Greenhouse or biotope

Abstract

The invention relates to a greenhouse or biotope (15) of modular design, which is characterized in that a plant- and / or habitat sphere located in the interior is enclosed on all sides by light membrane-covered double windows (12).

Description

[0001] Greenhouse or biotope

[0002] The invention relates to a greenhouse or a biotope.

[0003] The end of 2023 will be marked not only by an ever-increasing number of increasingly brutal wars and conflicts, but also by increasingly severe climate-related weather disasters, massive species extinction, the loss of fertile agricultural land, and the crossing of critical "tipping points." All of this seems atypical as an introduction to a sober patent description. However, it is placed before the following technical description for the following reasons:

[0004] 1. The developments listed above have reached threatening proportions because, and even though, their causes have been known for a long time, long-term countermeasures (strategies) have not been consistently implemented.

[0005] 2. The aforementioned species extinction and the destruction of fertile soil are the consequence of human interventions in nature. These interventions occur without consideration of the laws and functional processes of natural biotopes, in particular without consideration of closed material and energy cycles without waste, as well as the synergistic linking of various elements and modes of action of the biotope.

[0006] The multifunctional plant and habitat cover described in this patent application specifically utilizes the principles of natural biotopes to achieve stable conditions. This is intended to implement elements of an ecological technology that counteract the problems described above and, as part of long-term strategies, contribute to restoring the disturbed global balance. On the organic agricultural side, this is achieved by creating self-sufficient greenhouses with energy and water that automatically adapt to any climatic conditions at the respective location, thereby compensating for the effects of human-induced climate change.

[0007] In the field of preventing conflicts and wars, which very often result from a lack of resources (typically food and water scarcity), these structures should basically function for the autonomous supply of healthy food, clean energy and water using exclusively the incoming solar radiation energy.

[0008] The following presents the main principles taken from nature.

[0009] Fig. 1 shows a schematic of how a large tree filters the light for smaller, young trees and plants growing in its partial shade (agroforestry principle). Reference numeral 1 denotes the incoming, direct sunlight, and reference numeral 2 the tree's leaves, which use the sun's energy for photosynthesis. Reference numeral 5 represents the diffuse, subdued light filtered through the sea of ​​leaves for the young plants. Reference numeral 3 denotes the water vapor created when leaves 2 open their stomata and allow water to evaporate. This evaporative cooling cools the leaves. The optimal leaf temperatures for photosynthesis in C-3 and C-4 plants are shown in Table 2 in Fig. 10.

[0010] Water vapor 3 is dispersed in the atmosphere by wind currents 4. It typically reaches the edge of high mountains, rises there, and turns into snow, hail, or rain due to the lower temperatures in the upper atmosphere (below the dew point). The water then flows back to the sea via streams and rivers. This completes the continuously repeating, great water cycle.

[0011] The invention is based on the object of creating a greenhouse or a biotope that at least partially reflects natural processes.

[0012] The object is solved by the features of claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of the inventive solution can be found in the subclaims.

[0013] In summary, the invention is a multifunctional plant and habitat cover with a modular design. The plant and habitat cover is further designed to protect the interior from adverse weather conditions such as rain, snow, hail, wind, heat, and cold. Furthermore, it is configured to allow continuous regulation of incoming sunlight, the interior temperature, and humidity, as well as the recovery of large portions of the water evaporated by the plant leaves. Furthermore, the blocked portion of solar radiation is converted into usable electrical current and heat. The green portion of the solar spectrum, which is ineffective for photosynthesis, is converted into the highly effective yellow-red portion by fluorescence. The cooling capacity generated by nighttime infrared radiation is stored in a usable cold storage unit.This cold is used as a “heat sink” to lower the temperature below the dew point of the regularly exchanged air inside the protective cover according to the invention, thus allowing the recovery of the water evaporated by the plants.

[0014] The shell is constructed from lightweight, membrane-covered "double windows." These are designed as torsion-resistant boxes that can be assembled into polygons of various shapes (cylinders, rounds, combinations thereof) in different sizes using familiar fastening mechanisms without the need for additional supporting structures. The "lightweight double windows" can be used as air ducts. Inside these ducts are rotatable louvres, whose position can be used to control the desired light flow. They are preferably made of fluoropolymers, such as those manufactured and distributed by NOWOFOL Kunststoffprodukte GmbH & Co. KG.

[0015] The amount of light absorbed by the slats is converted into heat, cold, or electricity and heat, depending on the nature of the slat surface. The control signal for correctly positioning the slats is delivered either via an adjustable light sensor inside the shell or directly via a plant sensor, which detects the constantly changing light requirements of the plant(s) depending on the time of day, season, or other changing environmental parameters. In the latter case, the shell, in combination with the plant's light requirements, becomes a bionic feedback system. Other synergistic functions of the shell are also inspired by the multifunctionality of natural biotopes, as will be explained below. Keywords here include: lightweight double-glazed windows, photosynthesis, light spectrum, solar chimney, multifunctionality, heat and cold generation, dew point, water from the air, and fluorescence.

[0016] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the following figures. They show:

[0017] Fig. 1: a schematic representation of the natural water cycle,

[0018] Fig. 2: a schematic representation of an embodiment of the greenhouse according to the invention,

[0019] Fig. 2a-d: the position and function of the slats in different weather conditions,

[0020] Fig. 3a: a schematic representation of the transmission spectrum of the sun with the two radiation windows,

[0021] Fig. 3b: a schematic representation of the transmission spectrum of a typical fluoropolymer membrane,

[0022] Fig. 4: schematic representation of the functioning of an embodiment of the biotope according to the invention during the night as a “refrigeration machine”,

[0023] Fig. 5: a schematic representation of an embodiment of the solution according to the invention,

[0024] Fig. 5a: schematic representation of the CO2 concentration inside the “biotope” depending on solar radiation,

[0025] Fig. 5b: Representation of the characteristic curve of the water vapor content of the air as a function of temperature, Fig. 6a-g: specific weather data from the Mediterranean region during one year,

[0026] Fig. 7: a schematic representation of how fresh water is recovered from the atmosphere during the day using a cold sink,

[0027] Fig. 8: schematic representation of a self-sufficient residential building with protective cover according to the invention,

[0028] Fig. 9: Summary of the essential properties of fluoropolymer membranes in tabular form Tab. 1 , and

[0029] Fig. 10: Parameters of C3 plants and C4 plants in tabular form (Table 2).

[0030] Fig. 2 schematically illustrates how the "agroforestry" principle, derived from nature: "A large tree protects young trees and smaller plants from excessively intense solar radiation and heat," is technically imitated by the inventive "biotope cover." Reference numeral 1 again denotes the intense, direct solar radiation; 12 are transparent double windows with very thin transparent membranes 12a, 12b, which, when modularly joined together, form a plant protection cover of any shape. In the example shown, this is a protective cover 15 composed of hexagonal polygons to form an approximately cylindrical cover.

[0031] Plants 14 are arranged beneath the protective cover 15. Flaps 25a, 25b are arranged on the lower double-glazed window 12 and the upper / top double-glazed window 12. These flaps allow ambient air to flow through the double-glazed window, which also acts as a convection chimney. These convection chimneys, whose upward airflow is caused by the sun's free radiant energy during the day and whose downward airflow is caused by heat radiation into the clear night sky at night, form beneficial components of the "biotope."

[0032] Although the convection air chimneys are controllably connected to the large internal air volume via the flaps 25a, 25b and, in certain operating states, also to the outside air, their defined geometry and controllable flow dynamics allow functions that are not possible in conventional greenhouses: water recovery from the humid internal air of the biotope, generation of storable useful heat and cold, self-cooling photovoltaics and water extraction from the ambient air.

[0033] The individual underlying processes are described in more detail below: The upper surfaces of the pivoting louvres 13 are designed as dark, light-absorbing surfaces. The sunlight striking these surfaces is converted into heat. This heat energy is transferred to the surrounding air. The gradually warming air enters the double-glazed window at the prevailing ambient temperature through the lower flap 25a and exits at the highest possible temperature via the upper flap 25b. The air outlet temperature can be regulated by the opening state of the flaps 25a, 25b.

[0034] The following sections demonstrate how the thermal energy in the air can be technically harnessed. In a special design, the dark surface of the slats consists of photovoltaic cells. In this version, the slats generate direct current and warm air. Compared to traditional photovoltaic modules typically installed on roofs, these photovoltaic cells are more efficient because they operate at lower temperatures than their "rooftop counterparts" due to the self-generated airflow cooling.

[0035] This shows a first analogy between the slats 13 and the leaves of the tree in Fig. 1: Since photosynthesis is also subject to a "negative temperature coefficient," its efficiency increases at lower temperatures. While the natural leaf cools down as a result of water evaporation, while the artificial "leaf" accomplishes this through the self-generated airflow, it is further explained that the biotope or greenhouse shell 15 also realizes a synergy with the larger water cycle "tree-atmosphere-rain" - albeit on a smaller scale. The slats 13, acting as artificial leaves, specifically dampen the sunlight as it penetrates the plant space to the optimal illuminance for the plants. Table 2 shows the optimal leaf temperature ranges for C-3 and C-4 plants.

[0036] In Fig. 2, the slats 13 are arranged so that they are perpendicular to the sun. Through the gaps between these slats 13, a metered amount of solar radiation flows into the interior of the protective cover 15 to the plants 14. To ensure that these are not illuminated in stripes, the inner membrane of the double windows 12b is designed as a "diffuser", while the outer membrane 12a is crystal clear / transparent. To ensure that the scattering process of the diffuser membrane 12b is optimally directed forwards (i.e. that as much of the light flux as possible reaches the interior), corresponding microprisms are incorporated into this membrane 12b. This allows a practically undamped, quantitatively controlled amount of light to reach the interior in a completely diffuse form: as bright as day, but without shadows! This form of light is ideal for plant growth. This creates an analogy to the natural model (Fig. 1) "big tree protects small tree".

[0037] The slats 13, acting as "artificial leaves," reduce the excessive light flux of solar radiation, while the rear membrane of the double window 12b converts direct (parallel) light into diffused light. However, the technical design of the "biotope" with its continuously rotating slats 13 offers two advantages over its natural counterpart:

[0038] 1 . While in the case of the tree the sun moving across the sky leads to a constantly moving partial shade zone under the tree depending on the time of day and year, this diffuse light zone is stationary inside the “biotope”.

[0039] 2. In nature, when the sky is cloudy and the amount of light is greatly reduced (diffuse), the light is often so strongly dampened by the canopy of leaves that the small trees and plants protected by this canopy do not receive enough light for good photosynthesis.

[0040] In the case of the slats 13 of the biotope according to the invention, this weakness can be eliminated, as shown in Fig. 2a. In cloudy conditions, diffuse light strikes the surface of the double-glazed windows 12. Depending on the degree of cloud cover, typical radiation outputs per m² range between 200W / m² and 450W / m². This radiation output should reach the interior of the "biotope" as fully as possible to achieve good photosynthesis performance. Therefore, the slats 13 are moved to a vertical position so that a large portion of the light reaches the interior. The reflective design of the backs of the slats 13 enhances this effect.

[0041] Fig. 2b shows a weather situation in which sun and clouds occur simultaneously, for example the sun is not clear but is visible as a "milky" disk. In this case, the slats are moved into a position that allows sunlight to pass through at the desired power density. According to the invention, the position of the slats 13 is controlled, for example, by a comparator (not shown) located inside the "biotope". This comparator constantly compares a stored setpoint value of the desired illuminance with a real value measured by light sensors (not shown). If the actual value deviates from the setpoint value, the slats 13 are moved forwards and backwards, for example via a "fuzzi logic" circuit, until the illuminance is as close as possible to the setpoint value. Control systems for regulating illuminance are known to a technically qualified person and are by no means limited to the example described.

[0042] Instead of the described light control, the light flow can advantageously be controlled by the plants inside the "biotope" itself. For this purpose, biological parameters of the plants 14, such as typically the turgor (internal osmotic pressure of the plant cell), are advantageously converted into electrical signals via sensors, which in turn control the position of the slats 13 via the described comparator-fuzzy logic. The target value of the turgor is a guideline for the "well-being" of the plant and thus its photosynthetic performance. In this way, the "biotope" plant envelope becomes a bionic system. In this system, the living, biological part of the system controls the technical opto-mechanical part. This has the great advantage that the plants 14 can individually control the best possible lighting conditions at any time of day or year.

[0043] Fig. 2c shows schematically how the hot air flow generated by partial solar absorption inside the double windows 12 flows through a large-area air-water heat exchanger at its upper outlet end, and a large part of the contained thermal energy is converted into hot water, which is available around the clock for the human owners of the “biotope”, for example, in a well-insulated heat storage tank.

[0044] Fig. 2d shows schematically how, during clear nights, the air inside the channels becomes colder than the ambient air due to infrared radiation from the slats 13 and the membrane material.

[0045] The atmosphere has two radiation windows: The first, between 0.3 micrometers and 3 micrometers, allows large portions of the solar spectrum to reach the Earth's surface, and is thus the driving force behind photosynthesis and thus life. The second radiation window, between 8 micrometers and 14 micrometers, allows infrared radiation to exchange with cold space (-273°C). Fig. 3a shows the two radiation windows, while Fig. 3b shows the transmission spectrum of a typical fluoropolymer membrane (ETFE). This shows that the membrane, which is highly transparent to the eye, absorbs light in the region of the second atmospheric window and is therefore capable of cooling itself to temperatures below ambient temperature through nighttime radiation.

[0046] Analysis of the potential radiant power of a 1m² blackbody radiator using this radiation mechanism (see Boltzmann's radiation laws) results in a power output of approximately 100W; the maximum achievable lowest temperature (according to Wien's displacement law) is -18°C. These theoretical values ​​can only be partially realized in real systems such as the "biotope" described here due to various loss mechanisms. However, every dew-covered meadow in the early morning after a clear night demonstrates that this natural cooling mechanism is capable of falling below the dew point temperature of the atmospheric, invisible water vapor, thus recovering liquid water.

[0047] For these reasons, the double-window shell of the biotope uses two inexhaustible energy sources: during the day the radiant power of the “source” sun to create energy (biomass, electricity, heat) and at night the “sink” of the cold night sky to create anergy (cold).

[0048] The latter case results in a downward inverse cold airflow inside the double-glazed windows 12. The cold air flows through a large-area air-water heat exchanger at the lower outlet end, converting a large portion of the low-temperature energy into cold water, which is stored in a well-insulated cold water tank and available around the clock. The use of this cold water to recover water evaporated by plants in the plant biotope during the day, as well as other useful applications, is described below.

[0049] Fig. 4 schematically shows how the "biotope" functions as a "chilling machine" at night. In the south-facing double-window façade, the louvers 13 radiate infrared energy into the night sky in the manner described (solid arrows). The membrane material itself also radiates, albeit to a lesser extent (broken arrows). Air flaps 25a, 25b are opened on the top side of the double-window shell and at its lower end. Cool air flows downward. It flows through a large-area air-water heat exchanger (not shown separately). The generated cold water is stored in storage tank 35. The north-facing double-window façade also radiates into the cold night sky, but with reduced power, since only the membrane material radiates. Analogous to the south façade, cold water is generated and stored here.

[0050] Fig. 5 schematically illustrates how the stored cold water is used during the day to recover the water evaporated by the plants. To do this, both the inner lower flap 25a and the upper flap 25b are opened when the sun is shining. The air passage 25c on the lower side of the north facade is opened. The rising hot air in the double windows 12a, 12b of the south facade creates a suction, through which the moist air from the interior of the biotope 15 is drawn into the double-window duct. Fresh, CO2-rich air flows through the air passage 25c. The moist air flows through the large-surface air-water heat exchanger (not shown separately) in the lower area of ​​the south facade duct. This heat exchanger is flowed through by the cold water from the storage tank (not shown separately).If its temperature falls below the dew point of the moist, escaping air, the water vapor contained in the air condenses and flows along the inclined plates as water into the collection tank (not shown separately), from where it can be used to irrigate the plants in biotope 15. In this design, the time intervals at which the air inside biotope 15 needs to be replaced with fresh air are determined by a CO2 sensor in biotope 15 (not shown separately).

[0051] Figure 5a schematically illustrates how the CO2 concentration inside the "biotope" continuously decreases due to photosynthetic assimilation by the plants. When a threshold value X is reached, the CO2 sensor activates the described valve mechanism (via a corresponding electronic control box).

[0052] Fig. 5 b shows a schematic representation of the absolute (g H2O / m3 air) as a function of temperature (dew point curve). In a "biotope" used as a plant habitat, temperatures typically reach 30°C. At this temperature, air can absorb a maximum of 30g H2O / m3 (X1). At a relative humidity of 80%, which is favorable for plant growth, this corresponds to 24 grams / m3 (X2). The corresponding temperature on the dew point curve is 25°C. This means that the cold water storage tank must fall below this temperature for the water vapor to recondense. Particularly in arid and semi-arid regions suffering from water shortages, significantly lower cold water temperatures are achieved by the "biotope" acting as a "chilling machine" during the night.This is because these areas experience high temperatures during the day due to strong solar radiation, while at night, heat radiation from the clear, water vapor-poor atmosphere leads to significantly lower temperatures. Thus, the "biotope" is also oriented toward the "large water cycle" outlined in Fig. 1. However, it realizes this as a "small water cycle," thus enabling the targeted, site-specific reuse of evaporative moisture, which is beneficial for human plant cultures.

[0053] The cooling potential stored in the storage facility can also be used to extract water from the ambient air. This will be illustrated using the climate in the Portuguese Alentejo region. The Iberian Peninsula (including the Alentejo) is a typical example of how large regions of the Mediterranean are threatened by climate change and slipping into a "North African" climate pattern (ranging from drought to steppe desertification).

[0054] Figures 6a-f show the long-term, relevant meteorological data for the Alentejo region in Portugal. As in many other Mediterranean regions, semi-arid climate conditions prevail here between May and September. Figure 6a shows that in summer the solar radiation is comparable to that in North Africa. Figures 6b-c indicate that it is very dry in midsummer. Figure 6d is relevant for beach holidaymakers: the North Atlantic Ocean bordering the coast of the Alentejo rarely reaches good bathing temperatures. However, it is responsible for the fairly evenly distributed relative humidity throughout the year. Figure 6e shows the relative humidity, and Figure 6f the absolute humidity, which is high during the midsummer months, even though there is hardly any rainfall. This can be attributed to the higher water temperature of the ocean and to onshore winds. Figure 6b-c shows that in midsummer the climate is very dry.6g, another typical feature of the semi-arid climate is evident: hot days and cool nights. The nighttime temperatures of the atmosphere reach values ​​​​that are close to the dew point of the ambient air. Through the described process of nighttime radiation of infrared energy from the shell of the biotope (Fig. 4), it is possible to create cold water storage tanks with temperatures significantly below the dew point. By functioning as a nighttime "radiation chiller" in the mode of the "biotope" described in Fig. 4 and Fig. 2d, the ambient air temperature inside the double-glazed facades can be significantly reduced. This makes the "biotope" also suitable for extracting water from the ambient air.

[0055] Fig. 7 shows how this cold sink reclaims fresh water from the atmosphere during the day. This not only provides the biotope with a variable appearance for optimized plant growth, but also enables it to generate its water requirements from the atmosphere in dry areas. This is a particularly valuable feature in times of climate change. As previously described, the cold water in the cold water storage tank 41 is generated during the night by the biotope 15, which operates as a "radiation chiller." The cold water in the storage tank 41 is circulated by the pump 42 through the pipe 52, which transfers the cold to a large-area air-water heat exchanger 35. An air blower 43 pumps water vapor-laden ambient air into the channel 45 and distributes it in a uniform flow through the fins of the heat exchanger 35.As long as the temperature of the fins 13 remains below the dew point curve, the heat exchanger 35 acts as a condenser, with water vapor condensing on its vertical surfaces and dripping by gravity into the water collection container 46. The air dried in this way then flows into the upwardly directed channel 47. Since the escaping dry air is significantly colder than the ambient air initially blown into heat exchanger 35 through channel 45, the channels 45, 47 are designed as countercurrent heat exchange channels with good thermal conductivity. This compensates for the disadvantage that the high-temperature ambient air must first be cooled to the dew point temperature during the day, and approximately the full capacity of the cold storage unit can be used to extract water from the ambient air.

[0056] A fundamental advantage of daytime water extraction is that the two electrical subsystems, fan 43 and pump 42, can be operated directly by the photovoltaic panel 8, without the need for an expensive power storage device. As explained, the infrared radiation from a black surface of 1m2 can theoretically generate a cooling capacity of 100W under clear night skies. In reality, this value can only be approximately achieved, as various loss mechanisms come into play. A good approximation for the cooling capacity achievable through the double-glazed facades of Biotop 15 is 50 W / m2. This means that 0.5kWh of cooling energy below the dew point can be generated and stored per m2 of cooling channel during a 10-hour night.Since the condensation enthalpy required to extract 1 liter of water from water vapor is 0.63 kWh, 1m2 of the "biotope" shell, under the described parameters, can extract just under 0.8 liters of water per night from the atmosphere. Since the "biotope 15" has an extremely low water requirement due to the extensive recovery of water evaporated by the plants inside, it is possible to make some of the water extracted from the air available, particularly as valuable drinking water, to the human farmers who operate the "biotopes."

[0057] Important for the realization of Biotop 15 is the selection of the materials to be used for the double-glazed windows: The following guidelines can be used for the selection of the double-glazed windows:

[0058] ■ Lightweight construction (lowest possible “grey energy” during production.)

[0059] ■ Longevity

[0060] ■ Possibility of recycling.

[0061] The following guidelines can be used for selecting the membrane:

[0062] • High optical transmission across the entire solar spectrum 0

[0063] • Longevity

[0064] • Good mechanical parameters

[0065] • No plasticizers; chemically inert.

[0066] Since the "biotope" is based on natural systems in its functionality, it is consistent and sensible to "copy" the materials for its construction from nature wherever possible. Tree wood is ideally suited for the construction of the strut structure of the lightweight double-glazed windows.

[0067] Its special advantages are:

[0068] • Renewable raw material

[0069] • Long-term binding of atmospheric CO2.

[0070] • Excellent mechanical properties due to the natural fiber composite structure.

[0071] • Efficient, technically sophisticated processing options (carpentry). For example, milled channels and matching insert profiles for fastening and pre-tensioning the membrane; manufacturing of angle pieces, and more.

[0072] The mechanism of the movable louvres 13 is based on the simple design of louvre windows, which are widely used in buildings. The louvres are pre-assembled with a drive motor and coupling gear in a separate lightweight frame and then inserted and secured into the lightweight double-hung window.

[0073] With local production of "biotopes" all over the world, this important component, wood, from which the struts are preferably made, can be planted locally in the form of special timber forests. Nature utilizes elegant principles to realize stable lightweight construction principles. Since the lightweight "double windows" themselves are already designed with a relatively torsion-free strut construction (space frame), their interconnection to form linear or even circular polygons creates extremely stable lightweight structures. In particular, additional material-intensive support profiles, which also hinder the possibility of forming a wide variety of structures, are unnecessary. "Biotope structures" of various geometries therefore only need to be solidly anchored to their respective substrate (soil, building) to protect them from wind loads (suction).For practical reasons, the dimensions and light weight of the single-pane double-glazed windows are designed so that they can be easily moved by a single person and assembled into larger structures. This makes it preferable to build the "biotope" in smaller formats (garden greenhouses, conservatories) as a do-it-yourself kit.

[0074] In a large-scale construction, for example, it is predestined to create a novel form of self-sufficient residential building: the "house in the biotope shell" is schematically depicted in Fig. 8. The "biotope" shell provides the interior residential building with abundant and timely supply of electricity, heat, cooling, drinking water, and natural daylight. Since the interior is protected from wind and weather, natural building materials such as clay, straw, and many other materials can be used for the interior structures. Plants are cultivated in the intermediate zones, which additionally ensure a natural indoor climate and create pleasant additional spaces for the residents. At least part of the house's energy supply may be provided by the photovoltaic panels of Biotope 14.

[0075] Fluoropolymer membranes are preferred because their optical and mechanical properties make them a perfect material for lightweight double-glazed windows. They are very durable (over 30 years of outdoor weathering experience in all climate zones around the world without any significant degradation), self-cleaning, practically chemically inert, do not contain any plasticizers or other environmentally harmful additives, and they are recyclable. Their key properties are listed in Table 1 (Fig. 9). This information was provided by NOWOFOL Kunststoffprodukte GmbH & Co. KG. Of particular importance here is their high light transmission in the range of the incident solar spectrum, including terrestrial UV radiation. UV radiation provides plants and fruit with aroma, color, and robustness. It also has a disinfecting effect inside the "biotope" and therefore replaces chemical pesticides.Due to the low optical refractive index of fluoropolymers, this is also advantageous for obliquely incident radiation, in contrast to non-anti-reflective glasses.

[0076] Glasses with high UV light transmission (quartz glass) are very expensive. The fact that fluoropolymer membranes are storm and hail-resistant even at a material thickness of approximately 100 micrometers (1 / 10 mm) due to their opto-mechanical properties makes them extremely attractive from another perspective: the low consumption of "embodied energy" in their production, compared to the approximately 10 mm thick glass required to achieve hail resistance.

[0077] This "grey energy" leads to the emission of the greenhouse gas CO2 in established manufacturing methods, which, in the context of climate change, must be reduced to zero by 2050 at the latest. With a membrane material thickness of only 1 / 100 of that of the glass, it can be assumed that the "grey energy" required for production is reduced by a factor of 100, as is the resulting reduction of the greenhouse gas emitted by the same factor.

[0078] Fig. 2 shows the inner membrane 6 of the north-facing double-window front of the "biotope" 15. Special fluorescent pigments were incorporated into its fluoropolymer membrane during extrusion. These specifically absorb the blue-green radiation component of the skylight 1 and convert it into yellow-red light 6a, which, in addition to the direct sunlight from the south side, provides a specially adapted "light source" for plant growth.

[0079] Table 2 (Fig. 10) shows the terrestrial solar spectrum and, within it, the PAR spectrum (Photosynthetic Active Radiation). Depending on the weather, time of day and season, as well as the growth status of the plant, the energy requirement in this sub-spectrum is between 5% and 30% of the energy content of the entire solar spectrum. Therefore, as already described, it is particularly sensible for the plant itself to control the opto-mechanical system of the slats in the light double window (turgor signals, bionic system). According to a further development of the invention, the green spectral range (C), which has little photosynthetic effect, can also be converted into the particularly effective yellow-red light (D) in the "biotope". This is achieved by fluorescent pigments inserted at suitable locations in the "biotope" northern shell.They convert the blue and green diffuse hemisphere radiation from the far side of the sky into the desired yellow-red light. This leads to significantly improved yields. This fantastic effect, too, is borrowed from nature. It is reported that some particularly large pumpkins contain fluorescent pigments that promote this growth in the manner described.

[0080] List of reference symbols

[0081] solar radiation

[0082] leaves

[0083] Water vapor

[0084] Wind flow filtered diffuse light for small plants inner membrane outer membrane

[0085] Double window with inner membrane 12a, outer membrane 12b

[0086] slat

[0087] Plant

[0088] Biotope, greenhouse, protective cover a flap lower double window b flap upper double window

[0089] heat exchanger

[0090] Cold water storage tank

[0091] pump

[0092] Air blower

[0093] channel

[0094] Water collection tank

[0095] channel

[0096] Photovoltaic panel

[0097] residential buildings

Claims

Patent claims 1 . Greenhouse or biotope of modular construction, characterized in that a plant and / or habitat sphere located in the interior is enclosed on all sides by lightweight membrane-covered double windows.

2. Greenhouse or biotope according to claim 1, characterized in that the basic structure of the light double windows is designed as torsion-resistant Strut construction is designed, whereby the struts are provided with circumferential grooves and corresponding counterparts so that the covering membranes can be easily mounted and tightened if necessary.

3. Greenhouse or biotope according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a connecting mechanism is provided which allows the individually lightweight double windows to be connected without additional support structures in a linear, circular or mixed polygonal arrangement so that stable spatial frameworks are formed.

4. Greenhouse or biotope according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the light double windows have slats which can be rotated as required and are arranged geometrically in such a way that, depending on their angular position, they allow the optimum amount of light to pass through for the photosynthesis of the plants in the interior.

5. Greenhouse or biotope according to at least one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the amount of light required inside the greenhouse or biotope is regulated by an electrical / electronic circuit, wherein in particular an arbitrarily adjustable target value is entered into an electronic comparator, which is compared at defined time intervals with a signal from at least one light sensor installed in the interior and until the target value is reached The slats are controlled, for example, using “Fuzzi Logic” until the entered target value is reached.

6. Greenhouse or biotope according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that for controlling the slats a plant sensor, typically a turgor sensor, measures the internal pressure of the cell and compares this with a setpoint stored in the comparator, which defines a "well-being" of the plant, and in the event of a deviation the "fuzzi logic" controls the slats until the desired turgor pressure is reached.

7. Greenhouse or biotope according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slats are black on the sun-facing side, i.e. light-absorbing, and reflective on their back, so that, depending on the angular position of the slats, they both regulate the flow of light into the interior and convert the amount of light absorbed by the slats into heat and transfer this to the surrounding air in the double windows.

8. Greenhouse or biotope according to claim 7, characterized in that the sun-facing surface of the slats is realized by dark photovoltaic modules, which synchronously generate electrical current and transfer heat to the interior air of the double windows.

9. Greenhouse or biotope according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the lightweight double windows are connected in series and at the same time have a connection to the outside air which can be opened at the top and bottom by means of regulating flaps, so that the air heating emanating from the slats forms a solar hot air chimney.

10. Greenhouse or biotope according to at least one of claims 7, 8 or 9, characterized in that above the upper opening of the hot air duct an air-water heat exchanger converts the escaping hot air into storable hot water.

11. Greenhouse or biotope according to at least one of claims 7-10, characterized in that during the cooling phase at night, the air inside the air duct is cooled by radiation into the second atmospheric window to temperatures below the ambient temperature, flows downwards and through an air heat exchanger downstream of the lower opening, whereby storable cold water is generated.

12. Greenhouse or biotope according to one or more of claims 7-11, characterized in that when the air changes of the interior air of the biotope are necessary, an air opening in the lower area of the north-facing facade, north facade, allows fresh, CO2-rich ambient air to flow in, while on the south-facing facade, south facade, the solar chimney opens a flap on its underside in a controlled manner, through which the moist, used interior air is sucked in due to the chimney effect and flows into the outside air via the upper opening of the chimney.

13. Greenhouse or biotope according to one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that an air-water heat exchanger is arranged in the lower air inlet area of the solar chimney on the south facade, through which cold water from the stored cold water - the temperature is below the dew point of the exiting internal air of the biotope - flows, and that the air sucked in by the chimney first flows through the heat exchanger, whereby a large part of the air humidity is condensed and recovered as liquid water.

14. Greenhouse or biotope according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the double windows of the south facade are covered on the outside with a crystal-clear or transparent membrane, preferably made of fluoropolymer, and that the The inside is covered with a light-scattering membrane, preferably made of a fluoropolymer with incorporated microprisms, so that the light entering in stripes through the gaps in the inner slats reaches the interior diffusely, with the highest possible reduction in light flux.

15. Greenhouse or biotope according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the double windows of the north façade are covered on the outside with a crystal-clear or transparent membrane, preferably made of fluoropolymer, while the inside is covered with a crystal-clear or transparent membrane incorporating fluorescent pigments which convert, in particular, the green, photosynthetically little-used portion of the light spectrum into the yellow-red light photosynthetically preferred by the plant.

16. Greenhouse or biotope according to at least one of claims 1-15, characterized in that the electrical energy is used to operate the electrical / electronic components, in particular to operate the electric motors moving the slats, for the fluid pumps, for the adjustable air flaps, for the various sensors and the electronic control circuits, is supplied by the photovoltaic cells on the surface of the slats, which additionally charge a small battery during the day - for operating the air flaps at night.

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