JPH11289883A - Plant growing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] It is possible to suppress the disturbance of the temperature control during the dehumidifying operation, and to reduce the cost by suppressing the loss of the operating energy due to the reheating and the recooling during the dehumidifying operation. Provide a simple plant growing device. A heater (41) for heating air circulated into a growth chamber (20), a refrigerator (42) for cooling, and a control unit (50) for controlling the output of each of the heater (41) and the refrigerator (42).
The control means 50 controls the output of the refrigerator 42 to perform dehumidification when heating while the heater 41 is operating, and also performs dehumidification when cooling while the refrigerator is operating. In this case, the output of the heater 41 is controlled to perform dehumidification.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plant cultivation apparatus for use in agriculture research and experiments such as breeding or cultivation of plants, which comprises a cultivation room for accommodating plants, and in which the temperature is regulated. The present invention relates to a plant growing apparatus capable of artificially controlling environmental factors by circulating air.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a plant growing apparatus of this type is configured so that the temperature and humidity in a growing room for storing plants can be arbitrarily controlled. Experiments and research can be performed. Generally, a control room is provided beside the growth room so as to be partitioned by a partition, and air whose temperature and the like are adjusted in the control room is circulated into the growth room.

Here, the temperature can be controlled constantly to a predetermined temperature by combining a heating operation by a heater disposed in a control room and a cooling operation by a refrigerator. In addition, the humidity is controlled by operating a humidifier provided in the apparatus to perform humidification and, when dehumidifying, by operating a cooler to condense moisture in the growth chamber into water droplets, that is, a so-called cooling and dehumidifying effect. I was

[0004] In particular, in dehumidification, during cooling in which the refrigerator is operating in temperature control, the output of the refrigerator is increased in accordance with the dehumidification operation amount, and dehumidification is performed by the cooling and dehumidifying action. On the other hand, at the time of heating when the heater is operating, the output of the heater is similarly increased according to the dehumidifying operation amount. Then, in order to keep the temperature at a predetermined temperature, the cooling load increases as a result, and the dehumidification is performed by the cooling and dehumidifying action.

[0005]

However, in the above-described dehumidification by the plant growing apparatus, when the output of the refrigerator is directly increased while the temperature is controlled on the cooling operation side and dehumidification is performed, supercooling is caused. There has been a problem that the desired temperature has been temporarily disturbed toward the low temperature side. Also,
In the temperature control, there is also a problem that the loss of operating energy for reheating increases.

On the other hand, when the output of the heater is first increased in the dehumidifying operation while the temperature is being controlled on the heating operation side, the heating becomes excessive, and the desired controlled temperature is temporarily increased to the high temperature side. There was a problem of being disturbed. Further, in the temperature control, there is also a problem that a loss of operating energy for re-cooling becomes large.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and can suppress disturbance in temperature control during a dehumidifying operation, and can reheat or reheat during a dehumidifying operation. An object of the present invention is to provide a plant growing device capable of reducing costs by suppressing a loss of operating energy due to cooling.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems The gist of the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned object lies in the following inventions. [1] A plant growing device (1) including a growing room (20) for storing plants, wherein air whose temperature and humidity are adjusted is circulated in the growing room (20), and environmental factors can be artificially controlled.
In (0), a heater (41) for heating air circulated into the growth chamber (20), and a refrigerator (42) for cooling.
And control means (50) for controlling respective outputs of the heater (41) and the refrigerator (42),
The control means (50) controls the output of the refrigerator (42) to dehumidify when the output of the heater (41) exceeds the output of the refrigerator (42) when heating.
A plant growing apparatus (10) characterized in that when dehumidifying during cooling when the output of (2) exceeds the output of the heater (41), the output of the heater (41) is controlled to dehumidify.

[2] The control means (50) controls the refrigeration with the heater (41) based on the measured temperature in the growth chamber (20) and a preset target temperature so that the measured temperature approaches the target temperature. A temperature controller (51) for controlling the output of the heating machine (42), and the heater (41) based on the measured humidity in the growing room (20) and a preset target humidity so as to bring the measured humidity closer to the target humidity. ) And the output of the refrigerator (42),
And a humidity control unit (52) for controlling the output of a separately provided humidifier. When the humidification is controlled by the humidity control unit (52), the heater (41) and the refrigeration unit are controlled by the temperature control unit (51). When the output of the heater (41) is controlled by the temperature controller (51) while the output of the heater (41) is controlled by the humidity controller (52) while the output of the heater (41) is controlled by the humidity controller (52). Humidity controller (5
The output of the refrigerator (42) is controlled by 2), and the output of the refrigerator (42) is controlled by the temperature controller (51). During cooling, the humidity controller (52) controls the heater (41). The plant growing apparatus (10) according to [1], wherein the output is set to be controlled.

Next, the operation based on the above-mentioned solution will be described. According to the plant growing device (10) of the present invention, the air circulated into the growing room (20) is heated by the heater (41).
, And is cooled by the refrigerator (42), and each output is controlled by the control means (50), so that the inside of the growth chamber (20) is maintained at a desired temperature.

In the temperature adjustment, when the dehumidification is performed when the output of the heater (41) exceeds the output of the refrigerator (42), the control means (50) controls the output of the refrigerator (42). It is dehumidified. That is, if the refrigerator (42) is temporarily operated according to the dehumidifying operation amount, the moisture in the circulating air is condensed to become water droplets and dehumidified.

At this time, during the heating by the operation of the heater (41), the output of the heater (41) is not further increased for dehumidification as in the prior art, and the refrigerator (42) is operated from the beginning. Heating and cooling do not compete with each other, resulting in no excessive heating. Therefore, the control temperature is not greatly disturbed, and the operating energy required for heating for temperature control during dehumidification can be suppressed.

On the other hand, the output of the refrigerator (42) is
When performing dehumidification at the time of cooling exceeding the output of 1), the control means (50) controls the output of the heater (41) to perform dehumidification. That is, when the heater (41) is temporarily operated according to the dehumidifying operation amount, the cooling load is increased as a result to keep the temperature at the predetermined temperature, and the dehumidification is performed by the cooling and dehumidifying action.

At this time, during the cooling by the operation of the refrigerator (42), instead of simply increasing the cooling output amount as in the prior art for dehumidification, the heater (41) is first operated, and Refrigerator (4
Since the output of 2) is increased, cooling for temperature cooling and dehumidification is not accumulated, and overcooling can be prevented. Therefore, the control temperature is not significantly disturbed, and the operating energy required for the cooling can be suppressed for temperature control during dehumidification.

More specifically, for example, a training room (20)
The inside is maintained at a desired temperature and humidity as follows. An output value for bringing the measured temperature close to the target temperature is calculated by the temperature control section (51) of the control means (50) based on the measured temperature in the growing room (20) and the target temperature. In accordance with this output value, if heating is necessary, a heater (41),
When cooling is required, the output manipulated variable of the refrigerator (42) is controlled.

The humidity control unit (5) of the control means (50)
According to 2), an output value for bringing the measured humidity closer to the target humidity is calculated based on the measured humidity in the growth room (20) and the target humidity. In the case of humidification, the output manipulated variable of the humidifier is controlled according to this output value. On the other hand, in the case of dehumidification,
In the temperature control, it is determined whether heating or cooling is being performed, and the output manipulated variable of the heater (41) or the refrigerator (42) related to dehumidification is controlled in the above-described cases.

[0017]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. 1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the plant growing apparatus 10 includes a growing room 20 for storing plants and a control room 40 partitioned by a partition wall 22 on the side of the growing room 20 in a box-shaped machine main body 10a. Consisting of The air whose temperature and humidity are adjusted in the control room 40 is configured to circulate from the bottom side of the growth room 20 to the ceiling side.

A machine body 10a is provided on the bottom side of the growing room 20.
Is provided with a floor plate 21 parallel to the bottom wall. Floorboard 21
A number of outlets (not shown) are opened in
Below 1 is a blowing space 20a for blowing the adjusted air into the growth chamber 20. Pots planted with plants are floor boards 2
1. On the ceiling side of the growth room 20, an artificial light source 30 such as a sodium lamp is provided.

The circulating air on the side of the growth chamber 20 is supplied to the partition wall 22 for partitioning the growth chamber 20 from the control chamber 40.
A suction port 23 leading to the side is provided. The suction port 23 is preferably provided with an air filter for removing dust and dirt in the air. A sensor 24 for detecting temperature and humidity is provided at a position facing the suction port 23 from the control room 40 side.

In the control room 40, a heater 41 for heating the air circulated into the growing room 20, a refrigerator 42 for cooling, and a blower 43 for circulating the air are arranged. Here, the heater 41 is formed of a general electric heater. Further, the refrigerator 42 includes a compressor, a condenser, a decompressor, an evaporator, and the like.

Each of the heater 41 and the refrigerator 42 can electrically adjust the output manipulated variable as appropriate, and is set so that the respective outputs are controlled by control means 50 described later. Note that an arrangement may be made wherein the refrigerator 42 is provided with a cooling liquid solenoid valve and the output of the heater 41 is adjusted by controlling the cooling liquid solenoid valve.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lower side of the control room 40 communicates with a blowing space 20a below the floor plate 21 of the breeding room 20. Further, a humidifier 44 is provided in the blowing space 20a. The humidifier 44 is set to be controlled by the control unit 50 together with the heater 41 and the refrigerator 42.

The control means 50 is for centrally managing each device including the heater 41 and the refrigerator 42 and comprises a microcomputer comprising an interface, a CPU, a RAM, a ROM and the like. As shown in FIG. 2, in particular, the control unit 50 includes a temperature control unit 51, a humidity control unit 52,
It has a switching control unit 53.

The temperature control section 51 controls the outputs of the heater 41 and the refrigerator 42 based on the measured temperature in the growth chamber 20 and a preset target temperature so that the measured temperature approaches the target temperature. is there. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, a value E of a deviation between the measured temperature PV and the target temperature SP is calculated by a comparison circuit 51a of the temperature control unit 51, and based on the value E, a PID calculation unit 51b Than P
The output internal calculation value (MVTC) is set to be calculated by the ID calculation process.

Here, the output internal operation value (MVTC) is
The value of the deviation E between the measured temperature PV and the target temperature SP is P
This is the output% value for which ID calculation is performed. In addition, the PID
The arithmetic unit 51b is provided with control constants for heating and cooling (proportional band, integration / derivative time, etc.), and these control constants are set to be automatically switched.

More specifically, the PID calculation unit 51b selects a control constant for heating when the output internal calculation value (MVTC) is 50 or more, and controls the cooling control when the output internal calculation value (MVTC) is less than 50. The constant is set to be selected. The output internal calculation value (MVTC) is calculated as a heating or cooling output via a switching control unit 53 described later.

The humidity controller 52 controls the outputs of the heater 41 and the refrigerator 42 and the humidifier 44 based on the measured humidity in the growing room 20 and a preset target humidity so that the measured humidity approaches the target humidity. Is to control the output.
The humidity controller 52 is also set such that the humidification or dehumidification output is calculated by the same PID calculation processing as that of the temperature controller 51, and the outputs of the devices 41, 42, and 44 are adjusted.

Specifically, when the output internal operation value (MVHC) relating to humidity is 50 or more, a control constant for humidification is selected, and when the output internal operation value (MVHC) is less than 50, the control constant for dehumidification is selected. Is set to be selected. That is, when the output internal calculation value (MVHC) is 50 or more, the humidification signal is output from the humidity control unit 52 and 5
If it is less than 0, the humidity controller 52 outputs a dehumidification signal.

When the output of the heater 41 exceeds the output of the refrigerator 42 when the dehumidification is performed during heating, specifically, the switching internal control value (MVT) in the chart shown in FIG.
When C) is 50 or more and the output internal calculation value (MVHC) is less than 50, the contacts of the pair of switches A and B are switched so as to control the output of the refrigerator 42 to perform dehumidification.

When the output of the refrigerator 42 exceeds the output of the heater 41, the switching controller 53 performs dehumidification when cooling.
Specifically, in the chart shown in FIG. 3, when the output internal operation value (MVTC) is less than 50 and the output internal operation value (MVHC)
Is smaller than 50, the contacts of a pair of switches A and B are switched so that the output of the heater 41 is controlled to perform dehumidification.

Next, the operation will be described. In FIG. 1, the air circulated into the growth chamber 20 is heated by a heater 41 in a control chamber 40, is cooled by a refrigerator 42, is adjusted to a desired temperature, and is blown out below the growth chamber 20. It is sent to the space 20a. The temperature-adjusted air is humidified by the humidifier 44 as needed in the blowing space 20a, and then blown into the growing room 20 through a number of blowing holes in the floor plate 21 of the growing room 20. .

The operation of the heater 41, the refrigerator 42, the humidifier 44 and the like is controlled by the control means 50 shown in FIG. 2, and the inside of the growth chamber 20 is maintained at a desired temperature and humidity. Regarding the temperature adjustment, the comparison circuit 51a of the temperature control unit 51 shown in FIG. 4 calculates a deviation value E between the measured temperature PV of the growing room 20 and the target temperature SP, and based on this value E, a PID calculation unit From 51b, an output internal calculation value (MVTC) is calculated by PID calculation processing.

Regarding the humidity adjustment, the value of the deviation between the measured humidity of the breeding room 20 and the target humidity is calculated by the humidity controller 52 in the same manner as in the case of the temperature adjustment, although not shown. The output internal calculation value (MVHC) related to humidity is calculated by the PID calculation processing.

Output Internal Calculated Value (MVTC) for Temperature
Is 50 or more, heating is required, and if it is less than 50, cooling is required. When the output internal calculation value (MVHC) relating to humidity is 50 or more, humidification is required,
If it is less than 50, dehumidification is required. These output internal calculation values (MVTC, MVHC) are determined by the switching control unit 53, and a pair of switches A, B
The specific control of the temperature and humidity is performed as follows by switching the contacts.

First, in the chart of FIG. 3, when the output internal calculation value (MVHC) relating to humidity is 50 or more, based on the humidification signal output from the humidity control unit 52, according to the output internal calculation value (MVHC). The humidifier 44 is operated. And the output internal calculation value (MVHC) relating to humidity
Is greater than or equal to 50, the contacts of the pair of switches A and B are connected to the temperature controller 51, regardless of whether the output internal calculation value (MVTC) relating to temperature is greater than or equal to 50 and less than 50.

Accordingly, when the output internal operation value (MVTC) is calculated by the temperature control section 51, the heater 41 is required if heating is required, and the refrigerator 42 is required if cooling is required. The output manipulated variables are controlled as appropriate to adjust and maintain the desired temperature.

Next, in the chart of FIG. 3, when the output internal calculation value (MVTC) related to temperature is 50 or more and the output internal calculation value (MVHC) related to humidity is less than 50,
That is, when dehumidification is performed during heating, the switching control unit 5
Reference numeral 3 denotes a temperature controller 5
On the other hand, the contact of the switch A on the refrigerator 42 side is connected to the humidity control unit 52 side.

As a result, the humidity control unit 52
The dehumidification is performed by controlling the output of. That is, the output internal calculation value (MVHC) calculated by the humidity control unit 52
In accordance with the dehumidifying operation amount based on the above, the refrigerator 42 is temporarily operated, and the moisture in the circulating air is condensed to become water droplets and dehumidified.

As described above, during heating by the operation of the heater 41, the output of the heater is not further increased for dehumidification as in the prior art, and the refrigerator 42 is operated from the beginning. Overheating will not occur.
Therefore, the control temperature is not greatly disturbed to the high temperature side,
In addition, the operating energy required for heating for temperature control during dehumidification can be minimized.

In the chart of FIG. 3, when the output internal calculation value (MVTC) relating to temperature is less than 50 and the output internal calculation value (MVHC) relating to humidity is also less than 50,
That is, when dehumidification is performed during cooling, the switching control unit 5
Reference numeral 3 denotes a humidity controller 5
On the other hand, the contact of the switch A on the refrigerator 42 side is connected to the temperature control unit 51 side.

As a result, the humidity control unit 52
The dehumidification is performed by controlling the output of. That is, the output internal calculation value (MVHC) calculated by the humidity control unit 52
When the heater 41 is temporarily operated in accordance with the dehumidifying operation amount based on the above, as a result, the cooling load of the refrigerator 42 increases to maintain the temperature at the predetermined temperature, and the dehumidification is performed by the cooling and dehumidifying action.

As described above, during cooling by the operation of the refrigerator 42, instead of simply increasing the cooling output amount as in the prior art for dehumidification, the heater 41 is first operated to reduce the operation amount. The output of the refrigerator 42 is increased to such an extent as to cancel out. Therefore, cooling for temperature cooling and cooling for dehumidification are not accumulated, and overcooling can be prevented.
Therefore, the control temperature is not greatly disturbed to the low temperature side,
In addition, since the temperature is controlled during dehumidification, the operating energy required for the cooling can be minimized.

The plant growing apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the specific configuration according to the above-described embodiment. For example, the time of heating in the temperature adjustment is not limited to the state where only the heater is operating, but may be any state in which the output of the heater exceeds the output of the refrigerator. It is not limited to the situation in which only the refrigerator is operating, and it is sufficient that the output of the refrigerator exceeds the output of the heater.

The control of the temperature and the humidity has been described by taking as an example the case where the output internal calculation value relating to each becomes 50 and the dead zone becomes 0 as shown in FIG.
The control may be set so that control can be performed when the dead zone is larger than 0 as shown in FIG. 6 or when the dead zone is smaller than 0 as shown in FIG.

[0045]

According to the plant growing apparatus of the present invention, when dehumidifying at the time of heating in temperature control, the output of the refrigerator is controlled to dehumidify, so that it is not possible to further increase the heater output as in the prior art. In addition, excessive heating can be prevented. On the other hand, when dehumidifying during cooling in temperature adjustment,
Since dehumidification is performed by controlling the output of the heater, temperature cooling and dehumidification cooling are not accumulated as in the related art, and overcooling can be prevented. As described above, the control temperature is not largely disturbed, accurate experimental data on plant growth can be collected, and the operating energy required for temperature control at the time of dehumidification can be reduced to reduce costs. Become.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an internal structure of a plant growing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control device constituting the plant growing device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a table illustrating a control mode of temperature and humidity by a control unit included in the plant growing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating details of temperature control by a control unit included in the plant growing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing a change in an output internal calculation value when a dead zone = 0 in control of temperature and humidity by a control unit included in the plant growing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a change in an output internal calculation value when the dead zone is greater than 0 in the control of the temperature and the humidity by the control means constituting the plant growing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing a change in an output internal calculation value when a dead zone <0 in control of temperature and humidity by a control unit included in the plant growing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Plant growing apparatus 10a ... Machine body 20 ... Growing room 20a ... Blowing space 21 ... Floor plate 23 ... Suction port 30 ... Artificial light source 40 ... Control room 41 ... Heater 42 ... Refrigerator 43 ... Blower 44 ... Humidifier 50 ... Control means 51: temperature control unit 51a: comparison circuit 51b: PID calculation unit 52: humidity control unit 53: switching control unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plant growing apparatus comprising a growing room for accommodating a plant, wherein air having a controlled temperature and humidity is circulated in the growing room, whereby environmental factors can be artificially controlled. A heater for heating the air to be heated, a refrigerator for cooling, and control means for controlling respective outputs of the heater and the refrigerator, wherein the control means has an output of the heater exceeding an output of the refrigerator. When dehumidifying during heating, the output of the refrigerator is controlled to dehumidify, while when the output of the refrigerator exceeds the output of the heater, the output of the heater is controlled to dehumidify the plant. apparatus. A temperature controller for controlling outputs of the heater and the refrigerator based on the measured temperature in the growth chamber and a preset target temperature so as to bring the measured temperature closer to the target temperature; Based on the measured humidity in the growth chamber and a preset target humidity, the humidity control unit that controls the outputs of the heater and the refrigerator, and the output of a separately provided humidifier so that the measured humidity approaches the target humidity. When the humidification control is performed by the humidity control unit, each output of the heater and the refrigerator is controlled by the temperature control unit, and when the dehumidification control is performed by the humidity control unit, the output of the heater is controlled by the temperature control unit. When heating is controlled, the output of the refrigerator is controlled by the humidity control unit, and during cooling, the output of the refrigerator is controlled by the temperature control unit. The plant growing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output of the heater is set to be controlled more.