Passive solar greenhouse
View Patent ↗The present invention is directed to a passive solar greenhouse for controlling the greenhouse's interior environment and maximizing photosynthetic metabolism within the plants grown therein through regulation of sunlight, temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide levels and methods optimizing plant growth conditions by using passive solar greenhouse of the present invention. Generally the greenhouse has a sloped glazed face which faces substantially true south in the Northern hemisphere and substantially true north in the Southern hemisphere with a predetermined slope angle designed to maximize incident solar radiation (insolation) and increase the interior temperature during the colder months of the year while reducing overheating during the warmer months of the year.
1. A passive solar greenhouse comprising a first vertical face, a second vertical face, a first sloped face, a second sloped face, a first side wall, a second side wall, at least one air intake element in the first vertical face, at least one air exhaust element in first side wall or second side wall, thermal mass, a first interior angle between the first sloped face and the horizontal plane, and a second interior angle between the second sloped face and the horizontal plane, wherein the first interior angle is a predetermined angle based in part on the critical angle of the first sloped face that promotes maximum transmission of low angle winter direct sunlight through the first sloped face and into the passive solar greenhouse.
2. The passive solar greenhouse of claim 1 wherein the first interior angle is between about 50° and about 75° from the horizontal.
3. The passive Solar greenhouse of claim 1 wherein the first interior angle is between about 60° and about 65° from the horizontal.
4. The passive Solar greenhouse of claim 1 wherein the first interior angle is about 60° from the horizontal.
5. The passive solar greenhouse of claim 1 wherein the second interior angle is between about 35° and about 75° from the horizontal.
6. The passive solar greenhouse of claim 1 wherein the second interior angle is about 45° from the horizontal.
7. The passive solar greenhouse of claim 1 wherein the first vertical face and second vertical face are each facing substantially true south within a margin of error of about 20° toward the east or about 10° toward the west when the passive solar greenhouse is located in the Northern hemisphere.
8. The passive solar greenhouse of claim 1 wherein the first vertical face and second vertical face are each facing substantially true south within a margin of error of about 20° toward the west or about 10° toward the east when the passive solar greenhouse is located in the Southern hemisphere.
9. The passive solar greenhouse of claim 1 wherein the at least one air intake element further comprises a solar thermal vent.
10. The passive solar greenhouse of claim 9 wherein the solar thermal vent is a multi-layered structure further comprising a louvered plate, a governor plate with at least one aperture, and a screen.
11. The passive solar greenhouse of claim 10 wherein the louvered plate further comprises blades that are angled downward at between about 15° and 60° from the horizontal.
12. The passive solar greenhouse of claim 1 wherein the thermal mass comprises at least one water-filled container.
13. The passive solar greenhouse of claim 1 wherein the thermal mass comprises at least one water-filled container with a black exterior coating, at least one water-filled container with a red exterior coating, and at least one water-filled container with a blue exterior coating.
14. The passive solar greenhouse of claim 1 wherein the thermal mass comprises a phase change material attached to the walls of the structure.
15. A method of optimizing plant growth conditions within a passive solar greenhouse comprising the steps of:
providing a passive solar greenhouse comprising a first vertical fate, a second vertical face, a first sloped face, a second sloped face, a first side wall, a second side wall, at least one air intake element, at least one air exhaust element, and thermal mass;
building the first sloped face such that its pitch is between about 50° and about 75° from the horizontal wherein the pitch is predetermined and based in part on the critical angle of the first sloped face that promotes maximum transmission of low angle winter direct sunlight through the first sloped face and into the passive solar greenhouse;
building the second sloped face such that its pitch is between about 35° and about 75° from the horizontal such that incoming direct solar radiation is reflected onto the plants thereby reducing phototropism; and
positioning the first vertical face and first sloped face such that it faces substantial due south within a margin of error of about 20° toward the east or about 10° toward the west when the passive solar greenhouse is located in the Northern hemisphere.
16. The method of optimizing plant growth conditions within a passive solar greenhouse of claim 15 further comprising the steps of supplying at least one container to hold the thermal mass and coating the exterior of the at least one container with either black, red, or blue coating material for proper absorption or reflectivity of light depending on need.
17. The method of optimizing plant growth conditions within a passive solar greenhouse of claim 15 wherein the thermal mass is water contained within containers.
18. The method of optimizing plant growth conditions within a passive solar greenhouse of claim 15 wherein the thermal mass is a phase change material attached to at least one wall of the structure.
19. The method of optimizing plant growth conditions within a passive solar greenhouse of claim 15 further comprising the step of promoting a conventional flow of exterior air through the passive solar greenhouse by opening the air intake element a defined aperture area as interior temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide conditions dictate and simultaneously opening the air exhaust element the same aperture area.
20. The method of optimizing plant growth conditions within a passive solar greenhouse of claim 15 wherein the air intake element and the air exhaust element comprise screened windows.
21. The method of optimizing plant growth conditions within a passive solar greenhouse of claim 15 wherein the air intake element comprises a solar thermal vent system.
22. The method of optimizing plant growth conditions within a passive solar greenhouse of claim 15 wherein the pitch of the first sloped face is between about 60° and about 65° from the horizontal.
23. The method of optimizing plant growth conditions within a passive solar greenhouse of claim 15 wherein the pitch of the first sloped face is about 60° from the horizontal.
24. The method of optimizing plant growth conditions within a passive solar greenhouse of claim 15 wherein the pitch of the first sloped face and the second sloped face is about 45° from the horizontal.