Method and apparatus for heat radiation of illumination for growing plant   

Abstract: A method for radiating a heat of illumination for growing plant includes: detecting an external temperature and an internal temperature of a plant growth chamber, and when the external temperature is higher than the internal temperature, executing a first heat radiation in which a cold air generated from a cooling system of a building is introduced into a ventilation/air-conditioning duct to which a rear side of the lights is exposed. The method further includes, when the internal temperature is higher than the external temperature, executing a second heat radiation mode in which an external cold air is introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct.

The present invention claims priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0109064, filed on Nov. 4, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a technique of heat radiation of illumination for growing plant, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for radiating a heat of illumination for growing plant within a plant growth chamber by interworking with a ventilation system within a building having the plant growth chamber.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As well-known in the art, a light emitting diode (LED), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) (e.g., active matrix LED (AMOLED), organic electroluminescence (EL), etc.), or the like can be manufactured to have a size smaller than an existing light bulb type lamp (halogen lamp), so it can be easily installed in a desired place without causing an unnecessary waste of space and can be installed even in a space in which a bulb type lamp cannot be mounted without changing the exterior, considerably reducing a product design cost. Further, the LED, the OLED, or the like has a semi-permanent life span, excellent durability, and fast responsiveness.

Recently, a technique of raising various desired plants by using a plant growth chamber (or a plant greenhouse) in which plants are grown by optimizing growth conditions has been generalized and expanded in use, and a bulb type lamp is generally used as lighting equipment for regulating the growth environment of plants in this plant growth chamber.

However, recently, an environment in which illumination such as an LED, OLED, or the like is used for growing plants due to their various advantages of illumination tends to gradually expand.

In this respect, an LED that can be manufactured by the current technology converts about 15% of input power into light, while the remaining 85% of the input power is converted into a heat. This generated heat increases an operational temperature of the LED. When the operational temperature is increased, unlike the existing halogen lamp, the LED causes problems such as a reduction in a life span, a degradation of performance, or the like. With this considered, it is required to design an effective heat radiation system in order to use a high output LED as lighting equipment for plant growth.

Thus, in order to prevent a degradation of functions due to an operational environment of the high temperature of the high output LED which has high heat generation density, an effective heat radiation system should be constructed. However, a heat radiation space and a heat transmission path are limited due to a structural problem of a head lamp and a spatial limitation, greatly restricting an application of the existing heat radiation technique.

Namely, the existing LED heat radiation system includes a natural convection heat sink (i.e., a passive heat sink) using a natural convection, an active heat sink using a fan, a water cooling (or liquid cooled) cold plate increasing a heat transmission by using a coolant, a heat pipe using an internal circulation according to a phase change, and the like, depending on a cooling method.

However, in case of the water cooling cold plate and the heat pipe employed in the existing heat radiation system, although they have superior heat radiation capabilities to those of the natural convection type heat sink and the active heat sink, a great amount of costs are incurred to configure a system and a space for attaching an additional device should be secured.

In addition, since the existing heat radiation system necessarily requires an additional structure for heat radiation, the cost is additionally increased, and since its mass and volume is increased, a larger installation space is required to cause a spatial restriction.

SUMMARY

Therefore, the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for radiating a heat of illumination for growing plant installed within a plant growth chamber by interworking with a ventilation system within a building having the plant growth chamber.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for radiating a heat of illumination for growing plant including: detecting an external temperature and an internal temperature of a plant growth chamber in which multiple lights are installed, respectively; when the external temperature is higher than the internal temperature, executing a first heat radiation mode in which a cold air generated by actuating a cooling system of a building in which the plant growth chamber is installed is introduced into a ventilation/air-conditioning duct to which a rear side of the lights is exposed; and when the internal temperature is higher than the external temperature, executing a second heat radiation mode in which an external cold air is introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for radiating a heat of illumination for growing plant including: a ventilation/air-conditioning duct installed within a building having a plant growth chamber, and having a structure for circulating an air through the interior; multiple lights installed such that a rear side thereof is exposed to the interior of the ventilation/air-conditioning duct; an external temperature sensor for detecting an external temperature of the plant growth chamber; an internal temperature sensor for detecting an internal temperature of the plant growth chamber; and a control block for executing a first heat radiation mode in which a cold air generated by actuating a cooling system of the building is introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct when the detected external temperature is higher than the internal temperature, and executing a second heat radiation mode in which an external cold air is introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct when the detected internal temperature is higher than the external temperature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments, given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a conceptual view of a plant growth chamber employing an apparatus for radiating a heat of illumination for growing plants in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the apparatus for radiating the heat of illumination for growing plants in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a main process of radiating the heat of illumination for growing plants by using a cold air of a cooling system or an external air based on the difference therebetween in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a main process of re-using the air discharged from a ventilation/air-conditioning duct when a heat radiation mode is executed, for a heating operation or a cooling operation in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

In the following description of the present invention, if the detailed description of the already known structure and operation may confuse the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. The following terms are terminologies defined by considering functions in the embodiments of the present invention and may be changed operators intend for the invention and practice. Hence, the terms should be defined throughout the description of the present invention.

Combinations of respective blocks of block diagrams attached herein and respective steps of a sequence diagram attached herein may be carried out by computer program instructions. Since the computer program instructions may be loaded in processors of a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, the instructions, carried out by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create devices for performing functions described in the respective blocks of the block diagrams or in the respective steps of the sequence diagram. Since the computer program instructions, in order to implement functions in specific manner, may be stored in a memory useable or readable by a computer aiming for a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, the instruction stored in the memory useable or readable by a computer may produce manufacturing items including an instruction device for performing functions described in the respective blocks of the block diagrams and in the respective steps of the sequence diagram. Since the computer program instructions may be loaded in a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, instructions, a series of processing steps of which is executed in a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to create processes executed by a computer so as to operate a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, may provide steps for executing functions described in the respective blocks of the block diagrams and the respective steps of the sequence diagram.

Moreover, the respective blocks or the respective steps may indicate modules, segments, or some of codes including at least one executable instruction for executing a specific logical function(s). In several alternative embodiments, it is noticed that functions described in the blocks or the steps may run out of order. For example, two successive blocks and steps may be substantially executed simultaneously or often in reverse order according to corresponding functions.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof.

FIG. 1 shows a conceptual view of a plant growth chamber employing an apparatus for heat radiation of illumination for growing plants in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 1, a plant growth chamber includes a plant growth plate 102 in which plants (or crops) desired to be grown are accommodated, and a ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 in which an air is circulated is installed through inside and outside of the plant growth chamber. Here, the plant growth chamber is provided in a building in which the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 is already installed for a ventilation system within the building.

Also, an illumination control board 108 on which multiple lights 106 for growing the plants are mounted is detachably installed at position spaced apart from the plant growth plate 102 by a certain distance. The illumination control board 108 is installed such that a heat radiation portion on a rear surface of the illumination control board 108 is opened to the interior of the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 to allow a generated heat to be radiated (namely, the rear side of the lights 106 is exposed to the interior of the ventilation/air-conditioning duct). Herein, the lights 106 may be, e.g., LEDs, OLEDs, (AMOLED, organic EL, etc.), lighting appliances (bulb type lamps) or the like.

One or multiple air inlet controllers 110a and 110b including, e.g., a blow fan, a motor, a driver, or the like are be installed at an external air inlet of the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104, and one or multiple air outlet controllers 112a and 112b including, e.g., a blow fan, a motor, a motor driver, or the like may be installed at an external air outlet of the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104.

Namely, in the heat radiation apparatus in accordance with the present invention, when an internal temperature a of the plant growth chamber is relatively higher than an external temperature β, the air inlet controllers 110a and 110b are operated to allow external cold air to be smoothly introduced to the illumination control board 108 on which multiple lights 106 installed in the plant growth chamber are mounted. Further, the air outlet controllers 112a and 112b are operated to allow air which has been heated upon passing through the illumination control board 108 to be smoothly exhausted to the outside.

Here, the heated air reaching the outlet (i.e., discharged air) is be exhausted to the interior of the building or a predetermined space within the building for a heating operation or a cooling operation in order to decrease power consumption for a heating operation or a cooling operation.

Thus, external cold air introduced in the direction of the arrow 116a through the external air inlets 110a and 110b flows in the direction of arrows 116c and 116d to radiate a heat generated from the heat radiation portion of the lights 106 and the illumination control board 108, and then is exhausted through the external air outlets 112a and 112b.

Further, one side of the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 is connected to a cooling system (or ventilation/air-conditioning system) 114 installed within the building, for ventilation/air-conditioning. The cooling system 114 is actuated under the control of the heat radiation apparatus when the external temperature β of the plant growth chamber is relatively higher than the internal temperature α to serve to allow generated cold air to be introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104. Here, the heat radiation apparatus may be mounted at a certain location within the plant growth chamber.

Thus, cold air generated by the actuation of the cooling system 114 and introduced in the direction of the arrow 116b flows in the direction of the arrows 116c and 116d to radiate a heat generated from the heat radiation portion of the lights 106 and the illumination control board 108, and then is exhausted through the external air outlet.

Namely, the present invention uses principle of radiating a heat generated from the heat radiation portion of the lights 106 and the illumination control board 108 installed in the plant growth chamber by using the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 of the ventilation system installed to ventilate the interior of the building.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the apparatus for radiating a heat of illumination for growing plants in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention, which includes a manipulation block 202, an external temperature sensor 204, an internal temperature sensor 206, an outlet temperature sensor 208, a building inside temperature sensor 210, a control block 212, a memory block 214, an air inlet controller 216, an air outlet controller 218, and the like.

With reference to FIG. 2, the manipulation block 202 may refer to a touch screen, a touch pad, or the like mounted on a display screen such as, e.g., an LCD panel, an OLED panel or the like, or may refer to a keypad, or the like having multiple functional keys, number keys, and the like. A user selects a function of turning on or off the operation of the heat radiation apparatus through a user interface (a touch or key manipulation, or the like) of the manipulation block 202, selecting a heating mode or a cooling mode for exhausting air (or discharging air) which has been heated due to heat radiation after being introduced into the duct 104 to the interior of the building or the predetermined space within the building, setting or changing a heat radiation reference temperature or an outlet reference temperature, or the like. Herein, a generated signal of the user interface is transferred to the control block 212.

Further, the heat radiation reference temperature refers to a reference temperature at which the heat radiation apparatus starts execution of a heat radiation mode, and the heat radiation mode is executed when the internal temperature of the plant growth chamber is equal to or higher than the preset heat radiation reference temperature.

Further, the external temperature sensor 204 is be installed, e.g., at a certain position outside the plant growth chamber, and provides functions such as detecting an external temperature of the plant growth chamber and transferring the detected temperature to the control block 212. The internal temperature sensor 206 is installed inside of the plant growth chamber, e.g., in the vicinity of the illumination control board 108 on which the lights 106 are mounted, detects an internal temperature within the plant growth chamber and transfers the detected temperature to the control block 212. Herein, a plural number of the external temperature sensor 204 and the internal temperature sensors 206 may be installed as necessary.

The outlet temperature sensor 208 is installed, e.g., at an outlet of the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104, and provides functions such as detecting a discharge temperature of air discharged to the outlet and transferring the detected temperature to the control block 212. The building inside temperature sensor 210 is installed at a certain position within the building and provides functions such as detecting an internal temperature within the building and transferring the detected temperature to the control block 212. Herein, a plurality of the building inside temperature sensors 210 may be installed as necessary.

The control block 212 includes a microprocessor or the like for controlling a general operation of the heat radiation apparatus. The control block 212 compares the external temperature of the plant growth chamber and the internal temperature of the plant growth chamber provided from the external and internal temperature sensors 204 and 206 and provides control to execute a first heat radiation mode or a second heat radiation mode based on the comparison results. Namely, when the detected external temperature is relatively higher than the internal temperature, the control block 212 controls execution of the first heat radiation mode in which a cooling system control signal for actuating the cooling system within the building is generated and transferred to the cooling system 114 to allow cold air generated by the cooling system 114 to be introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 and an air outlet control signal is also generated and transferred to the air outlet controller 218. Further, when the detected external temperature is relatively higher than the internal temperature, the control block 212 controls execution of the second heat radiation mode in which air inlet and outlet control signals are generated and transferred to the air inlet controller 216 and the air outlet controller 218, respectively, to allow external cold air outside the plant growth chamber to be introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104.

Also, when the heat radiation mode is executed in a state that the heating mode for re-using air for a heating operation is selected by the user, the control block 212 compares a discharge temperature of the outlet of the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 provided from the outlet temperature sensor 208 with the temperature of the building (i.e., building inside temperature) provided from the building inside temperature sensor 210. When the discharge temperature is higher than the building inside temperature, the control block 212 provides control to exhaust the air which has been heated due to heat radiation after being introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 to the interior of the building or the predetermined space within the building. Further, when the discharge temperature is equal to or lower than the building inside temperature, the control block 212 provides control to exhaust the air which has been heated due to heat radiation after being introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 to the outside of the building.

Herein, the predetermined space may be a space which can be arbitrarily selected by the user as necessary. The exhaustion of the heated air to the interior of the building or the predetermined space within the building to reuse it for heating may be set to be executed when an outlet temperature of the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 detected by the outlet temperature sensor 208 is higher than an outlet reference temperature previously set by the user.

In addition, when the heat radiation mode is executed in a state that the cooling mode for re-using air for a cooling operation is selected by the user, the control block 212 compares a discharge temperature of the outlet of the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 provided from the outlet temperature sensor 208 with the building inside temperature provided from the building inside temperature sensor 210. When the discharge temperature is lower than the building inside temperature, the control block 212 provides control to exhaust the air which is discharged after being introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 to the interior of the building or the predetermined space within the building. Further, when the discharge temperature is equal to or higher than the building inside temperature, the control block 212 provides control to exhaust the air discharged to the outlet, after being introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104, to the outside of the building.

Here, the control block 212 may be set to execute the first heat radiation mode or the second heat radiation mode when the internal temperature of the plant growth chamber is higher than the heat radiation reference temperature previously set by the user. This is to prevent unnecessary power consumption which may be caused when the heat radiation mode is unnecessarily executed, for example, when the heat radiation apparatus is initially operated and the external temperature of the plant growth chamber is relatively lower than the internal temperature of the plant chamber.

The memory block 214 stores information on the heat radiation reference temperature previously set by the user, preset outlet reference temperature, information regarding whether to select a heating mode or cooling mode, and the like.

The air inlet controller 216 refers to, e.g., the air inlet controllers 110a and 110b illustrated in FIG. 1. When an external air inlet control signal is provided from the control block 212 (i.e., when the second heat radiation mode is executed), the air inlet controller 216 operates to serve to allow cold air outside the plant growth chamber to be introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104.

The air outlet controller 218 refers to, e.g., the air inlet controllers 112a and 112b illustrated in FIG. 1. When the air outlet control signal is provided from the control block 212 (i.e., when the first heat radiation mode or the second heat radiation mode is executed), the air outlet controller 218 operates to serve to allow air, which has been heated while passing through the illumination control board 108 after being introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104, to the outside or the inside the building for heating or cooling.

Now, a sequential process of controlling heat radiation of lights by using the heat radiation apparatus in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention having the configuration as described above will be described.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a major process of controlling heat radiation of illumination for growing plants by using cold air of the cooling system 114 or external air depending on the difference between an external temperature and an internal temperature in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 3, when the plant growth chamber is driven in step 302, the external temperature sensor 204 and the internal temperature sensor 206 detect the external temperature and the internal temperature of the plant growth chamber and transfer them to the control block 212 in step 304.

In response, the control block 212 compares the difference between the detected external and internal temperatures in step 306, to check whether the external temperature is higher than the internal temperature in step 308 or whether internal temperature is higher than the external temperature in step 310.

When the detected external temperature is determined to be higher than the detected internal temperature based on the check results in step 308, the control block 212 generates a control signal for operating the cooling system 114 in step 312. A cold air generated by the operation of the cooling system 114 is introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 and then transferred to the illumination control board 108, on which the lights 106 are mounted, through an air flow path to radiate a heat generated from the heat radiation portion of the illumination control board 108 (execution of the first heat radiation mode) in step 314. To this end, the heat radiation portion of the illumination control board 108 has a structure that it is opened to the interior of the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104.

Or, when the detected internal temperature is determined to be higher than the detected external temperature based on the check results in step 310, the control block 212 generates a control signal for operating the air inlet controller 216 in step 316. External cold air introduced by the operation of the air inlet controller 216 is introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104 and then transferred to the illumination control board 108, on which the lights 106 are mounted, through an air flow path to radiate a heat generated from the heat radiation portion (execution of the second heat radiation mode) in step 318.

Namely, in the embodiment of the present invention, when the external temperature is relatively higher than the internal temperature of the plant growth chamber, the first heat radiation mode is executed to radiate a heat of the heat radiation portion of the illumination control board by making cold air generated by operating the cooling system 114 to be introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct. Meanwhile, when the external temperature is lower than the internal temperature of the plant growth chamber, the second heat radiation mode is executed to radiate a heat of the heat radiation portion of the illumination control board by making external cold air introduced into the ventilation/air-conditioning duct.

Next, the air discharged after the foregoing sequential heat radiation process may be re-used for heating or cooling the building in order to enhance energy efficiency by restraining power consumption. This will now be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a major process of re-using air discharged from the ventilation/air-conditioning duct generated when a heat radiation mode is executed, for heating or cooling the building in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 4, when the heat radiation apparatus executes the first heat radiation mode or the second heat radiation mode in step 402, the control block 212 searches for the memory block 214 to check whether a heating mode (e.g., during winter season, or the like) or a cooling mode (e.g., during summer season, or the like) is selected to re-use air for heating or cooling the building (steps 404 and 406).

When it is determined that the heating mode has been selected based on the check results in step 404, the outlet temperature sensor 208 detects a temperature of the discharge air, which is heated due to heat radiation and reaches the outlet of the duct 104 under the control of the control block 212 and transfers the same to the control block 212, and the building inside temperature sensor 210 detects the internal temperature of the building and transfers the same to the control block 212 in step 408.

Subsequently, the control block 212 compares the temperature of the discharge air and the building inside temperature in step 410. When the temperature of the discharge air is determined to be higher than the building inside temperature, the control block 212 controls to provide the discharge air (heated air) from the outlet of the duct 104 to the interior of the building or the predetermined space within the building, thereby allowing the air heated due to heat radiation to be re-used for heating the building in step 412. Meanwhile, when the temperature of the discharge air is determined to be lower than the building inside temperature, the control block 212 controls to exhaust the discharge air from the outlet of the duct 104 to the outside of the building in step 414. Herein, in order to allow cold air to be smoothly introduced and discharge heated air, the control block 212 operates the air outlet controller 218. This is to allow the air, which has been heated while passing through the heat radiation portion of the illumination control board 108, to be smoothly exhausted to the external air outlet of the ventilation/air-conditioning duct 104.

Namely, when the heat radiation mode is executed in a state that the user selects to re-use air for a heating operation, the discharge air is re-used for a heating operation when the temperature of the discharge air at the outlet of the duct 104 is higher than the building inside temperature, or otherwise, the discharge air at the duct 104 is discarded to the outside of the building.

Meanwhile, when it is determined that the cooling mode has been selected based on the check results in step 406, the outlet temperature sensor 208 detects the temperature of the discharge air, which reaches the outlet of the duct 104 under the control of the control block 212 and transfers the same to the control block 212, and the building inside temperature sensor 210 detects the internal temperature of the building and transfers the same to the control block 212 in step 416.

Thereafter, the control block 212 compares the temperature of the discharge air with the building inside temperature in step 418. When it is determined that the temperature of the discharge air is lower than the building inside temperature, the control block 212 provides the discharge air from the outlet of the duct to the interior of the building or the predetermined space within the building, to thus allow the discharge air discharged from the duct 104 to be re-used for cooling the building in step 420. When it is determined that the temperature of the discharge air is at higher than the building inside temperature, the control block 212 controls to exhaust discharge air from the outlet of the duct 104 to the outside of the building in step 422.

Namely, in case where the heat radiation mode is executed in a state that the user has selected to re-use air for a cooing operation (cooling mode is selected), when the temperature of the discharge air at the outlet of the duct is lower than the building inside temperature, the discharge air is re-used for a cooling operation, or otherwise, the discharge air at the duct 104 is discarded to the outside of the building.

Of course, when it is determined that none of the heating mode and the cooling mode is selected based on the check results in steps 404 and 406, the control block 212 exhausts the discharge air from the outlet of the duct to the outside of the building in step 422. Namely, when the user does not select re-use of air for a heating operation or a cooling operation, the discharge air at the outlet of the duct after heat radiation is discharged to the outside of the building to be discarded.

As described above, in accordance with the present invention, when the external temperature of the plant growth chamber in which the multiple lights are installed is relatively higher than the internal temperature, the cooling system of the building in which the plant growth chamber is installed is actuated to allow cold air to be introduced into the ventilating/air-conditioning duct connected to the heat radiation portion of the illumination control board on which the lights are mounted, and when the internal temperature is relatively higher than the external temperature, external cold air is introduced into the ventilating/air-conditioning duct, thereby radiating heat generated by the plant growth lights. Thus, a reduction in a life span of the plant growth lights, a degradation of performance, or the like due to heat generation can be effectively prevented.

Also, in accordance with the present invention, since a heat generated from the lights installed in the plant growth chamber is radiated by utilizing the ventilation system previously installed in the building without requiring an additional structure for heat radiation, the cost of the apparatus can be reduced and the structure of the apparatus can be simplified.

While the invention has been shown and described with respect to the particular embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.