JP2018023336A - Plant cultivation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a plant cultivation apparatus capable of efficiently cooling a cultivation space, and suppressing power consumption required for controlling the temperature of a cultivation space.SOLUTION: In a plant cultivation apparatus 1, high-temperature air on the upper side of a nutritious liquid tank 8 is forcibly introduced to a bottom surface 50 side of the nutritious liquid tank 8 by air agitation means 5 for ventilation, the air exchanges heat with culture solution and is cooled, and the low-temperature air is returned to the upper side of the nutritious liquid tank 8. Then, in the upper side of the nutritious liquid tank 8, the air is agitated by the air agitation means 6 for cultivation space, and temperature variation around seedlings 67 is eliminated. Therefore, a region in which the seedlings 67 in the cylindrical space 3 grow is kept at a fixed temperature, and the seedlings 67 grow smoothly.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a plant cultivation apparatus for continuously cultivating plants such as agricultural crops.

Plant cultivation devices that continuously cultivate agricultural products in buildings are known (Patent Documents 1 and 2). A plant cultivation apparatus is used for the cultivation form commonly called a crop factory. The plant cultivation apparatus is an apparatus that grows a crop while giving appropriate sunshine to the crop using artificial lighting, and maintaining a temperature and humidity suitable for growth in the building and the room.
According to the plant cultivation apparatus, crops can be produced in an environment in which sunlight, temperature, moisture, fertilizer concentration, etc. are appropriately controlled, so that the period required for harvesting is shorter than in open field cultivation.
Many plant cultivation devices grow crops by hydroponics and are cleaner than outdoor cultivation. Furthermore, since crops are cultivated indoors, pests are not attached and crops can be cultivated without pesticides. Therefore, the plant cultivation apparatus is suitable for cultivating vegetables to eat without skinning lettuce or the like.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-60529 JP 2001-78577 A

The present inventors previously proposed a plant cultivation apparatus having a cylindrical cultivation space (International Application No. PCT / JP2016 / 54131). The plant cultivation device proposed by the present inventors has a long and thin tunnel-shaped cultivation space, and plants are hydroponically cultivated therein. The plant cultivation apparatus proposed previously can utilize an underground space and indoor space in three dimensions by arranging a cylindrical cultivation space in three dimensions.
Moreover, since the plant cultivation apparatus proposed previously has a narrow cultivation space limited to a cylindrical space, it is easy to control pests. Furthermore, the present inventors thought that the space for adjusting the environment is limited to a cylindrical space and is narrow, so that the space to be adjusted is small and less energy is required for adjusting the environment.

The plant cultivation device proposed earlier was able to utilize the underground space and indoor space in three dimensions as expected. It was also easy to control the pests.
However, the temperature management of the cultivation space was contrary to expectations.
That is, in the previously proposed plant cultivation apparatus, an illumination device such as an LED or a fluorescent lamp is provided in a cylindrical space, and the plant emits light emitted from the illumination device to perform photosynthesis.

  Here, lighting fixtures such as LEDs and fluorescent lamps generated more heat than originally expected. Moreover, the plant cultivation apparatus proposed previously grows a plant in a cylindrical space, and since the volume of the cultivation space is small, the heat generated by the lighting fixture is not easily dissipated, and heat is trapped in the cultivation space. As a result, the temperature in the cultivation space has risen more than expected.

  The previously proposed plant cultivation device is equipped with an air conditioner and maintains the cultivation space at a predetermined temperature by the cooling function of the air conditioning device, but the amount of heat generated in the cultivation space is large, and consumption for cooling the cultivation space Electricity was higher than expected.

  Then, this invention aims at addressing an above-described problem, and provides the plant cultivation apparatus which can cool cultivation space efficiently and can suppress the power consumption required for temperature control of cultivation space. Is an issue.

  The aspect for solving the above-described problem includes a nutrient solution tank, illumination means, and a plant holder that holds the plant, a state in which the culture solution is placed in the nutrient solution tank, and the plant is retained in the plant holder In the plant cultivation apparatus in which the plant holder is installed in the nutrient solution tank and the plant is irradiated with light by the illumination means, there is a cylindrical cultivation space with the top surface, the side surface, and the bottom surface covered, and the inside of the cultivation space The plant culturing apparatus is characterized in that the nutrient solution tank is installed, there is a gap between the bottom surface of the nutrient solution tank and the cultivation space, and ventilation means for exchanging air in the gap is provided.

The plant cultivation apparatus of this aspect cools cultivation space using the temperature of a culture solution.
The water temperature of the culture solution is generally lower than the temperature of the cultivation space. In general, the nutrient solution tank is a low-water tank, but has a large area. The nutrient solution tank is surrounded by the bottom surface and the four side surfaces in terms of the function of storing water, but the area of the bottom surface is overwhelmingly large when comparing the area of each surface.
In the plant cultivation apparatus of this aspect, there is a gap between the bottom surface of the nutrient solution tank and the cultivation space. For this reason, the bottom surface of the nutrient solution tank is in contact with the air in the gap, and the air in the gap is subjected to heat exchange with the culture solution and the temperature is lowered.
The plant cultivation apparatus of this aspect has a ventilation means for replacing the air in the gap. Therefore, the temperature-decreased air is discharged from between the bottom surface of the nutrient solution tank and the cultivation space, and the cold air flows into the upper space of the nutrient solution tank. As a result, the air in the cultivation space is cooled.

  It is desirable to have temperature adjusting means for adjusting the temperature of the culture solution.

  As described above, in this embodiment, since the heat exchange is performed between the culture solution and the air in the cultivation space, the temperature of the culture solution tends to increase. Therefore, it is desirable to adjust the temperature of the culture solution using a chiller or other temperature adjusting means. Here, since the culture solution is a liquid, it can be cooled more efficiently than the case of directly cooling the gas air.

  The nutrient tank is preferably made of metal.

  Since metal has better thermal conductivity than resin, heat exchange between the culture solution and air is facilitated.

  The ventilation means is preferably a ventilation air agitation means provided between the bottom surface of the nutrient solution tank and the cultivation space.

  According to this aspect, it is possible to circulate cold air accumulated in the bottom surface of the nutrient solution tank and the cultivation space to the upper side of the nutrient solution tank by the air stirring means for ventilation.

  It is desirable that there is an air guide path forming member that forms an air guide path on at least one of the bottom surface of the nutrient solution tank or the bottom of the cultivation space.

  According to this aspect, air can be introduced into the gap at the bottom of the nutrient solution tank, and heat can be exchanged at the bottom of the nutrient solution tank to be discharged from the gap. According to this aspect, air can be prevented from swirling only in the gap between the bottom surface of the nutrient solution tank and the cultivation space, and the air in the gap and the air on the upper side of the nutrient solution tank can be exchanged. it can.

  It is desirable to have a cultivation space air agitation means for agitating the air in the cultivation space at the top of the nutrient solution tank.

  The air stirring means for cultivation space is a cylindrical member having a plurality of openings, moves air in the cylindrical member, introduces air into the cylindrical member from the openings, and discharges air from the other openings. It is desirable to be.

  It is desirable that the air stirring means for the cultivation space has a blower built in the cylindrical member.

  The cultivation space air stirring means may have rotating blades, and the rotating shafts of the rotating blades may be oriented in the crossing direction or the direction of staggering with respect to the axis of the cylindrical member.

  In each aspect described above, there are a plurality of nutrient solution tanks in the cultivation space, and there is a nutrient solution transport means for moving the nutrient solution tank, and the nutrient solution tank is moved in the cultivation space by the nutrient solution transport means. It is desirable that this is possible.

  The plant cultivation apparatus of the present invention can suppress power consumption required for temperature control of the cultivation space, and can reduce the energy cost required for air conditioning.

It is a perspective view showing the whole view of the plant cultivation system of the embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the plant cultivation apparatus used with the plant cultivation system of FIG. (A) is a front view which shows the internal structure of the plant cultivation apparatus of FIG. 2, (b) is a partial expanded sectional view of the roof part, (c) demonstrates distribution of the light emitting element of a roof part inner surface. It is explanatory drawing to do. It is a disassembled perspective view of the plant cultivation apparatus of FIG. It is a perspective view of the air stirring means for cultivation spaces built in the plant cultivation apparatus. It is a disassembled perspective view of the air stirring means for cultivation spaces built in the plant cultivation apparatus. It is sectional drawing of the air stirring means for cultivation spaces of FIG. 6, (a) shows the state which opened fully, (b) shows the state which opened half, and (c) closed state Indicates. It is a perspective view of the state which isolate | separated the nutrient solution tank and plant holder of the plant cultivation apparatus of FIG. It is a perspective view of the state which floated the plant holder in the nutrient solution tank of the plant cultivation apparatus of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the piping system of the nutrient solution of the plant cultivation apparatus of FIG. It is a perspective view of the plant cultivation apparatus of other embodiments of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the plant cultivation apparatus of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state which is the internal structure of the plant cultivation apparatus of FIG. 11, and remove | excluded the nutrient solution tank. (A) is a front view which shows the internal structure of the plant cultivation apparatus of FIG. 11, (b) is a partial expanded sectional view of the roof part, (c) demonstrates distribution of the light emitting element of the roof part inner surface. It is explanatory drawing to do. (A) thru | or (d) are explanatory drawings which show operation | movement of the plant cultivation apparatus of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view with the small nutrient solution tank employ | adopted with the plant cultivation apparatus of FIG. It is a front view of the plant cultivation apparatus of other embodiments of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the air stirring means for cultivation spaces employ | adopted with the plant cultivation apparatus of other embodiment of this invention. (A) is a perspective view of the air stirring means for cultivation spaces employ | adopted with the plant cultivation apparatus of other embodiment of this invention, (b) is the AA sectional drawing.

Embodiments of the present invention will be further described below.
The plant cultivation apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has a series of cylindrical space forming members 2 as shown in FIG. 2 and uses the cylindrical space 3 in the cylindrical space forming member 2 as a cultivation space. A plant is cultivated in the cultivation space.
Moreover, the plant cultivation system 100 of embodiment is the one in which a plurality of the plant cultivation devices 1 of FIG. 2 are arranged three-dimensionally. That is, in the plant cultivation system 100, the plant cultivation apparatus 1 is installed in a plurality of stages and a plurality of rows as shown in FIG.

The cylindrical space forming member 2 of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 is provided with a large number of air agitation means 5 for ventilation and a large number of air agitation means 6 for cultivation space.
One nutrient solution tank 8 is installed in the cylindrical space 3 of the cylindrical space forming member 2. This will be described below.

The cylindrical space forming member 2 of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 has a bottom member 10, a side member 11, and a roof member 12 as shown in FIG. . The cross-sectional shape of the cylindrical space forming member 2 is a tunnel shape. The cultivation space formed by the cylindrical space forming member 2 is a cylindrical space 3.
An illumination substrate (illuminating means) 15 is provided on the inner surface of the roof member 12 of the cylindrical space forming member 2. The illumination board 15 is obtained by attaching a large number of LEDs 16 as light emitting elements to a thin resin board.

The bottom surface member 10 of the cylindrical space forming member 2 is provided with a ventilation air stirring means 5. The ventilation air agitation means 5 is a kind of fan, and includes a motor 20 and an impeller 21 (rotary blade). The impeller 21 is fixed to the output shaft of the motor 20, and the impeller 21 rotates as the motor 20 rotates.
In the present embodiment, the motor 20 of the ventilation air agitating means 5 is installed outside the cylindrical space forming member 2, and the impeller 21 is in the cylindrical space 3 and in the vicinity of the bottom surface member 10.
Therefore, the impeller 21 rotates in the vicinity of the bottom member 10 by rotating the motor 20.
In the present embodiment, a plurality of ventilation air agitation means 5 are provided at regular intervals as shown in FIG.

  Further, an air guide path forming member 22 is installed on the bottom surface member 10 of the cylindrical space forming member 2 as shown in FIG. The air guide path forming member 22 is a wall having a low height.

In the tubular space 3 of the tubular space forming member 2, cultivation space air stirring means 6 is provided in the vicinity of the upper ends of the left and right side members 11.
The cultivation space air agitating means 6 is incorporated in a main pipe (cylindrical member) 25 made of resin as shown in FIG. 5, and a large number of air volume adjusting means 26 and a main pipe 25 provided around the main pipe 25. The small air blower 27 is configured.

The main pipe 25 of the cultivation space air agitating means 6 is provided with a number of intake / exhaust ports 28 as shown in FIGS. The intake / exhaust port 28 is a circular opening. Both ends of the main pipe 25 are closed.
The air volume adjusting means 26 is obtained by cutting a resin pipe having a diameter slightly larger than that of the main pipe 25 and forming a slit 30 in the axial direction. The cross-sectional shape of the air volume adjusting means 26 is “C” shape.
The air volume adjusting means 26 is attached to the intake / exhaust port 28 of the main pipe 25. That is, the air volume adjusting means 26 is attached to the main pipe 25 so as to surround the main pipe 25.
The air volume adjusting means 26 is rotatable with respect to the main pipe 25 and can adjust the opening degree of the intake / exhaust port 28. That is, as shown in FIG. 7A, the substantial opening area of the intake / exhaust port 28 can be made 100% by aligning the slit 30 with the position of the intake / exhaust port 28. Further, when the slit 30 is turned to the opposite side of the intake / exhaust port 28 as shown in FIG. 7C, the intake / exhaust port 28 can be closed. The substantial opening area of the intake / exhaust port 28 can be reduced by matching a part of the slit 30 with the intake / exhaust port 28 as shown in FIG.

  A small blower 27 is built in the main pipe 25. The motor 32 that drives the small blower 27 can arbitrarily change the rotational speed of a DC motor or the like. The small blower 27 is an axial fan.

The nutrient solution tank 8 is a groove-shaped water tank. As shown in FIG. 8, the bottom plate 35, the long side surface 36, and the short side surface 37 are covered with walls, and the upper surface is open.
The nutrient solution tank 8 is elongated and shallow.

In the present embodiment, the nutrient solution tank 8 is made of stainless steel. Although the raw material of the nutrient solution tank 8 is not limited, it is desirable that it is difficult to corrode and has high thermal conductivity.
Specifically, a metal that hardly rusts and has high thermal conductivity, such as stainless steel, aluminum, and copper, is desirable as a material for the nutrient solution tank 8. The most recommended material is stainless steel, which has a good balance between cost, thermal conductivity, and corrosion resistance.
In the case where the nutrient solution tank 8 is made of resin, it is recommended to reduce the thickness so that cold heat is easily transmitted to the outside. Moreover, you may manufacture the nutrient solution tank 8 with resin with high heat conductivity, such as carbon fiber.

In the vicinity of one end in the longitudinal direction of the nutrient solution tank 8, a drain port 40 is provided. As shown in FIG. 10, a culture solution supply port 41 is provided in the upper part of the nutrient solution tank 8 and in the vicinity of the other end in the longitudinal direction.
The drain port 40 is specifically an overflow pipe 42, and the drain port 40 is located at a certain height from the bottom plate 35 of the nutrient solution tank 8.
That is, the overflow pipe 42 is a pipe that vertically penetrates the bottom plate 35 of the nutrient solution tank 8, and the drain port 40 on the tip side is at a position rising from the bottom plate 35 of the nutrient solution tank 8. The drainage port 40 of the overflow pipe 42 has a function of discharging excess culture solution, and keeps the liquid level of the nutrient solution tank 8 constant.

The nutrient solution tank 8 is installed on the bottom surface member 10 of the cylindrical space forming member 2 via legs (not shown), and is located between the bottom surface 50 of the nutrient solution tank 8 and the bottom surface member 10 of the cylindrical space formation member 2. There is a gap 51. The ventilation air stirring means 5 is installed in the gap 51. The bottom surface 50 of the nutrient solution tank 8 is also the back surface of the nutrient solution tank 8 from a different viewpoint.
The nutrient solution tank 8 is filled with a culture solution, the liquid level of the nutrient solution tank is in the cylindrical space 3, and a plurality of plant holders 52 are floated.

The plant holder 52 is a plate made of a material having a light specific gravity, and is provided with a plurality of openings 53. A plant seedling 67 is held in the opening 53. The plant holder 52 has strong buoyancy, and not only floats in water alone, but also does not sink even in a state of holding a plant.
The plant holder 52 is floated on the culture solution in the nutrient solution tank 8 with the plant held in the opening 53.

Next, the culture fluid circulation path will be described.
In the plant cultivation apparatus 1 of this embodiment, there is a culture solution supply apparatus 60 at the lower part of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. The culture solution supply device 60 includes a culture solution tank 61 and a pump 62. The culture tank 61 and the suction side of the pump 62 are connected by a pipe 63, and the discharge side of the pump 62 and the culture liquid supply port 41 are connected by a pipe 65. Further, an overflow pipe 42 provided in the nutrient solution tank 8 is connected to the culture solution tank 61 by piping. Therefore, when the pump 62 is activated, the culture solution in the culture solution tank 61 is pressurized by the pump 62, sent to the culture solution supply port 41, and supplied to the nutrient solution tank 8. Further, the culture solution is drained from the drain port 40 constituted by the overflow pipe 42 and returns to the culture solution tank 61. Thus, the culture solution circulates between the nutrient solution tank 8 and the culture solution tank 61.

In the present embodiment, the culture medium tank 61 is provided with temperature adjusting means 66 for adjusting the temperature of the culture medium. The temperature adjusting means 66 mainly cools the culture solution in the culture solution tank 61, and is specifically a chiller.
The temperature adjusting means 66 incorporates a refrigerator (not shown) and has a compressor, a condenser, an expansion means, and an evaporator 68 (not shown), and a circulation circuit constituted by these is filled with a refrigerant. By starting the compressor, the surface temperature of the evaporator 68 is lowered.
In this embodiment, the evaporator 68 is in the culture solution tank 61, and the temperature of the culture solution is lowered to keep the culture solution at a predetermined temperature.

  In the plant cultivation system 100, as described above, the plant cultivation apparatus 1 is installed in a plurality of rows and a plurality of rows.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of plant holders 52 are floated on the nutrient solution tank 8, and the plant holders 52 are advanced in the direction of the arrow in FIG. That is, the plant holder 52 is laid so as to cover the water surface of the nutrient solution tank 8, and the plant holder 52 is floated on the water surface of the nutrient solution tank 8. Therefore, if the plant holder 52 on the nutrient solution tank 8 is pushed by human power, the plant holder 52 moves easily. That is, the plant holder 52 floats on the water surface of the nutrient solution tank 8 like a basket, and when the plant holder 52 on the upstream side is pushed, the plant holder 52 flows downstream. Further, the plant holder 52 that has flowed downstream pushes the adjacent plant holder 52, and the plant holder 52 also flows downstream. As a result, all the plant holders 52 floating in the nutrient solution tank 8 flow downstream.

Next, the basic function of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 of this embodiment will be described.
In the plant cultivation apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the culture solution is filled in the nutrient solution tank 8. Therefore, there is a liquid level of the nutrient solution tank 8 in the cylindrical space 3, and the liquid level is covered with the cylindrical space 3. The plant seedling 67 is held in the opening 53 of the plant holder 52 and floated on the upper side of the nutrient solution tank 8.
Further, the light required for the growth of the seedling 67 is supplied by the illumination substrate (illumination means) 15.

  The plant holder 52 floated in the nutrient solution tank 8 in the cylindrical space 3 is moved to the downstream side at regular intervals. For example, every 24 hours, the plant holder 52 is pushed by human power, and the plant holder 52 is caused to flow downstream.

In the plant cultivation apparatus 1, the plant holder 52 is sent from the start end to the end over about 10 to 30 days. Then, the plant holder 52 is taken out at the end of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 and the grown plant is harvested, or the plant holder 52 is brought into another plant cultivation apparatus 1 again to grow the seedling 67 larger.
That is, the plant holder 52 in which the seedling 67 is planted is inserted at the beginning of the plant cultivation apparatus 1, the lighting board (illuminating means) 15 is turned on to shine light on the leaves of the seedling 67, and the nutrient solution from the root of the seedling 67 The seedling 67 is grown by absorbing the culture solution in the tank 8. Then, the plant holder 52 floating in the nutrient solution tank 8 is pushed to flow downstream, and slowly moves in the cylindrical space 3. When the plant holder 52 passes through the end of one plant cultivating apparatus 1 or passes through a plurality of plant cultivating apparatuses 1, the seedling 67 has grown to the extent that it is used for food, Harvested from the holder 52 and shipped.

Next, the characteristic function of the plant cultivation apparatus 1 of this embodiment is demonstrated.
Also in the plant cultivation apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, since a large number of LEDs and the like are turned on in the narrow cylindrical space 3, the temperature in the cylindrical space 3 tends to rise.
In the plant cultivation apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, a ventilation air agitation means 5 is provided as a measure for suppressing an increase in temperature in the cylindrical space 3. Further, as a measure for suppressing temperature variations in the cylindrical space 3, cultivation space air stirring means 6 is provided.

As described above, the ventilation air agitating means 5 is located in the gap 51 between the bottom surface 50 of the nutrient solution tank 8 and the bottom surface member 10 of the cylindrical space forming member 2.
Here, in the present embodiment, the culture solution in the nutrient solution tank 8 is cooled by the temperature adjusting means 66 and is kept at a constant temperature. At least the temperature of the culture solution is lower than the average temperature in the cylindrical space 3.
In addition, the bottom plate 35 of the nutrient solution tank 8 is made of stainless steel, and the cold heat of the nutrient solution tank 8 is easily conducted to the bottom surface 50 of the nutrient solution tank 8.
Further, the area of the bottom plate 35 of the nutrient solution tank 8 is extremely large and corresponds to 30% or more, preferably 50% or more of the bottom surface member 10 of the cylindrical space 3.
Therefore, in the cylindrical space 3, between the bottom surface 50 of the nutrient solution tank 8 and the bottom surface member 10 of the cylindrical space forming member 2, the contact area between the air and the nutrient solution tank 8 is wide, and there is a gap between them. The air in 51 is heat-exchanged with the culture solution in the nutrient solution tank 8, and the temperature is lowered.

In the present embodiment, the impeller 21 of the air stirring means 5 for ventilation is between the bottom surface 50 of the nutrient solution tank 8 and the bottom surface member 10 of the cylindrical space forming member 2. Therefore, when the motor 20 of the ventilation air agitation means 5 is started, the impeller rotates under the nutrient solution tank 8, agitates the air in the gap 51, energizes it, and discharges it from the gap 51 to the outside.
Further, new air is introduced into the gap 51 from the outside.
In particular, in the present embodiment, the air guide path forming member 22 is installed, and a series of air guide paths are formed by the air guide path forming member 22 in the gap 51.
Therefore, by starting the ventilation air stirring means 5, the air in the gap 51 is ventilated and always replaced. That is, the air heated by the LED or the like and heated up is forced between the bottom surface 50 of the nutrient solution tank 8 and the cylindrical space forming member 2 by the action of the ventilation air stirring means 5 and the air guide passage forming member 22. It introduce | transduces into the narrow clearance gap 51, and the temperature of air falls in contact with the bottom face 50 of the low temperature nutrient solution tank 8. FIG.
The cooled air is forcibly discharged from the gap 51 by the action of the ventilation air agitating means 5 and the air guide path forming member 22, and goes around the upper surface of the nutrient solution tank 8. That is, cold air circulates through the leaves of the seedling 67.

Furthermore, in the upper part of the nutrient solution tank 8, there are cultivation space air agitation means 6 on both sides, and the air in the cylindrical space 3 is agitated by the cultivation space air agitation means 6. Temperature variations are eliminated.
That is, the air stirring means 6 for cultivation space is arrange | positioned in the axial direction of the cylindrical space 3, but the small air blower 27 is incorporated in the middle part.
The main pipe 25 is provided with a number of intake / exhaust ports 28. Therefore, when the small blower 27 is started, the air in the cylindrical space 3 is introduced into the main pipe 25 from the intake / exhaust port 28 on one side with the small blower 27 as the center. It is discharged from the other inlet / outlet 28. As a result, the air in the cylindrical space 3 is agitated.
In the plant cultivation apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the high-temperature air on the upper side of the nutrient solution tank 8 is forcibly introduced to the bottom surface 50 side of the nutrient solution tank 8 by the ventilation air agitating means 5, and the culture solution and heat It is exchanged and cooled, and the low-temperature air is returned to the upper side of the nutrient solution tank 8. And in the upper part side of the nutrient solution tank 8, air is stirred by the air stirring means 6 for cultivation spaces, and the temperature variation around the seedling 67 is eliminated. Therefore, the region where the seedling 67 in the cylindrical space 3 grows is maintained at a constant temperature, and the seedling 67 grows smoothly.

The embodiment described above includes the nutrient solution tank 8 having a long overall length like a pool, the plant holder 52 is installed on the nutrient solution tank 8, and plants are grown on the nutrient solution tank 8 according to the growth of the seedling 67. The holding tool 52 is moved. That is, in the plant cultivation apparatus 1 described above, the nutrient solution tank 8 is fixed at a fixed position, and the plant holder 52 moves.
However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and has a plurality of small nutrient solution tanks 77, a plant holder 71 is installed in each small nutrient solution tank 77, and the plant holder 71 together with the small nutrient solution tank 77. May be moved.

A plant cultivation apparatus 72 shown in FIG. 11 is of a type that moves a small nutrient solution tank 77.
Hereinafter, the plant cultivation apparatus 72 will be described. Note that the same members as those of the previous embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
A plant cultivation apparatus 72 shown in FIG. 11 forms a series of cylindrical spaces 3 by connecting seedling units 73 having the same shape and structure in series, and plants are cultivated in the cylindrical spaces 3.
The seedling raising unit 73 has a case 75 that is open at both ends and can cover the peripheral surface.
A large number of small nutrient solution tanks 77 are arranged in the seedling raising unit 73.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 14, each seedling unit 73 is provided with a nutrient solution tank stand 78, a transfer device (nutrient solution transfer means) 80, and a water supply / drainage facility 76. Moreover, the illumination board | substrate (illuminating means) 15, many ventilation air stirring means 5, and many cultivation space air stirring means 6 are provided similarly to previous embodiment.
The nutrient solution tank mounting stand 78 can slide the small nutrient solution tank 77 in a state where the small nutrient solution tank 77 is placed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the nutrient solution tank mount 78 is provided with a check member 101 that allows the small nutrient solution tank 77 to move only in the forward direction and prevents movement in the reverse direction.

  The conveyance device 80 is configured by two rows of pressing member coupling bodies 81. A plurality of pressing members 82 are connected to the pressing member connecting body 81. The pressing member 82 is also provided with a check member 83 that allows the small nutrient solution tank 77 to move only in the forward direction and prevents movement in the reverse direction.

The water supply / drainage facility 76 has a supply side pipe 85 for supplying the culture solution to the small nutrient solution tank 77 and a culture solution collecting rod 86 for collecting the culture solution overflowed from the small nutrient solution tank 77.
The small nutrient solution tank 77 is a water tank having a square shape in plan view as shown in FIG. 16, and is provided with a plant holder 71 having substantially the same area.

The small nutrient solution tank 77 is placed on the nutrient solution tank installation stand 78.
Then, the culture solution is supplied to the small nutrient solution tank 77 through the supply-side piping 85 of the water supply / drainage equipment 76, and the overflowed culture solution is collected in the culture solution collecting bowl 86. Therefore, the small nutrient solution tank 77 is always filled with the culture solution. Note that the temperature of the culture solution is adjusted as in the previous embodiment.
The small nutrient solution tank 77 installed in the cylindrical space 3 is moved downstream at regular time intervals. For example, every 24 hours, the transport device 80 is operated to move the small nutrient solution tank 77 to the seedling raising unit 73 adjacent to the discharge side.

As described above, the small nutrient solution tank 77 is placed on the nutrient solution tank installation table 78 and can slide on the nutrient solution tank installation table 78.
Further, inside the nutrient solution tank installation stand 78, there are two rows of pressing member coupling bodies 81 of the transfer device 80. In this state, the pressing member coupling body 81 is operated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. The check member 83 of the transport device 80 protrudes as shown in FIG. Further, the bottom of the small nutrient solution tank 77 has an uneven shape as shown in FIG.
Therefore, when the pressing member 82 of the transport device 80 is moved, the check member 83 engages with the small nutrient solution tank 77 and pushes and moves the small nutrient solution tank 77 as shown in FIG.
As a result, within each seedling unit 73, each small nutrient solution tank 77 moves toward the downstream side. And the small nutrient solution tank 77 located in the most downstream side of each seedling unit 73 enters the adjacent seedling unit 73.
That is, the small nutrient solution tank 77 is transferred from the nutrient solution tank installation base 78 of the initial seedling unit 73 to the nutrient solution tank installation base 78 of the seedling unit 73 adjacent to the downstream side, and moves across the seedling unit 73.

  Also in this embodiment, the high-temperature air on the upper side of the small nutrient solution tank 77 is forcibly introduced into the bottom surface of the small nutrient solution tank 77 by the ventilation air agitating means 5 and the temperature is lowered. Is returned to the upper side of the small nutrient solution tank 77. And in the upper part side of the small nutrient solution tank 77, air is stirred by the air stirring means 6 for cultivation spaces, and temperature variation is eliminated. Therefore, the region where the seedling 67 in the cylindrical space 3 grows is maintained at a constant temperature, and the seedling 67 grows smoothly.

In the embodiment described above, the air stirring means 5 for ventilation functioning as a ventilation means is provided in the gap 51 between the bottom surface 50 of the nutrient solution tank 8 and the bottom surface member 10 of the cylindrical space forming member 2. Although the air of 51 is agitated and the air of the gap 51 is replaced, the ventilation means may be installed in another part.
For example, as shown in FIG. 17, a blower 90 may be employed as a ventilation means and provided in the lower portion of the cylindrical space 3. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 17, there is a blower 90 outside the gap 51, and air is sent to the gap 51 from the outside to replace the air in the gap 51.

Moreover, the structure shown in FIG. 18 can be considered as a modification of the air stirring means 6 for cultivation spaces.
The cultivation space air stirring means 91 shown in FIG. 18 has a notch-shaped opening 93 on the side surface of the main pipe (tubular member) 92. Further, the air blowing member 95 that causes air blowing is outside the main pipe 92, and a part of the air blowing member 95 enters the opening 93. That is, the air blowing member 95 has a rotary blade 96, a part of which is in the opening 93 of the main pipe 92, and the other part of the rotary blade 96 is outside the cylindrical member.
The rotation shaft 98 of the rotary blade 96 is oriented in the crossing direction or the direction of staggering with respect to the axis of the main pipe (tubular member) 92.
When the air blowing member 95 is rotated, a part of the rotary blade 96 is rotated in the main pipe 92 to generate wind in the main pipe 92. Air enters and exits from the opening 28 of the branch pipe 97. By changing the rotation direction of the rotary blade 96, the blowing direction is changed.

In the cultivation space air agitation means 91 shown in FIG. 18, a part of the rotary blade 96 is exposed from the main pipe 92. However, like the cultivation space air agitation means 110 shown in FIG. A casing part 111 may be provided in the part, and the rotary blade 96 may be arranged in the casing part 111.
The casing portion 111 has a shape in which a part of a circle is cut off, and the inside thereof is a cavity and communicates with the inside of the main pipe 92. That is, also in this embodiment, there is an opening on the side surface of the main pipe (tubular member) 92. A part of the rotary blade 96 is in the casing part 111 outside the main pipe 92, and the other part is in the main pipe 92.
Also in the present embodiment, the rotation shaft 98 of the rotary blade 96 is oriented in the crossing direction or the direction of staggering with respect to the axis of the main pipe (tubular member) 92.

The plant cultivation apparatus of the above-described embodiment is for air-conditioning the culture space using the cold heat of the culture solution. In addition to this, even if the temperature, humidity, etc. of the culture space are adjusted by other air-conditioning equipment, etc. Good.
In winter, the temperature of the culture solution may be set higher and the temperature of the culture space may be raised using the heat of the culture solution.

Although embodiment described above demonstrated the effect of the effect centering on the cooling-heat dissipation from the bottom face of the nutrient solution tanks 8 and 77, even if the function which increases the cooling-heat dissipation from the side surface of the nutrient solution tanks 8 and 77 is added. Good. For example, air is applied to the walls constituting the side surfaces 36 and 37 of the nutrient solution tanks 8 and 77 to promote heat exchange on the side surfaces 36 and 37 of the nutrient solution tanks 8 and 77.
Moreover, you may add the function to increase the cooling-heat dissipation from the surface of the nutrient solution tanks 8 and 77. FIG. For example, the thermal conductivity of the plant holders 52 and 71 installed in the nutrient baths 8 and 77 is improved, the surface temperature of the plant holders 52 and 71 is lowered, and the cold heat is dissipated from the surfaces of the plant holders 52 and 71. Let

Since the plant cultivation apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment floats the plant holder 52 in the culture solution in the nutrient solution tank 8, the plant holder 52 itself cannot be made of metal. Therefore, the main body of the plant holder 52 is made of resin, and the periphery of the main body is covered with a material having excellent thermal conductivity such as metal foil.
As a result, the cold heat of the culture solution is conducted to the surface side of the plant holder 52 through the metal foil, and the surface temperature of the plant holder 52 is lowered. Then, the culture space is cooled by the cold heat of the plant holder 52.

  On the other hand, the plant cultivation apparatus 72 of the second embodiment is configured to install the plant holder 71 in the small nutrient solution tank 77 and does not necessarily have to float in the culture solution. Therefore, the plant holder 71 may be made of a metal such as stainless steel, and the culture space may be cooled by reducing the surface temperature of the plant holder 71 by directing the cold of the culture solution directly to the surface of the plant holder 71.

In the above-described embodiment, the air guide path forming member 22 is provided on the bottom of the cylindrical space forming member 2 on the cylindrical space 3 side, but the air guide path forming member 22 may be provided on the nutrient solution tank 8 side. In this case, the air guide path forming member 22 is provided on the bottom surface 50 of the nutrient solution tank 8.
In short, the air guide path forming member 22 may be in the gap 51 between the bottom surface 50 of the nutrient solution tank 8 and the bottom surface member 10 of the cylindrical space forming member 2.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,72 Plant cultivation apparatus 2 Cylindrical space formation member 3 Cylindrical space 5 Ventilation air agitation means 6 Cultivation space air agitation means 8 Nutrient tank 10 Bottom member 11 Side member 12 Roof member 15 Illumination board (illumination means)
22 Air guide path forming member 27 Small blower 50 Bottom surface 51 Crevice 66 Temperature adjusting means 77 Small nutrient solution tank 93 Openings 52 and 71 Plant holder

Claims (10)

A nutrient solution tank, a lighting means, and a plant holder for holding the plant,
In the plant cultivation apparatus in which the culture solution is put in the nutrient solution tank, the plant holder is installed in the nutrient solution tank with the plant held in the plant holder, and the plant is irradiated with light by the illumination means.
There is a cylindrical cultivation space covered with the top surface, side surface and bottom surface, the nutrient solution tank is installed in the cultivation space, and there is a gap between the bottom surface and the cultivation space of the nutrient solution tank, A plant cultivation device comprising a ventilation means for replacing air in the gap.   The plant cultivation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature adjusting unit that adjusts a temperature of the culture solution.   The plant cultivation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nutrient solution tank is made of metal.   The plant cultivation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ventilation means is a ventilation air agitation means provided between the bottom surface of the nutrient solution tank and the cultivation space.   The plant cultivation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an air guide path forming member for forming an air guide path is provided on at least one of a bottom surface of the nutrient solution tank and a bottom of the cultivation space.   The plant cultivation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an agitation unit for cultivation space that agitates the air in the cultivation space at an upper portion of the nutrient solution tank.   The air stirring means for cultivation space is a cylindrical member having a plurality of openings, moves air in the cylindrical member, introduces air into the cylindrical member from the openings, and discharges air from the other openings. The plant cultivation apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus is a plant cultivation apparatus.   The plant cultivation apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the cultivation space air agitation means includes a blower incorporated in a cylindrical member.   The cultivation space air agitating means has a rotating blade, and the rotating shaft of the rotating blade is oriented in a crossing direction or a misalignment direction with respect to the axis of the cylindrical member. Plant cultivation equipment.   There are a plurality of nutrient solution tanks in the cultivation space, it has a nutrient solution transport means for moving the nutrient solution tank, and the nutrient solution tank can be moved in the cultivation space by the nutrient solution transport means The plant cultivation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plant cultivation apparatus is characterized in that:

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