Modelling of soil temperature by using Phase Change Material (PCM) to regulate the plant growing media temperature

Abstract

The temperature control of the agricultural greenhouse is important issue and to sudden temperature, changes during the growing plants are one of the problems that need to be controlled. Temperature control can be achieved in greenhouses established with the novel technological systems, but these systems are expensive systems that requires technical knowledge and infrastructure. In this study, a seasonal thermal energy storage using Phase Change Material (PCM) composite material investigated to regulate day time soil temperature in the greenhouse. The overall purpose of the research was to identify the mechanisms of heat transfer in soil covered by phase change materials. The PCM was encapsulated in to expanded perlite and soil temperature with and without using the PCM were compared. By using the experimental data, a mathematical model that can simulate the temperature of the soil in the greenhouse was developed According to the results, the research included experimental works as well as theoretical analysis.

Keywords

• Soil temperature
• phase change material (PCM)
• greenhouse applications
• modelling of soil temperature

References

1. Banaeian, N., Omid, M., Ahmadi, H., 2011. Energy and economic analysis of greenhouse strawberry production in Tehran province of Iran. Energy Conversion and Management 52(2): 1020–1025.
2. Bergman, T.L., Lavine, A.S., Incropera, F.P., Dewitt, D.P., 2011. Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer, 7th ed., John Wiley Sons. Inc. 1051p.
3. Gürmen Özçelik, T., 2017. Preparation, characterization and thermal properties of paraffin wax – expanded perlite form-stable composites for latent heat storage. Materials Science 23(1): 39-43.
4. Gürmen Özçelik, T., 2019. Investigation of glycerol-Ni(NO3)26H2O /perlite composites as form stable phase change materials. Research on Engineering Structures and Materials 6(2): 141-151.
5. Jamekhorshid, A., Sadrameli, S.M., Farid, M., 2014, A review of microencapsulation methods of phase change materials (PCMs) as a thermal energy storage (TES) medium. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 31: 531 – 542.
6. Jaworski, M., 2019. Mathematical model of heat transfer in PCM incorporated fabrics subjected to different thermal loads, Applied Thermal Engineering 150: 506–511.
7. Kenisarina, M.M., Kenisarina, K.M., 2012, Form-stable phase change materials for thermal energy storage. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 16: 1999 – 2040.
8. Mashonjowa, E., Ronsse, F., Milford, J.R., Pieters, J.G., 2013. Modelling the thermal performance of a naturally ventilated greenhouse in Zimbabwe using a dynamic greenhouse climate model. Solar Energy 91: 381–393.

9. Mu, M., Zhang, S., Yang, S., Wang, Y., 2022. Phase change materials applied in agricultural greenhouses. Journal of Energy Storage 49: 104100.
10. Prakash, J., Garg, H.P., Datta, G., 1985, A solar water heater with a built-in latent heat storage. Energy Conversion and Management 25(1): 51 – 56.
11. Rathod, M.K., Banerjee, J., 2013, Thermal stability of phase change materials used in latent heat energy storage systems: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 18: 246 – 258.
12. Sharma, A., Tyagi, V.V., Chen, C.R., Buddhi, D. 2009, Review on thermal energy storage with phase change materials and applications. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 13(2): 318 – 345.
13. Tuntiwaranuruk, U., Thepa, S., Tia, S., Bhumiratana S., Krasaechai, A., 2006. Comparison between measured and predicted ventilation rates in a naturally ventilated greenhouse. Acta Horticulturae 699: 439-448.
14. Wang, J., Lee, F.W., Ling, P.P., 2020, Estimation of thermal diffusivity for greenhouse soil temperature simulation. Applied Science 10(2): 653.
15. Zalba, B., Marı́n, J.M., Cabeza, L.F., Mehling, H., 2003, Review on thermal energy storage with phase change: materials, heat transfer analysis and applications. Applied Thermal Engineering 23(3): 251 – 283.
16. Zhou, X., Xiao, H., Feng, J., Zhang, C., Jiang, Y., 2009. Preparation and thermal properties of paraffin/porous silica ceramic composite. Composite Science and Technology 69(7-8): 1246 – 1249.
17. Ziapour, B.M., Hashtroudi, A., 2017. Performance study of an enhanced solar greenhouse combined with the phase change material using genetic algorithm optimization method, Applied Thermal Engineering, 110: 253-264.