Analysis of solar radiation and simulation of thermal environment in plastic greenhouse -Simulation of thermal environment in plastic greenhouse-

플라스틱 온실(温室)의 일사량(日射量) 분석(分析)과 열적(熱的) 환경(環境)의 시뮬레이션에 관(關)한 연구(硏究) -플라스틱 온실(温室)의 열적환경(熱的環境)의 시뮬레이션-

Greenhouse farming was introduced to the Korean farmers in the middle of 1950's and its area has been increased annually. The plastic greenhouse, which is covered with polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride film, has been rapidly spread in greenhouse farming since 1970. The greenhouse farming greatly contributed to the increase of farm household income and the improvement of crop productivity per unit area. Since the greenhouse farming is generally practiced during winter, from November to March, the thermal environment in the plastic greenhouse should be controlled in order to maintain favorable condition for plant growing. Main factors that influence the thermal environment in the plastic greenhouse are solar radiation, convective and radiative heat transfer among the thermal component of the greenhouse, and the use of heat source. The objective of this study was to develop a simulation model for thermal environment of the plastic greenhouse in order to determine the characteristics of heat flow and effects of various ambient environmental conditions upon thermal environments within the plastic greenhouse. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. Simulation model for thermal environment of the plastic greenhouse was developed, resulting in a good agreement between the experimental and predicted data. 2. Solar radiation being absorbed in the plant and soil during the daytime was 75 percent of the total solar radiation and the remainder was absorbed in the plastic cover. 3. About 83 percent of the total heat loss was due to convective and radiative heat transfer through the plastic cover. Air ventilation heat loss was 5 to 6 percent of total heat loss during the daytime and 16 to 17 percent during the night. 4. The effectiveness of thermal curtain for the plastic greenhouse at night was significantly increased by the increase of the inside air temperature of the greenhouse due to the supplementary heat. 5. When the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the greenhouse was small, the variation of ambient wind velocity did not greatly affect on the inside air temperature. 6. The more solar radiation in the plastic greenhouse was, the higher the inside air temperature. Because of low heat storage capacity of the plant and soil inside the greenhouse and a relatively high convective heat loss through the plastic cover, the increase of solar radiation during the daytime could not reduce the supplymentary heat requirement for the greenhouse during the night.