Development of a Multiple Scattering Reflector Light for Plant Factories

The profitability of plant factories is significantly influenced by their operational methods and prevailing market conditions. These facilities produce high-quality and safe agricultural products, which is increasingly crucial given the rising consumer demand for food safety and quality. In the context of plant factories, LED lighting systems are more energy-efficient compared to traditional fluorescent lights. However, electricity expenses still constitute over 30% of the total operational costs, thereby impacting overall profitability. The current high-density LED lighting configurations result in substantial light leakage and wastage, thereby elevating power consumption.
In this study, we employed a nonwoven fabric developed by Opes Co., Ltd., which is integrated with visible light-responsive titanium dioxide. This titanium dioxide is responsive to light wavelengths up to 570 nm, with particle sizes ranging from 20 to 50 nm. This photocatalyst's compatibility with visible light makes it suitable for use with commercial LED lights. To further augment light utilization efficiency, we incorporated a reflector (Furukawa Electric, MCPET) renowned for its high total and diffuse reflectance in the visible spectrum. By integrating the nonwoven fabric with the reflector, we achieved multiple scattering effects through incident light, Rayleigh scattering with nanoparticles, and enhanced total and diffuse light reflection. The objectives of this research are twofold: (1) to investigate the effects of multiple scattering reflector light on plant growth, and (2) to design the optimal layout for the multiple scattering reflector light unit.
This research aims to enhance plant growth efficiency by utilizing multiple scattering reflection technology for uniform light distribution, thereby improving growth rates and yields. Moreover, the optimal arrangement of LED lighting and reflectors is expected to improve plant health.