Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for a greenhouse indoor environment controller based on model predictive control (MPC), which can be integrated into existing greenhouse regulatory systems to optimally maintain critical climatic variables, including artificial lighting levels, CO.sub.2, indoor temperature, and humidity levels within acceptable limits. The objectives of the MPC may be to maximize the rate of crop photosynthesis while optimizing the use of the available water and energy resources, taking into account the unpredictability and intermittent nature of renewable energies and external atmospheric conditions. Accordingly, certain embodiments may facilitate the management of greenhouses by anticipating control actions for a better quality of production. For that, mathematical formulations of the optimal control problem may be described, and the numerical results related to the application of the MPC to case studies are described integrating the effects of greenhouse structural considerations and the influence of climate data on its operation.

An arrangement of photovoltaic panels is configured for installation in a greenhouse having support beams. The arrangement includes frames. Each frame includes at least one photovoltaic panel mounted on a rod. At least one motor is mechanically connected to rotate one or more rods, for bringing each photovoltaic panel to different fixed angular positions. Fittings are arranged at a perimeter of the arrangement. Each fitting is sized and shaped to attach to at least one of the support beams, such that the arrangement is supportable exclusively by the support beams. A system includes at least one such arrangement, a controller, and a plurality of sensors. The controller is programmed to select an optimal fixed angular position for each photovoltaic panel for promoting plant growth, based on environmental and plant conditions and the sensor outputs, and to instruct each motor to rotate each rod to the selected angular position.

A vertical farming system promoting uniform crop airflow in an enclosure may include a crop suspension system including crop containers, suspension extensions connected to the crop containers, and an upper support disposed at an upper side of the enclosure and connected to the suspension extensions. The system may further include a ventilation system including a main upper airway disposed at the upper side of the enclosure, upper branch airways in fluid communication with the main upper airway and disposed at the upper side of the enclosure, a main lower airway disposed at a lower side of the enclosure, and lower branch airways in fluid communication with the main lower airway. The suspension extensions may include subgroups of different lengths relative to the upper support.

The invention provides an improved system and method for a self-contained portable greenhouse, comprising a sun-light deprivation curtain system, and with a structural arrangement that integrates the fluid (liquid and air) distribution and dispensing for such plant life-support systems as water supply and irrigation, hydroponics water, nutrient and aeration, CO2 dosing, fuel (for power generation), forced-air ventilation, whereby its associated system components are miniaturized to a scale amenable for low voltage direct-current power, which are housed within the structure. The invention also provides a system architecture wherein the electrical interface infrastructure for connecting with electricity-producing resources—such as solar panels or wind turbines—is integrated into the portable greenhouse, as is the internal electrical distribution and direct-digital control for the plant life-support systems. The invention allows for multiple portable greenhouses to be interconnected along with other distribution energy resources (DER) in a DC microgrid arrangement.

An arrangement of photovoltaic panels is configured for installation in a greenhouse having support beams. The arrangement includes frames. Each frame comprises at least one photovoltaic panel mounted on a rod. At least one motor is mechanically connected to rotate one or more rods, for bringing each photovoltaic panel to different fixed angular positions. Fittings are arranged at a perimeter of the arrangement. Each fitting is sized and shaped to attach to at least one of the support beams, such that the arrangement is supportable exclusively by the support beams. A system includes at least one such arrangement, a controller, and a plurality of sensors. The controller is programmed to select an optimal fixed angular position for each photovoltaic panel for promoting plant growth, based on environmental and plant conditions and the sensor outputs, and to instruct each motor to rotate each rod to the selected angular position.

The agricultural greenhouse of the invention and the plant cultivation method using the same can cultivate plants economically and efficiently with less energy per crop yield, as it is provided with a CO.sub.2 supply means, a heat-ray shielding means, and a dehumidification and cooling means, the heat-ray shielding means is formed of using a heat-ray reflecting film, and plural through holes are formed in the heat-ray shielding means. The heat-ray reflecting film structure can cultivate plants by the agricultural greenhouse utilizing sunlight economically and efficiently as it has a structure that narrow band-shaped tapes obtained by cutting a multi-layer laminated film made by laminating at least two kinds of resin layers with different refractive indices alternately and having an average transmittance at 80% or more for visible light and an average reflectance at 70% or more for heat-ray is woven or knitted as a warp or a weft.

A ventilated plant propagation assembly provides a propagation tray that supports plant life, and a dome that covers the plants. The assembly allows for selective control between a ventilated position that allows aeration inside the dome, and a sealed position that restricts aeration inside dome. The dome laterally slides, so that depressions at the dome edges selectively interlock with ribs at the tray edges. Thus, when the dome edge slides offset from the tray edge, the dome depression engages the tray ribs, creating a seal at the junction of tray and dome. Conversely, slidably aligning the dome with the tray urges the tray ribs against the dome flange. This pushes the dome up to create a gap between the tray flange and the flat surface of the dome flange. The gap enables aeration inside dome by creating a passageway for air to flow through the edges between dome and tray.

Greenhouse comprising a roof construction, wherein the roof construction comprises a slanting upper surface, a first framework that defines a roof opening, and a rectangular ventilation window that covers the roof opening, wherein the ventilation window comprises a panel and a second framework along at least a distal front edge and two parallel side edges of the panel, wherein the greenhouse comprises a netting system to prevent passage of insects through the ventilation passage, wherein the netting system comprises an insect netting that covers the ventilation passage and that is pleated in a bellow configuration to collapse in a stacked manner, and a guiding provision for the insect netting, wherein the guiding provision comprises an elongate guiding bow between the first framework and second framework that extends along the insect netting, wherein the insect netting is slidably connected with the elongate bow.

A ventilated plant propagation assembly provides a propagation tray that supports plant life, and a dome that covers the plants. The assembly allows for selective control between a ventilated position that allows aeration inside the dome, and a sealed position that restricts aeration inside dome. The dome laterally slides, so that depressions at the dome edges selectively interlock with ribs at the tray edges. Thus, when the dome edge slides offset from the tray edge, the dome depression engages the tray ribs, creating a seal at the junction of tray and dome. Conversely, slidably aligning the dome with the tray urges the tray ribs against the dome flange. This pushes the dome up to create a gap between the tray flange and the flat surface of the dome flange. The gap enables aeration inside dome by creating a passageway for air to flow through the edges between dome and tray.

The agricultural greenhouse of the invention and the plant cultivation method using the same can cultivate plants economically and efficiently with less energy per crop yield, as it is provided with a CO.sub.2 supply means, a heat-ray shielding means, and a dehumidification and cooling means, the heat-ray shielding means is formed of using a heat-ray reflecting film, and plural through holes are formed in the heat-ray shielding means. The heat-ray reflecting film structure can cultivate plants by the agricultural greenhouse utilizing sunlight economically and efficiently as it has a structure that narrow band-shaped tapes obtained by cutting a multi-layer laminated film made by laminating at least two kinds of resin layers with different refractive indices alternately and having an average transmittance at 80% or more for visible light and an average reflectance at 70% or more for heat-ray is woven or knitted as a warp or a weft.