Transparent Coating System for Greenhouse Solar Spectrum Filtering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current greenhouse coatings either provide excellent control over the visible light spectrum but lack NIR reflectance, or they enhance NIR reflectance but fail to achieve fine control over the visible light spectrum, which is necessary for efficient crop growth and temperature regulation in greenhouses.

Innovation Solution

A transparent coating system combining pearlescent pigments with transparent absorption pigments to achieve high control over both visible light transmission and reflection, while maintaining significant NIR reflectance, thereby optimizing the PAR spectrum and RFR ratio for plant growth and temperature control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional absorption pigments are used to control visible light spectrum, then spectral control precision is improved, but NIR reflectance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectral control precisionVSAvoidNIR reflectance
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines traditional absorption pigments with pearlescent pigments in a single coating formulation. The absorption pigment provides precise control over the visible spectrum through selective absorption, while the pearlescent pigment contributes NIR reflectance through its layered structure. This merging of two different pigment types allows the coating to simultaneously achieve both spectral control precision and NIR reflectance, resolving the technical contradiction between these two properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Loss of energy

If pearlescent pigments are used to enhance NIR reflectance, then energy loss is reduced, but visible light spectrum control precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveNIR reflectanceVSAvoidvisible light spectrum control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The coating system merges pearlescent pigments with traditional absorption pigments. The pearlescent pigment layer structure provides NIR reflectance, while the absorption pigment provides selective absorption in the visible range. By combining these two pigment types, the coating achieves both high NIR reflectance and precise visible spectrum control, resolving the contradiction between energy conservation and spectral precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If a coating filters green light to improve crop growth efficiency, then plant growth efficiency is improved, but transmission of useful light is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrop growth efficiencyVSAvoiduseful light transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The coating applies local quality by selectively filtering only the green portion of the spectrum (495-590 nm) while maintaining high transmission in other regions. The absorption pigment is chosen to have absorption characteristics that specifically target green wavelengths, allowing the coating to improve crop growth efficiency by reducing green light transmission without significantly impacting the transmission of blue and red light, which are also crucial for photosynthesis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The coating system offers customizable light transmission and reflection in the visible spectrum with high NIR reflectance, enhancing crop growth efficiency and temperature control in greenhouses by precisely filtering the solar spectrum, surpassing the limitations of existing technologies.

Implementation Method 1

Depending on the thickness of the inorganic coating, different wavelengths can be reflected or transmitted. This is due to constructive or destructive interference, which can amplify or negate the transmitted or reflected light.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInterference: Interference

Implementation Method 2

Traditional pigments and dyes typically generate color by absorption of certain wavelengths of light, while reflecting or transmitting other wavelengths.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 3

pearlescent pigments have been used to reduce the transmission of near-infrared light, thus producing a thermal insulation effect

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3461862B1Pigments for filtering the solar spectrum
Publication Date: 2020.09.02 SUN CHEMICAL CORP
  • EP3461862B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3461862B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3461862B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present technology relates to a transparent coating system or film which comprises a transparent, polymeric material, one or more pearlescent pigments, and one or more transparent dyes. The coating may be used to give well-defined transmission and reflection spectra in the visible region while having a high degree of reflection in the NIR region.