Energetic and economic analysis for improving greenhouse energy efficiency

Year 2021, Volume: 5 Issue: 4, 296 - 305, 31.12.2021

Abdellah Mechaqrane Laila Ouazzani Chahidi

https://doi.org/10.30521/jes.950754

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Protected agriculture is one of the prominent agricultural techniques. It allows for creating an adapted microclimate to the plant growth, which leads to high quality and off-season production. Instead, a significant amount of energy is required. This study aims to provide the potential of energy saving based on the optimal selection of the greenhouse design under Fez City’s climatic conditions (Morocco). For this purpose, a dynamic model of a gothic-arch-shaped greenhouse is created in EnergyPlus environment. The impact of four different orientations (0°, 90°, 45° and - 45°) on greenhouse energy needs is first investigated. The selected design is further improved by using a thermal insulation blankets system operating during the coldest months and deploying from the sunset to sunrise. To define the prospect of the energy saving, two variables were primarily evaluated: the greenhouse inside air temperature variation and thermal loads prompted by creating the optimum microclimate for tomato plant. Finally, an economic analysis is performed. The results show that 0° relative north (longer axis) is the optimal orientation for a gothic-arch greenhouse and that the thermal insulation blankets allow for reducing 17 % of the greenhouse heating needs under the climate conditions of Fez

Keywords

Agricultural greenhouse, Energy modeling, EnergyPlus, Insulation, Orientation

References

• [1] Avezova, NR, Toshev, JB, Dalmuradova, NN, Farmonov, AA, Mardonova, MSh. Renewable Energy: Scenario and Model of Development. Appl. Sol. Energy 2019; 55(6): 438–445, DOI: 10.3103/S0003701X19060021.
• [2] Yavor, KM, Bach, V, Finkbeiner, M. Resource Assessment of Renewable Energy Systems—A Review. Sustainability 2021; 13(11): 6107, DOI: 10.3390/su13116107.
• [3] Taki, M, Ajabshirchi, Y, Ranjbar, SF, Rohani, A, Matloobi, M. Modeling and experimental validation of heat transfer and energy consumption in an innovative greenhouse structure. Information Processing in Agriculture 2016; 3(3): 157–174, DOI: 10.1016/j.inpa.2016.06.002.
• [4] Sharma, PK, Tiwari, GN, Sorayan, VPS. Temperature distribution in different zones of the micro-climate of a greenhouse: a dynamic model. Energy Conversion and Management 1999; 40(3): 335–348, DOI: 10.1016/S0196-8904(98)00100-9.
• [5] Lokeswaran, S, Eswaramoorthy, M. An Experimental Analysis of a Solar Greenhouse Drier: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Validation. Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects 2013; 35(21): 2062–2071, DOI: 10.1080/15567036.2010.532195.
• [6] Fatnassi, H, Poncet, C, Bazzano, M. M, Brun, R, and Bertin, N. A numerical simulation of the photovoltaic greenhouse microclimate. Solar Energy 2015; 120: 575–584, DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2015.07.019.
• [7] Kıyan, M, Bingöl, E, Melikoğlu, M, Albostan A. Modelling and simulation of a hybrid solar heating system for greenhouse applications using Matlab/Simulink. Energy Conversion and Management 2013; 72: 147–155, DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2012.09.036.
• [8] Vadiee, A, Martin, V. Energy management strategies for commercial greenhouses. Applied Energy 2014; 114: 880–888, DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.08.089.
• [9] Liu, R, Li, M, Guzmán, JL, Rodríguez, F. A fast and practical one-dimensional transient model for greenhouse temperature and humidity. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 2021; 186: 106186, DOI: 10.1016/j.compag.2021.106186.
• [10] Ouazzani Chahidi, L, Fossa, M, Priarone, A, Mechaqrane A. Energy saving strategies in sustainable greenhouse cultivation in the mediterranean climate – A case study. Applied Energy 2021; 282: 116156, DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.116156.
• [11] Ouazzani Chahidi L, Fossa M, Priarone A, Mechaqrane A (2021) Greenhouse cultivation in Mediterranean climate: Dynamic energy analysis and experimental validation. Thermal Science and Engineering Progress 26:101102 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsep.2021.101102
• [12] Sahdev, RK, Kumar, M, Dhingra, AK. A comprehensive review of greenhouse shapes and its applications. Front. Energy 2019; 13(3): 427–438, DOI: 10.1007/s11708-017-0464-8.
• [13] Rezaei, SD, Shannigrahi, S, Ramakrishna, S. A review of conventional, advanced, and smart glazing technologies and materials for improving indoor environment. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 2017; 159: 26–51, DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2016.08.026.
• [14] Gupta, R, Tiwari, GN, Kumar, A, Gupta, Y. Calculation of total solar fraction for different orientation of greenhouse using 3D-shadow analysis in Auto-CAD. Energy and Buildings 2012; 47: 27–34, DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2011.11.010.
• [15] Dragićević, SM. Determining the optimum orientation of a greenhouse on the basis of the total solar radiation availability. Thermal Science 2011; 15(1): 215–221, DOI: 10.2298/TSCI100220057D.
• [16] Odesola, IF, et Ezekwem, C. The effect of shape and orientation on a greenhouse: a review. AFRREV STECH: An International Journal of Science and Technology 2012; 1(1): 122-130, eISSN: 2227-5444, print ISSN: 2225-8612.
• [17] Choab, N, Allouhi, A, El Maakoul, A, Kousksou, T, Saadeddine, S, and Jamil, A. Review on greenhouse microclimate and application: Design parameters, thermal modeling and simulation, climate controlling technologies. Solar Energy 2019; 191: 109-137, DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2019.08.042.
• [18] Ouazzani Chahidi, L, Mechaqrane, A. Greenhouse Design Selection in Moroccan Climatic Conditions. In: Bennani S., Lakhrissi Y., Khaissidi G., Mansouri A., Khamlichi Y. (eds) WITS 2020. Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering 2022; 745. Springer, Singapore. DOI: 10.1007/978-981-33-6893-4_59.
• [19] Frankenstein, S, Koenig, G. FASST Vegetation Models. Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory 2004; 56, ERDC/CRREL TR-04-25.
• [20] Kittas, C, and Bailie, A. Determination of the spectral properties of several greenhouse cover materials and evaluation of specific parameters related to plant response. Journal of Agricultural and Engineering Research 1998;. 71(2): 193–202, DOI: 10.1006/jaer.1998.0310.
• [21] Baudoin W, Nono-Womdim R, Lutaladio N, Hodder A, Castilla N, Leonardi C, et al. Good Aagricultural Practices for greenhouse vegetable crops: principles for Mediterranean climate areas 2013; FAO plant production and protection paper (FAO). DOI: 10.1201/b13737-8.