AgricUltra’s Plant First™ approach to designing the AMPL™ culminated in our industry leading system efficiency. Utilizing discrete intercanopy air supply and return ducts helps us take advantage of:

1. Short working distances for the lights (Any Light) – maximizes photon light output for the least amount of watts used (inverse square law)

2. Air return ducts directly above the lights keeps them cool letting the lights operate at peak efficiency providing maximum optical output while extended their lifespan. This eliminates the need for liquid cooling or internal-fans.

3. AMPL™ can host the addition of reflective curtains that reflect otherwise stray photons back into the canopy where they belong and minimize air bleed.  An added bonus of the curtains is that they also keep the treated air focused on plants.

4. AMPL™ captures and uses the heat generated by the lights with our heat recovery technology to reduce the size of the Chiller/HVAC required to cool and dehumidify the grow room.

5. AMPL™ allows for elevated operational setpoints to further reduce the load on the chiller while still providing ideal VPD levels for the plants.

6. Because we regulate the temp/humidity within the canopy, we can provide tighter control of the air under a wider operational range.
   

7. Additionally, we can also supply auxiliary heat to the facility to provide space heating, domestic hot water and wash stations further increasing the overall system efficiency of the AMPL™ platform.

When using the AMPL™ Platform facilities are able to realize 30 - 50% reduction in energy costs vs. traditional bulk HVAC and indoor grow systems.*

*Reduction realized is dependent upon setpoint conditions, type of lights used and chiller type.

Control Evapotranspiration to Maximize Yield and Minimize HVAC loads with Dynamic VPD

Plants require a difference in vapour pressure between Intercanopy air (Partial Vapour Pressure of Air - at Canopy Temp & RH) and Saturated Vapour Pressure inside of the leaves (SPL) to move gasses in and out of leaves to perform photosynthesis. The resulting difference is called VPD (Vapour Pressure Deficit).

There is a thin layer of air around each leaf where this transition of gasses takes place and is called the boundary layer. As air stagnates (slow velocity and increased humidity) the difference between internal and external vapour pressure equalizes, the boundary layer grows, and the plant loses its ability to perform photosynthesis. Plants require a higher pressure inside the leaf (100% saturation pressure or positive VPD) to effectively push vapour out of the plant so nutrients can be pulled up through the roots. This is why healthy plant transpiration is directly related to nutrient uptake and a difference between T-Leaf and T-Air, which should be negative.

There are multiple ways to fix evapotranspiration problems; by having agency to adjust the following variables; the temperature of intercanopy air, the air velocity over the leaf boundary layer and the intercanopy RH levels. 

Bulk air DX based HVAC systems are not sensitive enough to effectively differentiate between canopy air temperature and humidity levels. While increasing air velocity lower in the canopy is not very effective with lateral or downward airflow. This leaves gross dehumidification as the most common and unfortunately most energy intensive method to correct VDP. The AMPL™ Platform manages these variables with ease.

AMPL™ 3 Way VPD Control

The AMPL™ Platform can manage VDP in three ways:

• by controlling Intercanopy air temperature independently of the RH levels

• by directing air flow upward through the canopy and across the boundary layer

• by dynamically controlling the Intercanopy’s air moisture or Relative Humidity levels independently of the temperature

AMPL™ utilizes dual independent hydronic coils for Temperature and RH control. Both Air temperature and Relative Humidity can be accurately and independently adjusted within the MicroCoil giving agency to control these variables separately and discretely. While upward moving, vertical airflow from the bottom of the canopy best mitigates boundary layer issues where they are most prevalent. Ascending airflow is also beneficial because most stomata that regulate gas exchange are located on the bottom of leaves. Additional dehumidification is not necessary with an AMPL™ system. This reduces operating costs. 

UV’s Ability to offset HVAC Loads

By incorporating Deep-UVB lighting strategies with the AMPL™ Chiller/HVAC deployments it is possible to significantly reduce operational electrical loads. This can be achieved because UVB kills mold and mildew while increasing some plants natural ability to fight pathogens.

In an AMPL™ Platform, upward airflow further minimizes the possibility of mold and infestation on the bottom of leaves while direct exposure UV light controls mold and insects on top. This provides the grower agency to elevate the temperature and humidity setpoints thus lowering the loading on the Chiller/HVAC system.

To learn more about the AgricUltra™ MetaRail™ UVB+A lighting lnstrument click here.