VERTICAL FARMING LAYER STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR VERTICAL FARMING USING THE SAME

• US 20190029187A1
• Filed: 07/31/2018
• Published: 01/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inno-3B Inc.
• Original Assignee: Inno-3B Inc.
• Inventors: Brault, Martin, Dube, Eric, Faucher, Samuel, Brault, David
• Granted Patent: US 11,185,016 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/045 with electric lighting
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/249 Lighting means with special arrangements for promoting growth A01G7/045
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/28 rigid, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/04 intended only for mounting on a ceiling or the like overhead structures F21S8/02 takes precedence; details of ceiling bases F21V21/03
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/503 of light sources cooling arrangements structurally associated with gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps H01J61/52; cooling arrangements structurally associated with electric incandescent lamps H01K1/58; cooling arrangements structurally associated with light-emitting diodes H01L33/64
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/57 characterised by control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0066 specially adapted to cooperate with point like light sources; specially adapted to cooperate with light sources the shape of which is unspecified F21V7/16 - F21V7/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/14 Supports; Fastening devices; Arrangements for mounting thermometers in particular locations
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/02 for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/66 by investigating dew-point
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/14 using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules

Abstract

A vertical farming layer structure comprising: an underlying support for supporting a plurality of farmed plants; a light-reflective upper surface positioned above and facing the underlying support, the light-reflective upper surface being adapted to reflect light by diffuse reflection; and a plurality of light-emitting devices positioned between the underlying support and the light-reflective upper surface, each light-emitting device being positioned to emit light along a respective optical axis oriented towards the light-reflective upper surface such that light emitted from the light-emitting device is at least partially diffusely reflected off of the light-reflective upper surface to reach the plants supported on the underlying support.

Claims

1. A vertical farming layer structure comprising:

an underlying support for supporting a plurality of farmed plants;

a light-reflective upper surface positioned above and facing the underlying support, the light-reflective upper surface being adapted to reflect light by diffuse reflection; and

a plurality of light emitting devices positioned between the underlying support and the light-reflective upper surface, each light-emitting device being positioned to emit light along a respective optical axis oriented towards the light-reflective upper surface such that light emitted from the light-emitting device is at least partially diffusely reflected off of the light-reflective upper surface to reach the plants supported on the underlying support.

2. The vertical farming layer structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light-reflective upper surface is adapted to diffuse more than 80% of the light directed towards the light-reflective upper surface for light in at least a portion of a range of wavelengths comprised between 400 nm and 1400 nm.

3. The vertical farming layer structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the light-reflective upper surface is adapted to diffuse more than 96% of the light directed towards the light-reflective upper surface for light having a wavelength comprised between 400 nm and 780 nm.

4. The vertical farming layer structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of light-emitting devices includes a first plurality of light-emitting devices configured for emitting light at a first wavelength and a second plurality of light-emitting devices configured for emitting light at a second wavelength different from the first wavelength.

5. The vertical farming layer structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first and second wavelengths are comprised between 400 nm and 1400 nm.

6. The vertical farming layer structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first plurality of light-emitting devices is further configured to emit light at a first intensity and the second plurality of light-emitting devices is configured to emit light at a second intensity different from the first intensity.

7. The vertical farming layer structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical axis of each light-emitting device is non-vertical.

8. The vertical farming layer structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the light-reflective upper surface is planar and further wherein the optical axis of each light-emitting device is angled relative to the light-reflective upper surface.

9. The vertical farming layer structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein the optical axis of each light-emitting device is angled at an angle of between 3 degrees and 9 degrees above a horizontal plane.

10. The vertical farming layer structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of light fixtures, each light fixture supporting a respective pair of the plurality of light-emitting devices.

11. The vertical farming layer structure as claimed in claim 10, wherein for each light fixture, a first of the pair of the light-emitting devices is retained on a first lateral side of the fixture and a second of the pair of the light-emitting devices is retained on a second lateral side of the fixture opposite the first lateral side.

12. The vertical farming layer structure as claimed in claim 11, wherein the light fixtures are elongated and are disposed parallel to each other in a common horizontal plane, the light fixtures being further spaced apart from each other in a transversal direction by a distance of 24 inches.

13. The vertical farming layer structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light-emitting devices are light-emitting diodes.

14. The vertical farming layer structure as claimed in claim 13, wherein the light-emitting diodes are secured to a substrate panel and are disposed in at least one row on the substrate panel.

15. The vertical farming layer structure as claimed in claim 14, wherein the at least one row includes a first row and a second row extending parallel to the second row.

16. A condensation control system for a light fixture, the condensation control system comprising:

a cooling circuit in fluid communication with the light fixture, the cooling circuit having at least one flow regulator for regulating a flow of coolant through the cooling circuit;

a coolant temperature sensor configured to monitor a temperature of the coolant;

at least one environmental condition sensor configured to monitor at least one environmental condition in a space in proximity of the light fixture;

a controller operatively connected to the at least one environmental condition sensor, to the coolant temperature sensor, and to the flow regulator and configured for;

receiving at least one environmental condition measurement from the at least one environmental condition sensor and from the coolant temperature sensor;

receiving a coolant temperature measurement from the coolant temperature sensor;

determining a condensation threshold temperature based on the received at least one environmental condition measurement;

comparing the received coolant temperature measurement with the determined condensation threshold temperature; and

controlling the at least one flow regulator to maintain the temperature of the coolant within the cooling circuit above the determined condensation threshold temperature.

17. The condensation control system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the flow regulator comprises a variable pump for controlling flow rate of coolant within the cooling circuit and a valve for controlling a flow of new coolant introduced into the cooling circuit.

18. The condensation control system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the at least one environmental condition sensor comprises:

a hygrometer for measuring a relative humidity within the space in proximity of the light fixture, the hygrometer being operatively connected to the controller for providing the measured relative humidity to the controller;

a thermometer for measuring a temperature within the space in proximity of the light fixture, the thermometer being operatively connected to the controller for providing the measured temperature to the controller, the controller being configured for determining the condensation threshold temperature based, at least in part, on the measured relative humidity and the measured temperature.

19. A current control system for controlling electric current fed to at least one light-emitting diode, the system comprising:

a thermometer configured for monitoring temperature of the at least one light-emitting diode;

a light sensor configured for monitoring light intensity emitted from the at least one light emitting diode;

a variable current source operatively connected to the at least one light-emitting diode and configured for providing a variable level of current to the at least one light-emitting diode; and

a controller operatively connected to the thermometer, the light sensor, and the variable current source and configured for;

receiving the monitored temperature and the monitored light intensity; and

controlling the variable current source to adjust a current fed to the at least one light-emitting diode according to;

if the monitored light intensity is below a predetermined target light intensity and the monitored temperature is below a predetermined temperature threshold, increasing the level of current provided to the at least one light-emitting diode; and

if the monitored temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature threshold, decreasing the level of current provided to the at least one light-emitting diode.

20. The system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the at least one light emitting diode comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes connected in series, and further wherein the thermometer is configured to monitor the temperature on a die of the light-emitting diode located furthest from the variable current source along the series connection.