JP5808992B2 - Plant growth system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a plant growth system provided with an air conditioning facility for a plant growth space.

  A fully-controlled plant factory can artificially create an optimal environment for plant growth, greatly reducing the number of crop production days without being affected by disturbances, is not dependent on location, is pesticide-free and hassle-free It is a facility that enables the anniversary and planned production. Until now, effective use of land and reduction of production costs have been attempted by arranging multiple stages of cultivation shelves, unitizing cultivation rooms, and automation of facilities, but expensive initial investment is required for factory operation. Since the utility costs for production are high, it is not easy to make a profit, and further reduction of production costs is an urgent issue.

  Fully controlled plant factories need high control over temperature and humidity. In order to be able to produce high-quality crops regardless of the season, it is a highly heat-insulating building that suppresses disturbance, and many fully controlled plant factories due to the heat release accompanying the construction of the light environment that is essential for production Then it is air-cooled annually. In addition, a temperature-controlled room with a uniform room environment is common so that the temperature is suitable for growing single varieties. For example, a large number of blowing devices are placed on the ceiling or walls, and the entire room is stirred to adjust the temperature and humidity. I am doing.

  Conventionally, as this kind of plant factory and air conditioning equipment for plant growth space, there is an air conditioning equipment in a greenhouse for the purpose of reducing energy (Patent Document 1). This is mainly intended for summer heat countermeasures such as solar radiation in plant factories including solar-powered plants, and is intended to save energy by efficiently cooling only the lower part of the greenhouse by replacement ventilation. In addition, a cultivation room for plants and the like that surrounds a multistage plant cultivation shelf with a curtain and supplies air into the curtain from a duct having a large number of small holes has been proposed (Patent Document 2).

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-69549 No. 4-7726

  However, all of the above-described conventional techniques blow out conditioned air from a large number of small holes toward the plant growth space to be air-conditioned, thereby performing uniform temperature control. Therefore, although it is suitable for the growth of plants of the same variety, it is not suitable for growing different varieties of plants having different proper growth temperature environments.

  This invention is made | formed in view of this point, and aims at growing simultaneously the multiple types of plant from which appropriate temperature environment differs in the same space.

In order to achieve the above object, a plant growth system according to the present invention is a plant growth system provided with an air conditioning facility that performs air conditioning with an air conditioner on a space for growing a plant, and a plurality of upper and lower spaces are provided in the space. More than the above-mentioned air outlet, the stage for the plant where the planter for plant cultivation is placed, the air outlet from which the conditioned air from the air conditioner is adjusted to the wind speed that maintains the temperature stratification, and blows down the space. inhale atmosphere before Symbol space similar high position, anda inlet device for feeding to the air conditioner, the suction port device is characterized in that the suction position is variable in the vertical direction.

According to the present invention, the conditioned air from the air conditioner is blown out at a wind speed that maintains temperature stratification below the space, and the atmosphere in the space is sucked back into the air conditioner at a position higher than the outlet, By performing replacement ventilation on the space, it is possible to construct a so-called temperature stratification that is flat in the space and has a temperature gradient in the height direction. Since the suction port device has a variable suction position in the vertical direction, the temperature gradient in the height direction can be changed by changing the suction position . Therefore, even for different types of plants with different proper growth temperature environments, they are cultivated on the plant cultivation planter of the plant stage installed in the upper and lower stages corresponding to the height of the growth temperature environment. Accordingly, by changing the temperature gradient, it is possible to simultaneously grow a plurality of types of plants having different appropriate temperature environments in the same space.

  The suction port device may have a plurality of suction ports at different positions in the height direction, and each suction port may be opened and closed independently.

  The suction port device may have a suction port movable in the height direction.

  Furthermore, the blown air volume and temperature of the conditioned air of the air conditioner may be variable.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to simultaneously grow a plurality of types of plants having different appropriate temperature environments in the same space.

It is explanatory drawing which showed typically the outline of the structure of the plant growth factory concerning embodiment. It is a graph which shows the change of the temperature gradient of the height direction by the opening-and-closing control of the suction inlet from which a height direction differs. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the three types of plants from which the appropriate temperature environment differs, and the temperature gradient of a height direction. It is a graph which shows the relationship between two types of plants from which the appropriate temperature environment differs, and the temperature gradient of a height direction. It is a graph which shows the change of the temperature gradient of the height direction when changing supply air temperature or changing supply air volume. It is explanatory drawing which showed typically the outline of the structure of the plant growth factory which has an air-conditioning equipment which changes suction height by 1 suction inlet.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows an outline of a configuration of a plant growth factory F as a plant growth system according to an embodiment, and a space R in the plant growth factory F is divided into upper and lower stages (in the example of the figure). 3 stages), plant growth shelves 10, 20, and 30 are provided as plant stages. Note that the lowermost plant growth shelf 10 may be installed directly on the floor surface 1 or may be installed on a base or a column (both not shown).

  Each plant growth shelf 10, 20, 30 is provided with a plurality of growth units 11, 21, 31 respectively. In the example shown in the figure, four growth units are provided. Furthermore, each growth unit 11, 21, and 31 has a multi-stage planter, respectively. For example, the growth unit 31 of the uppermost plant growth shelf 30 will be described. The growth unit 31 has, for example, planters 31a, 31b, and 31c in three upper and lower stages.

  Illumination devices 32 are provided on the ceilings of the planters 31a, 31b, and 31c, respectively, and irradiate the plants grown on the planters 31a, 31b, and 31c with light having a predetermined illuminance. Similarly, the growth units 11 and 21 of the other plant growth shelves 10 and 20 have upper and lower three-stage planters 11a, 11b, 11c, 21a, 21b, and 21c, respectively, and the planter planters 11a, 11b, 11c, Illumination devices 12 and 22 are provided on the ceilings of 21a, 21b, and 21c, respectively.

  Air conditioning facilities 41 and 51 are installed on, for example, both sides of the space R in the plant growing factory F. Since the air conditioners 41 and 51 have the same configuration, the air conditioner 41 on one side (the left side in the figure) will be described. The air conditioner 41 includes an air conditioner 42 and conditioned air (for example, cold air) from the air conditioner 42. ) In the vertical direction along the wall surface of the plant growth factory F. The air conditioner 42 has a cold water coil 42a and a fan 42b.

  As for the suction inlet device 44, the suction inlets 46 and 47 are formed in two places where the height position in the duct 45 provided in the up-down direction along the wall surface of the plant growth factory F differs, for example. In the illustrated example, the lower suction port 46 is set toward the middle plant growth shelf 20, and the upper suction port 47 is set toward the upper plant growth shelf 30. The suction ports 46 and 47 are provided with a damper, for example, a motor damper MD, so that the damper can be opened and closed and the opening degree can be adjusted by remote control. Of course, a manual damper may be used instead of the motor damper.

  The air conditioner 51 on the other side (the right side in the figure) also has an air conditioner 52, an air outlet 53 that blows conditioned air from the air conditioner 52 toward the lower side of the space R, and the plant growth. The suction port device 54 provided in the vertical direction along the wall surface of the factory F and the suction ports 56 and 57 provided at different height positions in the vertical direction of the duct 55 are provided.

  The plant growth factory F having the air conditioning equipment according to the embodiment has the above-described configuration. When the air conditioners 42 and 52 are operated, a predetermined temperature from the outlets 43 and 53 to the vicinity of the floor surface. Alternatively, conditioned air adjusted to a predetermined temperature and humidity is blown out. Then, the indoor atmosphere having a temperature higher than that of the conditioned air rises, is sucked in as return air from the suction ports 46, 47, 56, 57 and is returned to the air conditioners 42, 52 again. The blowing wind speed from the blower outlet is set to about 0.2 m / s or less so as not to disturb the temperature stratification in the space R. Thereby, replacement ventilation is performed on the space R, and a so-called temperature stratification is constructed in the space R, in which the temperature is uniform in a plane and has a temperature gradient in the height direction. When the swirl flow induction type replacement ventilation air supply unit described in JP 2007-322049 A or the like is used as the outlet, the wind speed at the outlet opening surface is about 1.2 m / s or less. Temperature stratification is maintained. Further, the air outlet is not limited to the method of blowing from the wall surface in the lateral direction, but may be a method of blowing from the floor surface. In this case, the wind speed at the opening surface of the air outlet may be about 0.2 m / s or less. . Furthermore, when the swirl type floor blowing method described in JP-A-9-250803 or the like is used as the floor blowing method, the wind speed at the opening surface of the blowing outlet should be about 0.5 m / s or less. good. In the floor blowing method, it is preferable to adjust the air velocity at each outlet by providing a damper at each outlet and adjusting the opening degree or by providing a filter.

  Here, the motor damper MD provided in each of the suction ports 46, 47, 56, and 57 can be opened and closed and the opening degree can be adjusted independently. It is possible to form different temperature gradients in the height direction.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the opening of the lower suction ports 46 and 56 is 100% and the opening of the upper suction ports 47 and 57 is 0% (closed), a in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the temperature gradient changes with the height of the suction ports 46 and 56 as a boundary, that is, a predetermined temperature gradient is formed up to the height of the suction ports 46 and 56, and the height changes at higher heights. Therefore, a temperature gradient in the height direction in which the change in temperature is small can be realized in the space R. When the opening of the lower suction ports 46 and 56 is 0% (closed) and the opening of the upper suction ports 47 and 57 is 100%, as shown by c in FIG. The temperature gradient changes with the height of 47, 57 as a boundary, that is, a predetermined temperature gradient is formed up to the height of the suction ports 47, 57, and at a height higher than that, the temperature change is small with respect to the height change. A temperature gradient in the height direction can be realized in the space R.
Further, when the opening of the lower suction ports 46 and 56 is 50% and the opening of the upper suction ports 47 and 57 is also 50%, as shown by b in FIG. The temperature gradient changes at the middle height between 57 and the suction ports 46 and 56, that is, a predetermined temperature gradient is formed up to a middle height between the suction ports 47 and 57 and the suction ports 46 and 56, and more. In the space R, a temperature gradient in the height direction in which the change in temperature is small with respect to the change in height can be realized in the space R.

  Therefore, by opening and closing the suction ports 46, 47, 56, and 57 and adjusting the opening, it is possible to simultaneously grow a variety of plants having different proper growth temperatures in the space R.

  For example, cool vegetables (type A), mesophilic vegetables (B type) suitable for growth in a higher temperature environment than cool vegetables, and high temperature vegetables (C) suitable for growth in a higher temperature environment than mesophilic vegetables (C When the seeds are grown at the same time, the opening of the lower suction ports 46, 46 is 0% (closed) and the opening of the upper suction ports 47, 57 is 100%. A temperature environment suitable for each kind A, B, and C can be formed by forming a temperature gradient in the height direction, and in the space R, these A, B, and C can be Can grow at the same time. Therefore, in such a case, cool vegetables (type A) are cultivated in each planter 11a, 11b, 11c of each growth unit 11 of the lower plant growth shelf 10, and each growth unit 21 of the middle plant growth shelf 20 is cultivated. In each planter 21a, 21b, 21c, cultivated mesophilic vegetables (type B) suitable for growing in a higher temperature environment than cool vegetables, each planter 31a of each growth unit 31 of the upper plant growth shelf 30, What is necessary is just to make it cultivate the high temperature vegetable (C seed | species) suitable for growth in a still higher temperature environment than mesophilic vegetable in 31b and 31c.

  In addition, when two kinds of vegetables, a cool vegetable (type A) and a high temperature vegetable (type C) are grown at the same time, the opening of the lower suction ports 46 and 46 is set to 100%, and the upper suction port 47. If the opening degree of 57 is 0% (closed), a temperature gradient in the height direction as shown in FIG. 4 can be formed, and a temperature environment suitable for Class A and Class C can be formed. In the space R, these A species and C species can be grown simultaneously. In this case, in each planter 11a, 11b, 11c of each growth unit 11 of the lower plant growth shelf 10, cool vegetables (type A) are cultivated, and each planter of each growth unit 21 of the middle plant growth shelf 20 is grown. High temperature vegetables (type C) may be cultivated in the planters 31a, 31b, and 31c of the growth units 31 of the upper plant growth shelf 30 and 21a, 21b, and 21c, respectively.

  In the example described above, the suction ports 46, 47, 56, 57 are all installed toward the plant growth shelves 10, 20, 30 in the space R, but these suction ports 46, 47, 56, 57 are arranged. The direction of may be directed to any position. In the above-described example, the air-conditioning air outlets 43 and 53 are installed below the wall surface, but may be provided on the floor surface 1. Here, since the air in the space R is heated by the heat generated by the lighting device provided in each planter, equipment such as a heater is not used.

  Furthermore, in the above-described example, the temperature of the conditioned air is constant, but the chilled water coil 42a may be controlled to adjust the supply temperature of the conditioned air. Furthermore, the air supply amount itself may be controlled by adjusting the fan 42b and the motor damper MD. Thus, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the temperature itself can be shifted to the high temperature side or the low temperature side without changing the gradient of the temperature gradient itself. When the supply air temperature is lowered or the supply air volume is increased, the temperature is shifted to the low temperature side. When the supply air temperature is increased or the supply air volume is decreased, the temperature is shifted to the high temperature side. Therefore, by utilizing this, a more appropriate temperature environment can be provided to plants of various varieties by combination with opening and closing of the suction ports 46, 47, 56, 57.

  Even if plants of the same variety are cultivated on each of the plant growth shelves 10, 20, and 30, the temperature environment is adjusted by the temperature gradient described above, and in addition to this, the supply air temperature and the supply air volume are 1 It is also possible to shift the harvest time for each of the plant growth shelves 10, 20, 30 by adjusting one or a combination of both. Such a cultivation method is effective for varieties whose accumulated temperature contributes to the factors necessary for growth.

  Further, depending on the type of plant to be targeted, a carbon dioxide supply unit or a water supply unit is provided on the downstream side of the ducts 45, 55 and the air conditioners 42, 52, for example, the outlets 43, 53, and supplied into the space R. You may make it do. When a carbon dioxide supply unit or a water supply unit is provided, a carbon dioxide concentration sensor or a humidity sensor is appropriately installed in the space R, and the amount of carbon dioxide gas or water supplied is controlled based on the measured values. May be.

  In the above-described example, in order to change the position of the suction port in the height direction, the suction ports 46, 47, 56, and 57 are installed at different positions in the height direction. The number is arbitrary. Moreover, instead of installing a plurality of suction ports at different positions in the height direction, one suction port itself may be moved up and down.

  In the example shown in FIG. 6, ducts 48 and 58 used in the air conditioning equipment 41 and 51 are made extendable and suction ports 49 and 59 are provided in the vicinity of the upper ends of the ducts 48 and 58. The stretchable configuration can be realized, for example, by making the duct itself a bellows configuration or by making the inner duct slidable in the vertical direction, for example, as a multiple duct structure.

  According to such a configuration, the motor damper MD does not have to be provided at the suction ports 49 and 59, and may be installed at the bases (in the vicinity of the air conditioners 42 and 52) in the ducts 48 and 58.

  By moving the suction ports 49 and 59 themselves up and down in this way, the temperature gradient in the height direction in the space R can be changed by changing the height of the suction ports, as in the example shown in FIG. Therefore, it is possible to simultaneously grow a plurality of kinds of plants having different proper temperature environments in the space R.

  In the example shown in FIG. 6, introduction ducts 61 and 62 are provided on the inlet side of the air conditioners 42 and 53 in the ducts 48 and 58, and a dedicated damper, for example, a motor damper MD is provided in each introduction duct 61 and 62. Therefore, it is also possible to take in outside air as needed. As a result, when the outside air can be used as it is in the middle or winter season, the outside air is mixed with the return air and blown out from the outlets 42 and 43 downward in the space R, and the outside air is introduced near the ceiling of the space R. If exhaust is made from an exhaust port (not shown) provided in the air conditioner, a temperature stratification can be established for the space R while reducing the energy required by the air conditioners 42 and 52 as in the above example. It is.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful when simultaneously growing a plurality of varieties of plants having different proper growth temperature environments in the same space.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Floor surface 10, 20, 30 Plant growth shelf 11, 21, 31 Growth unit 12, 22, 32 Illumination device 11a, 11b, 11c Planter 21a, 21b, 21c Planter 31a, 31b, 31c Planter 41, 51 Air-conditioning equipment 42, 52 Air conditioner 42a Cold water coil 42b Fan 43, 53 Air outlet 44, 54 Suction port device 45, 55 Duct 46, 47, 56, 57 Suction port 48, 58 Duct 49, 59 Suction port 61, 61 Introduction duct F Plant growth factory R space

Claims (5)

A plant growth system equipped with an air conditioning facility for air conditioning by an air conditioner for a space for growing plants,
A plant stage installed in a plurality of upper and lower stages in the space, on which a plant cultivation planter is placed,
A blowout port that blows out conditioned air from the air conditioner below the space, adjusted to a wind speed that maintains temperature stratification;
Inhale atmosphere before Symbol space similar position higher than said air outlet, anda inlet device for feeding to the air conditioner,
The plant growth system, wherein the suction port device has a variable suction position in the vertical direction . The suction port device has a plurality of suction ports at different positions in the height direction,
The plant growth system according to claim 1, wherein each suction port can be opened and closed independently. The plant growth system according to claim 1, wherein the suction port device has a suction port movable in a height direction. The plant growth system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the blown air volume of the conditioned air of the air conditioner is variable. The plant growth system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the temperature of the conditioned air of the air conditioner is variable.

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