Development of a Numerical Model for Prediction of the Cooling Load of Nutrient Solution in Hydroponic Greenhouse

수경온실의 양액 냉각부하 예측모델 개발

Cooling of nutrient solution is essential to improve the growth environment of crops in hydroponic culture during summer season in Korea. This study was carried out to provide fundamental data for development of the cooling system satisfying the required cooling load of nutrient solution in hydroponic greenhouse. A numerical model for prediction of the cooling load of nutrient solution in hydroponic greenhouse was developed, and the results by the model showed good agreements with those by experiments. Main factors effecting on cooling load were solar radiation and air temperature in weather data, and conductivity of planting board and area ratio of bed to floor in greenhouse parameters. Using the model developed, the design cooling load of nutrient solution in hydroponic greenhouse of 1,000$m^2$(300pyong) was predicted to be 95,000 kJ/hr in Suwon and the vicinity.