Dual Ventilation System for Greenhouse Climate Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing greenhouses lack effective air cooling systems, which can lead to unstable temperature and humidity conditions, affecting plant growth and climate control.
Innovation Solution
A dual ventilation system is implemented, with separate air supply and exhaust fans for the lower and higher parts of the greenhouse, along with atomizers in the higher part to humidify and cool the air, allowing for independent control of air flows and enhanced cooling capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single ventilation system is used for the entire greenhouse, then the structure is simple and easy to operate, but the air flow becomes unstable and temperature control is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The greenhouse ventilation system is divided into two independent subsystems: a lower ventilation system for the space below plant tops and an upper ventilation system for the space above plant tops. Each subsystem has its own supply and exhaust fans, allowing independent control of air flows in different vertical zones. This segmentation stabilizes air flow patterns and improves temperature control without requiring an overly complex integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
Different ventilation strategies are applied to different vertical zones of the greenhouse. The lower system focuses on cooling the base area where plants are rooted, while the upper system handles heat dissipation from the canopy layer. This localized approach optimizes climate control for each zone's specific requirements.
2Temperature
If air cooling facilities are added to the greenhouse, then temperature control is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling function is distributed across two separate ventilation systems operating in different vertical zones. The lower system provides cooling at the base level, while the upper system cools the canopy layer. This segmentation allows effective temperature control without requiring a single complex cooling system.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation system utilizes natural convection currents and the existing greenhouse structure to facilitate air flow and heat dissipation. The dual-system design allows the greenhouse to leverage its own vertical space and natural air movement patterns for cooling, reducing the need for additional complex active cooling equipment.
3Productivity
If the capacity of supply fans is increased to improve ventilation, then air flow through the interior is enhanced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The total ventilation requirement is divided between two independent fan systems operating at different levels. Each system handles a portion of the total air flow demand, allowing for more efficient fan selection and operation. This segmentation enables better matching of fan capacity to actual local requirements, improving overall ventilation efficiency while reducing total energy consumption compared to a single high-capacity system.
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
This setup creates a stable air flow in the lower part, efficiently dissipates heat, and maintains optimal temperature and humidity levels, reducing the need for external ventilation and minimizing disturbance, thus enhancing climate control and plant growth conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a first ventilation system provided with at least one first supply fan configured to supply air from outside the interior to a lower part of the interior, between the plants
Implementation Method 2
a second ventilation system for effecting an air flow through a higher part of the interior, at least substantially above the plants in use, the second ventilation system comprising supply means configured to supply air from outside the interior to the higher part of the interior as well as exhaust means disposed spaced from the supply means, which are configured to exhaust air from the air flow from the higher part of the interior
Implementation Method 3
The atomisers are provided in the higher part of the interior and are each configured to atomise a liquid in air of the air flow effected in the higher part of the interior by the second ventilation system
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a greenhouse (100) for cultivating plants (14) therein, comprising a first ventilation system (3) provided with at least one first supply fan (30) for supplying air from outside the interior (10) to a lower part (11) of the interior, between the plants (14), and a second ventilation system for effecting an air flow through a higher part (12) of the interior (10), comprising supply means (7) for supplying air to the higher part (12), at least substantially above the plants (14), as well as exhaust means (8) disposed spaced from the supply means (7), which are configured to exhaust air from the air flow from the higher part (12), wherein the supply means (7) and the exhaust means (8) each comprise at least one fan for supplying air to the higher part (12) of the interior (10) and exhausting air therefrom, respectively. The invention further relates to a method for climate control in a greenhouse (100).