• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.264-269
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was carried out to develop a classification index and grade levels to rate agricultural heaters for energy efficiency classification. Methods: The classification index was developed mainly by taking simplicity of calculation and easy access to relevant data into consideration. The grade levels were developed on the basis of a 5-grade classification system in which graded heaters are to be normally distributed over the grades. The value of each grade level were determined in terms of the classification index values calculated using the published performance data of agricultural heaters tested at the FACT in Korea over the past 12 years. Results: The thermal efficiency of agricultural heaters based on the enthalpy method was proposed as a reasonable classification index. The grade levels were proposed in equation form for three types of agricultural heaters: fossil fuel heaters, wood pellet heaters and wood pellet boilers. A reasonable energy efficiency classification of agricultural heaters could be performed using the proposed classification index and grade levels. Conclusions: It is expected that energy saving programs will be extended to agricultural machines in the near future. The classification index and grade levels to rate agricultural heaters for energy efficiency classification were developed and proposed for such near future to come.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.78-85
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• 1979

In order to obtain the basic data for designing optimum flat plate solar air heaters, which can be operated with relatively low temperature for drying farm products, 8 different treatment of solar air heaters were devised and tested for their heating performances and efficiencies. The results were analised and summarized as follows. 1. The primary factors, structure of air path (C), black coating materials (A) and bottom coating methods (B) showed very high significant effect of far above 1% level. With respect to the mutual multiplying effect of secondary factors, 1% level of significance was found with coating materials and methods (AB), and 5% level of significance was found with coating materials and air path structure (AC). 2. The heating performance of the air heaters with winding air path showed about twice those with straight air path. 3. The Korean black ink which is less expensive than dim oil paint showed 3-4% better heating efficiencies as the black coating material of flat plate solar air heaters. 4. The heating efficiencies of the solar air heaters whose bottoms were not black coated were 2-3% higher than those with black coated bottoms. 5. The highest heating efficiency of solar air heater among 8 different treatment was found in the plot of Korean black ink-bottom not coated-winding air path showing 29.0-34.5%

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2022

Silkworms are very sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity, and unless it is a suitable temperature and humidity to grow, the productivity and quality of silkworms are greatly reduced. Therefore, it is very important to manage temperature and humidity for silkworm feeding facilities. In particular, it is essential to install heating facilities in Asian countries with distinct seasonal changes. During the feeding period, many farms manage the temperature and humidity of feeding facilities by installing and using electric heaters inside the facilities. However, it is very difficult to manage the room temperature stably by the heaters. In addition, unlike the temperature inside the facility, silkworms could undergo severe temperature changes as the inside of the rearing tray could not be warm enough. In this study, in order to improve the previous heating method, the new rearing method that directly heats the bottom of the rearing tray was developed. Compared to the previous room-heating system, the novel heater-installed tray (HIT) system significantly reduced the change in temperature during the experimental period. In addition, the number of days of silkworm growth up to harvest was shortened, which was effective in growth performance, and it was also found that silkworms grew more uniformly in HIT system than in previous system. Moreover, as the heater tubes were installed directly under the rearing tray, it quickly dried mulberry leaves and silkworm feces after feeding, and as a result, the environment in the tray was greatly improved with decrease the labor of breeder. In conclusion, these results suggest that the heater-installed rearing tray method greatly improves silkworm quality, increases weight of silkworms, and final profits compared to the previous room heating system with electric heaters.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.31 no.5 s.118
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• pp.430-435
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• 2006

Greenhouse horticulture in South Korea covered about 52,000 ha in 2005. Greenhouse area of about 12,000 ha has been heated during winter season with heating cost of $20{\sim}40%$ of total Production cost. Farmers engaged in greenhouse horticulture were changed into aged people. Therefore the laborsaving of working process and the saving of greenhouse heating cost should be accomplished simultaneously to increase income of greenhouse horticulture. The best method for saving of greenhouse heating cost is to install thermal tunnels into greenhouse. Then hot air heaters using fossil fuel should be changed into hot water heaters. In other words air heating using forced convection should be changed into natural convection system. In this research coil tube made of flexible PE pipe was designed as hot water heat exchanger and its heat exchanging characteristics were analyzed. This new heat exchanger has been adopted as a natural convection system for hot water heating of greenhouse horticulture.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.1151-1158
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• 2017

The Effluent Heat Pipe integral with the heater is a device that recreates unused thermal energy from the plant in winter, and thus reuses unused energy before releasing the exhaust heat. Through the establishment of facility horticulture and glass greenhouses, we identified the problems of our agricultural heaters, and we proposed efficient agricultural efficiency and smart control systems for optimum agricultural efficiency and smart house.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.75-81
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• 2012

Oyster mushroom farm which could not meet optimum temperature range yields non-uniform sized, low quality products. Thus, this study, utilizing STAR CCM+, one of the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) programs, analyzed the impact of air circulation and temperature distribution. Methods: After we visited numerous mushroom farms, we measured the temperature at the discharge ports of heaters, fan capacity, and the locations of the air circulators in the farms. According to the data, most mushroom growers installed the heaters near the entrance and discharge ports of the heaters at the third growing bed on the same height as the heaters in the entrance. The temperature at the discharge port of heater was $1,26^{\circ}C$, and the fan capacity was 4,500 $m^3$/hr. The air circulator was placed in the center of the mushroom farm 50cm above the ground, and its capacity of inlet port was 1,100 $m^3$/hr and discharge port 1,600 $m^3$/hr. The mushroom farm was insulated. Results: According to the analysis of the temperature distribution in the vertical plane of the entrance side, no air circulation causes the high temperature zone of 296~299K at the discharge port of the heater to take up 34% of area while the operation of air circulators causes it to occupy only 9%. This means that not using air circulators leads to a concentration of high temperature at the discharge port near the entrance. In addition, with the results of the analysis of the temperature distribution in the vertical planes of the center, no air circulation causes the temperature zone of 295~298K at the discharge port of the heater to take up 48% of area while the operation of air circulators causes it to occupy 80%. This shows that the high outlet port temperature disseminated to the center. Conclusions: After ninety minute operation of both heater and air circulator, the interior temperature became stabilized in the mushroom farm. Air circulation made the high temperature at the discharge port disseminate to the center and exit in the farm and equalize the temperature distribution.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.190-196
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• 2023

This study was carried out to collect gas emitted from agricultural heaters using kerosene and to identify the emission concentration of carbon dioxide according to the age of agricultural heating machine. As a result of the linear regression analysis, the carbon dioxide emissions according to the year of agricultural heating machine are R² = 0.84, which follows y = 26.99x+721.98. Distributed analysis was classified into three groups according to the age of agricultural heating machine. As a result of the distributed analysis, it was 2.196×10^-13, which was smaller than the 0.05 probability set for the analysis, which means that there is a difference in at least one group. As a result, the age of the agriculture machine was divided into three groups and the difference between groups was tested. A statistical analysis result was derived that there was a difference in the emission concentration of carbon dioxide according to the age of agricultural heating machine. It is thought that it can be used to investigate greenhouse gas emissions by investigating the amount of carbon dioxide generated by agricultural heaters in the agricultural field of Korea.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.296-301
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• 2012

Purpose: Combustion and fuel qualities of the animal-fats biodiesel as a heating fuel for agricultural hot air heater were studied. Methods: Biodiesel (BD) was made from animal-fats by reacting with methanol and potassium hydroxide in the laboratory. The biodiesel made in the laboratory was tested for fuel and combustion qualities. Results: The kinematic viscosity and the calorific values of the biodiesels were measured. Kerosene based biodiesel, BD20 (K) showed 18 cSt at $-20^{\circ}C$. It seemed that BD100 was not suitable for a heating fuel under some temperature. As BD content increased, the calorific value decreased up to 40,000 J/g for BD100, while the calorific value of light oil was 45,567 J/g showing difference of 5,567 J/g, about 12% difference. Several different fuels including BD20 (biodiesel 20% + light oil 80%), BD50 (biodiesel 50% + light oil 50%), BD100 (biodiesel 100%), and light oil were tested for fuel combustion qualities for agricultural hot air heater, and their combustion performances were compared and analyzed. Flame dimensions of biodiesels and light oils were almost the same shape at the same combustion condition. Generally, the $CO_2$ amounts of BDs were greater than light oil. However, in this study the differences were minor, so there was no significant difference existed between the BDs combustion and light oil. Conclusions: It seemed that quality was good for heating oil for agricultural hot air heater because of showing no barriers for continuous combustion and proper exhaust gas temperature and $CO_2$ amount discharged. But, for fuel fluidity for higher BD content fuel could be a detrimental problem in situations where the outdoor temperature is lowered. As BD content increased, calorific value decreased up to 40,000 J/g for BD100. Calorific value difference between BD20 and light oil was about 1,360 J/g.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.230-243
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• 1990

This study was conducted to investigate the possibility of application of an infrared drying to drying process for red pepper. The performance of seramic heaters and the variation of temperature and moisture content of red pepper were analyzed during an infrared drying of red peppers. Also, the quality of dried red pepper was analyzed. The following results were obtained from this study. 1. The surface temperature of infrared heaters and the rising time required for steady state were mainly affected by electrical power consumed. 2. The heat energy required for heating red pepper was proposed to be calculated by the equation in terms of enthalpy of air and net heat flux by infrared heater in a drying chamber. The statistical model for net heat flux was developed. 3. The performance of the infrared heater used for heating red pepper was much affected by the distance of radiation, and the difference of temperatures appeared between the radiated surface and the inside of red pepper. 4. Electrical capacity of the infrared heater had a significant effect on the heating of red pepper. However, the effect of shape of heater on heating was not significant. 5. The variation of temperature of red pepper largely appeared in the range of 30 to 60% (db) in moisture content. The temperature of red pepper was almost constant at low moisture content. 6. The temperature of red pepper and heating time had significant effects on the quality for radiant heating. 7. When the electrical capacity of infrared heater and the distance of radiation are carefully designed in a dryer with the insulated drying chamber, infrared drying might be very effective in red pepper drying.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.49-56
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• 2015

In this study a hybrid heating system based on geothermal source and solar heat was developed in order to save energy for greenhouse heating and its field performance was evaluated. Developed system are composed of following parts: water tank, heat exchanger, heat pump, fan coil unit and heat storage unit. The working performance test was carried out in a greenhouse cultivating oriental orchids being managed by $23^{\circ}C$. Field performance test results showed that average heating coefficient of performance ($COP_h$) was 3.4 for the period from mid-January to mid-March 2013. Heating coefficient of performance ($COP_h$) of developed hybrid heat pump system was more sensitive to water tank temperature than outside air temperature. This study showed that developed hybrid heat pump system has a potential to save the heating costs up to 91% compared to conventional agricultural oil heaters.