Greenhouse Climate Cooling With Thermal Storage and Spray Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Greenhouses with closed climate control systems require high cooling capacity during peak hours, leading to increased energy consumption and potential power restrictions, especially during high outside temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A climate control system with a thermal energy storage reservoir, chiller unit, and air distribution system that uses water pipes and blowers to manage temperature and humidity within the greenhouse, allowing for efficient cooling and air circulation without excessive energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a closed climate control system is used in a greenhouse, then cooling capacity is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using thermal energy storage to pre-cool air during off-peak hours when electricity is cheaper and more abundant. The system stores cooling capacity in advance, allowing the greenhouse to be cooled during peak hours without requiring proportional peak power input, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining high cooling capacity and reducing energy consumption during expensive peak periods
2Temperature
If cooling capacity is increased to meet peak demand, then temperature control is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling action during off-peak hours when electricity rates are lower, storing thermal energy in the ground or water bodies. This allows the greenhouse to maintain temperature control during expensive peak hours without incurring proportional peak electricity costs, effectively decoupling temperature control quality from peak electricity pricing
3Use of energy by moving object
If thermal storage is used to reduce peak power demand, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the ground or water bodies as intermediary thermal storage media. These natural elements serve as passive heat sinks and storage reservoirs, eliminating the need for complex active thermal storage systems. The intermediary medium absorbs excess heat during the day and releases it at night, improving energy efficiency while adding minimal complexity to the overall 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
The system reduces energy consumption by utilizing thermal storage and optimizing cooling cycles, maintaining stable temperatures and humidity levels within the greenhouse, even during peak demand periods.
Implementation Method 1
a chiller unit (30) for transferring heat from the water (50) to outside the climate control system
Implementation Method 2
a reservoir (10) for water (50) that is used as a thermal energy storage
Implementation Method 3
cooling the greenhouse air continuously for at least four hours, preferably for at least six hours, by pumping the water with the pumping means (13) into the water pipes (20) and spraying the water through the fittings (22)
Implementation Method 4
pumping the water with the pumping means (13) into the water pipes (20)
Implementation Method 5
spraying the water through the fittings (22) and blowing the cooled air from the climate control system into the greenhouse with the output blowers (16)
Implementation Method 6
blowing the cooled air from the climate control system into the greenhouse with the output blowers (16)
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A climate control system for a greenhouse having a reservoir (10) for water (50), two or more water pipes (20) having a plurality of fixtures (22) for spraying the water (50), pumping means (13), a chiller unit (30), a droplet separator (12), and multiple output blowers (16). The water pipes (20) are separated from a cultivation area with a partial wall (24) being open at the top. The system defines an air passage from the cultivation area to above the fixtures (22), downward among the sprays of water cooling the air flow and condensing moisture. The air passage continues through the droplet separator (12) into an enclosure (14) and to the output blowers (16) blowing the cooled air into the cultivation area.