FI108698B - Cultivation method for plants and green house - Google Patents

Description

1 108698

PLANT GROWING METHOD AND GREENHOUSE

The invention relates to a method for growing plants, for example for growing flowers, broccoli, leeks, cauliflower or lettuce, wherein the plants 5 are grown in two or more layers, the plants are supplied with artificial light mainly above them and carbon dioxide is added to the greenhouse air.

The problem with well-known greenhouses in Finland and other Nordic countries is that their operating costs become very expensive. Therefore, their competition with imported vegetables from the southern countries is difficult. There are several reasons for the high operating costs of Finnish greenhouses. One problem is the high energy consumption, which is naturally due to the cold winter conditions in the Nordic countries. Greenhouses have to be heated a lot, so energy costs are also 15 high. Also, the structure of known greenhouses is not very advantageous in terms of energy economy. They usually have large window surfaces that are not very capable of preventing heat from passing through the structures and thus wasting.

Given the high cost of energy, even in times of tight economic conditions, it is not possible to use additional aids, even if they are known: 'to promote plant growth. One such aid is the addition of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is so expensive that at least large quantities are not: '\': profitable to use in greenhouses.

, ·:. Indirectly, one of the known greenhouses / ·: is due indirectly to the high heating costs. (a disadvantage. Because the air inside the greenhouse has to be heated at a high cost, the greenhouses must be ventilated as little as possible. After all, both expensive heat and expensive carbon dioxide are vented. However, poor ventilation causes the plants to grow to the best possible quality.

30; · J It is known to make several layered greenhouses for growing seedlings. One. ..: such a solution is disclosed in EP A 0142643. In it, the seedlings are arranged in large boxes with several adjacent layers in different layers. However, such a solution is only possible for growing seedlings. There is not enough light to plant '35 in such a greenhouse. For the actual cultivation of plants, the seedlings must be relocated.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel plant growing method which does not have the above disadvantages. The cultivation method according to the invention is characterized in that artificial light is applied to the plants above them so that at least one of the 5 layers of light is transmitted between the plants, whereby at least a part of the light used for plant lighting can illuminate the plants of the lower layer. , 10 - and that the air in the greenhouse is recirculated so that at least part of the air passes through the openings left in the spaces between the plants and through the plant layer.

The method of the invention provides a substantially more advantageous plant growing method than the known methods. First, a two- or more-layered greenhouse 15 is economically advantageous in winter because, in such a structure, the ratio of the cold outer wall area to the growing area of the plants is substantially lower than in known greenhouses. Thus, the heat losses through the wall are also substantially smaller.

By the method of the invention it is possible to grow a wide variety of plants.

;: * For example, plants such as flowers, broccoli, leek, cauliflower and lettuce are most preferred. It is essential for the growth of such plants that the whole greenhouse ':'. providing sufficiently efficient lighting. For this, above each layer of plants, ·. place patches that give plants effective light. In addition to direct lighting. However, the plants also receive a significant amount of diffused light, with the light passing from the plants to the lower layers and to the plants still there. The distance between the layers only needs to be large enough to provide suitable direct lighting and the resulting diffused light. Lamps for lighting plants may not • need to be directly above the plants. They can also be on the page as long as,. · 30 adequate lighting is provided.

, ...: The quality of the indoor air in the greenhouse and its control is also an essential part of the growth conditions of plants. According to the method according to the invention, the conditions around each plant of '' 'are advantageous in that the indoor air of the greenhouse is sufficiently recycled. Here, too, it is essential that the air can move freely from one layer to another between the plants. This prevents e.g. plant mold. When carbon dioxide is added to the recirculated air, growth conditions in all parts of the greenhouse 3 108698 are favored.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the greenhouse is heated mainly by the thermal energy produced by the greenhouse lamps.

5 There is no need for a separate heating system at all in the greenhouse. In this case, the only issue is simply removing any excess heat from the greenhouse. Since heating is not a problem, the greenhouse can also be ventilated without having to worry about wasting expensive thermal energy. It plays a 10 essential role in the quality of the plants grown. When it is necessary to remove heat from the greenhouse, the method is best suited for use in cold areas and | during the cold season. This feature therefore makes the method according to the invention very advantageous e.g. just in Finland and other Nordic countries. After all, imported vegetables from warmer countries can be replaced by domestic products.

15

According to another preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the electric energy required for the greenhouse lamps is generated in a power plant fueled, for example, by chips, other biofuel or gas, and carbon dioxide is removed from the power plant flue gases.

. i. · Most advantageously in connection with a greenhouse is the use of wood chips or other biofuel: a power plant, the electricity of which is used to illuminate the greenhouse. Since there is no separate energy requirement for heating the greenhouse, the thermal energy generated by the power plant process 25 can be used for other purposes or sold. The revenue from the sale of thermal energy may then offset, in whole or in part, the costs of producing electricity. Thus, the power plant and the greenhouse unit are extremely inexpensive in terms of total operating costs. When electricity is generated at a nearby power plant, it also eliminates the costs of 30 electricity transfers elsewhere.

t The system's economy is further enhanced by the fact that the plant's carbon dioxide is advantageously extracted from the plant's flue gases. When carbon dioxide is thus obtained throughout, it is advantageously added over time so that there is no need for adequate ventilation in the greenhouse. Although 35 ventilation naturally also releases carbon dioxide from the greenhouse into the open air, the flue gas produced by the power plant replaces it with the carbon dioxide removed.

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Because of the continuous production of carbon dioxide, the carbon dioxide content of the greenhouse can easily be increased as much as is advantageous for plant growth only. It is well known that, besides sufficient light, a sufficiently high concentration of carbon dioxide in the greenhouse air significantly increases the growth of plants. With known solutions, maintaining a sufficiently high concentration of carbon dioxide in a greenhouse is practically impossible, since buying carbon from outside will be very expensive.

In practice, in the system of the invention, carbon dioxide can be separated from the flue gases and washed. It is then temporarily stored in a pressure vessel from which it is fed to the greenhouse under pressure.

According to a third preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the plants are grown in a two or more layer greenhouse so that in the first step the plant is grown in the lower layer, after which the plant is moved to the upper layer, the plants in the lower layer being relatively close to each other. are so large that light and air can pass from layer to layer between plants.

According to a fourth preferred embodiment of the method of the invention: the plants (33) are grown in a two or more layer greenhouse; / the following steps:; ': - first, the seedlings are germinated and grown in a peat bag, the seedlings are sorted and transferred to the first wagons, which proceed on the first 25 rows of the greenhouse during the first stage of plant growth, thinned and transferred to the second wagons; have grown for the desired time, the wagons and the plants therein are brought down from the upper layers of the greenhouse, the plants harvested, sorted, packed and, if necessary, frozen.

The invention also relates to a greenhouse that is substantially more efficient and useful than known greenhouses for growing plants, such as flowers, broccoli, leek, cauliflower and lettuce, having two or more layers for growing plants, lighting devices for directing artificial light to and above them. to increase growth carbon dioxide in greenhouse air, 108698 5

The greenhouse according to the invention is characterized in that at least one layer of plants is spaced apart so that there are openings between the plants through which at least part of the light used to illuminate the plants of the layer can also illuminate the plants of the lower layer. to circulate such that at least some of the air circulating in the greenhouse passes through the apertures in the space between the plants through the plant layer.

10

According to a preferred embodiment of the greenhouse according to the invention, the greenhouse comprises an energy plant for generating electrical energy for plant lighting equipment, the energy of which is preferably wood chips, other bioenergy or gas, and the apparatus for carbon dioxide separation from flue gases and carbon dioxide purification.

According to another preferred embodiment of the greenhouse according to the invention, the greenhouse has at least one fan for directing air parallel to the ceiling surface towards a central portion of the greenhouse having a vertical gap and at least one fan for air circulation.

; : '; In a third preferred embodiment of the greenhouse according to the invention. at least part of the ceiling and / or walls of the greenhouse is thermally insulated.

; ·. 25;. t The greenhouse roof structure may then be made of light-impermeable material, such as sheet metal or other suitable roofing material. In a greenhouse saw according to the invention, natural light is not necessary. Light for plant growth •; 'Is achieved by strong artificial lighting. Because efficient lamps also produce 30 heat, the heat load caused by lighting alone is enough for the greenhouse; * · | heating. For the heat balance between the interior of the greenhouse and the outside should be,,,.. Always correct, so the greenhouse roof and walls can be thermally isolated from the corresponding external conditions.

According to a fourth preferred embodiment of the greenhouse according to the invention, the first floor of the greenhouse has at least one initial plant growth line and above the first floor is at least one further plant growth line with 108698 6 plants less frequent than the first floor.

According to a fifth preferred embodiment of the greenhouse according to the invention, the growing line of the plants has guide rails, such as 5 growth trolleys in which the plants are placed, and the movement of the growing unit is such that the plant travels through the growing line for the desired time.

According to a sixth preferred embodiment of the greenhouse according to the invention, the greenhouse comprises at least one elevator for lifting a plant-containing trolley to and from the desired floor and a conveyor for moving the plants to the upstream end and at least one conveyor for moving the grown products downstream.

According to a seventh preferred embodiment of the greenhouse according to the invention, the greenhouse growth line comprises at least two guides along which the growth carriage moves from the beginning of the growth line to the opposite end of the greenhouse where the growth carriage moves sideways to the second guide.

20

According to an eighth preferred embodiment of the greenhouse according to the invention, the transport device for the greenhouse growth carriage comprises a cylinder whose piston pushing movement moves the carriage step by step in the guides. The breeding unit has; growing jars or troughs in which the seedlings are grown.

: 25

According to a further preferred embodiment of the greenhouse according to the invention, in the greenhouse growth line above the plants there are lamps mounted on the underside of the transverse beams or on separate hanging bars so that the lamps mainly illuminate the plants underneath plants.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a greenhouse according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the greenhouse.

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Figure 3 corresponds to Figure 2 and illustrates another embodiment.

Figure 4 shows a detail of a cross-section of a greenhouse.

Figure 5 shows a detail of Figure 4.

Figure 6 shows a top view of a plant transport unit.

Figure 7 shows a mechanism for moving the plant transport unit.

Figure 8 schematically shows a greenhouse lighting arrangement.

Figure 9 shows a portion of a greenhouse according to another embodiment, seen from the end.

Figure 10 is a schematic top plan view of the greenhouse of Figure 9.

Figure 11 schematically shows the various stages of plant cultivation.

Figure 12 schematically shows the trajectories of plants in the greenhouse shown in Figure 10.

Figures 13a and 13b schematically show the trajectories of plants in the upper floors of the greenhouse 15 of Figure 10.

Figure 13 schematically shows the trajectories of plants in the greenhouse shown in Figure 9.

Figure 14 schematically shows the progress of plants in the greenhouse treatment station. Figure 15 corresponds to Figure 14 and schematically shows the progress of plants in the second step 20.

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the greenhouse of Fig. 9.

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a greenhouse according to the invention. Greenhouse 10 has several floors. The embodiment of Figure 1 is:. 25 five floors. The structure of the greenhouse 10 is characterized by the fact that the floors do not have solid floor levels. This allows both air and light to pass freely from one floor to another between the supporting structures and the plants being grown. Due to the open design, ventilation and heating can be provided, for example, at the end of the greenhouse 10 or; 'Through the air ducts 11 on the edges. When air ducts 11 are suitably located 30 at both ends of the greenhouse 10, for example, circulation of warm air is achieved; · ·: Desired at every point of the greenhouse.

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,. The seedlings grown in the greenhouse 10 of Figure 1 are housed in movable carriages 12; 'Which run along the guides intended for them. These details are described in greater detail · * '35 below. The raising of the plants to be grown in different layers is arranged by means of conveyors, generally designated by reference numeral 13 in Figure 1. The conveyors or hoists may be of a type known per se and therefore are not further described herein.

Figure 2 is a schematic top plan view of an embodiment of a greenhouse according to the invention. The figure shows that this greenhouse has 5 ten plant growing lines 14 in which the plant growing units move back and forth from one end of the greenhouse to the other and back. The seedlings to be grown are brought to the end of the growing line 14 by means of a conveyor 13, the structure of which is not shown in more detail in the figure, since it may be of a type known per se. Similarly, once the seedlings have returned to their origin, the products so grown are transported by conveyors for packaging and export to consumers.

Since the greenhouse 10 of Figure 2 does not show any additional space required in practice, such as the seedling germination section, the plant cooling and packaging sections, etc., these spaces must be outside the actual greenhouse. They may be in the immediate vicinity of the greenhouse 15 or further away.

Figure 3 shows an alternative greenhouse layout with planting equipment and other accessories required for the greenhouse in place of the middle growing lines. In the example case 20 shown in Fig. 3, the greenhouse 10 includes a peat silo 15, a substrate mixing drum 16 and a planting table · * 17. sowing followed by growing media: ": move to germination 18. Conveyors 13 move the growing media further to breeding work 14. In this example, the seedlings move along the growing line in one direction only, so that the seedlings move only once during the growing season.

After passing through the breeding line 14, the plants are transferred to the cleaning table 19 of the conveyor 13 and further to the cold store 23 after washing 20, packaging 21 and cooling 22.

»; * Figure 3 also shows the auxiliary space needed by the greenhouse, which is the dispatcher 24; · '30 office 25 and staff social facilities 26. In addition, the greenhouse has 10; : heating center 27 and water tank 28 for watering plants. The water tank may be used; Instead, Fig. 3 does not show, for example, a wastewater treatment plant, a composter or a '·' biological nitrogen recovery apparatus in more detail. The heating plant 17 is heated, for example, with '35 wood chips, whereby carbon dioxide from the flue gases can be recovered, which is used in the greenhouse to enhance plant growth.

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Fig. 4 shows a detail of the structure of a greenhouse 10 with growing lines 14 adjacent to and superimposed. The structure corresponds to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, in which each rearing line 14 comprises two adjacent rows of rearing carts. In these rows, the rearing carriages 12 are disposed in the longitudinal rails 29 of the greenhouse 5. The operation of the rearing line 14 is such that in the first row each rearing carriage 12 moves from the opposite end of the greenhouse. Thereafter, the carriage 12 moves sideways to adjacent guides, along which the carriage 12 returns to its starting end. The speed of the carriages 12 is arranged such that the reciprocating movement of the greenhouse 10 from end to end will last for the growing season required by the trout. For example, the plants grow for about two months.

Figure 4 shows that the lower rearing lines 14 of the greenhouse 10 are on the floor level of the greenhouse 10, but the upper rearing lines are located on them in different layers on the transverse beams 30. Longitudinal rails 29 for rearing carriages 29 are provided on top of beams 30 as for rearing lines 14 on the ground. Also rearing carriages 12a and 12b move in the longitudinal direction of the greenhouse back and forth in their guide rails.

20 Because greenhouse 10 does not have solid floor levels on different floors, air can escape; · Move freely from floor to floor within the greenhouse. Without transition, it happens. '. due to the sparse lattice structure of the greenhouse, but also because: · the greenhouse 10 has free air space especially at the outermost growing line 14 of each floor. Figure 4 shows that at these points there is another breeding line above the breeding line 14 25.

Plant lighting is arranged by means of lamps 31 which are spaced as required above each plant. Figure 4 shows that the luminaires 31 are: located on the underside of the transverse beams 30 or on separate hanging bars 32 at such locations where the transverse beams 30 do not exist. The lighting of the plants takes place in such a way that the lamps 31 mainly illuminate the plants under the lamp, but their light,; in addition, the plants between the plants 33, the transverse beams 30 and the rails 29 are also directed to the plants in their lower layers. The principle of illumination is illustrated in more detail in Figure 8.

Figure 5 shows a detail of the greenhouse structure showing the rails 29 on top of the transverse beam 30 and the plant carriages 12 on them.

, .: 35 108698 10

Guides 29 Walk in the longitudinal direction of the greenhouse and the Plant Carriages 12 move between the ends of the greenhouse. The seedlings 33 in the breeding trolleys 12 are placed in special breeding trays, which are shown in more detail in Figure 6.

Fig. 6 is a schematic top view of a plant growing unit, which in this example case is a growing carriage 12 moving in the guides 29. The figure shows that plants 33 placed in jars in growing carriage 12 are in growing troughs 34 which are as long as the width of growing carriage 12. The growth carriage 12 has six growing troughs 34, each having about 50 to 60 plants 33. In the growing trough 34, the plants 10 33 are spaced apart so that gaps remain. Also, there are air gaps 64 between the growth channels 34, whereby the plants 33 have room for growth on all sides. Air gaps 64 allow air to circulate between the plants. At the same time, the light from above the plants 33 also passes between the plants 33 and the troughs 34 to the plants below the diffused light. The other end of the growing trough 34 is located slightly lower 15 than its opposite end, whereby water for irrigating the plants can be led to flow through the growing trough 34.

Fig. 7 schematically illustrates a transfer device 35 for rearing carriages 12. The transfer device includes a hydraulic cylinder 36, whose pushing motion of the piston 37 moves the carriage 12 by 20 increments to the next growth position on the guides 29. Rarely does the carriage 12 advance from end to end For example, if the length of the greenhouse 10 is about 200 m and during the 60-day growing season: the total movement of the plant carriages from end to end of the greenhouse is about 400 m, then the carriage must move about 7 m daily. In other words, the pushing movement of the piston 37 of the hydraulic cylinder 36 moves the transport carriage 12 forward. an average of seven times a day.

Thus, the apparatus shown can yield, for example, six harvests per year in the greenhouse 10. Because in the northern conditions of Finland many hundreds cannot be obtained in nature in 30 years, the efficiency gains are considerable. Indeed, the proposed greenhouse can produce flowers or vegetables almost throughout the year, thus making it possible to replace substantial imports with domestic production. The only time of year when the greenhouse according to the invention is not advantageous to use is mid-summer because then it is so warm outside that cooling the greenhouse may be a problem.

The greenhouse according to the invention is therefore best suited to cold conditions and cold seasons. Preferred plants grown in the greenhouse 10 are, for example, flowers, and vegetables include, for example, broccoli, leeks, cauliflower and lettuce.

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Fig. 8 is a schematic representation of plant 33 illumination by means of lighting fixtures 31. In the greenhouse 10, the lamps 31 are mounted on the underside of the transverse beams 30 or on the hanging bar 32. The spacing of the lamps 31 is so small that each growing carriage 5 is sufficiently illuminated and all seedlings to be grown receive light. However, it is essential for the structure that the transverse beams within the greenhouse 10 and the troughs and guides of the growing carriages 12 form so few grids that the diffused light from the luminaires 31 passes through the air gaps 64 between the plants 33 or the troughs 64. In this way, the full 10 light provided by the luminaires 31 is utilized. Similarly, the air used for heating the greenhouse can move freely both horizontally and vertically between all the greenhouse structures and the cans 34 of the plants 33.

Figure 9 shows a portion of one end of an embodiment of a greenhouse 10. The figure does not show a portion of the greenhouse on the other side of the brush, which is symmetrically similar to the half shown. In this embodiment, the ventilation of the greenhouse 10 is arranged such that in the center of the greenhouse 10 is a longitudinal and bottom-up vertical shaft 40 extending through the entire greenhouse 20 and having downward blowing fans 41. These allow the air in the greenhouse 10 to circulate it moves down the shaft 40, '' downwards and further sideways towards the side walls 42 of the greenhouse 10 as indicated by the arrows.

'. Close to the junction of the side walls 42 of the greenhouse 10 and the roof 43, there are second fans 44 which allow air to circulate further towards the roof ridge 45 of the greenhouse 10 as shown by the arrows. The fans 41 and 44 are adjustable and highly efficient, whereby the fans 44 provide a strong airflow in the direction of the ceiling surface 43 of the greenhouse 10. As a result of the air flow, no condensation water is formed on the cold ceiling surface 43. The velocity of this airflow can be up to 2 to 3 times that of the air circulation elsewhere in the greenhouse, i. The fans 44 and this detail of the ventilation of the greenhouse 10 are described in more detail in Figure 16.

The greenhouse 10 is supplied to the greenhouse 10 via the adjustable valves 46 in connection with the side wall 42 and the exhaust air is supplied through the adjustable roof valves 47 in the vicinity of the roof ridge 45. By means of the fans 44, the cold air from the valve 46 is directed towards the roof ridge. Then it will not be directly applied to the plants, but will mix with the indoor air of the greenhouse.

The air and light in the greenhouse 10 can also travel freely in the vertical direction, 5 because the beams 30 supporting the carriages 12 are lattice-free and the greenhouse 10 has no solid floor levels. The plants are also arranged in the carriages 12 with suitable openings therebetween. The carbon dioxide addition channels are not shown in Figure 9.

Figure 10 is a schematic top plan view of the first floor 10 of the greenhouse of Figure 9. At the top of Figure 10 is a power plant 27 and a chip storage 48. From the peat storage 15, the necessary peat is taken out for planting machines 17. After planting, the peat bundles go into germination section 18 and seedling growing section 49. The seedlings then move to processing section 50. Further, the treatment compartment includes an elevator 53, carriage conveyor 15, carriage emptying and cleaning equipment, a sorting compartment 54, a pack compartment 21, a freeze compartment 22, a refrigerator 23, and a social space 26. These details are illustrated in more detail in the following figures.

According to the invention, wood chips, other biofuels or, for example, natural gas are burned in an energy plant to produce the electrical energy needed for greenhouse lamps. This also generates thermal energy and combustion gases.

i !: 'The electricity supplied by the power plant is mainly supplied in its entirety; (: for lamps to provide the most effective illumination. For the method according to the invention: *: 25, it is essential to provide efficient artificial light. Since ": plants are in several layers, natural light plays an important role in the layers between layers. It is advantageous to reduce the amount of yellow light and increase the amount of blue and red light.

30 ;;; * With efficient artificial lighting, lamps produce so much heat at the same time that it; > 'is enough to heat the entire greenhouse. After all, in a multi-storey greenhouse. ": The surface area of the exterior walls is substantially smaller than that of the plants in the known greenhouses. This creates a situation where the cooling of the greenhouse may be more important than heating. That is why such a greenhouse is most advantageous in the cold; ; 'in the Nordic countries, such as Finland, and only there during the cold season;

• * · 'During the summer, the greenhouse according to the invention may be out of service because sunlight 13 108698 would overheat the greenhouse.

The thermal energy generated in the power plant can be sold off. Preferably, carbon dioxide from the combustion gas of the power plant is separated and purified, which is fed to 5 greenhouses. Addition of carbon dioxide causes plants to grow substantially faster than without carbon dioxide. Thus, the greenhouse of the invention has all the major growth factors such as light, heat and carbon dioxide in a very favorable equilibrium. Greenhouse ventilation and ventilation is also advantageous with the circulating air method shown.

10

Figure 11 shows schematically the various stages of seedling and plant cultivation. First, the seeds are planted in a peat bag 51 where germination occurs. The germinated seed is then transferred to the seedling nursery 49. Once the seedling 33 has grown large enough, the peat bag 51 is transferred to the pot 34a or the growing trough. The pot 34a is placed in a trolley on the first floor of a greenhouse 10 where the first stage of growing the plant takes place. At this point, the plants 52a are relatively close to each other without large spacing, since there is no need to go below the spacing between plants.

After completion of the first growth stage of the first layer, the plants 20 are thinned out and transferred to the upper layer carriage troughs 34b. Once the plant 52b has grown to its final size in the trough 34b, it is harvested.

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Fig. 12 shows schematically the trajectories of the plants on the first floor of the greenhouse 10. The seedlings are introduced into the peat compartments through the germinator 18 and the seedling nursery 49: 25 to the treatment compartment 50 where they are transferred to the first floor carriage 12a.

Thereafter, each plant to be grown advances on the first floor along a path j ': from end to end of the greenhouse 10 back and forth. When the plant after this is: '. has returned to the treatment station 50 and the plant has completed the first stage of cultivation. The pre-grown plants are then thinned out and transferred to other trolleys, whereupon the plants are lifted by elevator to one of the upper floors of the greenhouse 10.

; ** Figures 13a and 13b schematically show the trajectories of the plants in the upper layers of the greenhouse 10 '' of Fig. 10, to which the plants have been transferred after the initial cultivation of the first layer. Fig. 13a shows how elevator 53 moves carriages 12b of upper layers 35 to different layers 55a and 55b, where conveyors further move carriages 12b laterally to their right track. Thereafter, the carriages 12b proceed in their designated layers on their own track from end to end of the greenhouse 10, as shown in Fig. 13b. When the whole round is done, the plants have grown for a specified period of time and are removed from the greenhouse. Fig. 13a shows how the carriages 12b are laterally moved back to the elevator 53 in their layer, whereby they are brought back down to the first floor and further to the processing station 50.

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Fig. 14 shows the trajectories of first floor carriages 12a at greenhouse handling station 50. Seedlings in peat containers are moved to first floor carriages at loading station 56. Thereafter, carriage 12a moves sideways to first floor starting station 57 where it departs from greenhouse end 58. The first stage of plant cultivation is then completed. Subsequently, the initially grown plants are transferred from the layer trolley at the first floor return station 58 to the upper layer trolleys at the transfer station 59. Since thinning is done at the same time, the plants are moved so that the plants of one first-floor trolley are divided into four upper-floor trolleys. For this purpose, the required four upper-layer wagons are brought to transfer station 59 in turn. Once the transfer is complete, the emptied trolley moves to the washing and disinfection station 60, after which it is ready to be refilled at the loading station 56.

Figure 15 shows the progress of the plants in the second stage of cultivation. The upper layer carriages 12b are alternately transported to transfer station 59 where the plants initially grown from the first floor carriages are transferred to them. Upper layer carriages 12b • 'are rarely loaded with clear gaps or openings between plants. These carriages 12b are then moved to an elevator for lifting them to their designated floors. When the carriages 12b return from the upper floors to the first floor by the elevator 53, they move to the harvest station 61 where the plants are removed from the carriages. After that the wagons. emptied and transferred to washing and disinfection station 60. The washed carriages are ready to return to the transfer station for re-loading.

Figures 14 and 15 show that the first-floor wagons have their own rotation and the upper-floor wagons respectively. This is natural because the wagons are different. Ovathan plants in the first-floor trolley are four times denser than in the upper-floor trolley.

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a greenhouse sidewall 42 and a growth carriage 12 adjacent thereto. The figure shows that the sidewalls 42 of the greenhouse 10 and the roof 43 are provided with fans 44 to direct a powerful airflow toward the ceiling 43. The valves 46 can be used to control whether the air inside the greenhouse 10 is circulating, or whether at least a portion of the air blown by the fans 44 is taken as replacement air from outside the greenhouse.

Since it is generally colder outside than in greenhouse 10, ceiling surface 43 is also cold or at least cool. Thus, the air flow rate is adjusted as necessary so that no condensation water is formed under the ceiling 43, which could fall on the plants being grown. The air propagating in the vicinity of the ceiling surface 43 is also cooled, a feature which can be used, if necessary, to cool the indoor air (io) of the greenhouse.

The lamps 31 illuminate the plants in the growing carriage 12, which in the lower layer may be closer to each other than in the upper layers. Fig. 16 shows that the carriage 12 is supported at both ends by vertical columns 62, which are twofold, so that space is provided for the service corridor 63 in connection with the vertical column.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various embodiments of the invention may vary within the scope of the following claims.

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Claims (15)

1. Cultivation method for plants (33) for growing, for example, flowers, broccoli, puree, cauliflower or lettuce, according to which method the plants are grown in two or more floors, artificial light is led into the plants mainly from above them and the growth of the plants promoting carbon dioxide is added to the greenhouse. air, characterized in that artificial light is led to the plants from above them, so that the light is at least on an habitation being led along the interstices (64) between the plants, whereby at least part of the light used to illuminate the plants will also illuminate plants on the habitation lower down, that at least a substantial portion of the heat required to heat the greenhouse is supplied from the lighting devices (31), and that the air of the greenhouse is circulated so that at least some of the air passes through the openings between the plants through the plant layer. 15 The cultivation method according to claim 1, characterized in that the greenhouse (10) is heated mainly with the heating energy produced by the greenhouse lighting devices (31). The cultivation method according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical energy (31) of the greenhouse (10) requires the electrical energy to be produced in a power plant (27), whose fuel is, for example, wood chips, other biofuels or gas. that carbon dioxide is separated from the power plant's flue gases, which carbon dioxide if necessary. '25 is cleaned and conducted to the air inside the greenhouse. The cultivation method according to claim 1, characterized by: ': - that the plants (33) are grown in greenhouses (10) with two or more plants, so that in the first' stage the plant is grown on the lower floor, after which the plants are moved to a higher location, .. ,,; - that on the lower habitation the plants are relatively close to each other, .. - and that at least on a higher habitation the intervals between the plants are '! "Says Great, that light and air will eat along the gaps (64) between": ": the plants from one habitation to another." The cultivation method according to claim 1, characterized in that the plants (33) are grown in. . greenhouse (10) with two or more floors using the following stages: first the plants are left to germinate and grown in a peat lump (51), the plants are sorted and moved to the first wagons (12a), which progress on the first greenhouse of the greenhouse during the first during the second stage of plant cultivation, the plants are thinned and moved to other wagons (12b), which progress to a higher level of weeding in the greenhouse during the second stage of plant cultivation, as the plants have grown at the desired time, so the wagons and those in these located plants descend from the greenhouse's higher floors, the plants are throttled, sorted, packed and frozen if necessary. 10 6. Greenhouses (10) for growing plants such as, for example, flowers, broccoli, purjo, cauliflower and lettuce, which greenhouse has two or more storeys for the plants (33) to be grown, lighting devices (31) for directing artificial light to the plants mainly from above, and means for adding the growth of plants promoting carbon dioxide to the greenhouse air, characterized in that at least on one dwelling the plants are spaced apart from each other such that there are openings (64) through which at least one part of the light used to illuminate the plants will eat to illuminate even the lower down plants, 20. and that in the greenhouse there are devices (41, 44) for circulating the air in the greenhouse, so that at least part of the the air circulates in the greenhouse through the openings located between the plants through the plant layer. • · ·; Greenhouse according to Claim 6, characterized in that: - the greenhouse belongs to an energy plant (27) for the production of electrical energy to the plants * * * •. * · 'Illumination devices (31), the fuel of which the energy plant's fuel is most advantageously wood chips, other:, ..: bioenergy or gas,:! - and that there are devices in the greenhouse for separating the carbon dioxide from! : * * *; the flue gases and devices for cleaning the carbon dioxide and conducting this to the greenhouse. • · ... 8. Greenhouse according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that there is at least one fan (44) in the greenhouse for directing the air in the direction of the roof surface against the greenhouse '' · ": middle part, where there is a vertical gap (40) and at least one fan (41) for providing rotation of the air stream. , ·,; 9. A greenhouse according to claim 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that at least part of the greenhouse roofs and / or walls of the greenhouse (10) are heat insulated. Greenhouse according to any one of claims 6-9, characterized in that the first habitat of the greenhouse (10) contains at least one preliminary cultivation line for plants and above the first habitation there is at least one further cultivation line for plants, in which the line of the plants is more sparse. than on the first floor. Greenhouse according to any of claims 6-10, characterized in that in the cultivation lines for plants (33), movable cultivation units, such as cultivation trolleys (12), are located in which the plants (33) to be grown are located, and that the movement of the cultivation unit is such that the thread of the plant through the cultivation line suffices for the desired time, which is the plant's required growing period or part thereof. | 15 12. A greenhouse according to any of claims 6-11, characterized in that the tile greenhouse includes at least one elevator for lifting the plant-containing trolley (12b) to the desired weeding and from there, and a transport device for moving the plants to be is grown to the beginning end of the cultivation line (14) and at least one transport device for moving the products that have been cultivated away from the end end of the cultivation line 20. Greenhouse according to any of claims 6-12, characterized in that it is used. the cultivation line (14) of the greenhouse (10) includes at least two rails (29) along which the cultivation trolley> ''; (12) moves from the beginning end of the cultivation line to the opposite end of the greenhouse, where the cultivation trolley * ;;; 25 moves laterally to another rail along which the cultivator returns to the beginning end of the cultivation line. • · · * · v Greenhouse according to any of claims 6-13, characterized in that the moving device for the greenhouse (10) of the greenhouse (10) hears a cylinder (36), the piston movement of the piston (37) moving the transport trolley one step. taken on the rails. . · · ·. Greenhouse according to any of claims 6-14, characterized in that in the greenhouse (14) of the greenhouse (10) above the plants (33) there are lighting devices (31) which are fixed to the lower surface of the cross beams or to separate suspension rods (32). say that the lighting devices mainly illuminate the plants located under the lighting device, and that the lighting of the lighting devices is also directed therebetween the plants,. '. : the beams and rails against the plants on the lower floor. T