JP2015208296A - Energy-saving plant cultivation system - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a plant cultivation system that combines proximity lighting and local air conditioning with high energy saving performance. A cultivation shelf having a cultivation bed on which a plant is planted, an air conditioner that performs local air conditioning on the plant, and an illumination device that illuminates the plant from above and has illumination means capable of changing the irradiation position. In the plant cultivation system consisting of the equipped cultivation room, the air conditioning air is supplied upward from the bottom of the cultivation shelf and the upward air flow is generated by providing a suction port above the cultivation shelf. ) Becomes more uniform, and exhaust heat from proximity lighting is effectively exhausted by utilizing the upward flow of conditioned air. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an energy-saving plant cultivation system, and more particularly to an energy-saving plant cultivation system that significantly reduces the energy required for air conditioning and lighting in a plant factory.

  In a plant factory, plants are cultivated in a cultivation room using artificial lighting. In the cultivation room, a high amount of light is required to actively carry out photosynthesis. Therefore, it is necessary to use a high-light quantity illumination, but such illumination consumes a large amount of power. In addition, when using artificial lighting to cultivate plants with a relatively high plant height, not only when the plant height is low in the early stages of growth, but also in order to irradiate a sufficiently high amount of plant communities with high power consumption. Irrespective of the growth of the plant, always irradiate the entire cultivation room with large lighting. It is whole area lighting.

  On the other hand, air conditioning of the entire room is also performed regardless of the volume occupied by plants growing in the cultivation room. This is called global air conditioning. However, since the entire cultivation room is air-conditioned, the air volume and conveyance power of the air-conditioned air are increased. In particular, when the whole area lighting and the whole area air conditioning are adopted, as described above, the amount of heat exhausted from the lighting is large, and thus the energy consumption of the air conditioning is further increased.

  Thus, in the cultivation room of the conventional plant factory, since the whole area air conditioning and whole area lighting were performed, it was a problem that the energy required for air conditioning and lighting was large.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of the whole area air conditioning and whole area illumination of the plant cultivation room 1 according to the conventional method.

  In the figure, the illumination means 2 is fixed to the ceiling surface of the cultivation room, and a cultivation shelf 3 is provided below. The air outlet 5 of the air conditioner 4 is provided at a position above the cultivation shelf 3, and the suction inlet 6 is provided on the side near the floor of the cultivation room 1, and is exhausted therefrom. In such a conventional method, power consumption is large in order to irradiate the entire region with a sufficient amount of light. It is necessary to air-condition the entire cultivation room. In the following, the arrows in the figure indicate the flow of air supply and exhaust. same as below.

  Moreover, in such a whole area illumination, in order to irradiate the whole cultivation room with the light of a high light quantity, you have to use high output illumination, such as a metal halide lamp and a high pressure sodium lamp. The power consumption of such high-power lighting is large, which contributes to an increase in production cost.

  That is, in a plant factory, when controlling the temperature and humidity environment optimal for plants, the amount of exhaust heat generated when these lights are turned on is large, and therefore, when exhaust heat is processed by air conditioning, a large amount of energy is required. Therefore, a plant cultivation system that employs the following proximity lighting and local air-conditioning methods has been proposed as an energy-saving measure for such whole-area lighting and entire-area air conditioning.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining a local air conditioning system for hydroponics facilities (Patent Document 1).

  In the figure, the suction shelf 6 is provided in the cultivation shelf 3 having a semi-enclosed space, while the air outlet 5 is provided close to the plant from the side surface, and through an attraction guide 7 provided on the opposite side. A circulation system that reaches the air conditioner 4 through a suction port 6 provided in the cultivation shelf 3 is provided. The conditioned air thus blown is attracted to the semi-enclosed space provided at the bottom of the cultivation shelf by the attraction guide 7 to perform local air conditioning. However, the entire community cannot be air-conditioned when the air-conditioning area is fixed between the outlet 5 and the attracting guide 7, and when the plant grows and the plant height becomes high, or when the plant with a high plant height is cultivated.

  By the way, when a plant having a high plant height such as soybean or tomato is cultivated, the plant is cultivated in a cultivation room having a higher ceiling than when cultivating leafy vegetables such as lettuce in order to secure a space in which the plant height extends. In that case, if the whole cultivation room is air-conditioned throughout the cultivation period, the air volume and the conveyance power increase.

  In addition, plants with high plant height, such as soybeans and tomatoes, have foliage among strains and form communities. Since the leaves and branches are densely populated within the community, the flow of wind is hindered, making it difficult for conditioned air to reach. Furthermore, because of the transpiration of moisture from the plants, the inside of the community where air-conditioned air is difficult to pass becomes highly humid, and the environment becomes prone to mold and disease.

  There are also known plant cultivation systems that change air conditioning and lighting according to plant growth or plant height.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the prior art in which conditioned air is blown out from the porous duct 8 in accordance with the plant height, and only the area where plants are cultivated is locally air-conditioned (Patent Document 2).

  In the illustrated example, conditioned air is blown out from the side surface to the plant from the porous duct 8, and air is sucked in from the lower suction port 6a. After the air from the suction port 6a is cooled by the air conditioner 4 for the purpose of dehumidification, the temperature is raised by mixing with high temperature air from the upper suction port 6b, adjusted to the target temperature, and again the porous duct Send to 8. By controlling the number of rotations of the blower 9 with an inverter and adjusting the air volume, the conveyance power is reduced.

  However, since the porous duct 8 is installed on the cultivation shelf, the lighting cannot be sufficiently brought close to the plant, and it is difficult to manage the growth of the plant.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional example in which local air conditioning and proximity illumination are combined (Patent Document 3).

In the illustrated example, conditioned air is blown from the air conditioner 4 through the air outlet 5 to the lower cultivation shelf 3 from behind the illumination means 2 through the gap 2a of the illumination means 2, and the illumination means 2 can move up and down at the same time. It is a plant cultivation lighting and air conditioning unit. However, since the conditioned air from the air conditioner 4 passes through the gap between the lighting means 2, the temperature of the conditioned air is used to remove the lighting exhaust heat prior to the air conditioning of the plant, so the energy saving effect is low.

  Similarly, FIG. 10 is also a conventional example of a multi-stage cultivation shelf system that combines local air conditioning and proximity lighting, and also proposes proximity lighting that allows the illumination means 2 to move up and down according to the growth of the plant along with the air conditioner. (Patent Document 4).

  FIG. 10 shows the first mode shown in FIG. 4 of Patent Document 4 for realizing the flow of conditioned air in the horizontal direction, and FIG. 7 for realizing the conditioned air flow in the vertical direction as shown by arrows in the figure. The 2nd aspect to show is shown collectively.

JP-A-5-292845 JP 2011-238992 A JP 2012-125196 A JP 2010-088425 A

  The system shown in FIG. 10 seems to have a relatively large energy saving effect in the prior art. In the plant cultivation system disclosed in FIG. 10, a plant growth space is divided into multiple stages using a cultivation shelf 3, and an air conditioner configured with a cultivation shelf 3, a blowout port 5, and a suction port 6 in each stage. , And a lighting device 2 are provided. It has a very compact structure and is expected to save energy.

  However, in the first mode for realizing the lateral flow of the conditioned air, the conditioned air blown out from the blow-out port 5 is directed in the horizontal direction while entraining the illumination exhaust heat, and the suction port 6 at the same stage. Flowing into. Therefore, a temperature gradient is generated from the blowout port 5 to the suction port 6, and a difference occurs in the plant growth rate between the blowout port side and the suction port side.

  On the other hand, in the second mode in which the flow of conditioned air appears in the vertical direction, the lighting device 2 moves up and down according to the growth of the growing plant, while the air conditioning device 4 is also interlocked with the lighting device 2. The air-conditioned air is blown out in the direction of the arrow in the figure toward both the plant and the lighting device 2. However, separately from the air conditioning for plants, the exhaust heat of lighting is forcibly removed by air conditioning, so the amount of conditioned air blown and the conveyance power increase, and the energy saving performance is actually low.

  An object of this invention is to provide the plant cultivation system with high energy-saving property which combined proximity lighting and local air conditioning effectively.

  The inventors of the present invention focused on the fact that conventional local air conditioning is air conditioning from the lateral direction of the plant, so that a sufficient effect is not exhibited with the growth of the plant, and air conditioning from below to above the cultivated plant. Knows that the entire plant can always be air-conditioned regardless of its growth, and according to such air conditioning from below to above, the upward flow of conditioned air occurs throughout the cultivation room, which is a problem in the past. Thus, the present inventors have come up with the present invention by knowing that the problem of lighting exhaust heat caused by proximity lighting can be effectively solved.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the cultivation environment (wind speed and temperature) of each plant body becomes more uniform by supplying conditioned air from the position above the side of a cultivation shelf to a plant upward. Moreover, it is possible to discharge | emit exhaust heat efficiently by utilizing such an upward flow of conditioned air, and the cultivation system concerning this invention has high energy saving property.

  That is, the energy-saving plant cultivation system according to the present invention is a lighting unit that can move up and down, an air-conditioning air outlet provided upward on the side of the cultivation shelf, preferably an air supply chamber and a cultivation shelf. The air-conditioned air in the cultivation room is composed of a blow-out opening provided on the side surface of the chamber-shaped cultivation shelf in communication with the air supply chamber, and an air-conditioning air inlet provided on the back side of the lighting. The air-conditioning system that generates the upward flow is excellent in energy saving, and specifically has the following structure.

  (I) An illumination unit that can move up and down according to the growth of the plant is provided, and a cultivation shelf is installed below the illumination unit.

  (Ii) A light source with low power consumption can be used for illumination. Although the power consumption is low, the amount of light is low, but by always illuminating the plant, the necessary amount of light is secured for the plant. When the height of the plant grows, the height of the illumination is adjusted, and close irradiation is always made at the same distance from the top of the plant where growth is vigorous, that is, the growth point of the plant.

  (Iii) Preferably, the cultivation shelf is provided with an air outlet along the longitudinal direction on the upper side of the side surface, and air-conditioned air from the air conditioner is on the cultivation shelf and is supplied upward to the cultivated plant, The area around the plant is locally air-conditioned from below to above.

  (Iv) A suction port for conditioned air is installed above the illumination means. The conditioned air forms a rising airflow from the vicinity of the plant community toward the upper illumination means, sucks the exhaust heat of the illumination, and discharges the exhaust heat to, for example, the outdoors. Even if it is not discharged outdoors, it may be recirculated for temperature control of the conditioned air.

  (V) Preferably, it has a mechanism that adjusts the upward angle of the air outlet and enables adjustment of the wind direction.

  Here, the present invention is as follows.

  (1) A cultivation shelf having a cultivation bed on which a plant is planted, an air conditioner that performs local air conditioning on the plant, and an illuminating device that illuminates the plant from above and has illumination means capable of changing the irradiation position. In the plant cultivation system comprising a cultivation room, the air conditioner is provided on the rear side of the illumination means, and is provided on the rear side of the illumination means, and blows out the conditioned air from below to the plants on the cultivation shelf. A plant cultivation system characterized by realizing an air-conditioning system that generates an upward flow of conditioned air in a cultivation room, which is provided with a suction port that sucks together with the exhaust heat of the apparatus.

  (2) The plant cultivation system according to (1), wherein the blowout port is provided on at least one side surface portion of the cultivation bed so that the blowing angle of the conditioned air upward is adjustable.

  (3) The chamber in which the cultivation shelf is provided with a space for air-conditioning air guidance below the cultivation bed, and the air outlet is provided in pairs along the longitudinal direction on the upper side of the cultivation bed. The plant cultivation system according to (1) or (2) above, wherein the plant cultivation system is a strip cultivation shelf, and the space and the air outlet are in communication with each other.

  (4) The plant cultivation system according to (2) or (3) above, wherein a blowing angle of an air-conditioned air outlet provided on a side surface of the cultivation bed is directed upward inside the cultivation bed.

  (5) The illuminating means is provided on a lower surface side of a vertically movable support frame, and a passage of conditioned air communicating with the suction port is provided in the support frame. The plant cultivation system in any one of 1)-(4).

  (6) The illuminating means is provided on a lower surface side of a vertically movable support frame, and a heat collecting hood for exhausting exhaust heat of the illuminating means is provided on the upper surface side of the support frame. The plant cultivation system according to any one of (1) to (5) above, wherein the suction port is provided in a heat hood.

  In this specification, a chamber-shaped cultivation shelf is provided with a cultivation bed on the chamber, and a space for air conditioning is provided below the cultivation bed. The cultivation system does not ask a cultivation system, such as hydroponics and soil cultivation. In addition, the air conditioning space may be a mere reservoir for conditioned air or a simple ventilation path, and it is only necessary to have an air outlet for conditioned air facing upward.

  There is an air-conditioning air intake provided on one or more of the side surfaces of the chamber-shaped cultivation shelf used in the present invention, and preferably on the upper side of the side surface of the cultivation bed. Has an exit. Furthermore, in a suitable aspect, the mechanism which can adjust the angle of a blowing and adjustment of a wind direction is provided so that an air-conditioning area can be expanded according to the growth of a plant.

  According to the present invention, only the periphery of the plant is air-conditioned by supplying air from an upward air outlet provided on the upper side of the side surface of the cultivation shelf. Furthermore, the conditioned air sucks the exhaust heat of the upper illumination, and discharges the exhaust heat outside the cultivation room, for example, outdoors, thereby reducing the air conditioning load and saving energy.

  In addition, by adjusting the height of the lighting according to the height of the plant's plant height and always illuminating the plant, it can be cultivated using lighting with low power consumption. Energy saving can be aimed at by reducing.

  In summary, the effects of the present invention are as follows.

  (1) Since it is possible to cultivate lighting with low power consumption and low light quantity, always in close proximity to plants, the power consumption of lighting is reduced and the collection and discharge of lighting waste heat and local Energy saving is high by reducing the air-conditioning load due to typical air conditioning.

  (2) Preferably, air-conditioned air that is close to the target temperature around the plant is blown out from the air outlet provided in the chamber-shaped cultivation shelf, so that the air-conditioned air is also sent to the inside of the plant community, and the temperature and humidity environment can be optimized for growth. .

  (3) By supplying the conditioned air upward from the outlet of the cultivation shelf, the cultivation environment (wind speed and temperature) of each plant body becomes more uniform. In addition, the air conditioning area can be enlarged or reduced by adjusting the blowing angle and the blowing air volume.

(4) Lighting exhaust heat can be immediately exhausted, and energy saving is high.
(5) Since no duct for air-conditioning discharge or the like is provided above the cultivation shelf, the installation position of the illumination is not limited even when the illumination is close, and the plant can be easily managed.

  Considering these points comprehensively, according to the present invention, as compared with the conventional apparatus as shown in FIG. 6, the lighting is almost 65 to 70% when lighting in the summer and 60 to 65 when lighting in the winter. Nearly% energy saving effect is expected.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of a plant cultivation system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of the plant cultivation system according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of the air outlet of the air conditioner used in the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view showing the generation of ascending and descending airflow of conditioned air when the plant cultivation system according to the present invention is used. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a temperature distribution when the plant cultivation system according to the present invention is used. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a configuration of a conventional plant cultivation system. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view schematically showing a configuration of another conventional plant cultivation system. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view schematically showing a configuration of still another conventional plant cultivation system. FIG. 9 is an explanatory view schematically showing the configuration of another conventional plant cultivation system. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a plant cultivation system of a system that combines proximity irradiation and local air conditioning.

  A mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of a cultivation room 26 including a cultivation shelf 20, an air conditioner 22, and an illuminating device 24 that constitute a plant cultivation system according to the present invention, in a partially transparent state. It is. In order to make the drawing easy to see, the ceiling surface 26a, the floor surface 26b, and the four wall surfaces 26c that form the housing of the cultivation room 26 are all shown in a transparent state by indicating the respective corners with two-dot chain lines.

  In the cultivation room 26, the ceiling surface 26a is used as a ceiling part, and a cultivation shelf is provided in the lower part of the cultivation room 26, for example, in the vicinity of the floor surface 26b. In some cases, it is desirable because it is easy to secure a space for the growth of the plant 30. In the case of a plant with a small plant height, a cultivation shelf may be provided in multiple stages. Of course, it is also possible to install the cultivation room 26 in multiple stages in the upward direction.

  FIG. 2 schematically shows the arrangement of the air conditioner, the lighting device, and the cultivation shelf in the present invention, and FIG. 3 shows the blowing provided on the side surface in the longitudinal direction of the chamber-shaped cultivation shelf of the preferred embodiment of the cultivation shelf 20 in the present invention. The installation position of the outlet 33 and a part of the structure are enlarged and simplified.

  In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the cultivation room 26 is composed of a space defined by a floor surface 26a, a ceiling surface 26b, and left and right and front and rear wall surfaces 26c. In the cultivation room, at least one cultivation shelf 20, an air conditioner 22, and a lighting device 24 are provided.

  The illuminating device 24 includes an illuminating means 25 supported by a support frame 50, and is movable by an ascending / descending means 52 together with the support frame 50, and an irradiation position, for example, an irradiation height, for a growing plant is changed. It is possible.

  In the cultivation room 26, the plant 30 grows by irradiation from the illumination means 25. As the plant grows, the lighting device 24 gradually moves upward so as not to touch the plant.

[Air outlet 33]
The blower outlet 33 is provided so that the conditioned air may be blown upward from below toward the plant 30 of the cultivation shelf 20. Therefore, the opening which comprises the front-end | tip of the blower outlet 33 is opened upwards facing the upper direction of the cultivation shelf. The position and height of the opening of the blower outlet 33 are not particularly limited as long as the above effects are exhibited. What is necessary is just to perform using the outer piece (for example, flap member) 43, when adjusting a blowing angle.

  That is, in the present invention, the conditioned air is supplied to the plant as an upward flow from the blower outlet and performs local air conditioning, and the specific structure and installation position of the blower outlet are capable of such local air conditioning. Any may be sufficient. Preferably, the upward conditioned air may be sent toward the growth point of the growing plant, and the blowout port 33 may be constituted by a simple blow nozzle provided on the floor surface 26b or the side surface 26c so as to surround the cultivation shelf. Good. However, from the viewpoint of air conditioning efficiency, it is preferable to provide as close to the cultivation shelf as possible. In that case, as shown in the illustrated example, an opening opened upward is provided at the upper part of the side surface of the cultivation shelf, and this is blown out. It is also preferable from the point of making the apparatus configuration compact.

  Thereby, the upward airflow of conditioned air arises along the height direction of a growth plant. By providing the outlets symmetrically around the cultivation shelf, if the upper airflow of the conditioned air collides above the cultivation shelf, a downward airflow is generated along with the upward airflow, and the air conditioning of the growing plant is more efficient. It can be carried out. Furthermore, you may provide the blower outlet 33 not only in the longitudinal direction but in a transversal direction so that a cultivation shelf may be surrounded.

  Such an effect is particularly exerted by providing the air outlet inward and upward. More specifically, when the outlet is set “inwardly upward” or “inwardly upward”, for example, an angle of more than zero and less than 90 degrees in the direction of the cultivation shelf from the vertical direction of the outlet, preferably Is to be installed in the direction of an angle of more than zero and 60 degrees or less.

  According to this invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the air-conditioning air from the blower outlet 33 provided upwards close to the cultivation bed 20a is blown upward from the root of the plant in the height direction of the plant. . In the present invention, the local illumination is performed from the close position of the plant, and the illumination exhaust heat at that time passes through the suction port 44 provided further upward by the flow of the conditioned air that has become an upward flow, and ventilation / The outside air is taken in and then returned to the air conditioner 22. As shown in FIG. 3, the air outlet 33 is provided on the inside upward along the upper side surface of the cultivation bed 20 a constituting the cultivation shelf 20.

[Cultivation shelf 20]
The plant 30 is cultivated in the cultivation bed 20 a that constitutes the cultivation shelf 20. In the present invention, the structure of the cultivation shelf 20 is not particularly limited as long as an upward flow of conditioned air is generated from below to above the growing plant, and may be a conventional one. For example, the cultivation shelf 20 may be configured by only the cultivation bed 20a, and may have a structure in which an upward blowing nozzle is appropriately provided on at least one side surface or in the vicinity of the entire periphery thereof.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, it is preferable to use a chamber-shaped cultivation shelf in order to increase the air conditioning efficiency. That is, the chamber 60 which is the housing | casing which the upper surface opened is prepared, the cultivation bed 20a is put in the inside, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the upper side surface 60a of the chamber 60 and the cultivation bed 20a are arranged along a longitudinal direction. An air gap is provided between the side surface 20b and the air gap is made to function as the air-conditioned air outlet 33. The air supply chamber 60 communicates with the air conditioner 22 via the ventilation path 37.

  By providing the air supply chamber 60 as described above, the following advantages can be seen.

  (I) The cultivation bed 20a can be easily taken out at the time of planting and harvesting of the plant, and the cultivation and management of the plant is further facilitated.

  (Ii) The action of the air reservoir is exhibited, it is easy to realize a more uniform wind speed and temperature, and uniform air conditioning is possible over the entire cultivation shelf.

  (Iii) Maintenance / inspection of equipment becomes easy.

  Specifically, the size of the chamber is such a size that the operator's hand can reach the center of the cultivation shelf and work can be performed, for example, about 0.5 to 1.0 meter in width, and the height is Similarly, it is about 0.5 to 1.0 meters because it can stand. Considering the ease of taking out the cultivation bed, the length is about 1 meter. The size of the cultivation bed may be smaller than the chamber by the size and width of the outlet for air-conditioned air.

[Air conditioner 22]
The air conditioner 22 includes an air conditioner main body 32, an air conditioned air outlet 33, an air conditioned air inlet 44, an air supply passage 37, an air inlet 44, and an air conditioner communicating with the air conditioner main body 32 and the air outlet 33. An exhaust ventilation path 38 communicating with the machine main body 32 is provided. The air conditioner main body 32 and these ventilation paths may communicate with the outside air 40 as appropriate.

  When using a chamber-shaped cultivation shelf, the outlet 33 is configured with a gap between the chamber upper side surface 60 a and the side surface 20 b of the cultivation bed 20 a, as described above. It is preferable to extend in the longitudinal direction on the long side and to be provided in pairs on both sides. It may be provided on the short side or may be provided around the entire circumference of the cultivation bed. Or you may provide only in the one part. In the example shown in FIG. 1, an air outlet 33 is provided on the both sides of the long side so as to be inward and upward.

[Suction port 44]
In the present invention, the suction port for sucking the conditioned air together with the exhaust heat of the lighting device is provided on the back side of the lighting means. Here, the “rear side” of the illumination means means downstream of the illumination means in the rising flow of conditioned air.

  As can be clearly seen from FIG. 2, the suction port 44 is provided behind the support frame 50 to which the illumination unit 25 is attached. However, the suction port 44 can exhaust the illumination heat exhausted by the illumination unit 25. It is only necessary to be installed at a position where it can be made, and it is not necessary to limit to a specific position. For example, it may be an air passage which is the ceiling surface 26a or the wall surface 26c of the cultivation room 26 and is in the vicinity of the lighting surface of the illumination means 25 and whose temperature has increased due to the exhaust heat of illumination. Specifically, in FIG. 2, any position above the lower end of the illumination unit 25 may be used. Preferably, it is installed in a heat collecting hood 48 provided behind the support frame 50.

  The shape and structure of the suction port 44 are not particularly limited, and it is sufficient that the conditioned air as an upward flow and the exhaust heat exhaust are exhausted upward. For this purpose, it is only necessary to configure an opening for receiving the conditioned air rising with the illumination exhaust heat.

  As shown in FIG. 1, for example, two suspension frames constituting the support frame 50 to which the illumination means 25 is attached are provided with a gap to facilitate passage of conditioned air and illumination exhaust heat from below. Yes.

  In the aspect shown in FIG. 1, the suction port 44 is provided behind the support frame 50 to which the illumination means 25 is attached. As clearly shown in FIG. 2, the illuminating means having a mechanism for moving up and down is provided with a heat collecting hood 48 for exhaust gas above it, and a suction port 44 at the center of the hood. The conditioned air and exhaust heat from below are exhausted from the suction port 44 to the outside of the cultivation room through the ventilation path 38. As shown in FIG. 2, a heat collecting hood 48 may be installed at the suction port 44 so that the exhaust heat can be sucked more efficiently. Further, the heat collection hood 48 may be configured to move up and down in conjunction with the illumination means or separately so as to efficiently absorb the exhaust heat.

  As described above, the combination and structure of the heat collecting hood 48 and the suction port 44 are not particularly limited as long as the exhaust heat can be efficiently discharged upward along with the rising airflow of the conditioned air. . However, if the heat collecting hood 48 is too small or shallow and the amount of suction from the suction port is small, it is assumed that the air-conditioned air including the exhaust heat will overflow from the hood. Let's say depth.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ventilation path 37 is provided with a damper 37 a for adjusting and blocking the flow rate of the conditioned air flowing through the ventilation path 37, and the ventilation path 38 also has a ventilation path. A damper 38a is provided for adjusting and blocking the flow rate of the conditioned air flowing in the passage 38. As the dampers 37a and 38a, well-known and conventional ones may be used.

[Lighting device 24]
In the illustrated example, the illuminating device 24 includes an illuminating means 25, a support frame 50 that is a suspension frame that fixes the illuminating means 25, and an elevating means that appropriately supports the frame so as to move up and down. 52. Adjust the irradiation height according to the growth of the plant. In the case of the present invention, since the height change of the lighting device is not limited by the installation position of the air conditioner, irradiation can be continued while always maintaining a fixed height, for example, 30-40 cm from the tip of the plant growth. The lifting means 52 that is the irradiation position adjusting mechanism may be appropriately structured. In the illustrated example, the elevating means 52 is composed of a wire that suspends the support frame 50.

  The height of lighting is determined at the time of planting when plants with low plant height such as lettuce, strawberry, etc. are determined at the time of planting, and are not too close to lighting when the plant height of plants is the highest, for example 40 cm from the top of the plant To the extent. When cultivating plants with high plant heights such as soybeans and tomatoes, the height of lighting is increased according to the plant plant height. The height of lighting at the time of planting is about 40 cm from the top of the plant. When the plant height becomes high and the distance between the lower end of the lighting and the top of the plant approaches about 20 cm, the distance is set again to about 40 cm.

  In FIG. 1, for example, five illumination means (light sources) 25 are arranged in the entire area above the plant 30 in FIG. Each illuminating means 25 is an illumination that generates exhaust heat by lighting, such as a metal halide lamp, a high-pressure sodium lamp, or a fluorescent lamp. LED lighting may be used.

  FIG. 2 schematically shows the relationship between the air conditioner, the lighting device, and the cultivation shelf in the present invention. The conditioned air from the lower side of the cultivation shelf is cultivated upward from the air outlet 33 provided on the upper surface thereof. It blows out toward the inside of the shelf 20. Therefore, the conditioned air is sent as an upward flow along the plant height direction of the plant on the cultivation shelf. On the other hand, the illumination means 25 keeps irradiating from above while always maintaining a constant distance according to the growth of the plant, and the illumination exhaust heat at that time is carried upward by the rising airflow of the conditioned air and directly to the plant below. There is no impact. In other words, the rising flow of the conditioned air exhibits the cooling effect of the illumination means. For this reason, the cultivation system according to the present invention provides further benefits under conditions and environments in which heat generation of the illumination means becomes a problem.

  In this way, the ascending airflow is collected by the heat collecting hood 48 provided behind the lighting means 25 after the air conditioning / lighting exhaust heat of the plant is collected, and the suction port provided at the center thereof. 44 is discharged.

  As can be seen from the figure, the illumination means changes its position as appropriate according to the growth of the plant, whereas the blowout position of the blowout port 33 remains constant. Since the air conditioning is from the bottom to the top of the plant, the entire plant can be locally air-conditioned regardless of the growth of the plant. The same applies even if the plants are dense. Therefore, the blower outlet may be formed by arranging a large number of openings with small areas facing upward on the side of the cultivation shelf at intervals. Since air conditioning is performed from the side facing upward from the bottom of the growing plant, air conditioning is possible to the inside even after the plant has grown and densely grown. It is preferable that these openings are provided in pairs on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the cultivation shelf. This is because a part of the downdraft is generated.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the outer piece 43 of the outlet 33 is hinged to the side wall portion, for example, so that the angle can be adjusted as appropriate. According to the growth of the plant height of the plant in the cultivation bed, the conditioned air can always be sent toward the growth point of the plant by adjusting the blowing angle. It should be noted that other attachment means for the outer piece 43 attached to adjust the blowing angle of the conditioned air are also obvious to those skilled in the art.

  This blowing angle is particularly important in the present invention. From the viewpoint of creating an upward flow of conditioned air, it may be upward. However, its purpose is air conditioning for cultivated plants, and it is sufficient that it faces upward from the side of the cultivation shelf, but preferably it is conditioned air is supplied to the growing point of the growing plant according to its growth Therefore, it is preferable that the angle can be adjusted.

  Although the angle of such a blower outlet is determined at the time of planting, it is preferable to make the angle of each blower outlet equal so that the conditioned air blown out may collide with the center of a cultivation shelf.

  At the time of cultivation of a plant having a low plant height, the blowing angle is an angle directed to a point at a height of about 30 cm above the cultivation shelf surface at the center of the cultivation shelf. This means looking at the growth points of the growing plants. Although an angle changes with the width | variety of a chamber-shaped cultivation shelf, it is about 60-45 degree | times toward the inner side of a cultivation shelf with respect to a perpendicular direction at the time of cultivation of a plant with low plant height.

  When cultivating a plant with a high plant height, if the blowout angle is 45 degrees, when air outlets are provided in pairs on both sides, the conditioned air collides with the center of the cultivation shelf, forming an upward airflow as a whole, Although the upper part of the community is air-conditioned, a part of the air descends while forming a vortex, constitutes a descending airflow, and air-conditions the group dropping part of the cultivated plant. Thus, in the case of the form which blows off conditioned air symmetrically, the blowing angle is preferably 45 degrees.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view illustrating the flow of such conditioned air.

  In the illustrated example, air outlets 33 are provided in pairs in the longitudinal direction of the cultivation shelf, and are adjusted so that the blowing angle intersects above the plant, thereby supplying air as an updraft. Part of the air forms a downward vortex flow and becomes a downdraft, resulting in air conditioning to the root of the plant.

  FIG. 5 shows the results when the temperature distribution in the cultivation room is calculated by numerical fluid analysis simulation using the plant cultivation system shown in FIGS. In the figure, numbers other than reference numerals of members indicate temperature (° C.). A one-dot chain line indicates an isotherm.

  This example was carried out using the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and the conditions at that time were as follows.

Air volume from each outlet 33 of the chamber-shaped cultivation shelf 217.5m ³ / h
The wind speed from each outlet 33 of the chamber-shaped cultivation shelf 0.67 m / s
Blowing angle 45 degrees Supply air temperature to chamber-shaped cultivation shelf 26 ℃
Temperature around the cultivation room 32.5 ℃
Distance between the lower end of the lighting and the upper end of the chamber-shaped cultivation shelf (cultivation initial stage) 40 cm
As the illumination of the illumination means 25, a light bulb type fluorescent lamp (a calorific value of 135 W / lamp) was used.

  According to this, the temperature on the cultivation shelf 20 is 28 ± 2 ° C. and has a substantially uniform temperature distribution. On the other hand, the temperature at the suction port 44 provided with the heat collecting hood 48 was as high as 31 ° C., and it was possible to save energy by properly recovering the lighting exhaust heat.

  According to the present invention, the effects listed below can be obtained.

  (1) Since the air inside the cultivation room 26 is air-conditioned and ventilated as an upward air flow directed upward from the upward air outlet 33 on the side surface of the cultivation shelf 20, the conveyance power of the conditioned air can be reduced.

  (2) Because the upward air outlet 33 extending in the longitudinal direction of the cultivation shelf is provided on the side surface of the cultivation shelf 20, air conditioned air can be sent from below to the plant 30, and air conditioning can be locally performed. Since the air can be air-conditioned with less air volume than the conventional method of air-conditioning the entire cultivation room 26, the conveyance power can be reduced and energy saving can be achieved.

  (3) Since a mechanism for adjusting the blowing direction according to the growth of the plant 30 (height of the plant height) can be incorporated into the outlet 33, after changing the blowing angle according to the plant height of the plant 30, If necessary, by controlling the rotational speed of the blower of the air conditioner main body 32 with an inverter to adjust the air volume, the air volume can be further reduced, the conveyance power can be reduced, and energy saving can be achieved.

  (4) Since the conditioned air close to the set temperature of the periphery of the plant 30 can be gently blown from the lower side through the blowout port 33 toward the immediate vicinity of the top of the plant 30, the community of the plant 30 It is also possible to blow air into the interior. For this reason, the temperature environment inside the plant community can be controlled to a target value, and the optimal environment for the growth of the plant 30 can be easily created.

  (5) By using the upward air outlet 33 extending along the longitudinal direction of the cultivation shelf, the air blowing area can be secured widely, so that air conditioning according to the plant height of the plant is possible, and the air blown from the nearest. However, it is possible to perform air conditioning at a wind speed that does not give stress to plants, and since the distance between the air outlet 33 and the plant 30 is short, variations in temperature can be suppressed.

20 Cultivation shelf 22 Air conditioner 24 Illumination device 25 Illumination means 26 Cultivation room 30 Plant 33 Air outlet 44 Air inlet

Claims (6)

  A cultivation room having a cultivation shelf having a cultivation bed on which a plant is planted, an air conditioner that performs local air conditioning on the plant, and an illumination device that has illumination means that can irradiate the plant from above and that can change the irradiation position. In the plant cultivation system consisting of the above, the air conditioner is provided on the rear side of the illuminating means, and is provided on the rear side of the illumination means, and blows out the conditioned air from below to above the plants on the cultivation shelf. A plant cultivation system comprising an air inlet that sucks in with heat and realizing an air conditioning system that generates an upward flow of conditioned air in the cultivation room.   2. The plant cultivation system according to claim 1, wherein the blowout port is provided on at least one side surface portion of the cultivation bed so that a blowing angle of the conditioned air upward is adjustable.   The cultivation shelf is a chamber-shaped cultivation shelf in which a space for air-conditioning air guidance is provided below the cultivation bed, and the air outlet is provided in a pair along the longitudinal direction on the side surface of the cultivation bed. The plant cultivation system according to claim 1, wherein the space and the air outlet are in communication with each other.   The plant cultivation system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a blow-off angle of an air-conditioning air outlet provided on a side surface of the cultivation bed is directed upward inside the cultivation bed.   The illuminating means is provided on a lower surface side of a vertically movable support frame, and a passage for conditioned air communicating with the suction port is provided in the support frame. The plant cultivation system in any one of.   The illumination means is provided on a lower surface side of a vertically movable support frame, and a heat collection hood for exhausting exhaust heat of the illumination means is provided on the upper surface side of the support frame, and the heat collection hood The plant cultivation system according to claim 1, wherein the suction port is provided in the plant.

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