Evaluation of Compressor Heat Pump for Root Zone Heating as an Alternative Heating Source for Leafy Vegetable Cultivation

Chiara Terrosi, Sonia Cacini, Gianluca Burchi, Maurizio Cutini, Massimo Brambilla, Carlo Bisaglia, Daniele Massa and Marco Fedrizzi
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Chiara Terrosi: CREA Research Centre for Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics), Via dei Fiori 8, 51017 Pescia (PT), Italy
Sonia Cacini: CREA Research Centre for Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics), Via dei Fiori 8, 51017 Pescia (PT), Italy
Gianluca Burchi: CREA Research Centre for Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics), Via dei Fiori 8, 51017 Pescia (PT), Italy
Maurizio Cutini: CREA Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics), Via Milano, 43 24047 Treviglio (BG), Italy
Massimo Brambilla: CREA Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics), Via Milano, 43 24047 Treviglio (BG), Italy
Carlo Bisaglia: CREA Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics), Via Milano, 43 24047 Treviglio (BG), Italy
Daniele Massa: CREA Research Centre for Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics), Via dei Fiori 8, 51017 Pescia (PT), Italy
Marco Fedrizzi: CREA Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics), Via della Pascolare, 16 00015 Monterotondo (Rome), Italy

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 3, 1-15

Abstract: Protected horticulture is a high energy-consuming sector in which the optimization of energy use and cost for heating facilities is strategic in achieving high environmental and economic sustainability of production. The main aim of the project was to evaluate the use of a heat pump for basal heating as an alternative technology to grow crops with reduced canopies, such as basil. During the test, an area of the greenhouse contained two systems of coaxial pipes circulating warm water from a heat pump and a condensing boiler. These pipes were placed above the growing media. At the same time, a separate area of the same greenhouse contained a traditional heating system consisting of an air heater, the solution commonly used to heat greenhouses. Microclimatic conditions and energy consumption were analyzed for the three heating technologies. The energy analysis of the three experimental heating options showed that all of them could ensure suitable thermal conditions for cultivation in the winter period. Overall, the results confirmed the energy saving resulting from the adoption of the heat pump, underlining the importance of this device in terms of the support that the energy-saving goal receives.

Keywords: energy saving; efficiency; greenhouse; controlled environment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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