Energetic and Economic Assessment of Pipe Network Effects on Unused Energy Source System Performance in Large-Scale Horticulture Facilities

Jae Ho Lee, In Tak Hyun, Yeo Beom Yoon, Kwang Ho Lee and Yu Jin Nam
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Jae Ho Lee: Department of Architectural Engineering, Hanbat National University, San 16-1, Dukmyung-Dong, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon 305-719, Korea
In Tak Hyun: Department of Architectural Engineering, Hanbat National University, San 16-1, Dukmyung-Dong, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon 305-719, Korea
Yeo Beom Yoon: Department of Architectural Engineering, Hanbat National University, San 16-1, Dukmyung-Dong, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon 305-719, Korea
Kwang Ho Lee: Department of Architectural Engineering, Hanbat National University, San 16-1, Dukmyung-Dong, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon 305-719, Korea
Yu Jin Nam: Department of Architectural Engineering, Pusan National University, 2 Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 609-735, Korea

Energies, 2015, vol. 8, issue 5, 1-23

Abstract: As the use of fossil fuel has increased, not only in construction, but also in agriculture due to the drastic industrial development in recent times, the problems of heating costs and global warming are getting worse. Therefore, the introduction of more reliable and environmentally-friendly alternative energy sources has become urgent and the same trend is found in large-scale horticulture facilities. In this study, among many alternative energy sources, we investigated the reserves and the potential of various different unused energy sources which have infinite potential, but are nowadays wasted due to limitations in their utilization. This study investigated the effects of the distance between the greenhouse and the actual heat source by taking into account the heat transfer taking place inside the pipe network. This study considered CO 2 emissions and economic aspects to determine the optimal heat source. Payback period analysis against initial investment cost shows that a heat pump based on a power plant’s waste heat has the shortest payback period of 7.69 years at a distance of 0 km. On the other hand, the payback period of a heat pump based on geothermal heat showed the shortest payback period of 10.17 year at the distance of 5 km, indicating that heat pumps utilizing geothermal heat were the most effective model if the heat transfer inside the pipe network between the greenhouse and the actual heat source is taken into account.

Keywords: unused energy sources; geothermal; sea water; river; power plant waste heat; large-scale horticulture facility; LCC; pipe network (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: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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