# US 2014/0196880 A1 · Apparatus and method for controlling a greenhouse environment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196880 A1 - Document ID: US20140196880A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/233,156 - Filed: 2011-07-18 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-18 - Assignees: Phaza Energy Ltd. - Inventors: Omer Pinchuk - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196880A1 ## CPC - A01G 9/241: {Arrangement of opening or closing systems for windows and ventilation panels} - A01G 9/246: {Air-conditioning systems} - F24F 11/0001: {for ventilation (F24F11/30 takes precedence)} - F24F 11/46: Improving electric energy efficiency or saving - F24F 11/65: for selecting an operating mode - F24F 11/81: by controlling the air supply to heat-exchangers or bypass channels - F24F 11/84: using valves - F24F 12/002: {using an intermediate heat-transfer fluid} - F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring - F24F 2110/10: Temperature - F24F 2110/20: Humidity - Y02A 40/25: Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor - Y02B 30/56: Heat recovery units - Y02P 60/14: Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract Apparatus for controlling an environment in a green-house, the apparatus comprising: first and second heat exchangers, each comprising a radiator and a fan system for driving air through the radiator; a first refrigerant circulation system that circulates a refrigerant fluid between and through the radiators; a heater controllable to heat the refrigerant; a controller that controls the apparatus to operate selectively in a maintenance mode or a flush mode, wherein in the maintenance mode the heater heats the refrigerant and the first and second fan systems drive air from outside to inside the greenhouse and through the radiators to acquire heat from the refrigerant, and in the flush mode the first fan system vents air from inside to outside the greenhouse through its respective radiator to deposit heat in the refrigerant and the second fan system drives air from outside to inside the greenhouse and through its respective radiator to acquire the heat deposited in the refrigerant. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Apparatus for controlling an environment in a greenhouse, the apparatus comprising: a first heat exchangers, comprising a first radiator and a first fan system for driving air through the first radiator and a second heat exchanger comprising a second radiator and a second fan system for driving air through the second radiator; a first refrigerant circulation system that circulates a refrigerant fluid between and through the first and second radiators; a heater controllable to heat the refrigerant; a controller that controls the apparatus to operate selectively in a maintenance mode or a flush mode, wherein in the maintenance mode the heater heats the refrigerant and the first and second fan systems drive air from outside to inside the greenhouse and through the first and second radiators to acquire heat from the refrigerant, and in the flush mode the first fan system vents air from inside to outside the greenhouse through the first radiator to deposit heat in the refrigerant and the second fan system drives air from outside to inside the greenhouse and through the second radiator to acquire the heat deposited in the refrigerant. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1 and comprising a third heat exchanger controllable to heat air inside the greenhouse. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the third heat exchanger comprises a radiator, a second refrigerant flow system that streams a refrigerant through the radiator, a heater that heats the refrigerant in the second refrigerant flow system and a fan system that drives air inside the greenhouse through the radiator to acquire heat from the refrigerant. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) Apparatus according to claim 3 and comprising a fluid flow control valve controllable to connect the first and second refrigerant flow systems so that heated refrigerant from the second refrigerant flow system can flow into the first refrigerant flow system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein in the maintenance mode, the controller controls the fluid control valve to connect the first and second refrigerant flow systems. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein in the maintenance mode, the controller controls the third heat exchanger to substantially refrain from heating air inside the greenhouse. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the controller controls the third heat exchanger to heat air inside the greenhouse when temperature of the inside air drops below a predetermined minimum air temperature. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein in the maintenance mode the controller controls the fan systems of the first and second heat exchangers to draw air from outside to inside the greenhouse at an average flow rate that is substantially proportional to a volume of the greenhouse. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the flow rate is greater than about 2,500 m3/hr (cubic meters per hour) and less than about 3,500 m3/hr per 3,000 m3 of greenhouse volume. ### Claim 10 (canceled) ### Claim 11 (canceled) ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the controller controls the apparatus to operate in a flush mode if relative humidity in the greenhouse is greater than a predetermined minimum relative humidity. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the controller switches operation of the apparatus between flush and maintenance modes at regular intervals. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein duration of a period of operation in the flush mode is the same for a plurality of consecutive periods of operation in the flush mode. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the flush mode periods are repeated at a repetition frequency of about between 0.8 and about 1.2 per hour. ### Claim 16 (canceled) ### Claim 17 (canceled) ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein periods of operation in the flush mode have durations of between about 5 minutes and about 10 minutes. ### Claim 19 (canceled) ### Claim 20 (canceled) ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the controller initiates periods of operation in the maintenance mode substantially at times at which periods of operation in the flush mode end. ### Claim 22 A method of controlling an environment in a greenhouse, the method comprising: periodically venting air from inside to outside the greenhouse during first periods while drawing air from outside to inside the greenhouse and heating drawn in air with heat extracted from the vented air; during second periods between the first periods, drawing in air from outside to inside the greenhouse and heating the air as it is drawn in; and initiating first periods when the relative humidity becomes greater than a predetermined relative humidity. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method according to claim 22 and comprising switching between first and second periods at regular intervals. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The method according to claim 22 and comprising determining a same duration for a plurality of consecutive first periods. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The method according to claim 22 and comprising initiating second periods substantially at times when first periods end. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The method according to claim 22 wherein an average flow rate at which air is drawn in from outside to inside the greenhouse during the second periods is substantially proportional to the greenhouse volume. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26 wherein the flow rate is between about 2,500 m3/hr and about 3,500 m3/hr per 3,000 m3 of greenhouse volume. ### Claim 28 (canceled) ### Claim 29 (canceled) ### Claim 30 (depends on 22) The method according to claim 22 wherein first periods have duration between about 5 minutes and about 10 minutes. ### Claim 31 (canceled) ### Claim 32 (canceled) ### Claim 33 (canceled) ### Claim 34 (canceled) ### Claim 35 (canceled)