Analysis of thermal energy systems in greenhouses

Thesis/Dissertation · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:6853419

Milburn, W F

Techniques and systems are becoming available for use in commercial greenhouses which provide a combination of insulation, thermal storage and overheating protection. The use of these techniques and systems increases the inherent ability of the greenhouse structure to use incident solar radiation to meet the space heating load. A monthly calculation technique for the predicion of heating loads in greenhouses with the use of temperature occurrence data organized into night and day periods and the consideration of solar radiation inputs to the greenhouse and its conversion into sensible heat by the crop is developed and presented. It is an accurate technique for the prediction of heating loads which can use readily available weather data and which can be aided by a hand-held calculator. These predictions can consider the effects of various types of glazing materials, different night and day temperature setpoints, the use of night insulation and different kinds of crops. An effective method for the queantification of the thermal crop environment is demonstrated and the usefulness of that method is shown in quantifying changes in the thermal crop environment brought about by passive energy conservation systems. This method is based on the mean radiant temperature concept and, as such, has the additional ability to evaluate non-passive systems such as radiant heat and soil heat.

• OSTI ID: 6853419
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140901 -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Space Heating & Cooling
25 ENERGY STORAGE
250600* -- Energy Storage-- Thermal
BUILDINGS
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
CONTROL
CROPS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENERGY TRANSFER
ENVIRONMENT
EQUIPMENT
GREENHOUSES
HEAT TRANSFER
HEATING
HEATING SYSTEMS
INFORMATION
MASS
MEASURING METHODS
RADIATIONS
SOLAR HEATING
SOLAR RADIATION
STELLAR RADIATION
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT
THERMAL INSULATION
THERMAL MASS
WEATHER
WEATHERIZATION