IX.

REDUCING GREENHOUSE
TEMPERATURE
A. temperature regimes
range 50-80 deg, stress above 90 deg

Greenhouse effect

B. Temperature in greenhouse
determined by:
1. Solar energy
Greenhouse effect:
Solar energy- short wave radiation passes through
glass
Thermal radiation- longer waves trapped

shading in greenhouse
time of year
time of day

2. Exterior ambient temperature

3. Moisture transpired
Temperature in empty greenhouse greater than
in greenhouse with plants

4. Evaporation of water from soil, walls etc.

C. Techniques to reduce temperature

1. Shading - reduce energy absorbed
a. Shading compound

Permanent shade after application

Removed Aug Sept

b. Shade curtain

Remove during cloudy weather

2.

Greenhouse ventilation

a. Definition
movement of outside air through
greenhouse
b. Characteristics of ventilation system
1) capacity to reduce temperature
2) uniform temperature
3) automated
4) minimum and maximum ventilation

c. Time of year
1) Winter ventilation
Late fall, winter, early spring:
outside air cool
Minimum to maximum ventilation
usually adequate

2) Summer ventilation
1) Temperature control difficult
Shading and ventilation
Maximum ventilation

d. Types of Systems
1) Natural ventilation
Establish convection currents
Ridge vent and side vents
Open area
-40% of floor space
Removable side wall
Removable roof

Natural ventilation

Natural ventilation

Natural ventilation

Natural ventilation

2) Motorized Systems - minimum

Mix cold with warm ghs. air
Poly tube system with vent
Low speed fan with vent
One fan or several turned
on, with vent

3) Motorized systems maximum

Outside directly into
greenhouse
Temperature dependent
Air flow rate
-3/4 to 1 1/4 air ex. /min
-7-8 rise

Air exchange vs temperature

e. Control of Systems
1) Natural ventilation
Manual
Automatic
Thermostat
Computer
2) Motorized ventilation
thermostats
fan(s) 1 or 2 speed
Vents
Fully open or
closed
modulating

3) End wall ventilation

1) Fans on one end wall
2) Vents on other end wall
3) Fan spacing 25
4) 1 air exchange/min

4) Side wall ventilation

problem mixing cold air
Air exchange rate vs velocity
1 exchange 30 x 100
-end wall - 100 ft/min
-side wall - 30 ft/min
Fan spacing- max 25 ft

Side wall ventilation

Natural ventilation