Comparative analysis of cooling effect by cooling technologies applied to smart greenhouses in the UAE
Doo‐Yong Park, Beungyong Park, Sul Geon Choi
Abstract
During the summer in the UAE, the daytime temperature rises up to 50 °C and the abundance of solar radiation hinders crop growth, whose cultivation period is approximately 5–6 months (usually from May to October). This study attempted to reduce the uncultivated period to 2–3 months by implementing an exterior shading and evaporative cooling system. Based on the results of comparison (through simulation) between the effects of reducing the temperature and cooling load on the cladding material, exterior shading, and fan and pad evaporative cooling system in smart farms in the UAE, the capacity of refrigerators and thermal storage tanks in greenhouses can be determined. Moreover, the peak cooling load according to the cladding material type, shading rate, and use of fan and pad was analyzed. When an exterior shading rate and fan and pad system efficiency of 50% and 90%, respectively, were applied to poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA), the peak cooling load decreased by 87.9% in comparison to when a general polyolefin (PO) film was applied.