Multi-Span Greenhouse Energy Saving by External Insulation: System Design and Implementation

Wenfei Guan, Wenzhong Guo (), Fan Chen, Xiaobei Han, Haiguang Wang, Weituo Sun, Qian Zhao, Dongdong Jia, Xiaoming Wei and Qingzhen Zhu
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Wenfei Guan: School of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Wenzhong Guo: School of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Fan Chen: Ningxia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Yinchuan 750002, China
Xiaobei Han: School of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Haiguang Wang: Shouguang Agricultural Development Group Co., Ltd., Weifang 262700, China
Weituo Sun: Research Center of Intelligent Equipment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
Qian Zhao: Research Center of Intelligent Equipment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
Dongdong Jia: Research Center of Intelligent Equipment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
Xiaoming Wei: Research Center of Intelligent Equipment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
Qingzhen Zhu: School of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-15

Abstract: To address the issues of excessive heat loss from the roofs of multi-span greenhouses and high energy consumption for heating during winter production, we propose an approach for the external insulation of the roof of multi-span glass greenhouses and have developed an external insulation system (EIS) to practice this approach. The system achieved full coverage of the greenhouse roof through mechanized unfurling and furling of external thermal blankets, thereby achieving energy-saving insulation. This paper describes the overall design and working method of the EIS, providing detailed design and structural parameters for critical components such as the traction rope transmission mechanism and the rail-type sealing structure. Through a system verification experiment, the specifications of the traction rope were determined and the rationality of the EIS’s thermal blanket unfurling and furling time was confirmed. An insulation performance experiment indicated that the average heat flux of the greenhouse roof covered with the external thermal blanket over 14 continuous nights was 54.2 W/m 2 , compared with 198.6 W/m 2 for a single-layer glass roof. Covering the roof with the external thermal blanket reduced heat loss from the glass roof by 72.7%. The average heat flux of the roof of the Venlo-type multi-span greenhouse with double-layer internal insulation was 99.9 W/m 2 during the same period, indicating that the heat loss from the roof using external insulation was only 50.3%. This study provides a novel thermal insulation approach and an energy-saving system for multi-span greenhouses.

Keywords: multi-span greenhouse; thermal blanket; external insulation; system design; thermal insulation performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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