Energy and Economic Analysis for Greenhouse Ground Insulation Design

James Bambara and Andreas K. Athienitis
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James Bambara: Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada
Andreas K. Athienitis: Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: Energy and life cycle cost analysis were employed to identify the most-cost effective ground envelope design for a greenhouse that employs supplemental lighting located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (45.4° N). The envelope design alternatives that were investigated consist of installing insulation vertically around the perimeter and horizontally beneath the footprint of a greenhouse with a concrete slab and unfinished soil floor. Detailed thermal interaction between the greenhouse and the ground surface is achieved by considering 3-dimensional conduction heat transfer within the TRNSYS 17.2 simulation software. The portion of total heat loss that occurred through the ground was approximately 4% and permutations in ground insulation design reduced heating energy consumption by up to 1%. For the two floor designs, the highest net savings was achieved when perimeter and floor zone horizontal insulation was installed whereas a financial loss occurred when it was also placed beneath the crop zone. However, in all cases, the improvement in economic performance was small (net savings below $4000 and reduction in life cycle under 0.2%). Combined energy and life cycle cost analysis is valuable for selecting optimal envelope designs that are capable of lowering energy consumption, improving economics and enhancing greenhouse durability.

Keywords: greenhouse; floor envelope design; ground heat transfer; thermal insulation; energy modeling; life cycle cost analysis (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: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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