Experimental Investigation of Wall Confluent Jets on Transparent Large-Space Building Envelopes: Part 1—Application in Heating Greenhouses

Gasper Choonya (), Alan Kabanshi and Bahram Moshfegh
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Gasper Choonya: Department of Building Engineering, Energy Systems and Sustainability Science, University of Gävle, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden
Alan Kabanshi: Department of Building Engineering, Energy Systems and Sustainability Science, University of Gävle, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden
Bahram Moshfegh: Department of Building Engineering, Energy Systems and Sustainability Science, University of Gävle, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 24, 1-34

Abstract: Insulating building envelopes is crucial for maintaining indoor thermal comfort, particularly in large-space enclosures like greenhouses having transparent envelopes. Transparent envelopes allow natural light but challenge temperature regulation due to their low thermal mass and high U-values, which enable significant heat transfer between indoor and outdoor environments. This field study aims to experimentally investigate whether warm wall confluent jets (WCJs) can maintain the required indoor climate conditions in a greenhouse exposed to dynamic meteorological conditions in winter. It analyzed the impact of the airflow rate, number of nozzle rows, and room air temperature setpoint on WCJ heating performance on the ceiling, external wall, and room air. Measurements were performed with thermocouples and constant current anemometers, and the response surface methodology evaluated the effect of design variables on WCJ flow, thermal behavior, and the indoor environment. The results show that WCJs provided recommended air velocities and temperatures indoors, with the airflow rate having the strongest effect on flow and thermal behavior, while the number of nozzle rows had a moderate effect. This study developed response surface models related to room air temperature, ceiling surface temperature, external wall temperature, and supply air temperature. Supply temperatures between 27 °C and 40 °C suggest using low-exergy heat sources, like industrial waste heat, to sustain greenhouse operations during winter.

Keywords: wall confluent jets; heating season; experimental field study; Box–Behnken design; response surface methodology; indoor environment; greenhouse heating (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: 2024
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