CA2514707A1 - Greenhouse heating system - Google Patents

Greenhouse heating system Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2514707A1
CA2514707A1 CA002514707A CA2514707A CA2514707A1 CA 2514707 A1 CA2514707 A1 CA 2514707A1 CA 002514707 A CA002514707 A CA 002514707A CA 2514707 A CA2514707 A CA 2514707A CA 2514707 A1 CA2514707 A1 CA 2514707A1
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
temperature
heat
pool
greenhouse
enclosure
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002514707A
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French (fr)
Inventor
Yvan Sauvageau
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Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA002514707A priority Critical patent/CA2514707A1/en
Publication of CA2514707A1 publication Critical patent/CA2514707A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01GHORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
    • A01G9/00Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
    • A01G9/24Devices or systems for heating, ventilating, regulating temperature, illuminating, or watering, in greenhouses, forcing-frames, or the like
    • A01G9/245Conduits for heating by means of liquids, e.g. used as frame members or for soil heating
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02ATECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A40/00Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production
    • Y02A40/10Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production in agriculture
    • Y02A40/25Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Soil Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Greenhouses (AREA)

Abstract

A plant growing environment comprises a greenhouse and a heating floor comprising a pool of heat conducting fluid contained in a sealed enclosure. The sealed enclosure has a top surface providing a soil-less substrate for growing plant in containers. A
heat source is connected in heat exchange relationship with the pool of heat conducting fluid. A temperature sensor is provided for sensing the temperature (T1) inside the greenhouse. A control unit is coupled to the temperature sensor for managing the operation of the heat source as a function of T1.

Description

GREENHOUSE HEATING SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to greenhouses and, more particularly, to a greenhouse heating system.
Description of the Prior Art United States Patent No. 4,790,478 issued to Sauvageau on December 13, 1988 teaches heating a soil suitable for cultivation in a greenhouse. An immersed water-bed which acts as a heat radiator is provided underneath the complete surface of the cultural soil.
The heating of the cultural soil causes at least part of the water contained in the soil to evaporate, thereby giving rise to the generation of mist or fug 1 S within the greenhouse. The lowering of the level of humidity in the cultural soil is obviously not suitable for growing plants. In addition, the ambient air in the greenhouse also heat relatively slowly due to the low heat conducting properties of the soil.
Therefore, there is thus a need for a new plant growing environment which addresses the above mentioned issues.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a heating system suited for use in a greenhouse.
It is also an aim of the present invention to provide a greenhouse heating floor system adapted to store energy in the form of heat and release it over an extended period of time.
It is a further aim to provide savings in greenhouse heating costs.
Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, a plant growing environment comprising: a greenhouse defining a building envelope circumscribing an internal space having a surface area; a heating floor comprising a pool of heat conducting fluid contained in a sealed enclosure, the sealed enclosure having a top surface extending over a major portion of said surface area, said top surface providing a soil-less substrate for growing plants in containers, the plant containers being supported on said top surface, the pool of heat conducting fluid storing and releasing heat, and a heat source in heat exchange relationship with the pool of heat conducting fluid; a first temperature sensor sensing the temperature (T1) inside the building envelope; and a control unit coupled to the temperature sensor for managing the operation of the heat source as a function of T1.
In accordance with a further general aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heating system for controlling the temperature inside a greenhouse, comprising an enclosure containing a pool of heat conducting fluid for storing and releasing heat inside the greenhouse, a sun ray absorbing surface atop of said enclosure for receiving plants in pots, the sun ray absorbing surface being in heat exchange relationship with the pool of heat conducting fluid through the enclosure, a heat source connectable in heat exchange relationship with said pool of heat conducting fluid, and a temperature sensitive control unit selectively operatively coupling said heat source to said pool of heat conducting fluid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Fig. 1 is a schematic elevation view of a greenhouse having a floor heating system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Now referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a greenhouse 10 having a conventional skeletal framework including among others a number of vertical supporting columns and transversal horizontal trusses. A light transmitting membrane 12 is stretched over the skeletal framework to circumscribe an internal space.
The structural membrane 12 can be made out of a polyethylene sheet or other materials such as polycarbonate, glass or other forms of plastic suited to form a building envelope. The construction of the greenhouse is conventional and not material to the present invention.
_2_ The internal temperature (T1) inside the greenhouse 10 is efficiently and economically controlled through the operation of a floor heating system 14. The floor heating system 14 comprises a pool formed by a sealed enclosure 16 filled with a heat storing mass including crushed stones, such as gravel 18, immersed in a heat conducting liquid 20. An insulating mat 23 is preferably installed underneath the pool to insulate it from the underlying soil. The gravel 18 provides a solid and stable floor base for the greenhouse 10. According to a preferred embodiment, the heat conducting liquid 20 may be water. It is noted that the gravel 18 could be replaced by another solid heat absorbing material. The liquid level in the enclosure 16 is equally maintained with the upper area of gravel 18. A phase change material (PCM) could also be provided in the enclosure 16 to improve the heat storing capacity of the pool.
The PCM is preferably chosen to have a phase changing temperature close to an operational temperature of the pool. The sealed enclosure 16 preferably extends over the entire surface area of the greenhouse 10. It could extends over only a portion of the surface area of the greenhouse 10 but the heat distribution would be less uniform across the greenhouse 10.
The enclosure 16 is adapted to contain the gravel 18 and the water 20 while allowing heat to dissipate from the pool into the greenhouse 10. The top surface of the enclosure 16 is preferably made of a black heat absorbing material to absorb the sun rays passing through the membrane 12 of the greenhouse and transfer the heat to the enclosure content. Plants in pots 24 are placed directly on that black membrane material. The enclosure 16 can entirely be made of a flexible impermeable membrane.
A drop-by-drop irngation system is preferably used to water the plants in the pots 24. In this way, the enclosure 16 can itself contribute to heat up the heat storing contents thereof.
Alternatively, a plant growing mat 22, such as a sub-irrigation carpet, can be laid down over a top surface of the enclosure 16 for receiving pots 24 or other containers. In the case of sub-irrigation carpets, the pots 24 have a permeable base to allow water to pass from the carpet into the pots through capillary action.
The plant growing mat 22 can be integrated to the enclosure 16.

No layer of cultivation soil is provided over the enclosure 16, as taught in US Patent No. 4,790,478. As described above, the plants are rather grown in containers resting on the top surface of the enclosure 16. The presence of a layer of soil on top of the heat releasing enclosure 16 would result in the formation of fog or mist within the greenhouse 10.
The principal source of heat for the pool is preferably provided in the form of a boiler 26 connected in heat exchange relationship with the content of the enclosure 16 via a closed piping circuit 28 extending through the enclosure 16. Hot water from the boiler 26 is circulated through the circuit 28 via the operation of a pump 30. The hot water is preferably circulated along a serpentine path through the enclosure 16 to provide for maximum heat transfer from the hot water (the working fluid) to heat storing mass (i.e. gravel 18 and water 20) in the enclosure 16.
The hot water is returned back into the boiler 26 through the return line of the circuit 28, as depicted in Fig. 1.
A valve 32 is provided preferably in the feed line of the piping circuit 28 at the outlet of the boiler 26 to selectively prevent hot water flow through the piping circuit 28 between the boiler 26 and the enclosure 16. The valve 32 is operated by a control system 34 responsive to a temperature change in the greenhouse 10.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the control system 34 will send a command to open the valve 32 upon detection that the temperature T1 in the greenhouse 10 starts to fall under a predetermined value. The control system 34 may comprises a thermostat (not shown) coupled to a temperature sensor 36 sensing the temperature T1 in the greenhouse 10. According to a more elaborate embodiment, the control system 34 may be further coupled to second and third temperature sensors 38 and 40 respectively sensing the temperature T2 within the enclosure 16 and the temperature T3 of the ambient air outside the greenhouse 10. The temperature data (T1, T2 and T3) are fed to the control system 34 which according to an algorithm thereof determined whether the valve 32 should be opened or closed. Based on the temperature T1 inside the greenhouse, the outside temperature T3 and the temperature T2 of the heat storing mass, the control system 34 will open or close the hot-water supply. The use a control system in combination with a valve permit to at least reduce energy waste associated with passive circulation of hot water through the circuit 28 due to natural thermal siphoning phenomenon.
A fourth temperature sensor 42 is also provided to provide data on the temperature of the hot water in the boiler 26. The fourth temperature sensor 42 is also preferably connected to the control system 34, which processes the data received on T1, T2, T3 and T4 to manage the operation of valve 32.
According to another embodiment, the principal heat source could be provided in the form of an electric heating system. In this case, the control system would control the operation of an on-off switch rather the operation of valve 32.
Various other type of heat source could be used as well.
The above described plant growing environment is advantageous in that it requires less energy to maintain a stable temperature inside the greenhouse 10, while providing for an excellent plant growing environment. The above described greenhouse floor heating system when used in association with the cultivation of plants in pots (i.e. container growing) provides excellent plant growing results as compared to cultivation in standard greenhouse arrangements.

Claims (10)

1. A plant growing environment comprising:
a greenhouse defining a building envelope circumscribing an internal space having a surface area;
a heating floor comprising a pool of heat conducting fluid contained in a sealed enclosure, the sealed enclosure having a top surface extending over a major portion of said surface area, said top surface providing a soil-less substrate for growing plants in containers, the plant containers being supported on said top surface, the pool of heat conducting fluid storing and releasing heat, and a heat source in heat exchange relationship with the pool of heat conducting fluid;
a first temperature sensor sensing the temperature (T1) inside the building envelope; and a control unit coupled to the temperature sensor for managing the operation of the heat source as a function of T1.
2. A plant growing environment as defined in claim 1, wherein the top surface of the sealed enclosure is at least partly made of solar ray absorbing material.
3. A plant growing environment as defined in claim 1, further comprising second and third temperature sensors, said second temperature sensor sensing the temperature (T2) of said pool of heat conducting fluid, said third temperature sensor sensing the ambient temperature (T3) outside of the greenhouse, and wherein the control unit manage the operation of the heat source as a function of T1, T2 and T3.
4. A plant growing environment as defined in claim 1, wherein said heat source comprises a boiler and piping connected in fluid flow communication to said boiler, said piping extending through said sealed enclosure to transfer heat to said pool of heat conducting fluid, and wherein said control unit comprises a valve selectively closable to prevent fluid flow through said piping between said boiler and said sealed enclosure.
5. A plant growing environment as defined in claim 4, wherein said enclosure is filled with a bed of gravel immersed in water.
6. A heating system for controlling the temperature inside a greenhouse, comprising an enclosure containing a pool of heat conducting fluid for storing and releasing heat inside the greenhouse, a sun ray absorbing surface atop of said enclosure for receiving plants in pots, the sun ray absorbing surface being in heat exchange relationship with the pool of heat conducting fluid through the enclosure, a heat source connectable in heat exchange relationship with said pool of heat conducting fluid, and a temperature sensitive control unit selectively operatively coupling said heat source to said pool of heat conducting fluid.
7. The heating system defined in claim 6, wherein said temperature sensitive control unit is responsive to a temperature change (T1) inside the greenhouse.
8. The heating system defined in claim 6, wherein the temperature sensitive control system is responsive to three different temperatures (T1, T2 , T3), T1 being the temperature inside the greenhouse, T2 being the temperature of the pool of heat conducting fluid, and T3 being the ambient temperature outside of the greenhouse.
9. The heating system defined in claim 6, wherein the heat source comprises a boiler mounted in a closed hot water flow circuit extending through the enclosure, and wherein a valve is operated by said temperature sensitive control unit to control water flow through the circuit.
10. The heating system defined in claim 6, wherein the temperature sensitive control unit comprises a thermostat.
CA002514707A 2005-08-05 2005-08-05 Greenhouse heating system Abandoned CA2514707A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002514707A CA2514707A1 (en) 2005-08-05 2005-08-05 Greenhouse heating system

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002514707A CA2514707A1 (en) 2005-08-05 2005-08-05 Greenhouse heating system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2514707A1 true CA2514707A1 (en) 2007-02-05

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Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2342968A1 (en) * 2010-01-07 2011-07-13 Agrimec S.n.c. Di Spelgatti & C. Solar greenhouse with energy recovery system
NL2010291C2 (en) * 2013-02-12 2014-08-13 Erfgoed B V FARMING FLOOR SYSTEM.
CN106212115A (en) * 2016-09-26 2016-12-14 新疆心果艺农业科技有限责任公司 Collection heat radiating metal skeleton floor heating heliogreenhouse
GR20150100321A (en) * 2015-07-17 2017-02-22 Αλεξανδρος Χρηστου Παπαδοπουλος Greenhouse with detachable thermal insulation
CN106577195A (en) * 2016-12-12 2017-04-26 无锡市三阳生态农业发展有限公司 Intelligent vegetable watering device
CN106613533A (en) * 2016-10-18 2017-05-10 安徽理工大学 Technical method for improving productivity of greenhouse land by means of gethremal heat pump technology
US9980440B2 (en) 2013-02-12 2018-05-29 Erfgoed Materieel B.V. Method for installing a cultivation floor system and cultivation floor system
CN110447436A (en) * 2019-09-03 2019-11-15 南京农业大学 A kind of greenhouse production frame based on low-temperature phase-change material heat accumulation and auxiliary electrical heater
CN110679358A (en) * 2019-11-20 2020-01-14 江苏省农业科学院 Active heat storage and release combined type greenhouse used in large temperature difference environment
CN112236004A (en) * 2020-10-15 2021-01-15 中国建筑第八工程局有限公司 One-way heat conducting device
CN112568033A (en) * 2020-12-04 2021-03-30 北京光华纺织集团有限公司 Agricultural greenhouse environment monitoring system

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2342968A1 (en) * 2010-01-07 2011-07-13 Agrimec S.n.c. Di Spelgatti & C. Solar greenhouse with energy recovery system
US10834875B2 (en) 2013-02-12 2020-11-17 Erfgoed Nederalnd B.V. Method for installing a cultivation floor system and cultivation floor system
NL2010291C2 (en) * 2013-02-12 2014-08-13 Erfgoed B V FARMING FLOOR SYSTEM.
US9980440B2 (en) 2013-02-12 2018-05-29 Erfgoed Materieel B.V. Method for installing a cultivation floor system and cultivation floor system
US11818993B2 (en) 2013-02-12 2023-11-21 Erpgoed Nederland B.V. Cultivation floor system for providing supply and discharge irrigation
US11406067B2 (en) 2013-02-12 2022-08-09 Erfgoed Nederland B.V. Cultivation floor system for providing supply and discharge irrigation
GR20150100321A (en) * 2015-07-17 2017-02-22 Αλεξανδρος Χρηστου Παπαδοπουλος Greenhouse with detachable thermal insulation
CN106212115A (en) * 2016-09-26 2016-12-14 新疆心果艺农业科技有限责任公司 Collection heat radiating metal skeleton floor heating heliogreenhouse
CN106613533A (en) * 2016-10-18 2017-05-10 安徽理工大学 Technical method for improving productivity of greenhouse land by means of gethremal heat pump technology
CN106577195A (en) * 2016-12-12 2017-04-26 无锡市三阳生态农业发展有限公司 Intelligent vegetable watering device
CN110447436A (en) * 2019-09-03 2019-11-15 南京农业大学 A kind of greenhouse production frame based on low-temperature phase-change material heat accumulation and auxiliary electrical heater
CN110679358A (en) * 2019-11-20 2020-01-14 江苏省农业科学院 Active heat storage and release combined type greenhouse used in large temperature difference environment
CN110679358B (en) * 2019-11-20 2024-04-12 江苏省农业科学院 Active heat storage and release composite greenhouse used in large temperature difference environment
CN112236004A (en) * 2020-10-15 2021-01-15 中国建筑第八工程局有限公司 One-way heat conducting device
CN112236004B (en) * 2020-10-15 2022-08-30 中国建筑第八工程局有限公司 One-way heat conducting device
CN112568033A (en) * 2020-12-04 2021-03-30 北京光华纺织集团有限公司 Agricultural greenhouse environment monitoring system

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