Greenhouse Louver Light Blocking Air Permeable Design

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Greenhouse growers face the challenge of balancing light emission regulations by blocking external light while allowing air circulation, as existing solutions fail to effectively combine these contradictory requirements.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of air-permeable, light-blocking means featuring overlapping, profiled louvers that optically block light emission while allowing air passage through defined channels, integrated as a separate construction element on the greenhouse's outside or inside walls.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If the outside wall is blocked to prevent light emission, then light emission control is improved, but air circulation is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight emissionVSAvoidair circulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The outside wall is segmented into multiple vertical louvers spaced apart, creating discrete openings between them. This segmentation allows light to be blocked by each louver while air can circulate through the gaps between adjacent louvers, resolving the contradiction between light control and air circulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the outside wall have different properties: the louvers provide light blocking where needed, while the spaces between louvers provide air circulation pathways. This local differentiation of functional properties allows simultaneous achievement of light emission control and air circulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If the outside wall is opened to enable air passage, then air circulation is improved, but light emission control is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair circulationVSAvoidlight emission
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The wall opening is segmented into multiple narrow vertical slots formed by adjacent louvers. This segmentation allows air to pass through the gaps while the louvers themselves block light, achieving both air circulation and light emission control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The openings in the outside wall are designed with specific local properties - narrow vertical gaps between louvers that favor air flow while the louver structures block light. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction.

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

This solution effectively contains light within the greenhouse, adhering to emission regulations while enabling necessary air circulation, enhancing climate control during lighting hours.

Implementation Method 1

light being emitted by the lighting system in the greenhouse is optically blocked by overlapping parts of said louvers and cannot exit from the greenhouse

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical blocking: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

adjacent louvers bound respective air channels, so that air can be drawn in from outside the greenhouse or be exhausted from the interior of the greenhouse between the louvers and through the air channels

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir flow through channels: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2702864B1Greenhouse
Publication Date: 2018.01.03 BEHEER 141
  • EP2702864B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2702864B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

A greenhouse (1) comprising at least one gutter section (4) and a roof extending from said gutter section, which roof comprises a ridge section (6) and glazing bars which are connected to an edge of the gutter section (4) near one end and to the ridge section (6) near the other end, whilst panes (7) are provided between adjacent glazing bars, which panes are supported in rebates of the glazing bars/gutter section (4) and between two flanges of the ridge section (6), characterised in that an outside wall side (10) of the greenhouse is at least partially provided with air permeable light-blocking means (11) so as to block emission of light from the greenhouse (1) into the atmosphere, said light-blocking means (11) comprising louvers (14) extending parallel to each other,wherein the louvers (14) are profiled, and wherein the profiles of adjacent louvers (14) overlap in transverse direction.