Development of Nutrient Solution Cooling System in Hydroponic Greenhouse

수경재배 온실의 양액냉각시스템 개발

Since it is difficult to expect the normal production of plants in greenhouses during hot summer season in Korea, certain provisions on the control of extreme environmental factors in summer should be considered for the year-round cultivation in greenhouses. This study was carried out to find a method to suppress the temperature rising of nutrient solution by cooling, which is able to contribute to the improvement of the plant growth environment in hydroponic greenhouse during hot summer season. A mechanical cooling system using the counter flow type with double pipe was developed for cooling the nutrient solution efficiently. Also the heat transfer characteristics of the system was analysed experimentally and theoretically, and compared with the existing cooling systems of nutrient solution. The cooling capacities of three different Systems, which used polyethylene tube in solution tank, stainless tube in solution tank, and the counter flow type with double pipe, were evaluated. The performance of each cooling system was about 41 %, 70% and 81 % of design cooling load in hydroponic greenhouse of 1 ,000m$^2$ on the conditions that the flow rate of ground water was 2m$^3$/hr and the temperature difference between two liquids was 10 ˚C According to the results analysed as above, the cooling system was found to have a satisfactory cooling capability for regions where ground water supply is available. Fer the other regions where ground water supply is restricted, more efficient cooling System should be developed.