Enclosure temperature control system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Greenhouses and Controlled Environment Agriculture enclosures face challenges in regulating temperature efficiently without significantly increasing their carbon footprint, as they require supplemental heating and cooling systems that draw power from the grid, leading to high costs and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A temperature control system utilizing renewable power sources, such as solar panels, in conjunction with phase change materials to maintain a stable temperature range, allowing excess power to be fed back to the grid and using phase change materials to store and release heat as needed, thereby reducing net power consumption from the grid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If supplemental heating and cooling systems are used to regulate greenhouse temperature, then temperature control within desired range is achieved, but power consumption from grid increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by storing thermal energy in phase change materials during periods when renewable energy is abundant (daytime solar generation). The PCM absorbs and stores excess thermal energy when temperatures are high, then releases this stored energy during periods when heating is needed (nighttime), eliminating the need for continuous grid power consumption for temperature regulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention directly applies phase transitions of phase change materials to solve the temperature control problem. The PCM undergoes phase transitions (solid-liquid-solid) at specific temperatures, absorbing latent heat during melting and releasing latent heat during freezing. This phase change mechanism provides automatic temperature stabilization without requiring active heating or cooling systems powered by grid electricity.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If renewable power sources are used to power temperature control systems, then carbon emissions are reduced, but net power availability from grid decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by using phase change materials to automatically regulate temperature without requiring continuous external power input. The PCM self-regulates the greenhouse temperature through its inherent phase transition properties, absorbing excess heat when temperatures rise and releasing heat when temperatures fall, thereby serving the temperature control function autonomously and reducing dependency on grid power.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes phase transitions to convert between thermal energy storage and release, enabling the system to operate autonomously. During daytime when solar power is abundant, the PCM melts storing thermal energy; during nighttime when solar power is unavailable, the PCM freezes releasing thermal energy. This phase transition mechanism allows the system to maintain temperature control while minimizing net power draw from the grid.
3Use of energy by moving object
If phase change materials are used to store and release heat, then net power consumption from grid is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the temperature regulation function from the active heating and cooling systems and transfers it to the passive phase change materials. By taking out the thermal energy storage and release function and embedding it in the PCM, the system eliminates the need for continuous operation of powered temperature control equipment, thereby reducing net power consumption while adding only the passive thermal mass of the PCM to the 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 system effectively regulates greenhouse temperatures within desired ranges using renewable energy, minimizing power draw from the grid and reducing energy costs while maintaining optimal growing conditions, with the potential for zero net power consumption during peak solar generation periods.
Implementation Method 1
Power for a heat transfer system coupled to a phase change material and power for the auxiliary temperature control system may be drawn from a renewable power supply, such as solar panels
Implementation Method 2
heat from a phase change material
Implementation Method 3
During the night however, the solar panels will not be producing power and this is when heat from the phase change material may be used to heat the interior of the greenhouse
Data Source
AI summary
An enclosure temperature control system utilizes a renewable power source and a thermal sink to reduce the overall power requirements from a power grid. A renewable power source, such as a solar panel may provide power that drives the components required to maintain the greenhouse temperature within upper and lower limits, including a HVAC system and/or a heat transfer system coupled with a thermal sink. The thermal sink includes a phase change material that releases heat when it solidifies and this heat can be used to heat the greenhouse. Likewise, the phase change material absorbs heat during the day to reduce the temperature within the greenhouse. A heat transfer system may be coupled with the phase change material and a solid conductor component within the tank of a phase change material may increase thermal transfer rate.