GREENHOUSE LAYOUT

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a greenhouse arrangement comprising a housing, an interior space arranged in the housing, a plurality of plant levels arranged one above the other in the direction of gravity in the interior space, a lighting arrangement acting on the plant levels and an air supply, wherein the air supply has an air distribution space.

[0002] Such a greenhouse arrangement is known from KR 2011 007 9023 A.

[0003] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for ventilating a greenhouse arrangement with a housing, an interior space arranged in the housing, a plurality of plant levels arranged one above the other in the direction of gravity in the interior space and a lighting arrangement acting on the plant levels.

[0004] In such a greenhouse arrangement, plants can be grown on multiple levels above one another, allowing a relatively high harvest yield to be achieved on a relatively small footprint. The plants can be arranged on supports. Several supports are then stacked one above the other within the housing. Since the plants need light to grow, lighting devices are arranged between the supports or in other ways. The housing can, for example, comprise a frame whose sides are covered with panels or other flat elements to create a closed interior in which a climate favorable for plant growth can be created and maintained.

[0005] Plants generally need air to grow, especially the carbon dioxide contained in the air. At the same time, the air should also have a temperature and relative humidity that meet the plant's needs. Accordingly, the greenhouse layout includes an air supply that can supply air to the interior continuously or at intervals.

[0006] A critical consideration in this type of greenhouse setup is that the lighting system produces not only light but also heat. Even when using lighting fixtures that produce little heat, a certain amount of heat loss cannot be avoided. Accordingly, the air supply must ensure a certain amount of circulation of the air present in the interior.

[0007] However, with this air circulation, drafts should be avoided because plants often react adversely to such drafts.

[0008] EP 0 767 887 B1 discloses a device for distributing air in a room, using a pressure chamber with a large air outlet and an air inlet. The air outlet is covered by an air-permeable fabric. This fabric comprises two spaced-apart fabric layers. The fabric layers are joined at their edges to form a fabric bag in which a tensioning frame is arranged.

[0009] EP 1 464 219 A1 discloses an air conditioning device and a method for plant cultivation. Here, an air flow is directed under an air-permeable cover with openings, allowing the air to reach the plants.

[0010] JP 2000-0050744 A shows a simple building with an outer wall formed from three films, with one inner film being permeable to air, while the two outer films are impermeable to air. This makes it possible to erect the building and maintain it in the erected position by inflating the two chambers formed between the three films. Reinforcing ribs can also be provided.

[0011] US 2020 / 0236871 A1 discloses a method and system for air conditioning in closed environments, particularly for vertical farms. Here, air is introduced into a room and passed through an air-permeable wall into a greenhouse chamber. On the opposite side, it is passed through an air-permeable wall into an exit chamber. The vertical walls have openings, making them micro-perforated.

[0012] The invention is based on the object of creating favorable climatic conditions in the interior.

[0013] This object is achieved in the greenhouse arrangement according to claim 1 in that the air distribution space adjoins the interior space with an air-permeable membrane, wherein an air duct with a flow direction opens into the distribution space, which air duct has a baffle plate directed perpendicular to the flow direction.

[0014] Although the membrane is permeable to air, it also exhibits a certain degree of air resistance. Air introduced into the distribution chamber cannot simply pass into the interior in the form of an air jet. Instead, a relatively uniform air pressure builds up in the distribution chamber, which is slightly higher than the air pressure in the interior. With the help of the pressure difference between the air pressure in the distribution chamber and the air pressure in the interior, the air in the distribution chamber is forced through the membrane into the interior. This results in an air flow distributed over the surface of the membrane, i.e. an air flow with a very large cross-section. This means that a large amount of air can be pumped into the interior without creating a draft.

[0015] The air flowing through the membrane has a relatively low velocity of less than 0.5 m / s. This air flow velocity is still acceptable for most plants during growth.

[0016] The air cannot exit the air duct in the form of a direct jet; instead, the air flow introduced into the distribution chamber through the air duct is slowed down by the baffle plate and distributed in multiple directions, thus virtually eliminating the stress on the membrane caused by a directed air flow. Instead, a higher-pressure air volume is created in the distribution chamber.

[0017] Preferably, the air duct in the distribution chamber has a diffuser. The diffuser is positioned so that it can distribute the air impinging on the baffle plate. The diffuser also contributes to an even distribution of the air fed into the distribution chamber.

[0018] The diffuser preferably has a plurality of openings arranged circumferentially along the air duct. Through these openings, the air fed into the distribution chamber through the air duct can be discharged evenly distributed over the circumference of the air duct in the distribution chamber.

[0019] It is preferred that the openings be slit-like. This provides a relatively large passage area without creating directed rays that could impinge on the membrane.

[0020] The membrane preferably comprises a textile material as its main component. The textile material can be woven, knitted, or nonwoven, for example. With a textile material, the air permeability can be adjusted relatively precisely. The air permeability can be determined by the material itself. However, it is also possible to achieve or modify air permeability through perforation.

[0021] Preferably, the diaphragm has a thickening along two parallel edges that engage with parallel channels in the housing. This allows the diaphragm to be easily replaced. One simply has to pull the thickening out of the channels and then insert a new diaphragm with similar thickening into the channels. The channels can be formed, for example, on a so-called "piping strip." The thickening can be designed as a piping profile.

[0022] It is preferred that the thickened portion be arranged on a retaining element connected to the membrane. The retaining element can then be designed, for example, as a piping strip that is sewn or glued to the membrane.

[0023] Preferably, the housing has uprights, and the channels are arranged in or on the uprights. The uprights can, for example, be designed as aluminum extrusions, in which the channels can be produced at the same time.

[0024] Preferably, the distribution chamber comprises several distribution chamber sections arranged side by side on one side of the interior. This divides the distribution chamber on one side of the interior into several smaller volumes, where it is easier to ensure even pressure distribution. The air line then has its own inlet for each distribution chamber section. For example, an air duct can be routed past all distribution chamber sections, which then has its own branch for each distribution chamber section, forming the air line for the respective distribution section.

[0025] Preferably, each distribution chamber section has an airtight outer wall outside the air-permeable membrane. All air fed into the distribution chamber section can then only exit through the membrane, thus reaching the interior. This is an energy-efficient solution because virtually no supplied air is wasted.

[0026] Preferably, the outer wall is curved. A curved outer wall can be relatively easily maintained against the resulting pressures. This keeps the costs for the distribution chamber low.

[0027] It is particularly preferred that the outer wall forms part of a cylindrical surface. The cylindrical surface can, in particular, be the surface of a circular cylinder.

[0028] Preferably, the distribution chamber is a first distribution chamber, and the air duct is a first air duct. A second distribution chamber with a second air duct is arranged on an opposite side of the interior space. The air fed into the interior space can then escape through the second distribution chamber on the side opposite the first distribution chamber and be removed through the second air duct. This makes it possible to reuse the exiting air, for example, which is particularly advantageous if the greenhouse arrangement is otherwise operated in an environment with polluted air, or the exiting air can be used for control purposes.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the first air line and the second air line are connected to a common air conveying device via a switching device. The two distribution chambers can then be used alternately to feed air into the interior.

[0030] When you move from the first distribution chamber to the second distribution chamber to feed in the air, the air flows from the first distribution chamber to the second distribution chamber. When you then feed the air into the second distribution chamber, the air flow in the interior is reversed. This creates a more even temperature for the plants inside, on average. Even with air flow, it is unavoidable that the fed-in air warms up slightly. This then leads to the plants furthest away from the first distribution chamber being exposed to a higher temperature over the long term than the plants adjacent to the first distribution chamber. If you now feed the air alternately through the first distribution chamber and the second distribution chamber, all the plants will, on average, be exposed to at least approximately the same temperature.

[0031] The object is achieved in the method according to claim 11 in that air is fed into a distribution space adjacent to the interior and is passed through an air-permeable membrane into the interior.

[0032] This approach makes it possible to achieve the necessary air exchange in the interior without creating a sharp airflow, a so-called "draft," which many plants do not tolerate well. The air fed into the distribution chamber cannot directly enter the interior because the membrane creates a certain flow resistance. The membrane ensures that a uniform air pressure can build up in the distribution chamber, which is slightly higher than the air pressure inside the chamber. The pressure difference then ensures that the air fed into the distribution chamber can pass through the membrane into the interior over a wide area.

[0033] Preferably, the air in the distribution chamber is directed against a baffle plate. This protects the membrane from a directed airflow and prevents damage to the membrane.

[0034] Preferably, the air is distributed in the distribution chamber using a diffuser. This is a simple measure for quickly and evenly distributing the air throughout the distribution chamber.

[0035] Preferably, the airflow in the interior is reversed from time to time. Even with controlled air exchange, it is unavoidable that the air flowing through the interior will heat up. By changing the direction of the airflow in the interior, it is possible to ensure that the plants are always exposed to a substantially uniform temperature, at least on average. The change in direction can be easily achieved by arranging a distribution chamber on opposite sides of the interior and supplying the distribution chambers with fresh air alternately, for example, with the aid of valves.

[0036] The invention is described below using a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a greenhouse arrangement, partly in elevation, Fig. 2 is an enlarged representation of a distribution space, Fig. 3 is a schematic representation for the attachment of a membrane to the housing and Fig. 4 is a schematic representation for explaining an air flow through the greenhouse arrangement.

[0037] In all figures, identical and corresponding elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0038] A greenhouse assembly 1 comprises a housing 2 in which several plant troughs 3 are arranged one above the other in the direction of gravity. Plants, such as lettuce plants, are grown in the plant troughs.

[0039] The housing 2 has several stands 4, which on the one hand support the planting trays 3, and on the other hand also serve to attach wall sections 5. Such wall sections are also present in front of the planting trays 3. However, they are Fig. 1 removed to show the plant trays 3. The wall sections surround an interior space 6. At the upper end of the interior space 6, in the direction of gravity, plant trays 3 without plants or correspondingly "slimmed down" supports can be arranged to cover the interior space. It is not necessary for them to hermetically seal the interior space 6. The interior space 6 is largely enclosed at its bottom by the lowest plant trays 3, although an airtight seal is not required here either. The plant trays 3 can also be stacked directly on top of one another.

[0040] The plant trays 3 and the supports arranged at the upper end of the interior space 6 have lighting devices 7 with which the plants arranged beneath each plant tray 3 can be illuminated. A nutrient supply (not shown in detail) is provided to supply the plant trays 3 with nutrient fluid, usually water with a fertilizer.

[0041] In addition to light, water, and nutrients, plants also need air to grow. For this reason, air supply devices 8, 9 are arranged on two opposite sides of the interior space. These devices are approximately identical in design and mirror image. For this reason, only the air supply device 8 will be explained in more detail below. The two air supply devices 8, 9, together with an air source (not shown in detail), such as a fan, form an air supply.

[0042] The air supply device 8 has at least one distribution chamber 10 ( Fig. 2 ). The air distribution chamber 10 is also referred to as the first air distribution chamber in order to distinguish it from the corresponding second air distribution chambers of the second air distribution device 9. The air distribution chamber 10 is divided into several distribution chamber sections 10a-10d, each of which is closed. The air distribution sections 10a-10d ( Fig. 1 ) are essentially identical, so that in the following only the distribution chamber 10 is described with reference to Fig. 2 is explained.

[0043] The first air supply device 8 has an air duct 11, from which an air line 12 branches off, entering the distribution chamber 10. The air line 12 runs essentially at right angles to the air duct 11, but this is not mandatory. The air line 12 has a baffle plate 13 on its end face, which ends in the distribution chamber 10, which is directed perpendicularly or transversely to the flow direction through the air line 12. In its peripheral wall in the distribution chamber 10, the air line has a plurality of openings 14, which are preferably evenly distributed in the peripheral wall. The openings 14 are slit-like, i.e., they have a significantly greater length in the flow direction than a width in the circumferential direction of the air line 12.

[0044] The distribution chamber 10 borders the interior space 6 with a membrane 15. The membrane 15 is designed to be permeable to air. The distribution chamber 10 also has an outer wall 16 that is impermeable to air. The outer wall 16 is curved, preferably in the form of a portion of a cylindrical surface, and particularly preferably in the form of a portion of a circular cylindrical surface.

[0045] Although the membrane 15 is permeable to air, it offers a certain flow resistance to the air passing through it. The air introduced into the distribution chamber 10 through the air duct 12 first strikes the baffle plate 13 and is then distributed through the openings 14 around the air duct 12. The openings 14 form a diffuser. The air supplied through the air duct 12 can then be evenly distributed in the distribution chamber 10, forming an air volume with a substantially uniform pressure across the entire air volume. This pressure is slightly higher than the air pressure in the interior chamber 6. This pressure difference causes air to pass from the distribution chamber 10 into the interior chamber 6. This results in an air flow to the air supply device 9 on the opposite side, where the air that has flowed through the interior chamber can be removed again. The flow velocity here is relatively low, lying below 0.5 m / s.

[0046] The air duct 12 is arranged in the upper half, preferably even in the upper quarter, of the distribution chamber 10 in the direction of gravity. The supplied air is generally somewhat cooler than the air in the interior 6 because the latter is heated by the lighting devices 7. Accordingly, the supplied air can also sink downwards in the distribution chamber 10. However, once the supplied air has flowed through the interior and reached the second air supply device 9, it can rise there due to the increased temperature and be discharged through the second air duct 17 arranged there.

[0047] In the Fig. 1 and 2The air duct 11 is shown open at its front end. This illustration was chosen to show the "inside" of the air duct 11 and the air line 12. In reality, the air duct 11 is closed here to prevent air from escaping.

[0048] The membrane 15 is made of a textile material as its main component. The textile material can be woven or knitted. It can also be a nonwoven. Using a textile material as the main component of the membrane 15, the flow resistance of the membrane 15 can be adjusted relatively precisely. If necessary, the membrane can also be provided with small openings in the form of perforations to precisely adjust the flow resistance.

[0049] To secure the membrane 15, the membrane 15 has a thickened portion 18 on both of its long sides, for example, in the form of a piping profile. This thickened portion 18 is inserted into a corresponding channel 19 on a stand 4. It can, for example, be threaded into the profile 19 from above. This creates a positive connection between the membrane 15 and a stand 4. The thickened portion does not have to be part of the membrane 15. The thickened portion 18 can also be arranged on a holding element 22 that is sewn or glued to the membrane.

[0050] Since the two air supply devices 8, 9 are essentially of the same design, both air supply devices 8, 9 can be used alternately to supply air into the interior space 6. This is demonstrated by Fig. 4 explained.

[0051] Fig. 4a shows the view of Fig. 1 , in which the two air supply devices 8, 9 are connected to one another by lines 25, 26. In the present example, line 25 has an air supply nozzle 27 which opens into line 25 via a changeover valve 20. Line 26 has an exhaust air nozzle 28 which opens into line 26 via a valve 21. Valve 20 has a flap 20a with which supply air can be directed either to air supply device 8 or to air supply device 9. Valve 21 has a flap 21a with which exhaust air can be directed either from air supply device 9 or from air supply device 8 into the exhaust air nozzle 28. The two valves 20, 21 each have a servomotor 23, 24, wherein the servomotors 23, 24 can be synchronized with one another.

[0052] If the flap 20a is in the Fig. 4b shown position and the flap 21a in the Fig. 4cshown position, the air is supplied via the first air distribution device 8 and the air is removed via the second air distribution device 9. When the two flaps 20a, 21a are each in their other position, the air is supplied via the second air distribution device 9 and the air is removed via the first air distribution device 8.

[0053] The switching between the two flow directions can, for example, occur every sixty minutes.

[0054] The air conveying device can also be additionally or alternatively equipped with a suction device so that the flow through the interior can also or additionally be generated by suction.

[0055] A heat exchanger can also be provided in the air flow outside the interior 6, which cools the air again when it is allowed to circulate, thus eliminating the heating caused by the lighting devices 7.

[0056] With the air flow shown, relatively good temperature control can be achieved. With a flow length of, for example, 6000 mm and an extension along which the two air distribution devices 8, 9 are arranged of approximately 940 mm, as well as a height of, for example, 14000 mm, a flow velocity between the two air distribution devices 8, 9 of approximately 0.3 m / s can be achieved. The air pressure in the distribution chamber sections 10 ad is approximately 300 Pa.

[0057] This results in a slightly lower temperature on the incoming air side than on the outgoing air side. However, the temperature differences are not very large, lying essentially in the range of 0 to 5°C.

Claims

1. Greenhouse arrangement (1) having a housing (2), an inner space (6) arranged in the housing (2), a plurality of plant levels (3) arranged one above the other in the direction of gravity in the inner space (6), a lighting arrangement (7) and an air supply (8, 9), the air supply (8, 9) having at least one air distribution chamber (10; 10a-10d), characterized in that the air distribution chamber (10; 10a-10d) adjoins the inner space (6) by means of an air-permeable membrane (15), wherein an air duct (12) opens into the distribution chamber (10) with a flow direction, which distribution chamber has a baffle plate (13) directed perpendicular to the flow direction.

2. Greenhouse arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the air duct (12) has a diffuser in the distribution space (10), which diffuser has, in particular, a plurality of openings (14) which are arranged in a peripheral wall of the air duct (12) and are preferably (14) of slot-like design.

3. Greenhouse arrangement according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the membrane (15) has textile material as main constituent.

4. Greenhouse arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the membrane (15) has a thickened portion (18) on two parallel edges, which are in engagement with parallel channels (19) in the housing (2).

5. Greenhouse arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the thickened portion (18) is arranged on a holding element connected to the membrane (15).

6. Greenhouse arrangement according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the housing (2) has uprights (4) and the channels (19) are arranged in uprights (4).

7. Greenhouse arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the distribution space (10) has a plurality of distribution space sections (10a-10d) which are arranged next to one another on one side of the inner space (6).

8. Greenhouse arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that each distribution space section (10a-10d) has an air-impermeable outer wall (16) outside the air-permeable membrane (15), which outer wall (16) is curved in particular and preferably forms part of a cylinder outer surface.

9. Greenhouse arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the distribution space (10) is a first distribution space and the air duct (12) is a first air duct, and a second distribution space with a second air duct (17) is arranged on one of the opposite sides of the inner space (6).

10. Greenhouse construction according to claim 9, characterized in that the first air duct (12) and the second air duct (17) are connected to a common air supply means via a switch-over means (20, 21).

11. Method for ventilating a greenhouse arrangement (1) having a housing (2), an inner chamber (6) arranged in the housing (2), a plurality of plant levels (3) arranged one above the other in the direction of gravity in the inner chamber (6) 3) and a lighting arrangement (7) acting on the plant levels (3), air being supplied to a distribution space (10; 10a-10d) adjoining the interior space (6), characterized in that the air is conducted through an air-permeable membrane from the air distribution chamber (10; 10a-10d) into the inner space (6), the air in the distribution chamber (10; 10a-10d) being directed towards a baffle plate (13).

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the air in the distribution space (10; 10a-10d) is distributed by means of a diffuser.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the air flow in the inner space (6) is reversed from time to time.