Greenhouse and forced greenhouse climate control system and method
View Patent ↗A greenhouse is disclosed that generally comprises an enclosed growing section with an enclosed end gable adjacent to the growing section. The end gable is arranged to flow air into the growing section. Air distribution tubes are included within the growing section with the tubes arranged to provide for substantially uniform air flow into the growing section. The air tubes can also be arranged to compensate for heat differential between the air in the tubes and in the growing section.
1 . A greenhouse, comprising:
a crop growing section comprising a plurality of outside walls; and
a substantially enclosed chamber separated from the crop growing section and running along all of a partition wall between said crop growing section and said substantially enclosed chamber, said substantially enclosed chamber capable of mixing outside air and recirculated air, the chamber formed by:
a chamber outer wall;
said partition wall;
one or more side walls;
a floor; and
a ceiling;
a first vent in running substantially the length of said chamber outer wall or said ceiling to allow outside air to enter a first subsection of the substantially enclosed chamber;
a second vent running substantially the length of said partition wall to allow recirculated air from the crop growing section to enter a second subsection of the substantially enclosed chamber;
a single louver comprising a single blocking element running substantially the length of said chamber and having a first and second longitudinal edge, wherein said single louver is rotatably mounted movable within said chamber about a pivot point along said first longitudinal edge and movable in a swinging motion about a said pivot point to control the amount of air entering the first subsection of the substantially enclosed chamber from the first and second vents and to allow mixing of the outside air with the recirculated air;
wherein said single louver is movable between a first position to block outside air from entering the first subsection of the substantially enclosed chamber while allowing recirculating air to enter, and a second position to block recirculating air from entering the first subsection of the substantially enclosed chamber while allowing outside air to enter, said single louver also movable to a third position between said first and second positions to allow a combination of said outside air and said recirculating air to the first subsection of the substantially enclosed chamber.
2 . The greenhouse of claim 1 , wherein the substantially enclosed chamber is part of a climate control system that is capable of controlling one or more environmental conditions within the crop growing section of the greenhouse selected from air temperature, humidity, air pressure, and level of carbon dioxide.
3 . The greenhouse of claim 1 , wherein the second vent is at or near the top of the partition wall.
4 . The greenhouse of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of tubes that extend from the substantially enclosed chamber to distribute air throughout the crop growing section.
5 . The greenhouse of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of tubes comprises 5 or more tubes.
6 . The greenhouse of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of tubes comprises 10 or more tubes.
7 . The greenhouse of claim 4 , further comprising fans arranged to flow air into said the plurality of tubes.
8 . The greenhouse of claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of tubes is below each of a plurality of growing tables or gutters in the crop growing section.
9 . The greenhouse of claim 1 , wherein the single louver is a planar shield.
10 . The greenhouse of claim 1 , wherein the first subsection of the substantially enclosed chamber is below the second subsection of the substantially enclosed chamber.
11 . The greenhouse of claim 1 , wherein said single louver covers substantially all of said first vent when in said first position.
12 . The greenhouse of claim 1 , wherein said single louver covers substantially all of a passage between the first and second subsections of the substantially enclosed chamber when in said second position.
13 . The greenhouse of claim 12 , further comprising a shelf between the first and second subsections of the substantially enclosed chamber, wherein the single louver abuts the shelf when in said second position.
14 . The greenhouse of claim 1 , wherein the single louver is rotatable about a hinge, and wherein an end of said single louver is attached to said hinge.
15 . The greenhouse of claim 1 , wherein the second vent is in the partition wall.
16 . A greenhouse comprising:
a crop growing section having a plurality of walls including a partition wall; and
a climate control system separated from the crop growing section by said partition wall and running along the entire length of said partition wall, said climate control system capable of controlling the temperature within the crop growing section and comprising:
a substantially enclosed chamber capable of mixing outside air and recirculated air, the chamber formed by:
an outer wall;
said partition wall;
one or more side walls;
a floor; and
a ceiling;
a first vent running substantially the length of said outer wall, one or more side walls, or the ceiling, to allow outside air to enter the substantially enclosed chamber;
a second vent running substantially the length of in said partition wall to allow recirculated air from the crop growing section to enter the substantially enclosed chamber;
a single louver comprising a single blocking element running substantially the length of said substantially enclosed chamber, wherein said single louver has a first and second longitudinal edge, wherein said single louver is an end attached to a hinge along said first longitudinal edge, wherein said single louver is rotatably moveable within said substantially enclosed chamber about said hinge between a first position to substantially block the amount of outside air entering the substantially enclosed chamber through the first vent and a second position to substantially block recirculating air form entering the substantially enclosed chamber through the second vent, or to intermediate positions between said first and second positions to partially block the air from entering from both the first vent and the second vent to allow a mixture of outside and recirculating air to enter the substantially enclosed chamber; and
a plurality of tubes extending from the substantially enclosed chamber to distribute air evenly throughout the crop growing section.
17 . The greenhouse of claim 16 , wherein the climate control system is capable of further controlling one or more environmental conditions within the crop growing sections of the greenhouse selected from humidity, air pressure, and level of carbon dioxide.
18 . The greenhouse of claim 16 , wherein the first vent runs substantially the length of the outside wall.
19 . The greenhouse of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of tubes comprises 5 or more tubes.
20 . The greenhouse of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of tubes comprises 10 or more tubes.
21 . The greenhouse of claim 16 , wherein said climate control system further comprises fans arranged to flow air into said the plurality of tubes.
22 . The greenhouse of claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of tubes is below one or more of a plurality of growing tables of gutters in the crop growing section.
23 . The greenhouse of claim 16 , wherein said single louver comprises a planar shield.
24 . The greenhouse of claim 16 , wherein said hinge is attached to said outside wall, said partition wall, one of said side walls, or said ceiling.
25 . A greenhouse comprising:
a crop growing section;
a climate control system that is capable of controlling the temperature within the crop growing section, wherein said climate control system is separated from the crop growing section and comprising a first wall running substantially the length of an outer wall the outside of said greenhouse, a partition wall parallel to and running substantially the length of said first wall, two side walls, a floor and a ceiling, wherein said climate control system, said climate control system further comprising:
a first is vent in said outer first wall or said ceiling, said first vent allowing outside air to enter said climate control system;
a second vent running substantially the length of said partition wall to allow recirculated air from the crop growing section to enter said climate control system;
a first louver comprising a single blocking element running the length of said first vent and operable to control the amount of outside air to enter the climate control system;
a second louver comprising a single blocking element running the length of said second vent and operable to control the amount of recirculating air entering said climate control system;
a controller to control operation of said first and second louvers to substantially block the amount of outside air entering the climate control, to substantially block recirculating air form entering the climate control system or to partially block the air from entering from both the first vent and the second vent to allow a mixture of outside and recirculating air to enter climate control system; and
a plurality of tubes extending from the substantially enclosed chamber to distribute air evenly throughout the crop growing section.
26 . The greenhouse of claim 25 , wherein said first wall is internal to said greenhouse.
27 . The greenhouse of claim 25 , wherein said first wall comprises an outer wall of said greenhouse.
28 . The greenhouse of claim 25 , wherein said first vent is in said ceiling.