Analysis and Optimization of the Fan-Pad Evaporative Cooling System for Greenhouse Based on CFD

Abstract

A CFD model was presented to simulate the distribution of air velocity and temperature in a greenhouse adopting the fan-pad cooling system in summer. The Boussinesq hypothesis was applied for the simulation of gravitation; the k-turbulent model and discrete ordinates model were selected to predict the distribution of air velocity and temperature inside greenhouse using the commercial software Fluent. The differences between simulated and measured air temperature varied from 0.9 to 4 ∘ C and the differences of air velocity were less than 0.15 m/s, which proved that the CFD method can estimate the distribution of air velocity and temperature in the greenhouse rationally and effectively. The validated CFD model was then used to evaluate the cooling effect and design the installment of fan and pad in terms of the crop size. The results implied that Case 3 and Case 5 should be chosen when the height of crop canopy varies from 2 m to 3 m. When it varies from 1 m to 2 m, all the cases can be effective except Case 1. When the canopy height is below 1 m, all the cases can be selected. This paper suggested that the CFD model can be used as an optimal tool for fan-pad evaporative cooling system in the greenhouse.

Greenhouse Crop Simulation Models and Microclimate Control Systems, A Review

“…Chen et al [34] adapted the CFD model to simulate the distribution of velocity and air temperature in greenhouses with fan and pad cooling systems in summer. The CFD simulations showed that when the crop canopy height is between 2 to 3 m, the fan and pad height options from the ground level of 0.6 and 1.4 m, respectively, and the fan and pad height of both 1.4 m were appropriate.…”

Determining of Water Chiller Usage Time on Potato Crop Based on Distribution Temperature of Root Zone

“…Kompleksitas dan realisme pendekatan komputasi terbaru memerlukan kalibrasi model digital yang hati-hati agar mendapatkan alat yang andal untuk menyiapkan dan melaksanakan simulasi (Benni et al 2017). Selain itu, menurut Chen et al (2014)…”

Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of an Evaporative Cooling System

“…The reported that the variation in CFD and experimental results of air temperature was between 0.9 to 4°C and the variation in air velocity was less than 0.15 m/s. From the work, they conclude that the CFD can be used as a tool for fan-pad evaporative cooling system used in the greenhouse [5]. Sapounas et al carriedout the simulation of the greenhouse equipped with fan and pad evaporative using a CFD code in terms of heat and mass transfer and both the external and internal climatic conditions.…”