Vertical farming research purposes
Vertical farming involves growing crops in vertically stacked cultivation layers or integrated in other structures (such as in a skyscraper, old warehouse or an empty office building).
Energy consumption vertical farms
The energy consumption of vertical farms is currently still very high. The high energy consumption is due to the lighting and air conditioning. However, light is a prominent factor in vertical farming. Therefore, there is an urgent need to optimize the efficiency of using light. Nowadays, a lot of research is being done to be able to grow products in a vertical farm with lower energy consumption than in a greenhouse.
Example research
An example of research currently underway is that pulse width modulated (PWM) LEDs could contribute to more energy efficient production. There are no LEDs with a variability of duty cycle and frequency with specific application/ optimization. The research aims to achieve an energy reduction with a comparable output depending on a specific combination of duty cycle and frequency. The research is conducted under controlled conditions. Each of the plant levels will be equipped with LED lighting, which must be individually adjustable and it must be possible to control all installation levels synchronously via an interface.
High demands on product specifications
To be able to carry out these studies, LED products with certain specifications are necessary. These LED products can be developed by us. When designing these products, we consider specifications such as wavelength peak, beam angle, PPF and PPFD. In addition, our LED engines can be equipped with one or more wavelengths. Integration into new or existing installations is possible due to the custom-made design. The radiance and brightness of our LED engines can be adjusted with the correct PWM time. This can save significant energy costs in installations. The electrical efficiency of a fixture (indicating how much light is obtained for the energy input) is also taken into account.
MaNima Pollux Industry
This LED driver can control a wide range of LED engines using industrial protocols. The electronic specifications can be monitored in real time, which ensures that maximum efficiency can be achieved. The heat development of the LED engines can also be measured by the MaNima Pollux Industry. When the temperature gets too high, the MaNima Pollux Industry reduces the current. The Zirqle Group has already developed products for some studies in indoor farming/ vertical farming, see below. Questions? Contact us.
For more information about the vertical farming, visit Zirqle Solutions: Indoor Farming - Zirqle Solutions (zirqle-solutions.nl)
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