NL1033212C2 - Greenhouse conditioning system comprises pipes arranged with mist heads applying combined carbon dioxide and water in the direct environment of the relevant plants - Google Patents

Abstract

Pipes (3) are arranged with local spray or mist heads (4) for applying carbon dioxide (CO2) and water in a combined form in the direct environment of the relevant plants (2). The combination or CO2-rich water (5) is made to be a part of the conditioning system. The carbon dioxide-rich water is centrally made by dissolving CO2 into water under pressure in an arranged processor.

Description

Title: System for growth and / or yield promoting conditioning of plants. Area

The invention relates to a system for the purpose of growth and / or yield-promoting conditioning of plants, in particular, but not exclusively, in greenhouse horticulture etc.

Background

Four parameters are important in greenhouse horticulture for the correct cultivation conditions: temperature, humidity, light intensity and CO2 concentration. In conventional systems often i) the required heat is transported through hot water pipes through the greenhouse, ii) the cold is generated centrally and spread through the greenhouse by means of large fans, iii) the CO2 is generated centrally and by means of CO2 intestines ”spread through the greenhouse 15 and iv) also the moisture generated centrally and spread through ventilation.

On the one hand, this method means that a lot of energy is needed to keep the entire greenhouse at the desired conditions, and on the other hand, it is not possible to get above a maximum CO2 concentration in the greenhouse of approximately 500 ppm. This while 20 significantly higher CO2 concentrations are desired, up to 3000 ppm, in order to maximize the production yield.

Summary

In an earlier application (not yet published at the time of filing the present application), the applicant has proposed, inter alia, an improved and cost-effective technique for cooling and at the same time wetting water to spray local water, thereby cooling both at the plant site (namely by evaporation of the sprayed water) if wetting is effected.

The present invention is based on the insight that the same system, which can be used for - either local or remote - distribution (e.g., spraying or spraying) of water, can be used simultaneously for the distribution of CO2, namely through combined distribution bar. administration of (the dose desired for the plants) CO2 and water, for example in the form of administration of CO2-containing or CC-2-rich water (cf. carbonated water in soft drinks) to the plants concerned. It is noted that water is naturally intended with a higher concentration (dose) of CO2 than is naturally present in water and is meant for "CO2 fertilization" of the plants, to promote their growth and / or yield.

Although the invention is applicable to (conventional) central distribution, however, the CO2-rich water will preferably be distributed locally - for example by local spray or spray heads - so that the moisture and CO2 distribution is more manageable and also locally higher CO2 concentrations can be achieved than with conventional, central moisture distribution. Moreover, the cooling and humidifying effect thereby becomes more efficient because smaller water droplets are spread. The invention can be applied in greenhouses, but also in the cultivation of plants, vegetables, crops, etc. in the open air.

In summary, the invention thus comprises a system for the purpose of growth and / or yield-enhancing conditioning of plants, comprising means for supplying water and CO2 to these plants, which means are at least partially adapted for combining these plants in combined adding and / or administering CO 2 and water in a form. As mentioned, the means mentioned can be arranged for supplying and / or administering CO2-containing or (beaver said) CO2-rich water to those plants.

Although the invention is not limited to systems with local administration of water, etc., application there does have advantages. Thus, the said means preferably comprise local spray or spray heads which are adapted to administer CO2 and water in a combined form in the immediate vicinity of the plants in question. CO2-rich water.

3

Preferably, combining CO 2 and water to CO 2 -containing or CO 3 -rich water will be part of the conditioning system as indicated above. For example, the said means may preferably be arranged for dissolving CO2 in water under pressure. The CO2-rich water can thus, for example, be produced centrally by dissolving CO2 in the water under pressure (in the order of magnitude of the pressure of the water supply system) in a processor designed for this purpose.

Output example

Figure 1 shows the CO2 solubility in water at overpressure.

Figure 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the invention in which locally CO2-rich water is supplied to plants by means of local spray nozzles.

The following is first noted about the solubility of CO2 in water.

In general, the solubility of gases in liquids can be easily described with Henry's law. The solubility of CO2 in water is the exception to this rule. CO2 not only dissolves in water, but part of the gas also enters into an equilibrium reaction with the water molecules to form carbon dioxide: + H2 0 (/) ^ H2COi {aj)

The exact position of the equilibrium - at 20 ° C and 1 bar, an equilibrium of approximately 1% carbon dioxide gas (H2CO3) is formed; the remaining 99% of the CO2 dissolves in the water - depends on the pressure and temperature and can therefore shift by changing the circumstances. Thankfully this is used in the soft drink preparation. This principle has come to be known as "Le Chatelier’s Principle".

25 The “Le Chatelier’s Principle” stands for causing a disturbance on an equilibrium system whereby the balance shifts to eliminate the disturbance. In the soft drink industry, the soft drink is bottled under an overpressure, as a result of which the equilibrium reaction shifts to the right: more carbonic acid is formed. As long as the bottle remains closed, this new balance is maintained. At 4 the moment the bottle is opened and the pressure above the soft drink thus decreases, the balance shifts to the left again (the original balance) and CO2 is released (the "puncture" in the soft drink).

Figure 1 shows the solubility of CO2 as a function of the pressure.

5 In addition to the situation that both cooling, humidification and CO2 fertilization are desired, there may also be times in the growing cycle or seasons that no cooling but still CO2 fertilization is required. At such times when there is no cooling requirement, CO2 can still be injected with the same system.

The tubes and the (high pressure) spray nozzles, which in the cooling situation were flowed through with CO2-rich water, are now flowed through with gaseous CO2.

Any remaining water is pressed out of the pipeline network by the CO2. The pipes and spray nozzles are already calculated for high pressure systems.

Figure 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the invention in which locally CO2-rich water is supplied to plants by means of local spray nozzles. Figure 15 shows a greenhouse 1 (not necessary for carrying out the invention), in which there is a (only partly shown) system for the purpose of growth and / or yield-promoting conditioning of plants (the system is described in more detail in the aforementioned patent application previously filed by the applicant). The system comprises means (inter alia) 3 and 4 for supplying water to said plants 2. Where up to now - for the purpose of growth and / or yield promotion, the intended CO2 gas was generated centrally and spread through the greenhouse by means of CO2 "casings", the relevant means 3 and 4 have been set up in the concept schematically shown in Figure 2. for supplying and / or administering CO2 and water in combination to those plants.

In the figure, a "spray tube" 3 is used to supply plants with CO2-rich water via local spray or spray heads 4 that are arranged and installed in such a way that they are in the immediate vicinity of the plants concerned 2 CC> 2-rich water spraying or misting, whereby both water vapor and CO2 are administered locally (and therefore effectively and efficiently) to the plants 2.

5

The figure does not explicitly show (however, well conceivable and known per se) a processor in which the combining - for example by dissolving CO2 in water under pressure - of CO2 and water into CO2-rich water takes place and which the pipe system 3 with necessary CC> 2-containing or CO2-rich water.

5 1033212

Claims (5)

System for the growth and / or yield-promoting conditioning of plants (2), comprising means (3, 4) for supplying water and CO2 to those plants, which means are at least partially adapted to supply supplying plants in combined form and / or administering that CO2 and water. 2. System as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means are adapted for supplying and / or administering CO2-rich water to said plants. 3. System as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said means comprise local spray or spray heads (4) which are adapted to administer CO2 and water in a combined form in the immediate vicinity of the plants concerned. CO2-rich water (5). A system according to claim 2, wherein said means are adapted to combine CO2 and water into CO2-rich water. System as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means are adapted for dissolving CO2 in water under pressure. 1033212