JP2024060388A - House ventilation fan control system, method for managing house ventilation fan control, and program thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an air conditioning management system for greenhouse cultivation that can promote air movement within a greenhouse and eliminate air stagnation and temperature unevenness within the greenhouse.SOLUTION: In a house H, which has: a large-diameter ventilation fan that exhausts air to the outside of the house H on the wall surface (the other gable surface) H2 of the house; a shutter 2 whose shutter plate opens and closes according to the operation of the ventilation fan, on the wall surface (one gable surface) H1 opposite to the ventilation fan; and each circulation fan 3 in the house H, and which is configured to manage the temperature inside the house H, when the ventilation fan exhausts air outside of the house H, air flows in from the shutter 2 on the one gable surface H1, thereby making it possible to maintain the optimal temperature for growing plants inside the house H and to change the wind direction of the circulation fan and/or the rotation speed of an impeller while changing the rotation speed of the ventilation fan, as well as the change of the rotation speed is controlled by a control unit through receiving a signal from a sensor installed in each house H.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a house ventilation fan control system, a management method for house ventilation fan control, and a program for the same.

The following literature can be found regarding air conditioning and management systems for greenhouse cultivation that can promote air movement within a greenhouse and reduce stagnation of the air and uneven temperature and humidity levels within the greenhouse when necessary.

First, document (1) is the "House Cultivation Air Conditioning Management System" of Patent No. 6667788. This invention has a structure in which a blower is installed in the center near the rear wall of a vinyl greenhouse, the suction port side is lowered near the ground, and the discharge port side is connected to the lower end of a roughly T-shaped joint, both horizontal end ports of the roughly T-shaped joint are connected to the left and right blower pipes, and the roughly T-shaped joint is freely rotatable in an arc, the blower pipes are lowered near the rear wall of the vinyl greenhouse and connected to discharge pipes installed at both lower ends of the longitudinal sides of the vinyl greenhouse, and multiple roughly U-shaped adjustment windows that can be opened and closed are provided at appropriate intervals on the opposing sides of the discharge pipes.

Also, document (2) is the "Plant Cultivation Greenhouse" of the invention of Patent No. 6438167. In this invention, the inside of the vinyl greenhouse is divided into two compartments, an upper compartment on the ceiling side and a lower compartment on the cultivation side, a ventilating section is provided on the side of the lower compartment to connect the inside and outside of the lower compartment, an exhaust fan that exhausts air to the outside of the greenhouse is installed in the upper compartment, an enclosure is installed in the lower compartment across a void that connects to the ventilating section, an insect net is stretched on the side of the lower compartment in the enclosure, a fine mist cooling device is installed in the void, the air in the upper compartment is forcibly exhausted by the exhaust fan while the fine mist cooling device is operated, outside air is introduced into the void through the enclosure and the insect net, the introduced outside air is fine mist cooled by the fine mist cooling device in the void, and the fine mist cooled air flows through the ventilating section of the lower compartment, enters the lower compartment, and cools the lower compartment.

Furthermore, document (3) states that the invention proposed in Utility Model Publication No. 46-28029 is a multi-purpose ventilator designed to exhaust indoor air and draw in outdoor air with a single ventilator, as well as circulate the indoor air to make the temperature uniform.

Reference (4) is the device proposed in Utility Model Publication No. 56-7786, which regulates the indoor temperature through forced circulation via a shutter (automatic opening and closing air intake device) installed on one end of the room and an exhaust device installed on the other end of the room.

Document (5) states that the invention of Patent No. 5008961 is configured to ventilate and circulate indoor air via an inlet shutter installed on one end face, an exhaust fan installed on the other end face, and an indoor fan/circulation fan.

Patent No. 6667788 Patent No. 6438167 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 46-28029 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-7786 Patent No. 5008961

Originally, greenhouses were designed with an airtight structure to limit the inflow of air from the outside, making it possible to cultivate crops that would be impossible to grow in the cold of winter.

This structure protects crops from bad weather, reduces the influx of pests, reduces the amount of pesticide used, and cuts the costs of pesticides and their application.

When the temperature inside the greenhouse exceeds the temperature suitable for cultivation, ventilation fans are used to ventilate the greenhouse and make the temperature and humidity more suitable for cultivation, while also obtaining the carbon dioxide necessary for photosynthesis. Crops grow at the right temperature and humidity, absorbing nutrients and photosynthesizing. Recently, forced ventilation using ventilation fans has been adopted, as natural ventilation, which involves opening the greenhouse windows and/or raising the bottom of the greenhouse, takes time.

To ensure efficient forced ventilation, most greenhouses are designed with a large ventilation fan on one gable and a shutter on the other.

To equalize the temperature inside the greenhouse, numerous circulating fans are placed inside the greenhouse, but when a large amount of outside air flows in from a certain direction through a large ventilation fan, this causes temperature unevenness (variation in temperature) inside the greenhouse, and it takes time to return to the temperature before ventilation. Furthermore, there is also the problem that crops grown near the ventilation fans can suffer from low-temperature damage due to the large amount of outside air that flows in.

In documents (1) and (2), the main focus is on cooling the air inside the house and using the cooled air to cool or cool the room. Therefore, unlike the structure intended by the present invention, "a structure that captures the detected temperature, measured humidity, and measured CO2 concentration as necessary through measurements by a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and, if necessary, a CO2 concentration sensor, and controls the inlet shutter, circulation fan, and ventilation fan installed in the house based on the data of the temperature, humidity, and, if necessary, CO2 concentration (hereinafter, it may be simplified to temperature and humidity, and CO2 concentration as necessary) to maintain and manage the temperature, humidity, and, if necessary, CO2 concentration inside the house," there is room for further improvement. Also, in document (3), a multi-purpose ventilation fan is proposed that uses one ventilation fan to exhaust indoor air, take in outdoor air, and circulate indoor air to make the temperature uniform.

Furthermore, documents (4) and (5) are structures for circulating and ventilating indoor air in rooms and buildings, and like documents (1) to (3) above, there is room for improvement.

In view of the above, the present invention provides claims 1-7 for the purpose of equalizing the temperature inside the greenhouse and controlling the intake air volume and intake speed of the shutters, circulation fans, and ventilation fans installed in the greenhouse, preventing damage to crop growth (wind damage) and equalizing growth. It also provides a structure for controlling the shutters, circulation fans, and ventilation fans based on data on the temperature, humidity, and CO2 concentration inside the greenhouse, maintaining and managing the temperature, humidity, and CO2 concentration inside the greenhouse, as necessary, and achieving energy conservation effects in the greenhouse (energy conservation effects due to appropriate operation of the ventilation fans) and promoting crop growth (for example, by equalizing the saturation deficit).

In claim 1,
A large-diameter exhaust fan for discharging air to the outside of the house is provided on a wall surface (the other end surface) of the house, and a shutter with a shutter plate that opens and closes in response to the operation of the exhaust fan is provided on a wall surface (the other end surface) facing the exhaust fan, or an opening and closing device for opening and closing vinyl is provided on the peripheral wall surface of the house or on the other end surface,
In the house, outside air can be introduced into the house, a plurality of circulating fans are arranged, and the temperature and/or humidity in the house is controlled.
When the ventilation fan exhausts air to the outside of the greenhouse, air flows in through the shutter on one end face, thereby making it possible to maintain a temperature and/or humidity that is optimal for growing plants in the greenhouse,
The rotation speed of the ventilation fan is changeable, and the wind direction of the circulation fan and/or the rotation speed of the impeller is changeable;
The change in the rotation speed is preferably controlled by a control unit that receives signals from sensors installed at various locations in the house.

In claim 2,
The control of the plurality of ventilation fans installed in the house is
The rotation speed of the ventilation fan is changed according to a temperature difference between a set temperature of the control unit and a detected temperature in the house,
The rotation speed is controlled to be 1) slower when the temperature difference is small, and 2) faster when the temperature difference is large.
The house ventilation fan control system according to claim 1 is preferably configured to have a means for varying the rotation speed stepwise and/or steplessly depending on the temperature difference.

In claim 3,
When the large-diameter ventilation fan is in operation, a large amount of air is exhausted from within the house, and a large amount of outside air flows into the house all at once and/or instantaneously, causing a sudden drop in temperature in some areas of the house. In this situation, a desirable ventilation fan control system for a house is configured to extend the time it takes to reach the rotation speed corresponding to the difference between the detected temperature and the set temperature, and to take in cold outside air little by little, thereby preventing a sudden drop in temperature.

In claim 4,
In view of the fact that in a multi-story greenhouse, temperature unevenness (including temperature variation, etc.) and temperature differences can occur along the ridge of the greenhouse, and/or uneven crop growth and good or bad growth conditions can occur, a greenhouse ventilation fan control system is preferred that is configured to install multiple temperature sensors at any location (plane, height) within the greenhouse, capture the detected temperatures, clarify the temperature variation within the greenhouse, and use a means to increase the rotation speed of the ventilation fan with the higher detected temperature among the multiple ventilation fans, or a means to change the wind direction or blade rotation speed of the circulation fan, thereby eliminating temperature unevenness within the greenhouse.

In claim 5,
A preferred ventilation fan control system for a house is configured such that the circulation fans, which are installed arbitrarily within the house, sequentially send air within the house from the intake side toward the exhaust ventilation fan, or the wind direction and/or depression angle and swing of each circulation fan can be changed, a plurality of temperature sensors are installed at arbitrary locations (plane plane, height) within the house, the detected temperatures at the locations where the temperature sensors are installed are captured, the temperature variations within the house are clarified, and the direction and/or depression angle of the circulation fans are adjusted so that they face areas with lower temperatures, and the air blown from the circulation fans is agitated within the house, or temperature unevenness and/or temperature differences within the house are eliminated, thereby making the temperature within the house uniform.

In claim 6,
The computer in the greenhouse ventilation fan control system is
A registration step of registering initial settings of the discharge air volume, discharge speed, and/or rotation speed of the shutter, the circulation fan, and/or the ventilation fan in the control unit;
a holding step of holding a control setting including environmental information including information based on values captured by the sensors installed in the house and a control instruction content determined according to a comparison result between the environmental information and the setting value;
a setting and registration step of registering set values of the discharge air volume, the discharge speed, and/or the rotation speed of the shutter, the circulation fan, and/or the exhaust fan based on the holding step;
This is a good method for managing greenhouse ventilation fan control.

In claim 7,
The computer in the greenhouse ventilation fan control system is
A registration means for registering the set values of the discharge air volume, discharge speed, and/or rotation speed of the shutter, the circulation fan, and/or the exhaust fan in the control unit;
a setting storage means for storing control settings including environmental information including information based on output values of the sensors installed in the house and control instruction contents determined according to a comparison result between the environmental information and the initial setting values;
A setting and registration means for registering a set value of the discharge air volume, the discharge speed, and/or the rotation speed of the shutter, the circulation fan, and/or the exhaust fan based on the holding step;
A management program for controlling greenhouse ventilation fans that functions as a single unit is recommended.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a ventilation fan and a shutter (shutter plate) attached to an exhaust side wall (a wall surface such as one end wall) of a house. (a) to (d) are oblique views explaining the movement of the circulation fan, where (a) is an oblique view showing the oscillation/direction drive unit and the depression angle/elevation angle drive unit, (b) is an oblique view showing the discharge direction, (c) is the depression angle/elevation angle, and (d) is the oscillation range. Aerial view showing examples of installation of ventilation fans, shutters (air intake side wall (other side wall, etc.)), circulation fans, etc. Aerial view showing an example of sensor placement in a greenhouse Block diagram showing the configuration of the sensor, ventilation fan, circulation fan, etc. Configuration diagram showing temperature sensor and circulation fan, etc. Schematic diagram showing the configuration of the sensor, shutter, and ventilation fan Flowchart showing the operation of a ventilation fan A graph showing the relationship between fan speed and temperature Plan view showing an example of changing the oscillation direction of a circulation fan A schematic diagram showing the negative effects of a large amount of cold outside air entering the room

Below, we explain each preferred embodiment of the present invention.

This is a perspective view showing an example of a ventilation fan 1 (1-n) and a shutter 2 (2-n) (shutter plate 200) attached to the exhaust side end face H2 (wall surface of the other end face, etc.) of a house H (H-n) in Figures 1 and 3. The ventilation fan 1 includes an impeller 100, a guard 101, a motor 102, etc. The shutter 2 includes multiple shutter plates 200 (200-n) and a shutter frame 201 (201-n).

As shown in Figures 3, 4, 7, etc., two ventilation fans 1 (one example) are installed side by side on the exhaust side end face H2, each equipped with an impeller 100, and the rotation speed of each ventilation fan 1 is individually controlled via multiple sensors 5...5-n (hereinafter referred to as sensors 5) described below and one or more control units 6.

In addition, two shutters 2 (one example) are installed on the intake side end face H1, and each shutter plate 200 (hereafter referred to as shutter plate 200) is individually controlled via multiple sensors 5 and multiple control units 6.

(A) to (D) in Figure 2 are perspective views explaining the movement of the circulation fan 3 (3-n), where (A) shows the oscillation/direction drive unit 3-1 and the depression/elevation drive unit 3-2. (B) shows the discharge direction 3-3. (C) shows the depression/elevation angle 3-4. (D) shows the oscillation range 3-5.

The circulation fan 3 shown in FIG. 2 is configured with an impeller 300, a guard 301, and a motor 302. In FIG. 2, (A) shows that the structures of the swing/direction drive unit 3-1 and the depression/elevation drive unit 3-2 employ physical structures such as gear structures, link structures, or chains. Changes in the rotation speed (operation time/speed) of the circulation fan 3 are controlled, for example, by commands from the control unit 6. By exhausting the air inside the house H from the circulation fan 3 and a wind tunnel (not shown), at least temperature unevenness and/or humidity unevenness, etc., inside the house H are eliminated.

Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the mechanisms of the sensor 5, the ventilation fan 1, the circulation fan 3, etc., and is structured to control the ventilation fan 1, the circulation fan 3, etc., in response to commands from the control unit 6.

In addition, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the mechanism of the sensor 5 and the circulation fan 3, for example, and sends data on the temperature detected by each sensor 5 to the control unit 6. After importing the data, the control unit 6 calculates and analyzes the temperature distribution, etc., and calculates the swing direction, rotation speed, and depression angle of the circulation fan 3. Based on the results of this calculation, the control unit 6 issues commands to adjust the position, direction, depression angle, rotation speed, etc. of the circulation fan 3. For example, when a low-temperature area is detected by the sensor 5, the control unit 6 controls the discharge direction 3-3 (B), the depression angle and elevation angle 3-4 (C), or the swing range 3-5 (D) via the (A) swing and direction drive unit 3-1 and the (C) depression and elevation drive unit 3-2 of the circulation fan 3 so that air is blown toward the low-temperature area, while also changing the rotation speed (operation time and speed) of the ventilation fan 1.

Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the sensor 5, shutter 2, and ventilation fan 1. In the state of the sensor 5-1 and the sensor 5-2, the relationship between the speed of the ventilation fan 1-1 and the speed of the ventilation fan 1-2 is as follows.

a) When the temperature of sensor 5-1 is greater than the temperature of sensor 5-2, the speed of ventilation fan 1-1 is greater than the speed of ventilation fan 1-2. b) When the temperature of sensor 5-1 is less than the temperature of sensor 5-2, the speed of ventilation fan 1-1 is less than the speed of ventilation fan 1-2. These a) and b) are merely examples and are changed based on the detected temperatures (surrounding environment) of each sensor 5-3...5-n.

Figure 8 shows a flowchart of the operation of the ventilation fan 1, in which when the detected temperature of the sensor 5-1 etc. is lower than the set temperature, as in (ST-1), and when the detected temperature is higher than the set temperature, as in (ST-2), the rotation speed of the ventilation fan 1 is increased (ST-6) in a situation where the difference between the detected temperature and the set temperature is large (ST-3). After the rotation speed is increased (ST-6), the process proceeds to operational control of the ventilation fan 1 (ST-7). On the other hand, when the difference between the detected temperature and the set temperature is small (ST-4), the rotation speed of the ventilation fan 1 is decreased (ST-5). These controls are executed via the control unit 6.

Figure 9 shows the relationship between the rotation speed of the ventilation fan 1 and the set temperature. For example, the relationship between the set temperature difference and the rotation speed shows that when the difference between the detected temperature and the set temperature becomes large to a certain extent, the rotation speed of the ventilation fan 1 becomes constant at the maximum rotation speed (set value). This rotation speed changes from 0 to the maximum rotation speed, and is quickly adjusted by the control unit 6.

Figure 10 is a plan view showing an example of changing the direction of the circulation fan 3, and shows an example of the discharge direction 3-3 using the swing and direction drive unit 3-1 of the circulation fan 3. For reference, the wind direction of the circulation fan 3 is shown in the direction of arrow A. The figure shows a permutation form, but this is an example and is not limited. In this Figure 10, in the area shown in the direction of arrow A, in order to raise the temperature of the low-temperature area H3 toward the low-temperature area H3, the discharge direction of the circulation fan 3 around the low-temperature area H3 is changed to blow warm air in the house H toward the low-temperature area H3. For example, in one example, the air in the high-temperature area, i.e., the air on the side with the high detected temperature, is used to raise the temperature of the low-temperature area H3. This aims to eliminate the low-temperature area H3. In some cases, it is also possible to recover the growth status of crops and/or avoid growth disorders, including managing temperature and humidity unevenness. In other words, for example, the mechanism of the circulation fan 3 shown in Figure 2 (a)-(d) is used to eliminate temperature unevenness in the house H, while at the same time, the speed control of the ventilation fan 1 shown in Figure 7 is used to eliminate low-temperature areas H3 and to eliminate temperature unevenness.

Figure 11 is a schematic diagram showing the adverse effects of a large amount of cold outside air flowing in. To eliminate temperature unevenness, the area H4 where the temperature is low due to the inflow of outside air is shown in the diagram. In one such example, the amount of cold outside air flowing in and the inflow time are adjusted. Also, when a large amount of outside air is inhaled at once or immediately, the area H4 where the temperature is low due to the inflow of outside air can be created, so this can be avoided by operating the control unit 6.

In the present invention, the embodiments described above in Figures 2 to 11 are efficiently and rationally combined to create an optimal configuration, while the outside air, the configuration of the house H, and/or the type of crop, local climate, etc. are efficiently combined to achieve optimal growth.

The above is a detailed explanation of temperature control and handling within House H, but the same idea can be applied to humidity within House H.

The present invention allows for various configurations, forms, and modifications of the implementation without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the configuration or form. Furthermore, the above-described embodiment is intended to make the invention easier to understand and to explain, and does not limit the scope of the invention.

Reference Signs List 1, 1-1 ...... 1-n Ventilation fan 100 Impeller 101 Guard 102 Motor 2, 2-1 ...... 2-n Shutter 200 Shutter plate 201, 201-1 ...... 201-n Shutter frame 3 Circulation fan 3a Discharge direction 3-1 Swing/direction drive unit 3-2 Depression/elevation drive unit 3-3 Discharge direction 3-4 Depression/elevation angle 3-5 Swing range 300 Impeller 301 Guard 302 Motor 5, 5-1, 5-2 ...... 5-n Sensor 6 Control unit H, H-1 ...... H-n House H1 Intake side end surface (one end surface)
H2 Exhaust side end face (other end face)
H3 Low temperature area H4 Low temperature area due to inflow of outside air A Arrow view

Claims (7)

A large-diameter exhaust fan for discharging air to the outside of the house is provided on a wall surface (the other end surface) of the house, and a shutter with a shutter plate that opens and closes in response to the operation of the exhaust fan is provided on a wall surface (the other end surface) facing the exhaust fan, or an opening and closing device for opening and closing vinyl is provided on the peripheral wall surface of the house or on the other end surface,
In the house, outside air can be introduced into the house, a plurality of circulating fans are arranged, and the temperature and/or humidity in the house is controlled.
When the ventilation fan exhausts air to the outside of the greenhouse, air flows in through the shutter on one end face, thereby making it possible to maintain a temperature and/or humidity that is optimal for growing plants in the greenhouse,
The rotation speed of the ventilation fan is changeable, and the wind direction of the circulation fan and/or the rotation speed of the impeller is changeable;
A house ventilation fan control system configured so that the change in the rotation speed is controlled by a control unit that receives signals from sensors installed in various places in the house. The control of the plurality of ventilation fans installed in the house is
The rotation speed of the ventilation fan is changed according to a temperature difference between a set temperature of the control unit and a detected temperature in the house,
The rotation speed is controlled to be 1) slower when the temperature difference is small, and 2) faster when the temperature difference is large.
2. The house ventilation fan control system according to claim 1, further comprising a means for varying the rotation speed stepwise and/or steplessly in response to the temperature difference. The ventilation fan control system for a house according to claim 1, configured to, when the large-diameter ventilation fan is in operation, exhaust a large amount of air from within the house and a large amount of outside air flows into the house at once and/or instantaneously, causing a sudden drop in temperature in some areas of the house, lengthen the time it takes to reach the rotation speed according to the difference between the detected temperature and the set temperature, gradually take in cold outside air, and prevent a sudden drop in temperature. In view of the fact that temperature unevenness and temperature differences occur in the ridge direction within a multi-story greenhouse, and/or unevenness in crop growth and the state of good or bad growth occurs, a plurality of temperature sensors are installed at any location (plane, height) within the greenhouse to capture the detected temperatures and clarify the temperature variation within the greenhouse, and a means for increasing the rotation speed of the ventilation fan with the higher detected temperature among the plurality of ventilation fans, or a means for changing the wind direction or blade rotation speed of the circulation fan, is used to eliminate the temperature unevenness within the greenhouse, in the greenhouse ventilation fan control system described in claim 1. The ventilation fan control system for a house according to claim 1, configured such that the circulation fans installed arbitrarily in the house sequentially send air in the house from the intake side toward the exhaust ventilation fan, or the wind direction and/or depression angle and swing of each circulation fan can be changed, a plurality of temperature sensors are installed at arbitrary locations (plane, height) in the house, the detected temperature at the installation location of the temperature sensor is captured, the temperature variation in the house is clarified, and the direction and/or depression angle of the circulation fans are adjusted so that they face the parts with lower temperatures, and the air blown from the circulation fans is agitated in the house, or temperature unevenness and/or temperature differences in the house are eliminated, and the temperature in the house is made uniform. The computer in the greenhouse ventilation fan control system is
A registration step of registering, in the control unit, the H3 value of the discharge air volume, discharge speed, and/or rotation speed of the shutter, the circulation fan, and/or the ventilation fan;
a holding step of holding a control setting including environmental information including information based on values captured by the sensors installed in the house and a control instruction content determined according to a comparison result between the environmental information and the setting value;
a setting and registration step of registering set values of the discharge air volume, the discharge speed, and/or the rotation speed of the shutter, the circulation fan, and/or the exhaust fan based on the holding step;
A management method for controlling ventilation fans for a house. The computer in the greenhouse ventilation fan control system is
A registration means for registering the set values of the discharge air volume, discharge speed, and/or rotation speed of the shutter, the circulation fan, and/or the exhaust fan in the control unit;
a setting storage means for storing control settings including environmental information including information based on output values of the sensors installed in the house and control instruction contents determined according to a comparison result between the environmental information and the initial setting values;
A setting and registration means for registering a set value of the discharge air volume, the discharge speed, and/or the rotation speed of the shutter, the circulation fan, and/or the exhaust fan based on the holding step;
This is a management program for controlling greenhouse ventilation fans.