Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Solar energy utilization and microcomputer control in the greenhouse builk curing and drying solar system

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:6170279
Three agricultural applications in a specially designed greenhouse solar system functioning as a multi-purpose solar air collector for crop production and curing/drying processes are examined. An automated hydroponic crop production system is proposed for the greenhouse solar system. Design criteria of the proposed system and its utilization of solar energy for root-zone warming are presented and discussed. Based upon limited testing of the hydroponic system considered, hydroponic production of greenhouse crops is believed reasonable to complement the year-round use of the greenhouse solar system. The hardware/software design features of a microcomputer-based control system applied in the greenhouse solar barn are presented and discussed. On-line management and utilization of incident solar energy by the microcomputer system are investigated for both the greenhouse and tobacco curing/drying modes of operation. The design approach considered for the microcomputer control system is believed suitable for regulating solar energy collection and utilization for crop production applications in greenhouse systems.
Research Organization:
North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh (USA)
OSTI ID:
6170279
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English