Horticultural Lighting Fixtures as Power and Sensor Network Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional controlled agricultural environments face challenges with sensor reliability due to battery-powered wireless sensor systems, which are prone to power depletion and communication obstructions, especially in dense plant environments, limiting their effectiveness and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An industrial horticultural lighting system is designed to provide both power and network communication infrastructure, using fluid-cooled LED-based lighting fixtures with integrated sensor assemblies, allowing for a distributed sensor grid that leverages the lighting system's power and communication capabilities to ensure robust and flexible sensor deployment across the growing area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless sensor systems with battery power are used, then ease of installation and flexible deployment are improved, but reliability deteriorates due to power depletion and communication obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting fixture is designed to serve multiple functions: providing illumination for plant growth and simultaneously serving as a power supply and communication node for the sensor network. This eliminates the need for separate battery-powered wireless sensors while maintaining ease of installation, as the lighting infrastructure already present can be leveraged for both purposes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If wireless sensor systems with battery power are used, then flexible deployment is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to shadowing effects blocking communication
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting fixture acts as an intermediary node in the communication network. Sensors can communicate wirelessly to the lighting fixture, which then relays data through wired connections to the central controller. This hybrid approach maintains the flexibility of wireless sensor deployment while overcoming communication blockages by using the lighting fixture as a communication relay point.
3Reliability
If wired power and communication infrastructure is provided, then sensor reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting fixture serves multiple functions simultaneously: illumination, power supply, and communication node. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated infrastructure components, thereby maintaining reliability through wired connections while avoiding a proportional increase in system complexity.
4Illumination intensity
If conventional lighting systems are used, then lighting function is provided, but heat generation increases energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent captures the waste heat generated by LED lighting and redirects it to heat water in a water heater, converting what would be wasted energy into a useful thermal resource. This approach maintains the lighting function while reducing overall energy loss by putting the heat to productive use.
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 approach enhances sensor reliability and ease of installation by providing persistent power and communication, enabling comprehensive monitoring and control of environmental conditions, thereby improving plant growth and reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
at least one pipe thermally coupled to the housing to carry a fluid coolant, wherein during operation of the lighting fixture the fluid coolant flowing through the pipe extracts heat generated by the lighting fixture
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting system includes two or more lighting fixtures, each comprising a housing, at least one light source mechanically supported by the housing, at least one pipe thermally coupled to the housing to carry a fluid coolant, an AC power port, and at least one network communications port. The AC power ports of respective lighting fixtures are coupled together with a plurality of industrial power cables without using one or more conduits for the plurality of industrial power cables. The network communications ports of the respective lighting fixtures are coupled together with a plurality of waterproof network communications cables. In one example, a lighting system kit comprises two or more lighting fixtures having an AC power port comprising an industrial type connector. The kit further comprises multiple industrial power cables and one or more industrial drop tee cables.