DYNAMICS OF CLIMATIC CONDITIONS IN A GREENHOUSE: TWO LOCATIONS IN MEXICO

For most greenhouse locations in Mexico, climate dynamics are primarily influenced by the local weather because they mainly have naturally ventilated structures.
Since during the year there is weather fluctuation, greenhouse climate demands strategic use of ventilation having effects on other climate variables.
This work conducts an investigation about a representative greenhouse, which is simulated by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in order to know the effects of weather conditions from two locations in Mexico on the air temperature and humidity within the greenhouse.
A typical greenhouse of northeast of Mexico, with a natural ventilation system was studied.
This greenhouse has three spans and an orientation North-South.
The model considers tomato crop effects by adding the evapotranspiration phenomenon.
Then, the goal is to compare with experimental data three representative scenarios that cover the wind speed variation and its associated climatic variables such as temperature, humidity and solar radiation.
Furthermore, it is possible to combine the effects of the climatic variables with thermal properties of the cover, buoyancy effects, physical properties of the insect-proof screen and the estimation of evapotranspiration.
Additionally, this investigation serves to initially provide accurate estimations of energy dynamics and the most convenient location within the greenhouse to log climatic data.

International Symposium on New Technologies for Environment Control, Energy-Saving and Crop Production in Greenhouse and Plant Factory – Greensys 2013

F. Rojano, J. Flores-Velázquez , F. Villarreal-Guerrero, A. Rojano

natural ventilation, Computational Fluid Dynamics, greenhouse climate, microclimate modeling

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2014.1037.127