PFAL Simulator / Plant Factory Simulation

Developed by Wei Fang, Professor Emeritus, Department of Bio-Industrial Mechatronics Engineering, National Taiwan University | Web implementation assisted by ChatGPT 5.4 and Codex

Integrates four PFAL worksheets for CO2, water, energy, and whole-factory simulation into one unified workbook-plus-calculator interface.

原始檔 / Source files PFAL_sim.xlsx
Workbook Sheets 4 workbook sheets
Interactive Modes 4 interactive modes
Current Sheet Sheet 1

Worksheet Mode

Choose Worksheet

Worksheet 1

PF CO2 Balance

This worksheet estimates room-scale CO2 balance in a plant factory by combining net photosynthetic uptake, ventilation-driven exchange, and CO2 supply demand.

  • Inputs include room dimensions, indoor and outdoor temperature and CO2, leaf area, plant count, net photosynthetic rate, and ACH.
  • It converts ppm to mg/m糧, then calculates room volume, net uptake Cn, ventilation term Cv, and supply term Cs.
  • The central balance is Cs = Cn + Cv.

Core Equations

Formula Summary

Reference Image

CO2 Balance

A shared PFAL room reference image is used here to help relate worksheet variables to the physical layout of the compartment.

PFAL CO2 balance reference image

Worksheet 2

PF Water Balance

This worksheet organizes leaf transpiration, ventilation-driven vapor loss, dehumidification, and humidification demand into one room-scale water balance.

  • Inputs include total leaf area terms, leaf transpiration rate, dehumidification rate, room volume, indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity, and ACH.
  • It first calculates indoor and outdoor vapor density, then derives ventilation water loss Vw.
  • The balance can be written as TR + H = D + Vw, or H = D + Vw - TR.

Core Equations

Formula Summary

Reference Image

Water Balance

This water-balance image highlights TR, H, D, and Vw directly in the PF room so the equation TR + H = D + Vw can be read against the room layout.

PFAL water balance image

Worksheet 3

PF Energy Balance

This worksheet estimates sensible heat input from lamps and equipment, then balances it with ventilation loss, conductive loss, and AC removal.

  • Inputs include atmospheric pressure, lamp power, lamp count, other equipment, ACH, room geometry, indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity, and wall conductivity.
  • It calculates moist-air properties and enthalpy first, then derives ventilation heat loss Qv and conduction loss Qc.
  • The AC load is Qa = WL + We - Qv - Qc.

Core Equations

Formula Summary

Reference Image

Energy Balance

This energy-balance image places WL, We, Qa, Qv, and Qc directly on the PF room layout so the equation Qa = WL + We - Qv - Qc can be read more intuitively.

PFAL energy balance image

Worksheet 4

PF simulation

The fourth worksheet integrates photosynthesis parameters, resistance terms, room geometry, lighting, and environment into one whole-factory simulation sheet.

  • The first block calculates GTL, GL, Gc, Pm, Ps, Rp, Rd, and Pn.
  • The middle block calculates Rlv, Rav, Rvc, TR, and room-scale CO2 and water balances.
  • The final block reports CO2 supply, humidification or dehumidification demand, and AC heat removal at room scale.

Core Equations

Formula Summary

Worksheet Mode

Choose Worksheet

Inputs

Sheet 1 Inputs

CO2 balance is ready.

Outputs

Sheet 1 Outputs

CO2 balance components

Compare net uptake, ventilation exchange, and total CO2 supply at the room scale.

Inputs

Sheet 2 Inputs

Water balance is ready.

Outputs

Sheet 2 Outputs

Water balance components

Compare room transpiration, ventilation water loss, dehumidification, and humidification demand.

Inputs

Sheet 3 Inputs

Energy balance is ready.

Outputs

Sheet 3 Outputs

Energy balance components

Compare lamp and equipment heat inputs against ventilation, conduction, and AC removal.

Inputs

Sheet 4 Inputs

PF simulation is ready.

Outputs

Sheet 4 Outputs

Photosynthesis & Resistance

CO2 & Water Balance

Energy Balance

Photosynthesis block

Compare Pm, Ps, Rp, Rd, and Pn from the integrated model.

CO2 Balance

Show CN, CV, and CS from the room-scale CO2 balance.

Water Balance

Show TR(room), VW, D, and H from the room-scale water balance.

Energy Balance

Show WL, We, Qv, Qc, and Qa from the room-scale energy balance.

Resistance block

Compare Rlv, Rav, Rvc, and Rc from the same PF simulation state.