DE102018126555A1 - Closed climate cell with flexibly arranged lighting platforms - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to create a closed climate cell (100) for growing plants in a plurality of layers arranged one above the other, the lighting options of which can be flexibly adapted to the required conditions of the plants, it is proposed that lighting platforms (200) arranged movably within the closed climate cell (100) be arranged.

Description

The invention relates to a closed climate cell for growing plants in several layers, which are arranged one above the other. One layer has at least one lighting platform and at least one plant growing container attached underneath. The light from the lighting platform can be individually adapted to the needs of the underlying plants in the plant growing container.

A closed climate cell is already out of the DE 10 2016 121 126 B3 known. There, a climatically sealed climatic cell for growing plants indoors is described, in which impurities of any kind in the feed water do not lead to diseases at the roots of the plant. In this case, a substrate is attached to the frame of a container with a fixing agent, the plants growing above the substrate and the water with the nutrient solution only flowing past below the substrate. However, the different lighting situations which plants need during their growth are not dealt with here, nor is a system described with which the lighting of the plants can be flexibly adapted during the different growth phases.

Presentation of the invention: task, solution, advantages

The object of the invention is to provide a closed climate cell of the type mentioned at the outset for the plants growing there, which can be flexibly adapted to the particular conditions of the plants in order to enable an optimal growth process.

According to the invention, a closed climate cell for plant cultivation in several positions is proposed for this purpose, in which the lighting platforms and the plant cultivation containers are arranged to be movable. The movement can be both a shifting and / or pulling out and / or pushing in and / or replacing. The plant growing container can preferably be designed as a tub. Each plant growing container has one or more receiving areas with a flat substrate for receiving the plants and / or for receiving seeds, each receiving area being enclosed by a frame. The frame can have a fixing means for temporary or permanent attachment of the substrate.

In general, several layers are arranged one above the other within the climate cell, each layer having at least two layers, that is to say having at least one plant growing container and at least one lighting platform, the lighting platform being arranged above the plant growing container. Preferably, a plurality of plant growing containers and lighting platforms can also be arranged side by side within a layer. The layers arranged one above the other are arranged as close as possible to one another. However, there is preferably a maximum of 50 cm, particularly preferably a maximum of 40 cm and very particularly preferably a maximum of 25 cm within a layer between the lighting platforms and the plant growing containers located underneath.

In a closed climate cell, several rows, each with layers arranged one above the other, can also be attached. However, no aisles or paths for people are planned or arranged between the rows, since the closed climate cell can be completely controlled from the outside. The climatically closed climate cell can thus be understood as a plant growing system for growing plants indoors. Due to the at least two locations, the system is to be understood as a so-called indoor vertical farming system.

The lighting platforms and plant breeding containers are preferably mounted on rails on the wall or walls of the climate cell, the rails being attached to mutually opposite inner walls of the climate cell. Roller rails or slide rails are particularly preferably used so that the lighting platforms and plant-growing containers can be easily pushed in and removed. The lighting platforms and plant cultivation containers are very particularly preferably moved fully automatically. In the event of a defect or a planned change, the lighting platforms can be replaced quickly and without tools.

The lighting platforms can preferably be supplied with power via the rails in order to avoid cable connections and plug connections. The lighting platform is particularly preferably supplied with the necessary energy via busbars, a conductor line or inductive contact. This has the further advantage that lighting platforms can be moved, removed or replaced during operation without the need to switch off the light in the entire climate cell. Therefore, a simple exchange of the lighting platforms is also possible to simulate the daily routine. In any case, depending on the growth phase, a different one can Lighting platform can be arranged above the plant growing containers so that the different lighting needs of the plants can be addressed.

The frame of the lighting platform preferably has the same dimensions as the plant growing container. The width is particularly preferably between 0.3-4 m and the length is between 1.2-10 m, the height being less than 10 cm, particularly preferably 7.5 cm or less. The frame of the lighting platform and the plant growing container can be made of steel. The construction of the lighting platform and of the plant growing container is preferably the same, but the frame of the lighting platform is closed at the top, whereas the plant growing container is closed at the bottom. However, the lighting platform can also be flush with the frame at the bottom, so that no lighting means or anything else protrude beyond the height of the frame.

With the aid of a preferably installed loading and unloading system, both the lighting platforms and the plant cultivation containers can be inserted and removed from the closed climate cell fully automatically. Moving between different positions, as well as moving to another row within the closed climate cell is possible, just like loading the climate cell or removing the plant growing containers for further processing or removing the lighting platforms for exchange with another lighting platform, for example in the event of defects or replacement of the lighting equipment. The loading and unloading system can be attached to the ends of a row within the closed climate cell, or it can be placed between different rows. Optionally, the system is not fixed, but can be moved within the climate cell.

A ventilation system can also be installed in the closed climate cell, which can cool the lighting platforms with a laminar flow and ventilate the plants in the plant growing containers. The air flows between the rails on the wall of the closed climate cell, from one side of the climate cell to the other, or radially from the inside to the outside in the case of a closed climate cell with a round cross section. The air flow can arise from the fact that an overpressure is generated on one side, while a negative pressure is created on the other side and the air therefore flows between the lighting platforms and plant growing containers. Depending on the height, a different air flow can be generated, for example at a higher or lower speed, as a result of which it is also possible to differentiate between the cooling of the lighting platforms and the ventilation of the plants in the plant growing container. The air preferably flows above the lighting platform at 3.5 m / s, flowing around the plants at 1 m / s above the plant growing container. These speed differences in the air flow can be realized, for example, by a different number of openings on the inner wall of the closed climate cell, and / or by differently sized openings in the inner wall at different heights. The central unit of the ventilation system can be attached to the bottom of the climate cell or on its roof.

The closed climate cell preferably has a regulating unit which is connected to the lighting platforms via a data connection. Regardless of this, the lighting platform can also have a controller itself. The climate cell's control unit records data from sensors within the closed climate cell and then regulates the corresponding values to preset target values. These target values can change dynamically during the day or from one growth stage of the plants to the next, but it is also possible to intervene manually in the course, either by directly controlling the closed climate cell or by manually changing the target values. The sensors evaluated by the regulation unit can be attached both to the closed climate cell itself or to one or more lighting platforms, the data of the sensors in the latter also being able to be transmitted, for example, via the conductor rail or the busbar or a bus system incorporated therein. The regulatory unit can evaluate defects in units installed in the climate cell, data on the growth status of plants or general information on the climate in the climate cell and then send back control data. For the lighting platforms, this can be, for example, the regulation of the intensity or the spectrum of the lighting means, or the instruction to the loading and unloading system to replace the lighting platform. If the lighting platform itself has a controller, this can, however, also regulate the lighting means in the lighting platform according to a predefined schedule. However, the regulating unit is also connected to the ventilation system, which adjusts the climate for optimal growth conditions of the plants and can thus regulate the climatic conditions in the closed climatic cell, for example, depending on the data read out Air humidity, temperature, air speed, oxygen content and carbon dioxide content.

The lighting platform according to the invention, which is used in closed climate cells, can have the features described in detail below. The lighting means in the lighting platform can preferably consist at least partially of LEDs or OLEDs. Alternatively, light tubes are also conceivable as lighting means, but LEDs or OLEDs are preferred for lower energy consumption and less heat development. The lower heat development has the further advantage that the distance between the lighting platforms and the plant growing containers can be further reduced. At least three rows with lighting means are particularly preferably attached to an illumination platform, the LEDs being very particularly preferably grouped within the rows.

The illuminants can have different spectra, some illuminants can produce white light, but others can be limited to a smaller spectral range, such as red, green, infrared or UV-A light. Furthermore, the lighting means can also have different light intensities, wherein either different lighting means have different intensities, or the intensity of a lighting means can be changed. Different lighting means can be combined on one lighting platform, which preferably also cover different spectral ranges or have different intensities. Different illuminants can also be used in the course of the day, for example illuminants with a white spectral range can be used in day mode, but red or green light can be used in night mode. The day and night mode does not have to adapt to the external course of the day, rather the circadian rhythm of the plants can be controlled with it.

Preferably, at least some of the sensors within the closed climate cell can be integrated directly into the lighting platform. Here, cameras, also for observing the growth progress of the plants, RGB sensors, sensors for measuring the status data of the lighting, such as light output, heat development, or defects, or sensors for measuring the climatic conditions within the closed climatic cell can be installed particularly preferably. By recording the climatic conditions within the climatic cell by means of the sensors attached to the lighting platforms, these climatic conditions can also be controlled for the benefit of plant growth.

The lighting platform is preferably designed to be watertight, in order to provide protection for the lighting, the sensors and / or the cameras, which are mounted on the lighting platform below, even in the case of high air humidity and possible condensation. For example, the underside of the lighting platform can be provided with a resin layer. However, it is important that the waterproof protective layer is transparent in the spectral range of the lighting, the sensors and the camera.

The frame of the lighting platform is preferably closed off at the top and offers a flat and smooth surface in order not to cause air turbulence. A heat exchanger is particularly preferably located on the top of the frame or the top of the frame consists of a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is always made of a thermally conductive material, for example aluminum. The heat exchanger is preferably plate-shaped and / or over the entire surface or extends essentially over the entire surface of the frame.

Figure list

The invention is explained below by way of example using preferred embodiments.

• 1: eine Frontalansicht einer abgeschlossene Klimazelle mit mehreren Lagen aus übereinander angeordneten Beleuchtungsplattformen und Pflanzenaufzuchtbehältnissen,
• 2: eine Beleuchtungsplattform mit unterschiedlichen Beleuchtungsmitteln.

They show schematically:

• 1 : a frontal view of a closed climate cell with several layers of lighting platforms and plant breeding containers arranged one above the other,
• 2nd : a lighting platform with different illuminants.

Preferred embodiments of the invention

1 shows a frontal view of an open, closed climate cell 100 for growing plants in several locations in which lighting platforms 200 and plant growing containers 10th are arranged alternately and one above the other. A layer consists of one or more lighting platforms 200 below which there are one or more plant breeding containers 10th are located. The lighting platforms 200 and plant growing containers 10th are each on rails 11 , which on the inner wall of the closed climate cell 100 are attached, movably attached. The lighting platforms can be accessed via these rails 200 and plant growing containers 10th into the climate cell 100 pushed in and removed from it, for example fully automatically by a loading and unloading system 12th . The loading and unloading system 12th can be attached to its own scaffolding, or to the outer structure or a structure within the climate cell 100 be attached. Here is the loading and unloading system 12th Movable on the scaffold and can thus move to the position of the lighting platforms 200 and plant growing containers 10th enter and remove them with a gripper and push them in. The ventilation system 13 regulates the climate within the closed climate cell 100 about the airflow 30th between the lighting platforms 200 and the plant growing containers 10th . The parameters for climate regulation come from the regulatory unit 14 , and can use a data connection 15 both to the ventilation system 13 as well as over the rails 11 directly to the lighting platforms 200 be passed on. This allows both the ventilation system 13 regulated air parameters of the climate as well as those of the lighting platform 200 regulated lighting parameters can be controlled together.

In 2nd is a single, exemplary lighting platform 200 shown. This is from a frame 20th enclosed, on the top of a heat exchanger 23 is attached or the top of a heat exchanger 23 consists. On the underside of the lighting platform 200 there are lights 21 , which can have different spectra and intensities, and sensors 22 , the different climate parameters of the closed climate cell 100 or growth parameters of the plants in the plant growing containers 10th or status parameters of the lighting platform 200 can capture.

Reference list

100

closed climate cell

200

Lighting platform

10th

Plant growing container

11

rail

12th

Loading / unloading system

13

Ventilation system

14

Regulatory unit

15

Data Connection

20th

frame

21

Lighting equipment

22

sensor

23

Heat exchanger

30th

Airflow

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• DE 102016121126 B3 [0002]

Claims (13)

Closed climate cell (100) for growing plants in a plurality of layers arranged one above the other, one layer each having at least one lighting platform (200) and one plant growing container (10), characterized in that the at least one lighting platform (200) arranged in the climate cell (100) and the at least one plant growing container (10) arranged in the climate cell (100) is arranged so as to be movable. Closed climate cell (100) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that rails (11), on which the lighting platforms (200) and plant growing containers (10) are mounted, are fastened to a wall or to two walls of the climate cell (100) lying opposite one another. Closed climate cell (100) according to Claim 2 , characterized in that the lighting platforms (200) are supplied with power via the rails (10). Closed climate cell (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a frame (20) of the lighting platform (200) has the same length and / or width as a plant growing container (10). Closed climate cell (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a loading and unloading system (12) is installed in or on the climate cell (100), which uses both the lighting platforms (200) and the plant growing containers (10) fully automatically and / or removes. Closed climate cell (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an aeration system (13) generates a different air flow for cooling the lighting platforms (200) and for aeration of the plants in the plant growing containers (10). Closed climate cell (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a regulating unit (14) is connected to the lighting platforms (200) via a data connection (15). Illumination platform (200) for use in closed climate cells (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one illumination means (21) in the illumination platform (200) contains LEDs or OLEDs. Lighting platform (200) according to Claim 8 , characterized in that the lighting means (21) have different spectra within a lighting platform (200). Lighting platform (200) according to one of the Claims 8 to 9 , characterized in that the lighting platform (100) contains at least one sensor (22). Lighting platform (200) according to one of the Claims 8 to 10th , characterized in that the lighting platform (200) is waterproof. Lighting platform (200) according to one of the Claims 8 to 11 , characterized in that the frame (20) of the lighting platform (200) is closed at the top. Lighting platform (200) according to Claim 12 , characterized in that there is a heat exchanger (23) on the top of the frame (20) or this consists of it.

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