Comparison of Four Natural Ventilation Systems in a Mediterranean Greenhouse

Abstract

Ventilation is one of the most important tools for controlling the greenhouse climate, influencing the environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide concentration, which affect the development and production of the crop. Natural ventilation is the result of the action of two natural forces, wind and thermal buoyancy. The main objectives of this study were to: 1). compare the behaviour of internal air parameters such as air temperature and humidity in a greenhouse with different management of natural ventilation and 2). calibrate and validate a climatic model. The study was based on experiments carried out in a greenhouse located at the ETSIA-Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, with floor area of 132 m2. The greenhouse was equipped with roof and side vents along the entire length. Four different systems (S) were studied, both roof and side openings (S1, A1=21.3 m2) and only roof openings (S2, A2=12.3 m2; S3, A3=7.9 m2 and S4, A4=4.4 m2). External and internal climatic parameters, such as air temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation and wind speed were measured and recorded using a data logger. All the data were recorded during several days for the different systems. Data of internal air temperature and water vapour pressure difference were analysed and compared between the different systems. In this study, ventilation rates were calculated using a model based on wind and buoyancy forces, assuming that total ventilation is due to the combined effect of both natural forces. Ventilation rates were then related to internal air conditions. Temperature differences between inside and outside varied within a range of 3.3 ºC (S1) and 10.6 ºC (S4), presenting an inverse proportionality to the ventilation area. The vapour pressure difference presented the highest value (0.111 kPa) for S2 and the lowest (0.011 kPa) for S3. A climatic model, based on energy and mass balances, allowing the prediction of internal air temperature and relative humidity, was calibrated and validated for the different ventilation systems. Partial data were used to calibrate the model and another set of data from different periods was used for model validation. Measured and predicted data were comparatively close.