Solar climate control for greenhouses
First Claim
1. A solar heating means for a greenhouse structure of the type having air vents and louvers comprising,an excavated area 12 to 24 inches deep, lined with insulating material and surrounded by a foundation for the greenhouse,at least one perforated pipe positioned on said insulating layer extending along an interior portion of said excavated area,a layer of stable inorganic heat storage particles of a size of at least 3/4", covering said insulation and said pipe to a thickness of 18-24 inches,an air control chamber connected to said perforated pipe,said air control chamber, above said layer of heat storage particles, containing air propelling means, having inlet and outlet sides and humidifier means,means connecting the outlet side of said air propelling means to said perforated pipe,a T-section of pipe having one branch thereof forming an air vent extending to the outside of the greenhouse, a second branch connected to a vertical pipe, and a third branch connected to the inlet side of said air propelling means,means for optionally closing the air vent branch,an overhead perforated pipe extending along the upper interior region of said house, means connecting said overhead pipe to said vertical pipe, whereby for cold weather conditions, heated air warmed by the sun and reaching the upper regions of said house by convection is withdrawn by said air propelling means, passed to the perforated pipe below the heat storage particles, to pass upwardly and heat the heat storage particles.
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Abstract
A solar heat storage system is provided for greenhouses by providing the greenhouse with a gravel storage bed at the floor level, through which heated air from an air duct at the upper ridge of the greenhouse is circulated to take advantage of and store heat energy collected from the sun in the winter time. In the summer time the same system operates to maintain an even and relatively cool atmosphere within the greenhouse by disconnecting the air duct at the top, introducing fresh air from the outside and passing such air through humidifying means, thence through the gravel storage bed and out vents at the upper ridge of the greenhouse.
21 Citations
4 Claims
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1. A solar heating means for a greenhouse structure of the type having air vents and louvers comprising,
an excavated area 12 to 24 inches deep, lined with insulating material and surrounded by a foundation for the greenhouse, at least one perforated pipe positioned on said insulating layer extending along an interior portion of said excavated area, a layer of stable inorganic heat storage particles of a size of at least 3/4", covering said insulation and said pipe to a thickness of 18-24 inches, an air control chamber connected to said perforated pipe, said air control chamber, above said layer of heat storage particles, containing air propelling means, having inlet and outlet sides and humidifier means, means connecting the outlet side of said air propelling means to said perforated pipe, a T-section of pipe having one branch thereof forming an air vent extending to the outside of the greenhouse, a second branch connected to a vertical pipe, and a third branch connected to the inlet side of said air propelling means, means for optionally closing the air vent branch, an overhead perforated pipe extending along the upper interior region of said house, means connecting said overhead pipe to said vertical pipe, whereby for cold weather conditions, heated air warmed by the sun and reaching the upper regions of said house by convection is withdrawn by said air propelling means, passed to the perforated pipe below the heat storage particles, to pass upwardly and heat the heat storage particles.
Specification