interior.

[0005] For example, Patent Document 2 discloses an invention of a plant-growing soil heating and cooling device including an inner pot for storing a bottomed plant-growing soil with an open top, the inner pot being made of porous pottery, and an outer pot with openings at the top and bottom that covers the surfaces of the inner pot other than the opening surface, the outer pot having a lower thermal conductivity than the inner pot and forming a temperature control space between the inner surface of the outer pot and the outer surface of the inner pot, and a hollow pedestal portion having a gripping opening formed on the upper surface for placing the lower surface of the outer pot thereon, placing the outer pot on the gripping opening, communicating with the lower opening surface of the outer pot, and supplying temperature-controlled air to the temperature control space inside the outer pot. The outer pot has its side surface protruding from the pedestal portion in a state where its lower surface is placed on the gripping opening of the pedestal portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Disclosure of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] When heating as in Patent Documents 1 and 2, water is often used as a medium. There are many systems that heat water by heat exchange and then use the water to heat pots and the like. Currently, several heat exchanges are required to heat the pots.

[0008] In addition, in the case of an electric heating mat, there is also a problem that when watering with water required during germination, water accumulates on the lower electric heating mat and the drainage is poor. Also, since the lower part of one cell of a seedling-raising cell tray is tapered like a weight, the contact area with the electric heating mat is small and it is not an efficient heat transfer system.

[0009] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and aims to provide a heating system with a structure that reduces the number of heat exchanges during heating as much as possible, has good drainage, consumes little power, and has good thermal efficiency.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] A tray in which a plurality of pots arranged vertically and horizontally are integrally formed, and a heating element that generates heat by supplying power, and the heating element is disposed between the pots and transfers heat from the side surfaces of the pots.

Effects of the Invention

[0011] Due to the above characteristics, the present invention can efficiently warm the soil because it warms the side surface of the pot with the largest area.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

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MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0013] The heating system 1 in plant cultivation according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments and drawings described below are examples of a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and are not used for the purpose of limiting to these configurations, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0014] (Example 1) Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, FIGS. 11 and 16, the heating system 1 in Example 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cell tray 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the cell tray 2 is provided with a plurality of pots 6 which are holes for putting soil 5. The shape of the pot 6 is substantially a quadrangular pyramid shape, with the upper part being wide and the lower part being narrow. And, an insertion part 3 serving as a space extends between the pots 6.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of them are inserted into the space in the insertion part 3 along the longitudinal direction in which the pots 6 are aligned. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the whole heating element 10. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the heating element 10 in an enlarged manner. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the heating element 10, a heating part 12 is provided on a mounting part 14 provided on a base part 11.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a partial cross-section of the heating system 1. FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing the heating element 10. As shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 11, the heating element 10 is formed by planar coating of a heat-generating paint obtained by disposing an electrode portion 13 on a base portion 17 such as resin. Then, the heating element 10 is attached to a mounting portion 14 made of metal such as stainless steel or resin with an adhesive or tape.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 5, the base portion 11 supports the mounting portion 14 along the inclination (α) of the pot 6. The angle of the inclination (α) is preferably from 7 degrees to 14 degrees. The cell tray 2 is provided with an internal space 7 for putting soil such as cultivation soil inside the pot 6. Further, the heating system 1 inserts the heating element 10 into the insertion portion 3 between the pots 6.

[0018] FIGS. 6 and 7 are modified examples of the heating element 10. FIG. 6 provides a mounting portion 14 vertically from the base portion 11, and the heat-generating portions 12 described above are provided on both sides of the mounting portion 14. FIG. 7 provides the mounting portion 14 in an inverted V shape, and the heat-generating portions 12 described above are provided on both sides thereof. Although the heat-generating portions 12 are provided on both sides, it may be provided on only one side.

[0019] The angle (β) of the V shape is preferably from 15 degrees to 35 degrees. Further, the heat-generating portion 12 may be triangular with a metal piece provided below instead of a V shape, as long as the angle (β) of the above-described V-shaped portion is maintained.

[0020] By forming the heating element 10 shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 higher than the height of the cell tray 2, it is possible to float the cell tray 2 from the lower surface, so that a heating system 1 with good drainage can be constructed.

[0021] (Example 2) Referring to FIGS. 8 to 12, the heating system 1 in Example 2 will be described. It is a perspective view showing the heating system 1. FIG. 8 mainly shows the cell tray female mold device 20. FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the plane of the cell tray female mold device 20. FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a partial cross-section of the cell tray female mold device 20.

[0022] The cell tray female mold device 20 shown in FIGS. 8 to 11 is formed of silicon, rubber, etc., and is provided with a cell fitting portion 21 so as to fit with the pot 6 of the cell tray 2. The cell fitting portion 21 is provided with a fitting hole 22 which is a hole larger than the outer shape of the pot 6, and is fitted with a plurality of pots 6.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 9, the cell tray female mold device 20 is provided with a plurality of cell fitting portions 21 arranged vertically and horizontally. The cell tray female mold device 20 arranges a plurality of heating elements 10 along the longitudinal direction of the cell fitting portion 21 and also between the cell fitting portions 21.

[0024] FIG. 10 shows a state in which the cell tray 2 filled with soil 5 inside the pot 6 and having seeds S sown inside the soil 5 is mounted on the cell tray female mold device 20. The cell tray female mold device 20 vertically stands and embeds the heating element 10 shown in FIG. 11 described above inside, which is formed of silicon or the like, so as to be able to heat the pot 6 from the side surface.

[0025] The cell tray female mold device 20 is provided with a female part drain hole 23 which is a hole penetrating downward so as to have good drainage.

[0026] FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing a modified example of the heating element 10. The heating elements 10 are alternately bent so as to surround three sides of the cell fitting portion 21. Also in the modified example, it is formed so as to be able to heat the pot 6 from the side surface. In this way, by heating from three sides, the heating area becomes larger and an improvement in the heating effect is observed. Note that although it is surrounded by three sides, it may be in a state of surrounding two sides by skipping one bend.

[0027] It is also possible to apply the shape of the arrangement for heating from these three sides to the shape of the heating element 10 of the above-described Example 1. Also, by using a material with a high heat retention effect such as rubber in this way, it is possible to reduce the power consumption in consideration of the ON and OFF times.

[0028] FIG. 16 is a graph showing the relationship between temperature and time when a heating system is placed in a refrigerator and germination is induced from seeds at a low temperature. The vertical axis is divided equally at 5°C intervals from -5°C to 35°C and shown by horizontal lines, and the horizontal axis is shown every 1 hour.

[0029] Graph A is a graph showing the room temperature where the refrigerator is installed, and shows about 27°C to 29°C. Graph B is a graph showing the ground temperature of the pots of the cell tray 2 placed in the room where the refrigerator is installed, and shows around 27°C.

[0030] Graph C is a graph showing the ground temperature when the heating system 1 installed in the refrigerator is operated, and shows about 23°C. Graph D is a graph showing the temperature of the surface of the cell tray 2 installed in the refrigerator, and shows about 13°C to 17°C.

[0031] Graph E is a graph showing the room temperature inside the refrigerator, and shows about 2°C to 5°C. Graph F is a graph showing the ground temperature of the cell tray 2 without the heating system 1 installed in the refrigerator, and shows about 2°C.

[0032] As described above, an experiment was conducted to germinate tomato, cabbage, and spinach seeds using this heating system 1. As a result, even when the room temperature was around 2°C to 5°C, it was possible to continuously maintain a ground temperature exceeding 20°C, and thus germination with a high probability similar to germination at 30°C indoors was confirmed.

[0033] (Example 3) Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the heating system 1 in Example 3 will be described. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the heating system 1. FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing the plane of the covering portion 9 of the heating system 1.

[0034] The heating system 1 shown in FIG. 13 includes a plurality of arch-shaped arch frameworks 8a, and the arch frameworks 8a are connected by cross bars 8b to form a tunnel-shaped framework. A covering portion 9 covered with a tree species sheet is laid on top of the tunnel-shaped framework.

[0035] And inside the heating system 1, a cell tray 2 is built in. Further, the heating system 1 configured in Example 1 or 2 may be further built in. The size of this heating system 1 is a system with a width of 50 cm to 2 m, a length of about 1.5 m to 5 m, and a height of about 90 cm.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 14, the covering portion 9 is formed of a transparent or colored resin sheet such as a PVC or vinyl sheet. The heating elements 10 described above are arranged at a plurality of locations inside the covering portion 9. And the heating system 1 is a system that heats while keeping the dome-shaped interior warm. Since it is a heating system 1 in a small space that can be installed in a greenhouse such as vinyl, miniaturization of heating equipment and the like and energy saving regarding heating can be realized.

[0037] (Power System) Next, referring to FIG. 15, the energy of the heating system 1 used in Examples 1 to 3 will be described. FIG. 15 is a schematic view showing an electric power system. As shown in FIG. 15, the heating system 1 uses electrical energy, is connected to the heating element 10, and operates the heating element 10 by the supplied power. The power is AC of 100V, 200V or DC of 12V, 24V, etc. The connection of each heating element 10 to the power system is a parallel connection or a series connection.

[0038] (Heating Element) The heating element 10 used in Examples 1 to 3 is a planar heating element. The heating portion 12 was prepared as a heat-generating paint, with the binder being an acrylic emulsion, water being used as the solvent, and carbon material 100 being used as the pigment. Particularly in Examples 1 and 2, by forming a planar shape along the side surface of the pot 6, it is possible to widely and efficiently warm the largest area portion of the pot 6.

[0039] For other heat-generating paints, the binder is acrylic urethane, and xylene is used as the solvent for dilution. The carbon material 100 described above is used as the pigment. This solvent two-component type is a type of paint that is cured using a curing agent.

[0040] For still other heat-generating paints, the binder is silicone, xylene is used as the solvent, and the carbon material 100 described above is used as the pigment. This solvent one-component type is a type that cures by heat and has a heat resistance of up to 150°C and excellent heat resistance.

[0041]

Table 1

[0042] Particularly, the carbon material 100 obtained by burning wheat or barley husks, cocoa husks, and sake lees at a temperature of 1000°C to 1500°C using a rotary kiln type carbonization device or induction heating furnace, electric furnace, continuous carbonization furnace, etc. in an oxygen-free state is the best.

[0043] In addition, the specific surface area of these carbon materials 100 was measured using the BET adsorption isotherm based on the nitrogen adsorption amount at liquid nitrogen temperature.

[0044] As a result, the wheat husks, barley husks, cocoa husks, and sake lees of wheat and barley were in the range of 15 m2 / g to 80 m2 / g. Since the small specific surface area improves the dispersion in emulsions such as acrylic, the carbon materials are uniformly mixed and the conductivity is improved. In addition, the improved dispersibility enhances the dispersibility of the coating film and enables the securing of strength.

[0045] The heating element 10 was formed with a total length of 50 cm, a width of 4 cm, and an electrode width of 1 cm, and the overall resistance between the electrodes was in the range of 1 Ω to 20 Ω. When DC 12V was applied, a temperature rise from room temperature to 20°C to 90°C was confirmed at around 24W of power.

[0046] The thickness of the coating film was formed in the range of 500 μm to 1000 μm. The ideal thickness of the coating film is in the range of 100 μm to 1500 μm and can be appropriately changed according to the resistance value and the place of use. When an acrylic emulsion was used, thick coating was possible.

[0047] In addition, in this example, vegetables such as tomatoes were described for plant cultivation, but it may also be for the germination of flowers such as cyclamen, fruits, trees, and seeds such as mushrooms and the growth of seedlings. In addition, although the heating element 10 described above was described as being planar, it may be linear if the efficiency is good. Also, a plurality of heating elements 10 may be connected in accordance with the supplied power.

[0048] (Technical Features) An example of the technical feature points of this embodiment is shown in parentheses below. However, it is not particularly limited and is merely illustrative, and the effects considered from these features are also described.

[0049] <Feature Point 1> A tray (for example, mainly cell tray 2) integrally formed with a plurality of pots (for example, mainly pot 6) arranged vertically and horizontally, and A heating element (for example, mainly heating element 10) that generates heat by supplying power, characterized by comprising the heating element disposed between the pot and transferring heat from the side surface of the pot.

[0050] Due to the above characteristics, the present invention can efficiently warm the soil because it warms the side surface of the pot with the largest area.

Industrial Applicability

[0051] In this experiment, examples of raising seedlings from seeds of vegetables such as tomatoes, cabbages, and spinach were described, but it can also be used in a heating system for plants such as flowers, trees, fruits, and mushrooms. Further, it can also be used not only for plants but also in a heating or warming system for pets, livestock, etc.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0052] 1... Heating system, 2... Cell tray, 3... Insertion part, 4... Drain hole, 5... Soil, 6... Pot, 7... Cell part, 8a... Arch framework part, 8b... Cross bar part, 9... Cover part, 10... Heating device, 11... Base part, 12... Heating part, 13... Electrode part, 14... Mounting part, 17... Base part, 20... Cell tray female device, 21... Cell fitting part, 22... Fitting hole, 23... Female part drain hole, 100... Carbon material.

Claims

1. A tray integrally formed with a plurality of pots arranged vertically and horizontally, and a heating element that generates heat by supplying power, characterized in that it comprises the heating element disposed between the pots and transferring heat from the side surfaces of the pots, for a heating system in plant cultivation.

2. The heating system for plant cultivation according to claim 1, characterized in that the height of the entire heating element is formed higher than that of the tray.

3. The heating system for plant cultivation according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating element is provided in an inverted V shape above a base provided with a heating portion.

4. The heating system for plant cultivation according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of linear heating elements are arranged along the rows of the pots.

5. The heating system for plant cultivation according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of alternately bent heating elements are arranged along the rows of the pots.

6. The heating system for plant cultivation according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating element is formed in a planar shape along the side surface of the pot.

7. comprising a female mold part integrally formed with a plurality of female molds fitted to the shape of the pot, characterized in that the heating element is embedded and provided inside the female mold part, for a heating system in plant cultivation according to claim 1.

8. a covering part that surrounds the tray in a dome shape with a sheet-like cover, and a plurality of heating elements provided in the covering part, characterized in that it comprises the above, for a heating system in plant cultivation according to claim 1.

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