• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2007

This study was accomplished to compare energy saving effects of several heat insulation materials in greenhouse and to develop new automatic opening and closing equipment which is suitable to the most effective heat insulation material. To find out more effective heat insulation material, the magnitude of heat transfer occurred through aluminum screen (ALS), non-woven fabric (NWF), double-layer aluminum screen with chemical cotton sheet (DAL), and multi-layer fabric screen material quilted with non-woven fabric, chemical cotton, poly foam, and polypropylene (MLF) were compared relatively. The results showed that the relative magnitude of heat transfer occurred through MLF was lower than DAL and ALS by 23.3% and 43.0% respectively. MLF screen material was the most effective compared with other heat insulation materials. But because of thickness, there was a need of new mechanism for automatic operation in greenhouse. Accordingly, new screen system using MLF-thick but profitable for keeping warm in greenhouse-was developed. Opening & closing equipment was designed to roll MLF with pipe axis during opening process and pull MLF with string during closing process with electric motors, clutches, drums, and so on. In hot pepper cultivation and energy saving test during winter time, the early stage yield of pepper under MLF screen system was higher than NWF by 27%, and gasoline consumption of MLF screen system was lower than NWF by 46%.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.294-301
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• 2018

In winter, thermal screens are widely used to reduce heat loss from greenhouse to save energy. Unfortunately, not much data are available to the farmer to compare thermal screens while selecting the one that meets their specific requirements. Thus, there is a need to investigate the thermal performance of thermal screens. To address this issue, the Building Energy Simulation (BES) model of a hot box was used to calculate the overall heat transfer coefficient (U-value) of the thermal screens. To validate the model, computed and experimental U-values of single-and double-layered polyethylene (PE) material were compared. This validated model was used to predict the U-values of the selected thermal screens under defined weather conditions. We quantified the U-values of each selected material and significant changes in their U-values were noted in response to different weather conditions. Notably, the thermal properties of the tested screens were taken from the previous literature to calculate U-values using the BES model. The U-values of the thermal screens can help researchers and farmers evaluate their screens and make pre-design decisions that suit their investment capabilities.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.320-325
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• 2020

This study aimed to analyze thermo-keeping and economic feasibility by utilizing silica aerogel, which has been attracting attention as a new material, complementing the disadvantages of the conventional multi-layered thermal screen, and producing and installing multi-layered thermal screen. The multi-layered thermal screen used in the experiment was produced in two combinations using a non-woven fabric containing silica aerogel and measured and compared the temperature and fuel consumption changes due to differences in practice with the multi-layered thermal screen being sold and used on the market. Experimental results show that the temperature and relative humidity changes due to the differences of the multi-layered thermal screens in the single-span greenhouse and the multi-span greenhouse were small but remained almost the same temperature and relative humidity. It is judged that this shows that the multi-layered thermal screen using silica aerogel is not inferior to the conventional multi-layered thermal screen. As a result of a comparative analysis of heating energy, the aerogel-based multi-layered thermal screen reduced fuel consumption by about 15% in the single-span greenhouse and about 20% in the multi-span greenhouse compared to the conventional multi-layered thermal screen. It is clear that heating energy is saved as a greenhouse size and duration increase. It was found that the silica aerogel-based multi-layered screen was more breathable and warmer than the conventional multi-layered thermal screen, but It was found that the multi-layered screen used in the multi-span greenhouse was heavier and stiff compared with the conventional multi-layered thermal screen, indicating less workability and operability. Therefore, improvements were applied to the multi-layered screens used in the single-span greenhouses. It was confirmed that the replacement of internal insulation materials reduced thickness and improved stiffness so that there could be sufficient possibility for farmers to use.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.251-257
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• 2004

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of different covering materials and methods on heat insulation of a plastic greenhouse, growth and yield of tomato. Night air and soil temperatures in a double-layer greenhouse with external multifold thermal cover (MTC; eight-ounce cassimere+four-fold polyform+double-fold non-woven fabric+single-fold polypropylene covering were about $1^{\circ}C$ lower than in that with internal MTC covering, but about $3^{\circ}C$ higher than in that with an EVA film screen. Tomato yield in the external MTC covering increased by $2\%\;and\;19\%$ as compared to that in the internal MTC covering and the non-covering of MTC, respectively, due to its high light transmission and insulation effect. Night air temperatures in a double-layer greenhouse with external MTC covering and with thermal screen (polyester plus aluminium) were $2.2^{\circ}C\;and\;4.5^{\circ}C$ higher than those in a double-layer greenhouse with an external MTC covering and in a double-layer greenhouse equipped an EVA film screen, respectively. Tomato yield in the treatment with external MTC covering and a thermal screen was $18\%\;and\;37\%$ greater than that in the external MTC covering and in an EVA film screen, respectively. Results indicate that tomato could be grown without heating or with minimal heating in a double-layer greenhouse covered with MTC and a thermal screen during the winter season in sourthern regions of Korea.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.273-278
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• 2019

The multi-layer insulating curtains used in the experiment was produced in six combinations using non-woven fabric containing aerogel and compared and analyzed by measuring heat flux and heat perfusion rates due to weight, thickness and temperature changes. Using silica aerogel, which have recently been noted as new material insulation, this study tries to produce a new combination of multi-layer insulating curtains that can complement the shortcomings of the multi-layer insulating curtains currently in use and maintain and improve its warmth, and analyze the thermal properties. The heat flux means the amount of heat passing per unit time per unit area, and the higher the value, the more heat passing through the multi-layer insulating curtain, and it can be judged that the heat retention is low. The weight and thickness of multi-layer insulation curtains were found to be highly correlated with thermal insulation. In particular, insulation curtains combined with aerogel meltblown non-woven fabric had relatively higher thermal insulation than insulation curtains with the same number of insulation materials. However, the aerogel meltblown non-woven fabric is weak in light resistance and durability, and there is a problem that the production process and aerogel are scattering. In order to solve this problems, the combination of expanded aerogel non-woven fabric and hollow fiber non-woven fabric, which are relatively simple manufacturing processes and excellent warmth, are suitable for use in real farms.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.34-42
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• 1996

This study was conducted to investigate the physical and optical properties of polypropylene and polyester thermal curtains, in which tensile strength, heat reservance and light transmission of two different materials were measured. The results from this study are as follows. 1. The tensile weight of different materials were ranged from 3.4kg to 13.4kg, according to the thickness of materials, but that no difference in the tensile strength was appeared between the two materials. The Elongation of polypropylene materials and the tensile weight and strength of polyester materials were greater than any other materials. 2. The light transmittances of two materials were ranged from 50.3% to 81.7 %, light transmittances in polypropylene were higher by 20-30%,than those in polyester. 3. The heat reservances of two materials were ranged from 18.2% to 41.2%, in which polypropylene showed better performance than polyester. 4. From the results of the test, the polypropylene thermal material was better in elongation, heat reservances and light transmittances, but polyester thermal material was better in tensile strength and light isolation than the other material.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.225-231
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• 2016

Glasshouse heating package technologies to improve energy usage efficiency in winter were developed. Heating package was composed of the ground water source heat pump with heating capacity of 105kW, the aluminum multi-layer thermal curtain with six layers of different materials and the root zone local heater with XL pipes of ${\phi}20mm$. Venlo type glasshouse($461m^2$) with the heating package was compared with the same type and area control glasshouse with the light oil boiler, the usual non-woven fabric thermal curtain with respect to the glasshouse inside temperature, relative humidity, crop growth, and heating energy consumption. The results of test in paprika cultivation glasshouses showed that the air temperature inside glasshouse with aluminum multi-layer thermal curtain was maintained $2.2^{\circ}C$ higher than that of control glasshouse in un-heating night time and the temperature in bed with root zone local heating was $4.7^{\circ}C$ higher than that in bed without local heating. Average heating coefficient of performance(COP) of the ground water source heat pump used in paprika cultivation was 3.7 and the glasshouse inside temperature was maintained at $21^{\circ}C$ of heating set up temperature. The heating energy consumptions per 10a were measured at 14,071L of light oil and 364kWh of electric power for the control glasshouse and 35,082kWh for the glasshouse applied heating package. As results, the heating cost of the glasshouse applied heating package was 87 percent lower than that of control glasshouse. The growths of paprika in glasshouses of control and applied heating package did not show any significant difference.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2012

This study was conducted to provide data necessary for clearing up the way to be able to improve covering and management method of covering material in commercial plastic greenhouse. The photosynthetic photon flux(PPF) in representative 4 different commercial tomato greenhouses was measured and analyzed. The variation trend of daily integral PPF was in agreement with that of the duration of sunshine. Each of daily integral PPF for 4 different experimental greenhouses was quite dissimilar, and was less than the amount of PPF necessary to grow tomato. October to November of beginning of winter was a good season to replace covering material in order to secure more PPF during insufficient winter season in greenhouse. The main inside factors to interrupt PPF incidence were thermal screen, inside covering material, condensation receiver in greenhouse. The single wide span greenhouse covered with PO film was superior to the other experimental greenhouses in the aspect of PPF transmittance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Bio-Environment Control Conference
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• 1998.05a
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• pp.39-44
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• 1998

현재 국내에 보급되어 있는 현대화 온실 203개를 대상으로 냉난방과 관련된 설비현황을 조사하여 분석한 결과를 요약하면 다음과 같다. \circled1 온실의 건설방위는 남북동(58.1%)과 동서동(26.8%)이 대부분이었고, 철골온실은 Wide-span형이 81.8%, 플라스틱온실은 1-2W형 온실이 97.5%였다. 휴작하는 온실은 약 41%정도였고, 재배작물은 채소류가 약 80%, 화훼류가 약 20%정도였으며, 재배방식은 철골온실의 경우 양액재배가 57.2%, 플라스틱온실에서는 토양재배가 88.5%였다. \circled2 온실의 외부 피복재는 철골온실은 유리가 92.2%, 플라스틱온실에서는 PE가 43.3%, EVA가 51.9%로 대부분이었다. 철골온실은 1중피복이 98.7%로 거의 전부이었고, 플라스틱온실에서는 2중피복이 78.7%로 나타나, 철골온실에서 보온커튼을 통한 보온성 향상과 밀폐성이 더욱 중요함을 알 수 있다. \circled3 보온용 피복재는 부직포가 64.9%로 가장 많았고 대부분 2층커튼(85.9%)이었으며, 개폐방식은 대부분 예인식(92.7%)의 자동개폐방식(75.2%)이었다. 한편 바닥을 피복한 온실은 약 30% 정도로 나타나, 바닥피복으로 인한 축열이나 반사효과를 감안할 때 효율적인 바닥처리가 요망된다. \circled4 온실의 난방방식은 철골온실에서는 온수안방(47.3%)이 온풍난방(33.8%)보다 다소 많았으며, 플라스틱온실에서는 대부분 온풍난방(90.8%)이었다. 온실의 난방위치는 대부분 지상난방(89.8%)이었고 지중난방은 극소수로 나타나, 앞으로 지중난방을 통한 난방비 절감과 품질향상에 관한 실용화 연구가 요망된다. 난방용 연료는 대부분 경유(83.9%)로 나타나, 난방비를 절감할 수 있는 저가의 연료를 사용할 수 있는 난방시스템의 개발이 요청된다. \circled5 온실의 냉방방법은 차광(51.8%)과 지붕살수(33.9%)가 대부분이었으며 미스트와 포그시스템을 설치한 온실은 소수에 불과하였고, 극소수의 온실에서는 지붕위나 온실내에 지붕면과 평행하게 설치한 경우도 있었다.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.270-278
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• 2013

The objective of the present study is to provide data needed to decide covering method to be able to increase the thermal insulation and light transmittance efficiency of commercial greenhouse. The thermal insulation effect, PPF transmittance and quantity of condensation water were estimated in experimental tomato greenhouses covered with three types of coverings of single layer, air inflated and conventional double layers covering. The overall heat flow of air inflated double layers greenhouse was similar to that of conventional double layers greenhouse, but the temperature between covering material and thermal screen in air inflated double layers greenhouse was lower than that in conventional double layers greenhouse at the same outside temperature condition due to air leakage through the gap of roof vent. The overall heat transfer coefficients acquired by experiment that was performed in single layer and conventional double layers greenhouses were close to those obtained from model experiment. Even though the PPF transmittance of air inflated double layers greenhouse was lower than that of single layer greenhouse, which was greater than that of conventional double layers greenhouse. The quantity of condensation water on covering surface of single layer greenhouse was greater than that of air inflated double layers greenhouse due to lower covering surface temperature.