• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.193-200
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the energy saving effects and characteristics of plant growth in a greenhouse with an aluminum multi-layer curtain compared to a greenhouse with non-woven fabric. Method: The dimensions of both greenhouses $43m{\times}3.6m{\times}8m(L{\times}H{\times}W)$, and both used hot air heater systems for maintaining a constant temperature $15^{\circ}C$. Heating characteristics such as solar intensity, inside and ambient temperatures, and fuel consumption were measured and analyzed. Results: The changes of average temperature of both greenhouses during a 15-days (December 06 - 20) showed approximately $26^{\circ}C$ at around 2 pm when the ambient temperature was highest. The greenhouses were set by the heater to keep a temperature of $15^{\circ}C$ from 4 pm to 8 am the following day. The average heat loss (for 15 days) from the greenhouse with an aluminum multi-layer curtain was $161.2-268.4kJ/m^2{\cdot}h$ during the daytime and $152.3-198.1kJ/m^2{\cdot}h$ during the nighttime. The average heat loss (for 15 days) from the greenhouse with non-woven fabric was $155.7-258.9kJ/m^2{\cdot}h$ during the daytime and $144.9-207.0kJ/m^2{\cdot}h$ during the nighttime. The total heat loss (for one day) from the non-woven fabric system was $7,960kJ/m^2$($2,876kJ/m^2$ during the daytime, $5,084kJ/m^2$ during the nighttime). The heat supply over 36 days for the non-woven fabric system was higher than the aluminum multi-layer curtain system by $616.3-65,079.4kJ/m^2$. Conclusions: These results suggest that a greenhouse with an aluminum multi-layer curtain could save energy usage by 35% over a greenhouse with non-woven fabric.

• 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.

• 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 The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to provide basic data for development of environmental design technology for greenhouses constructed in reclaimed lands. We analyzed the climatic conditions around seven major reclaimed land areas in Korea, which have a plan to install advanced horticultural complexes. The characteristics of heating load through the thermal environment measurement of the greenhouse in Saemangeum were analyzed. The part to be applied to the environmental design of the greenhouses in reclaimed lands were reviewed. The overall heat transfer coefficient of the experimental greenhouse with the aluminum screen and multi-layer thermal curtain averaged $3.79W/m^2^{\circ}C$. It represents a 44 % heat savings rate compared with plastic greenhouses with a single covering, which was significantly lower than that of the common greenhouses with 2-layer thermal curtains. This is because the experimental greenhouse was installed on reclaimed land and wind was stronger than the inland area. Among the total heating load, the transmission heat loss accounted for 96.4~99.9 %, and the infiltration loss and the ground heat exchange were low. Therefore, it is necessary to take countermeasures to minimize the transmission heat loss for greenhouses constructed in reclaimed lands. As the reclaimed land is located on the seaside, the wind is stronger than the inland area, and the fog is frequent. Especially, Saemangeum area has 2.6 times stronger wind speed and 3.4 times longer fog duration than the inland area. In designing the heating systems for greenhouses in reclaimed lands, it is considered that the maximum heating load should be calculated by applying the wind coefficient larger than the inland area. It is reasonable to estimate the operation cost of the heating system by applying the adjustment factor 10 % larger than the average in calculating the seasonal heating load.