EP3531822A2 - Dispositif de lampe d'assimilation - Google Patents

Dispositif de lampe d'assimilation

Info

Publication number
EP3531822A2
EP3531822A2 EP17849878.8A EP17849878A EP3531822A2 EP 3531822 A2 EP3531822 A2 EP 3531822A2 EP 17849878 A EP17849878 A EP 17849878A EP 3531822 A2 EP3531822 A2 EP 3531822A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
air stream
lamp
screens
generating means
air
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.)
Pending
Application number
EP17849878.8A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Wilhelmus Petrus Van Vliet
Johannes Jacobus Smits
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
NGES Holding BV
Original Assignee
NGES Holding BV
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by NGES Holding BV filed Critical NGES Holding BV
Publication of EP3531822A2 publication Critical patent/EP3531822A2/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
    • A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
    • A01G9/24—Devices or systems for heating, ventilating, regulating temperature, illuminating, or watering, in greenhouses, forcing-frames, or the like
    • A01G9/246—Air-conditioning systems
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
    • A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
    • A01G9/24—Devices or systems for heating, ventilating, regulating temperature, illuminating, or watering, in greenhouses, forcing-frames, or the like
    • A01G9/249—Lighting means
    • Y—GENERAL 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
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A40/00—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production
    • Y02A40/10—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production in agriculture
    • Y02A40/25—Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor

Definitions

  • the present invention relates in general to the field of plant growth, specifically but not exclusively the field of large-scale commercially growing plants for production.
  • the Invention contributes to enhance the micro climate in greenhouses in a
  • Crop growth and the enhancement of crop growth is dependent on many factors. Apart from nutrients, the most important growth factors are water, air (with a substantial percentage of carbon dioxide), temperature, and light, and a commercial plant grower will try to control these factors to some optimum values. Crop growth is basically dependent on the photosynthesis of the plant, Photosynthesis is basically the conversion of carbon dioxide into sugar and oxygen stimulated by photons (light). This process can be optimized (or hindered) by the adjustment of specific environmental parameters. Known factors influencing the photosynthesis are the (leaf) temperature, concentration of carbon dioxide, light spectrum, availability of water and nutrients, humidity, etcetera.
  • the type of artificial illumination depends on the application, e.g. stimulation of crop growth, ripening of crop fruits, root stimulation etc, or simpiy type of crop.
  • ostl , high or low pressure gas discharge lamps are used for assimilation lighting.
  • these lamps have a limited lifespan of typical 8 months to one year and therefore need regular replacement. Further, these lamps consume a lot of energy, typically 800 W to 1000 W for approximately 10 square meters of crop. Unfortunately, the energy to light conversion rate is quite low: about 30 percent of the energy input is converted into usable light (photons), and the remaining energy is converted into heat and usually lost in the ridge of the
  • LEDs Light Emitting Diodes
  • the present invention aims to further elaborate on the LED technology to optimize an illumination system for stimulating plant growth
  • LEDs are very efficient light generators. Nevertheless, the LED bodies dissipate energy, and especially in the case of high-power LEDs, cooling of the LEDs is necessary in order to prevent damage of the LEDs.
  • Dutch patent application 1040118 describes a lamp device that comprises one or more LEDs, a heat sink for the LEDs, and at least one fan system for generating a downward air stream that is in heat exchange with the heat sink such that the heat sink is sufficiently cooled while at the same time the air stream is warmed up,
  • a fan controller controls the operation of the fan.
  • a system of a plurality of such lamp devices is arranged. In practice, all controllers operate independently from each other, and all fans in the system are controlled in the same manner: each fan is operated in a constant power mode, and blows heat generated by the LEDs downwards into the direction of the crop.
  • the present invention aims to further elaborate on this system.
  • the system is provided with a common system controller that supervises the operation of all fans in the system.
  • a common system controller that supervises the operation of all fans in the system.
  • This may either be implemented in the form of one common controller that replaces all individual controllers to directly control the operation of each individual fan system, or one common controller that is hierarchially higher than individual controllers and controls the operation of the respective fan controllers.
  • the system controls the fans such that groups of fans cooperate to create a large-scale air stream which enhances the business and climate control of the greenhouse. This reduces operationai costs in terms of additional vent systems, use of carbon dioxide and heating.
  • figure 1 schematically shows a longitudinal cross section of an exemplary
  • figure 2 schematically shows a row of assimilation iamp devices for illustrating the induction of a horizontal air flow by a plurality of vertically operating fans;
  • FIG. 3 schematically shows an illumination and air flow system that comprises an array of assimilation lamp devices
  • figure 4 schematically shows a top view of an array of assimilation lamp devices
  • figure 5 schematically shows a greenhouse with an array of assimilation lamp devices.
  • FIG 1 schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of a compact and relatively low cost assimilation lamp device 101 useful for application in the present invention.
  • the lamp device 101 comprises a central temp unit 10 which includes a body 14 of a general rectangular block shape.
  • the lamp device 101 further
  • the body 14 has a cabinet 15
  • the cabinet 15 will receive an electric supply cable for electncal supply, but this is not shown for sake of simplicity.
  • the driving and control circuitry 17 generates driving current for the LEDs 12, which current is transported to the LEDs via conductors extending through the body 14, but this too is not shown for sake of simplicity.
  • the LEDs may be selected to emit light in (different) parts of the 400 ⁇ 700 nm spectrum.
  • the LEDs 12 are mounted to have a good thermal conduction towards the body 14.
  • the body 14 is made of a thermally well conducting material, for instance aluminum.
  • the body 14 acts as a heat sink for the heat generated by the LEDs. This in any case has the effect that the temperature of the LED's remains at such a level that the lifetime of the LED's is not affected.
  • the lamp device 101 comprises a fan 42 or any other type of air stream generating means for generating a downward air stream 43, as well as heat transfer and exchange means 20 for transferring heat from the body 14 to the air stream 43, so that the air stream cools the body 14 and the heat from the LEDs 12 is used to warm said downward air stream 43.
  • This warm air stream 43 ultimately reaches the plants, so that all in all the heat generated by the LEDs is not a loss any more but is advantageously used to warm the environment of the plants.
  • the fan 42 is arranged above the heat exchanger structure 20 to generate a vertical air flow towards the heat exchanger structure 20; the ai flow is blocked by the body 14 and is deflected in a horizontal direction.
  • the precise horizontal direction is determined by the design of the heat exchanger structure 20.
  • the heat exchanger structure 20 in this embodiment comprises a plurality of relatively thin cooling fins or lamellae 41 that in between them define flowing paths for the air.
  • the fins or lamellae 41 are all mutually parallel and extend in XZ-planes, with the X-dlrectson parallel to the longitudinal direction of the assimilation lamp 101.
  • this embodiment of the assimilation lamp 101 comprises a guiding hood 160 having a substantially inverse ⁇ U shaped profile with a top wall 181 and substantially vertical side walls 182. At its underside, the hood 160 is open.
  • the fop wall 161 has a raised portion 183 having a central opening 184, provided with a protective grating 165.
  • the fan 42 is arranged under the opening 184, surrounded and protected by the raised wall portion 183.
  • the top wall 181 lies in close proximity to the upper side of the fins or lamellae 41 , so that in operation air is sucked in via the opening 164 and is forced to pass between the body 14 and the top wall 161 of the hood 180, following in X-direction the flow channeis between the fins or lamellae 41.
  • the hood 180 is wider than the body 14, so that a collective flow path is defined between the side walls 182 and the body 14 where the air can do nothing else but flow down in vertical direction, to exit the device at the underside of the hood 160, which may be flush with or lower than the lower surface of body 14.
  • the fins or lamellae 41 may have the same size as the body 14, as shown, but it is also possible that these fins or lamellae may extend as far as to meet the hood side walls 162,
  • assimilation lamp devices of a different design may be used in the system of the present invention. It is further noted that, depending on climate conditions such as time of day and date of year, the illumination by the LEDs 12 is not needed and is therefore switched off, so that the air flow 43 is not heated, it is even possible that controllable downflow generators are used that comprise one or more fans but that do not include any LED or other heating means for the airflow. In a normal greenhouse setup, each assimilation lamp illuminates
  • each lamp device will typically be associated with a cell of vertical air circulation.
  • the present invention is based on the understanding that it is possible to obtain a large scale, well-controlled horizontal air flow in the greenhouse by a suitable control of the various assimilation lamp devices in combination.
  • Figure 2 shows a row of four identical lamps devices of figure 1 , indicated by reference numerals 101(1 ), 101(2), 101 (3), 101(4),
  • the lamp devices will be attached to a structural beam of a greenhouse.
  • the corresponding fan 42 can be individually controlled, i.e. the rotational speed of the fans 42 can be controlled.
  • Each lamp device 101 (i) generates a downward airstream 43(s) (indicated by arrows) having an air speed (indicated by the length of the arrows) proportional to the fan speed V(i), which results in a local pressure level P(i) (indicated by the size of a star) proportional to the fan speed V(i), so that P(i) > P(i+1) for each i.
  • large scale means at a scale larger than the mutual distance between the respective lamp devices.
  • an overall flow is directed to the right. It is also possible that for instance the third lamp device 101(3) has the fan 42(1) with the lowest speed V(3) and hence the lowest pressure P(3), so that at the left of this third lamp device 101(3) a flow is generated to the right while at the right of this third lamp device 101 (3) a flow is generated to the left.
  • the pressure differences do not need to be large to induce the horizontal air low, although larger pressure differences will indeed induce larger horizontal air flows. In any case, the induced horizontal air flow will result In a micro climate that is better controlled and more homogenous. This relates particularly to the temperature and moisture distribution, and to the distribution of carbon dioxide, which is blown into the greenhouse using fan systems and perforated hoses during daylight (when photosynthesis occurs).
  • a greenhouse is equipped with an illumination and air flow system 300 that comprises an array 301 of assimilation lamp devices 101 that comprise air fans 42, and the air fans of those assimilation lamp devices are controlled individually such that at least two neighbouring fans have mutually different speeds.
  • This control arrangement is schematically illustrated in figure 3, where reference numeral 142 indicates individual fan controllers of the individual assimilation lamp devices 101 , and where reference numeral 310 indicates a common control device of higher hierarchy controlling the individual fan controllers 142.
  • common control device 310 directly controls the individual air fans 42 and that the individual fan controllers are omitted,
  • the common control device 310 may select a certain distribution of fan speed per lamp device to obtain a certain desired induced horizontal air fiow. This distribution may be stationary, to obtain a stationary horizontal air flow pattern, However, in such case the LEDs of an assimilation lamp device 101 with lower air speed may receive insufficient cooling and become warmer than desired. It is desirable that all assimilation lamp devices 101 are subjected to the same average cooling, assuming that the assimilation lamp devices 101 are of mutually identical design. Therefore, according to a further aspect of the present invention, the distribution of the fan speed per lamp device is varied dynamically according to a predetermined schedule, such that the resulting horizontal air flow varies dynamically while the average cooling per lamp is the same. This is advantageous for the lamps but also for the crop. It is noted that the lowest fan speed in the array may be equal to zero and that the highest fan speed in the array may be 100%, It is further noted that the speed control may be a simple on/off control.
  • figure 4 is a schematic top view of the array 301 ,
  • the individual fans 42 are indicated by a circle.
  • the figure shows an array of 8 rows of 5 devices each, but in practice the number of rows and the number of devices per row will be much larger.
  • a fan is controlled to either operate at full speed, which is shown as a large double circle, or at half speed, which is shown as a small single circle,
  • Etcetera The pattern of full speed fans / half speed fans is gradually shifted. Open arrows indicate the horizontal and vertical air flow distribution. It will be seen that this flow distribution shifts with the subsequent phases.
  • each phase last a time duration ⁇ , and that there are N rows, If will be seen that operation Is periodic, with an operation period T - ⁇ - ⁇ . Assume that the cooling power Q is proportional to fan speed V: Q ⁇ A V. It will be seen that, on average, the average cooling power Qav in each lamp is the same, because during each operation period each fan operates at full cooling capacity for 1 ⁇ time and operates at half cooling capacity for ( ⁇ -1) ⁇ time.
  • FIG. 5 shows a greenhouse arrangement 500 in which the lamps and the created airstream serve another purpose.
  • Reference numeral 501 indicates a greenhouse, having a set of horizontal fabric screen 503 dividing the interior of the greenhouse 501 in an upper portion 502, also indicated as roof area, between the greenhouse roof and the screen 503, and a lower portion 504, also indicated as crop area, between the greenhouse ground and the screen 503. Due to the change of day to night and consequently the cooling down of the outside atmosphere, the
  • a common practice in greenhouses 501 is to shield the upper part of the greenhouse Just above the crop with the fabric screens 503 at approximately sunset time. These flexible screens are normally located above lamp level. The screens prevent the rising of still present warm air to the roof of greenhouse 501 , i.e. in the crop area 504 the warm air is trapped below the screens 503, so that the top of the crop is kept warmer at night than when the screens were absent. This enhances crop yield.
  • the temperature T502 of the air in the roof area 502 may approach the outside temperature and will definitely be considerably lower than the temperature T504 of the air in the crop area 504.
  • the screens 503 At dawn, the screens 503 must be opened in order to let daylight enter the greenhouse at crop area 504. However, if the screens would be opened completely at once, the cold air from the roof area 502 would drop down on the crop, causing a temperature shock in the crop and causing a hampering of crop growth. To prevent this, In practice the screens 503 are opened gradually step by step, e.g. every 30 minutes a passage opening in the screen 503 is increased. The cold air from the roof area 502 will fall gradually and mix in with the warmer air at crop level m the crop area 504. This procedure is time consuming and not ideal for crop growth and crop disease suppression.
  • each lamp device 101 is (or in any case one or more lamp devices are) aligned with a corresponding opening 505 in the screens 503, and may even be provided with a hose or tube or pipe 507 having an upper end projecting above the screens 503,
  • the fan 42 When the lamp device 101 is operated, the fan 42 generates a downstream through the corresponding opening 505 and possibly guided by the pipe 507.
  • the cold air in the crop area 504 with temperature Tlow is sucked down, and is guided along the fins of the heatsink of the operational and therefore hot lamp.
  • the cold air is heated by the hot lamp to a higher
  • Thigh may be about 10 to 15 degrees Centigrade above Tlow. This has several advantages.
  • the temperature shock of the crop, caused by a downflow of cold air, is prevented.
  • the downfiow of relatively warm air heats u the top of the crop and therefore enhances crop growth. Further it decreases the relative humidity of the air the crop area 504 surrounding the crop and contributes to the suppression of crop diseases,
  • the air stream generating means 42 can generate a downstream of air heated by the LEDs of the lamp device 101 , and while it is advantageous that the flow speed of this air flow and consequently the temperature of this air flow can be adjusted independently from the operation of the LEDs, the operation of the LEDs is not a necessity, it is possible that the LEDs of a lamp device are off while the fan 42 is on.
  • the greenhouse is provided with a separate air flow regulating system.
  • the ai flow system according to the present invention can operate together with such separate air flow regulating system. It can add flexibility and variation to the air flow pattern, and/or it is possible to reduce the power of the separate air flow regulating system; it is even possible that the air flow system according to the present invention performs all functions of a standard separate air flow regulating system, so that the separate air flow regulating system can be omitted and the costs thereof can be avoided. Even if certain features are recited in different dependent claims, the present invention also relates to an embodiment comprising these features in common, Any reference signs in a claim should not be construed as limiting the scope of that claim.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Cultivation Of Plants (AREA)
  • Greenhouses (AREA)
  • Cultivation Receptacles Or Flower-Pots, Or Pots For Seedlings (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un dispositif de lampe d'assimilation (1) permettant de stimuler la croissance de plantes et de cultures, comprenant une unité lampe centrale (10), comportant un corps (14) et une pluralité de DEL (12) montées sur une surface inférieure du corps (14), le corps (14) étant constitué d'un matériau présentant de bonnes propriétés thermoconductrices, par exemple de l'aluminium, et agissant en tant que dissipateur thermique pour la chaleur générée par les DEL. Le corps (14) est pourvu d'ailettes ou lamelles (41) de refroidissement. Le dispositif de lampe d'assimilation comprend en outre un moyen de génération de flux d'air (42), tel qu'un ventilateur, permettant de générer un flux d'air vers le bas (43) en contact d'échange thermique avec les ailettes ou lamelles de refroidissement, de sorte que la chaleur soit retirée du bloc de refroidissement respectif et utilisée pour augmenter la température dudit flux d'air vers le bas (43). Le moyen de génération de flux d'air (42), tel qu'un ventilateur, peut être commandé indépendamment du fonctionnement de la lampe.
EP17849878.8A 2016-09-30 2017-10-02 Dispositif de lampe d'assimilation Pending EP3531822A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL1042086A NL1042086B1 (en) 2016-09-30 2016-09-30 Assimilation lamp device
PCT/NL2017/000016 WO2018062988A2 (fr) 2016-09-30 2017-10-02 Dispositif de lampe d'assimilation

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3531822A2 true EP3531822A2 (fr) 2019-09-04

Family

ID=57346009

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP17849878.8A Pending EP3531822A2 (fr) 2016-09-30 2017-10-02 Dispositif de lampe d'assimilation

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3531822A2 (fr)
NL (1) NL1042086B1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2018062988A2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL2020907B1 (en) * 2018-05-09 2019-11-18 Dalsem Beheer B V Horticultural and/or agricultural greenhouse
NL2021101B1 (nl) * 2018-06-11 2019-12-16 M A C Beheer B V Werkwijze en inrichting voor het telen van een gewas
NL2023273B1 (nl) * 2019-06-07 2020-12-22 Van Der Ende Pompen B V Kas voorzien van ventilatiesysteem
NL2027064B1 (en) * 2020-12-08 2022-07-07 Dalsem Beheer B V Greenhouse with carbon dioxide dosing installation

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
UA106035C2 (uk) * 2007-11-08 2014-07-25 Зе Стейт Оф Ізраел, Міністрі Оф Агрікултуре & Рурал Девелопмент, Агрікултуре Рісеч Організейшн, (А.Р.О.), Волкені Сентер Спосіб і система для нагрівання і осушення
NL1035507C2 (nl) * 2008-06-02 2009-07-07 Ende Pompen B V V D Kas voorzien van ventilatiesysteem.
NL2005947C2 (en) * 2011-01-03 2012-07-05 Autarkis B V Displacement ventilation system.
TW201320891A (zh) * 2011-11-16 2013-06-01 Ind Tech Res Inst 具溫度調節系統的建築物及其溫度調節方法
NL2008097C2 (nl) * 2012-01-11 2013-07-15 Ende Pompen B V V D Werkwijze voor het beheersen van het klimaat in een land- en/of tuinbouwkas.
NL1040116C2 (en) * 2013-03-22 2014-09-24 Next Generation Energy Solutions B V Illumination device for stimulating plant growth.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2018062988A2 (fr) 2018-04-05
NL1042086B1 (en) 2018-04-10
WO2018062988A3 (fr) 2018-05-24

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