Plant factories: Reducing energy demand at high internal heat loads through façade design

The increase in global food demand has led to the introduction of new food production systems. One key example is the plant factory. Plant factories face the same challenge as many high-tech building functions: high energy demands resulting from high internal heat loads. In this study we investigate how this energy demand can be reduced through façade design. Energy efficient design closely follows function, façade construction and local climate. Therefore, we analysed the effects of façade properties on the energy use in plant factories for three disparate climate zones: Sweden (Dfc), the Netherlands (Cfb) and the United Arab Emirates (BWh). We coupled the building energy simulation program EnergyPlus with a crop transpiration model to calculate the lighting, sensible cooling, latent cooling, and heating demand from the energy balance. In terms of energy demand (kWh m−2), opaque façades with high U-values and optimised albedo can reduce the facilities’ cooling demand by 18.8%, 30.0% and 30.4%, and their energy demand by 6.1%, 12.5% and 9.5%, for the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands and Sweden, respectively. In terms of electricity use (kWhe m−2), transparent façades are more efficient, as they allow the use of freely available solar energy instead of artificial light. These façades can reduce electricity use by 9.4%, 7.6% and 7.4%, for the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands and Sweden, respectively. The presented façade design strategies can significantly reduce energy demand in plant factories. The investigation provides a foundation for the energy efficient design of high-tech buildings, tailored to local climate.</p

D6.1 Market analysis and technology database report

Within the EDEN-ISS project, a lot of technologies were implemented into the Future Expoloration Greenhouse (FEG) for the analogue mission on Antarctica. Most were existing technologies that had been developed within previous “space related” projects and some were derived from existing hightech greenhouse production technology. This document analyses the potential for spin-offs to other applications, particularly of the technologies that were either new or modifications of existing technologies, that is: the E-nose for the microbial detection; the water-cooled LED luminaries for plant lighting; the online, continuous control of the spectrum of the luminaries and the plant health monitoring system. Whereas the potential for application of the modified E-nose is particularly in hospitals and related places, the potential for the other three systems is particularly in high-tech, fresh vegetable production, such as high-tech greenhouses or Vertical Farms. Indeed, given the size of such markets, the potential for each system is certainly high. This document also gives a preview of the improvements/adaptations of each system, which would improve the penetration in the potential market

Unraveling the Role of Red:Blue LED Lights on Resource Use Efficiency and Nutritional Properties of Indoor Grown Sweet Basil

Indoor plant cultivation can result in significantly improved resource use efficiency (surface, water, and nutrients) as compared to traditional growing systems, but illumination costs are still high. LEDs (light emitting diodes) are gaining attention for indoor cultivation because of their ability to provide light of different spectra. In the light spectrum, red and blue regions are often considered the major plants’ energy sources for photosynthetic CO2 assimilation. This study aims at identifying the role played by red:blue (R:B) ratio on the resource use efficiency of indoor basil cultivation, linking the physiological response to light to changes in yield and nutritional properties. Basil plants were cultivated in growth chambers under five LED light regimens characterized by different R:B ratios ranging from 0.5 to 4 (respectively, RB0.5, RB1, RB2, RB3, and RB4), using fluorescent lamps as control (CK1). A photosynthetic photon flux density of 215 μmol m−2 s−1 was provided for 16 h per day. The greatest biomass production was associated with LED lighting as compared with fluorescent lamp. Despite a reduction in both stomatal conductance and PSII quantum efficiency, adoption of RB3 resulted in higher yield and chlorophyll content, leading to improved use efficiency for water and energy. Antioxidant activity followed a spectral-response function, with optimum associated with RB3. A low RB ratio (0.5) reduced the relative content of several volatiles, as compared to CK1 and RB ≥ 2. Moreover, mineral leaf concentration (g g−1 DW) and total content in plant (g plant−1) were influences by light quality, resulting in greater N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and Fe accumulation in plants cultivated with RB3. Contrarily, nutrient use efficiency was increased in RB ≤ 1. From this study it can be concluded that a RB ratio of 3 provides optimal growing conditions for indoor cultivation of basil, fostering improved performances in terms of growth, physiological and metabolic functions, and resources use efficiency

Introducing EDEN ISS - A European project on advancing plant cultivation technologies and operations

Plant cultivation in large-scale closed environments is challenging and several key technologies necessary for space-based plant production are not yet space-qualified or remain in early stages of development. The EDEN ISS project foresees development and demonstration of higher plant cultivation technologies, suitable for future deployment on the International Space Station and from a long-term perspective, within Moon and Mars habitats. The EDEN ISS consortium will design and test essential plant cultivation technologies using an International Standard Payload Rack form factor cultivation system for potential testing on-board the International Space Station. Furthermore, a Future Exploration Greenhouse will be designed with respect to future planetary bio-regenerative life support system deployments. The technologies will be tested in a laboratory environment as well as at the highly-isolated German Antarctic Neumayer Station III. A small and mobile container-sized test facility will be built in order to provide realistic mass flow relationships. In addition to technology development and validation, food safety and plant handling procedures will be developed. This paper describes the goals and objectives of EDEN ISS and the different project phases and milestones. Furthermore, the project consortium will be introduced and the role of each partner within the project is explained

The functional dependence of canopy conductance on water vapor pressure deficit revisited

Current research seeking to relate between ambient water vapor deficit (D) and foliage conductance (gF) derives a canopy conductance (gW) from measured transpiration by inverting the coupled transpiration model to yield gW = m − n ln(D) where m and n are fitting parameters. In contrast, this paper demonstrates that the relation between coupled gW and D is gW = AP/D + B, where P is the barometric pressure, A is the radiative term, and B is the convective term coefficient of the Penman-Monteith equation. A and B are functions of gF and of meteorological parameters but are mathematically independent of D. Keeping A and B constant implies constancy of gF. With these premises, the derived gW is a hyperbolic function of D resembling the logarithmic expression, in contradiction with the pre-set constancy of gF. Calculations with random inputs that ensure independence between gF and D reproduce published experimental scatter plots that display a dependence between gW and D in contradiction with the premises. For this reason, the dependence of gW on D is a computational artifact unrelated to any real effect of ambient humidity on stomatal aperture and closure. Data collected in a maize field confirm the inadequacy of the logarithmic function to quantify the relation between canopy conductance and vapor pressure deficit

Modelling crop transpiration in greenhouses: Different models for different applications

Models for the evapotranspiration of greenhouse crops are needed both for accurate irrigation and for the simulation or management of the greenhouse climate. For this purpose, several evapotranspiration models have been developed and presented, all based on the Penman–Monteith approach, the “big-leaf” model. So, on the one hand, relatively simple models have been developed for irrigation scheduling purposes, and on the other, “knowledge–mechanistic” models have been developed for climate control purposes. These models differ in the amount of detail about variables, such as stomatal and aerodynamic conductance. The aim of this review paper is to present the variables and parameters affecting greenhouse crop transpiration, and to analyze and discuss the existing models for its simulation. The common sub-models used for the simulation of crop transpiration in greenhouses (aerodynamic and stomatal conductances, and intercepted radiation) are evaluated. The worth of the multilayer models for the simulation of the mass and energy exchanges between crops and air are also analyzed and discussed. Following the presentation of the different models and approaches, it is obvious that the different applications for which these models have been developed entail varying requirements to the models, so that they cannot always be compared. Models developed in different locations (high–low latitudes or for closed or highly ventilated greenhouses) are discussed, and their sensitivity to different parameters is presented.</p

The Body in Question in the Existence of Hysteric Persons: A Phenomenological Perspective

The concept of hysteria, although apparently surpassed by contemporary nosographic classifications, continues to be talked about. Following Charbonneau's attempt to de-feminize and de-sexualize hysteria, clinical phenomenology can offer a perspective which, freed from stigma and prejudices through the suspension of judgement, allows us to understand hysteria not as a diagnostic category but as an existential position. In this sense, hysteria would be based on a hypo-sufficiency of the embodied self, which is not perceived as solid and continuous and needs external confirmations of its adequacy. According to the optical-coenaesthetic disproportion hypothesis, the hypo-sufficiency of the embodied self originates from the difficulty of experiencing one's body from the first-person perspective and from the consequent use of the gaze of others as a prosthesis to achieve a sense of selfhood and identity. Hysteric persons develop a mode of access to their corporeality mediated by visual representations - hence the theatricalization, centrality, and seductiveness of hysteric persons' behaviour. We suggest to call "figural body" the visual apprehension of one's body which tries to compensate for the weakness of coenaesthetic apprehension of the lived body. Over time, the figural body ends up superimposing itself on the immediate experience of the lived body. Placing itself on a representative register, this image conveys not only individual ghosts but also cultural aspects, social prejudices, gender stereotypes. Thus, the attempt to experience one's own body with the mediation of the other's gaze becomes an involuntary and unaware throwing of oneself into the meshes of representation that are necessarily alienating for the person. Hysterical persons remain stuck in their inability to access an experience of their body that is not figurative, alienating themselves in representations which always come from outside. (c) 2023 S. Karger AG, Base

Materials with switchable radiometric properties: Could they become the perfect greenhouse cover?

Greenhouses shelter the crop from unfavourable environmental conditions and the covering largely contributes to creating beneficial growing conditions inside. There is no perfect greenhouse cover for all combinations of crop and climatic regions. Usually a greenhouse cover has permanent optical properties determining the amount of solar radiation entering the greenhouse. Consequently during crop growth, the amount and quality (spectrum, direct/diffuse ratio) of the solar radiation is not ideal for the crop. Growers try to compensate for this by using different additional techniques such as temporary coatings, screens (mobile or fixed, etc.) and heating or cooling. New materials are currently being developed, whose optical properties can be (almost) instantaneously changed (materials with switchable properties). This will allow growers to gain real-time control on the quantity and quality of the light entering the greenhouse to match crop requirement. The present study uses advanced simulation models to predict the potential of covers with switchable properties to improve tomato yield and use of resources in different climatic regions (mild winter and tropical) and with different greenhouse types (artisan and industrial type). Results indicate that covers with switchable properties have advantages over permanent properties for most combinations of filter type/location. Only in very extreme tropical climates will covering materials with permanent filter properties have advantages. Furthermore, simulations models can play a major role in optimising the switchable filter design.</p

Rooftop systems for urban agriculture

Urban population growth, consequent competition in land use, climate change and lack of productive resources are some of the problems that are currently making necessary a new form of agriculture free from soil exploitation and able to ensure food security to urban dwellers in the most sustainable way. Rooftop farming is a form of building-base agriculture that may help to address not only global nutritional uncertainty, but also social, environmental and economic issues such as social exclusion, heat island effect, storm water damages and urban poverty. This chapter describes the forms, architecture, design elements and management of rooftop farming, as well as presenting case studies from around the world. Finally, the chapter looks ahead to future research trends in this area