• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.40-45
• /
• 2018

Potassium in vegetables is known to have an adverse impact on a patient with chronic kidney desease. However, since vegetables also contain many other nutrient, consumption of vegetables by these patients is inevitable. The objective of this study was conducted to develop a fresh lettuce which contains low level of potassium for nephropathy in a closed-type plant factory system. Lettuce of "Charles" was used for experiment. The plants were cultivated in hydroponic system with a 16-h photoperiod at $15-21^{\circ}C$, 65% RH, $200{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$(LED W:R, 9:1) and $600-650mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ $CO_2$ during 28 days. Nutrient solution which contains 1%, 5% and 10% potassium compared to conventional composition were supplied at 1 week and 2 weeks before harvest. The content of potassium and macro elements in leafy vegetables were analyzed by ICP emission spectroscopy after harvest. The potassium content in leaf of the 2 weeks before harvest treatment was significantly lower at than control. There were no significant differences between control and treatments in fresh weight and number of leaves. But there were differences among treatments. Considering the vegetable amounts consumed by nephropathy patients, the supply of nutrient which contain 1% and 5% potassium at 2 weeks before harvest was suitable for low potassium lettuce production. This study indicated that low potassium lettuce could be produced by developed nutrient composition and supply method.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.88-97
• /
• 2013

This paper presents a robust air-to-fuel ratio (AFR) control algorithm for managing exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems. In order to handle production tolerance, deterioration and parameter-varying characteristics of the EGR system, quantitative feedback theory (QFT) is applied for designing the robust AFR control algorithm. A plant model of EGR system is approximated by the first order transfer function plus time-delay (FOPTD) model. EGR valve position and AFR of exhaust gas are used as input/output variables of the plant model. Through engine experiments, parameter uncertainty of the plant model is identified in a fixed engine operating point. Requirement specifications of robust stability and reference tracking performance are defined and these are fulfilled by the following steps: during loop shaping process, a PID controller is designed by using a nominal loop transmission function represented on Nichols chart. Then, the frequency response of closed-loop transfer function is used for designing a prefilter. It is validated that the proposed QFT-based AFR control algorithm successfully satisfy the requirements through experiments of various engine operating points.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.152-159
• /
• 2003

This study was conducted to analyze the water consumption in closed transplants production system (CTPS) for the production of quality transplants and to investigate the effect of relative humidity on the water balance in CTPS. Potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Dejima) plug seedlings were grown for 15 days at air temperature of 20$^{\circ}C$, relative humidity of 70%, photoperiod of 16/8 h, and photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) of 200 ${\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-l}$ following rooting for 5 days in CTPS. Amount of humidified, dehumidified, irrigated and evapotranspirated water were 67.9 kg${\cdot}m^{-2},\;196.9{\cdot}m^{-2},\;44.3\;kg{\cdot}m^{-2},\;33.5\;kg{\cdot}m^{-2}$, respectively. Water content of media and plants were 1.2 kg${\cdot}m^{-2},\;6.9\;kg{\cdot}m^{-2}$, respectively. Three relative humidity levels of 60, 70, and 80% were provided to analyze the effect of humidity on the water balance in CTPS. Amount of humidified, dehumidified, irrigated, evapotranspiratad water and water contents of media and plants increased with increasing relative humidity. Since the water consumption required to produce plug seedlings in CTPS dec1eased with decreasing relative humidity, the available water utilization efficiency of CTPS increased with decreasing relative humidity. CTPS showed high available water utilization efficiency of 0.92 - 0.97 if dehumidified water in CTPS was recycled. The development of CTPS with recycling system of dehumidified water will not only reduce the water consuming for the production of transplants but contribute to the establishment of plant production economizing in water consumption.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.382-389
• /
• 2011

BACKGROUND: Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with lower electric cost and the specific wavelength have been considering as a novel light source for plant production in greenhouse conditions as well as in a closed culture system. Supplementary lighting for day-length extension was considered as light intensity, light quality, and/or photoperiod control on plant growth and development. Effects of supplementary blue or red LED radiation with lower light intensity on growth of Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum Mill., cv. Blue Field), African marigold (Tagetes erecta L., cv. Orange Boy), and Salvia (Salvia splendens F. Sello ex Ruem & Schult., cv. Red Vista) were discussed during sunrise and sunset twilight in the experiment. METHODS AND RESULTS: Supplementary lighting by blue and red LEDs for 30 (Treatment B30; R30) or 60 (Treatment B60; R60) min. per day were established in greenhouse conditions. Photosynthetic photon flux for supplementary radiation was kept at $15{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}\;s^{-1}$ on the culture bed. Natural condition without supplementary light was considered as a control. The highest shoot and root dry weights were shown in African marigold exposed by red light for 60 min. per day. Supplementary blue and red lighting regardless of the radiation time significantly stimulated development of lateral branches in African marigold. Stem growth in Ageratum and Salvia seedlings was significantly promoted by red radiation as well as natural light. CONCLUSIONS: Extending of the radiation time at sunrise and sunset twilight using LEDs stimulated reproductive growth of flowering plant species. Different characteristics on growth under supplementary blue or red lighting conditions were also observed in the seedlings during supplementary radiation.

• IE interfaces
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.378-387
• /
• 2000

As the globalization of manufacturing companies continues, the scope of dependence between these companies and distributors, and other suppliers are growing very rapidly since no one company manufactures or distributes the whole product by themselves. And, the need to increase the efficiency of the whole supply chain is increasing. This paper deals with a multi-plant lot-sizing problem(MPLSP) which happens in a decentralized manufacturing system of a supply chain. In this study, we assume that the whole supply chain is driven by a single source of independent demand and many levels of dependent demands among manufacturing systems in the supply chain. We consider setup cost, transportation cost and time, and inventory holding cost as a decision factor in the MPLSP. The MPLSP is decomposed into two sub-problems: a planning problem of the whole supply chain and a lot-sizing problem of each manufacturing system. The supply chain planning problem becomes a pure linear programming problem and a Generalized Goal Decomposition method is used to solve the problem. Its result is used as a goal of the lot-sizing problem. The lot-sizing problem is solved using the CPLEX package, and then the coefficients of the planning problem are updated reflecting the lot-sizing solution. This procedure is repeated until termination criteria are met. The whole solution process is similar to Lagrangian relaxation method in the sense that the solutions are approaching the optimum in a recursive manner. Through experiments, the proposed closed-loop hierarchical planning and traditional hierarchical planning are compared to optimal solution, and it is shown that the proposed method is a very viable alternative for solving production planning problems of decentralized manufacturing systems and in other areas.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.134-142
• /
• 2019

This study was conducted to evaluate the growth characteristics of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) as affected by artificial light sources and different growing media in a closed-type plant production system (CPPS). The lettuce seeds were sown in the 128-cell plug tray filled with 5 different growing media such as urethane sponge (US), rock-wool (RW), Q-plug (QP), TP-S2 (TP) and PU-7B (PU). The germination rate of lettuce seeds was examined during 12 days after sowing. On the 13 days after sowing, the lettuce seedlings were transplanted in a CPPS with temperature $25{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ and nutrient solution (EC $2.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, pH 6.5) using recirculating deep floating technique system. The light sources were set with FL (fluorescent lamps) and combined RB LEDs (red : blue = 7 : 3) with $150{\pm}10{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ PPFD and a photoperiod of 14/10 hours (light/dark). The initial germination rate of lettuce was the highest in TP. The final germination and mean daily germination were the significantly highest in RW, QP and TP. The plant height, leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, and fresh and dry weights of shoot were the greatest in QP irradiated with RB LED. The number of leaves, fresh and dry weights of root and SPAD were the greatest in QP and TP irradiated with RB LED. The root length was the longest in TP irradiated with RB LED. Therefore, these results indicate that RB LED was effective for the growth of lettuce and it was also found that the QP and TP were effective for the germination and growth of lettuce in a CPPS. In addition, we confirmed the applicability of the newly developed growing medium TP for the lettuce production in a CPPS.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.182-187
• /
• 2013

In closed plant production system like plant factory, changes in environmental factors should be identified for conducting efficient environmental control as well as predicting energy consumption. Since high relative humidity (RH) is essential for crop production in the plant factory, transpiration is closely related with RH and should be quantified. In this study, four varieties of lettuces (Lactuca sativa L.) were grown in a plant factory, and the leaf areas and transpiration rates of the plants according to DAT (day after transplanting) were measured. The coefficients of the simplified Penman-Monteith equation were calibrated in order to calculate the transpiration rate in the plant factory and the total amount of transpiration during cultivation period was predicted by simulation. The following model was used: $E_d=a*(1-e^{-k*LAI})*RAD_{in}+b*LAI*VPD_d$ (at daytime) and $E_n=b*LAI*VPD_n$ (at nighttime) for estimating transpiration of the lettuce in the plant factory. Leaf area and transpiration rate increased with DAT as exponential growth. Proportional relationship was obtained between leaf area and transpiration rate. Total amounts of transpiration of lettuces grown in plant factory could be obtained by the models with high $r^2$ values. The results indicated the simplified Penman-Monteith equation could be used to predict water requirements as well as heating and cooling loads required in plant factory system.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.34-39
• /
• 2023

Growth modeling in plant factories can not only control stable production and yield, but also control environmental conditions by considering the relationship between environmental factors and plant growth rate. In this study, using the expolinear function, we modeled perilla [Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt.] cultivated in a plant factory. Perilla growth was investigated 12 times until flower bud differentiation occurred after planting under light intensity, photoperiod, and the ratio of mixed light conditions of 130 μmol·m^-2·s^-1, 12/12 h, red:green:blue (7:1:2), respectively. Additionally, modeling was performed to predict dry and fresh weights using the expolinear function. Fresh and dry weights were strongly positively correlated (r = 0.996). Except for dry weight, fresh weight showed a high positive correlation with leaf area, followed by plant height, number of leaves, number of nodes, leaf length, and leaf width. When the number of days after transplanting, leaf area, and plant height were used as independent variables for growth prediction, leaf area was found to be an appropriate independent variable for growth prediction. However, additional destructive or non-destructive methods for predicting growth should be considered. In this study, we created a growth model formula to predict perilla growth in plant factories.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.193-200
• /
• 2013

BACKGROUND: Plant factory system of an artificial light type using Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs), fluorescent light, or metal halide lamp instead of sun light is an ultimated method for plant production without any pesticides regardless of seasonal changes. The plant factory is also completely isolated from outside environmental conditions such as a light, temperature, or humidity compared to conventional greenhouse. Light-environment control such as a quality or quantity in the plant factory system is essential for improving the growth and development of plant species. However, there was little report that the effects of various light qualities provided by LEDs on Ledebouriella seseloides growth under the plant factory system. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ledebouriella seseloides seedlings transplanted at urethane sponge were grown in the plant factory system of a horizontal type with LED artificial lights for 90 days. Yamazaki solution for hydroponic culture of the seedlings was regularly irrigated by the deep flow technique (DFT) system on the culture gutters. Electrical Conductivity (EC) and pH of the solution was recorded at 1.4 ds/m and 5.8 in average, respectively during the experimental period. Number of unfolded leaves, leaf length, shoot fresh and dry weight of the seedlings were three times measured in every 30 days after beginning of the experiment. Blue LEDs, red LEDs, and fluorescent lights inside the plant factory were used as light sources. Conventional fluorescent lamps were considered as a control. In all the treatment, light intensity was maintained at $100{\mu}mol/m^2/s$ on the culture bed. Fresh weight of the seedlings was 3.7 times greater in the treatment with the mixture radiation of fluorescent light and blue+red LEDs (1:3 in energy ratio; Treatment FLBR13) than in fluorescent light treatment (Treatment FL). In FLBR13 treatment, dry weight per seedling was two times greater than in FL or BR11 treatment of blue+red LEDs (1:3 in energy ratio; Treatment BR11) during the culture period. Increasing in number of unfolded leaves was also significantly affected by the FLBR13 treatment comparing with BR11 treatment. CONCLUSION(S): Hydroponic culture of Ledebouriella seseloides seedlings was successfully achieved in the plant factory system with mixture lights of blue, red LEDs and fluorescent lights. Shoot growth of the seedlings was significantly promoted by the FLBR13 with the mixture radiation of fluorescent light, blue, and red LEDs under 1:3 mixture ratio of blue and red LEDs during the experimental period compared to conventional light conditions.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.279-286
• /
• 2013

Purpose: This study was conducted to analyze the utilization efficiencies of electric energy and photosynthetically active radiation of lettuce grown under red LED, blue LED and fluorescent lamps with different photoperiods. Methods: Red LED with peak wavelength of 660 nm and blue LED with peak wavelength of 450 nm were used to analyze the effect of three levels of photoperiod (12/12 h, 16/8 h, 20/4 h) of LED illumination on light utilization efficiency of lettuce grown hydroponically in a closed plant production system (CPPS). Cool-white fluorescent lamps (FL) were used as the control. Photosynthetic photon flux, air temperature and relative humidity in CPPS were maintained at 230 ${\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, $22/18^{\circ}C$ (light/darkness), and 70%, respectively. Electric conductivity and pH were controlled at 1.5-1.8 $dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ and 5.5-6.0, respectively. The light utilization efficiency based on the chemical energy converted by photosynthesis, the accumulated electric energy consumed by artificial lighting sources, and the accumulated photosynthetically active radiation illuminated from artificial lighting sources were calculated. Results: As compared to the control, we found that the accumulated electric energy consumption decreased by 75.6% for red LED and by 70.7% for blue LED. The accumulated photosynthetically active radiation illuminated from red LED and blue LED decreased by 43.8% and 33.5%, respectively, compared with the control. The electric energy utilization efficiency (EEUE) of lettuce at growth stage 2 was 1.29-2.06% for red LED, 0.76-1.53% for blue LED, and 0.25-0.41% for FL. The photosynthetically active radiation utilization efficiency (PARUE) of lettuce was 6.25-9.95% for red LED, 3.75-7.49% for blue LED, and 2.77-4.62% for FL. EEUE and PARUE significantly increased with the increasing light period. Conclusions: From these results, illumination time of 16-20 h in a day was proposed to improve the light utilization efficiency of lettuce grown in a plant factory.