Abstract
One of the typically simple structures in protected horticulture is the rain shelter, which is widely applied in summer regardless of its poor ventilation. To evaluate ventilation performance of rain shelters, the ventilation rate as well as inside temperature of one conventional and two improved rain shelters were predicted and compared under various wind speeds and irradiations. More accurate model in which the inside space of rain shelter was subdivided into three parts considering the crops grown, was developed. The ventilation rate of each opening and the general direction of air flow in the rain shelter can be predicted by the model. The ventilation rates as well as inside temperatures of each rain shelter obtained by the model and the actual measurement, proved that the ventilation performance of improved rain shelters were superior to that of conventional one.
