Artificial Light Plant Growing System Demand-Controlled Lighting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing artificial light plant growing systems face challenges in optimizing production rates to match demand and energy supply, leading to overproduction and waste, as well as inefficient energy usage, particularly when energy costs are high or demand is low.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that control the operation of artificial light plant growing systems by receiving information on production demand and energy supply, adjusting light source operation to optimize production rates, including varying light intensity, spectrum, CO2 levels, and temperature, to synchronize growth with demand and energy availability, thereby reducing waste and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the power consumption of the light source is increased to accelerate plant growth, then the plant matures faster, but it may mature at a time when there is already an abundance of that type of plant on the market, resulting in waste
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the power consumption of the light source based on real-time market demand data. When demand is high, the system increases power consumption to accelerate growth; when demand is low, it reduces power consumption to slow growth, thereby aligning plant maturation with market conditions and avoiding waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors market demand for the plant type and adjusts the light source operation accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures that production rate responds to actual market conditions, preventing overproduction and waste while maintaining optimal productivity when demand is high.
2Loss of energy
If the power consumption of the light source is increased to reduce cost of growing the plant during low electricity rates, then energy cost is reduced, but plant growth is accelerated beyond market demand
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts power consumption based on both electricity rate conditions and market demand. During low electricity rate periods, the system increases power consumption only when market demand is high, and reduces or maintains power consumption when demand is low, thereby optimizing the balance between energy cost and productive output.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from both energy market data (electricity rates) and agricultural market data (plant demand) to make intelligent decisions about light source operation. This dual-feedback mechanism prevents盲目 following energy price signals that could lead to overproduction, instead coordinating energy consumption with actual market needs.
3Productivity
If the production rate is increased to meet high demand, then market demand is satisfied, but energy supply demand increases, leading to peak load on the energy supply
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts production rate in response to real-time energy supply conditions. When energy supply demand is high or during peak load periods, the system reduces production rate even if market demand is high, thereby avoiding exacerbating energy supply stress. When energy supply is abundant, it increases production rate to meet market demand.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback from energy supply data to regulate production decisions. This feedback mechanism ensures that production rate adjustments consider the broader energy supply context, preventing situations where increased production would create peak load problems on the energy supply infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to a method of controlling an artificial light plant growing system (1). The method includes receiving information indicative of a production demand for a plant type to be grown in the artificial light plant growing system (1) and information indicative of an energy supply for a light source (9) of the artificial light plant growing system (1), and controlling operation of the light source (9) of a plant growing environment of the artificial light plant growing system (1) in dependence on the received information so that the production rate of a plant (8) of said plant type grown in the system (1) versus the production demand and energy supply is optimised. The present application also relates to a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the method of to be performed, a controller (5) for controlling an artificial light plant growing system (1), and an artificial light plant growing system (1).