Controlled environment production facility
According to the invention there is provided a controlled environment production facility, including: a climate controlled growing chamber, and an absorption chiller. The climate controlled growing chamber includes artificial lighting and at least one cooling and dehumidification unit. The cooling and dehumidification unit is supplied with chilled water from the absorption chiller.
1 . A controlled environment production facility, including:
an absorption chiller;
a climate controlled growing chamber comprising:
artificial light sources which provide artificial lighting so that plants within the climate controlled growing chamber can photosynthesize and grow; and
at least one cooling and dehumidification unit supplied with chilled water from the absorption chiller during operation; and
a control system configured to maintain the temperature and humidity in the climate controlled growing chamber at desired levels, the control system including sensors to monitor the temperature and relative humidity within the climate controlled growing chamber, and means to activate the at least one cooling and dehumidification unit in the climate controlled growing chamber prior to the temperature and/or the relative humidity exceeding a maximum desired level; and
a heat source for driving the absorption chiller, wherein the heat source is a combined heat and power plant.
2 . The controlled environment production facility of claim 1 , wherein the artificial lighting in the climate controlled growing chamber is powered by electricity from the combined heat and power plant when operated.
3 . The controlled environment production facility of claim 2 wherein the combined heat and power plant includes a boiler, a steam turbine, and a generator.
4 . A method of controlling an environment of a controlled environment production facility, said method comprising:
operating artificial light sources of the controlled environment production facility to provide artificial lighting so that plants within a climate controlled growing chamber of the controlled environment production facility can photosynthesize and grow;
monitoring temperature and humidity in the climate controlled growing chamber by way of sensors of a control system of the controlled environment production facility; and
maintaining the temperature and humidity in the climate controlled growing chamber at desired levels by way of the control system, including a activating at least one cooling and dehumidification unit of the controlled environment production facility supplied with chilled water from an absorption chiller of the controlled environment production facility during operation prior to the temperature and/or the relative humidity exceeding a maximum desired level;
wherein the controlled environment production facility further includes a heat source for driving the absorption chiller, wherein the heat source is a combined heat and power plant.
5 . The method of claim 4 in which the controlled environment production facility produces at least one foodstuff.
6 . The method of claim 5 in which the controlled environment production facility produces at least one salad crop.