Greenhouses with DryGair concept- Spain case study

Transcription

1 Greenhouses with DryGair concept- Spain case study DryGair Energies concept was integrated into greenhouses in various countries worldwide, one of which is Almeria, Spain. DryGair is an innovative solution which significantly reduces humidity inside the greenhouse and enables control ofclimate conditions. DryGair is the most efficient solution. It reuses all the energy invested for the operation of the unit and the energy released during the condensation process thus saving energy. DryGair concept helps the grower increase his income by improving his produce (quality and quantity), reducing the cost by saving energy, reducing the need for pesticides, and preventing CO2 loss. DryGair has gathered data during the greenhouses' operation. The data presented in the following graphs is from greenhouses located in areas with moderate climate conditions: relatively high temperatures throughout most of the year (greenhouses with thermal screen and with/without a heating system), high radiation levels, etc. All graphs are based on the data gathered by the grower's climate control system. 1. Greenhouse without a heating system Areas with moderate climate conditions are characterized by a relatively short cold season (2-4 months, with temperature mostly above 0 C) and heating is required to reach optimal temperature during the night. Therefore growers in these areas do not necessarily install heating system inside the greenhouse. Greenhouses without a heating system actually compromise on the temperature inside the greenhouse during the cold season. The cold temperature influences the produce, so during the cold season the grower can expect lower yield. DryGair concept enables the grower to close the greenhouse and control the humidity- by isolating the greenhouse from its surrounding. In addition, an integral part of DryGair concept, is 100% reuse of energy (the energy invested for the operation of the unit and the energy released during the condensation process), all of which is returned to the greenhouse as warm-dry air, which increases the temperature in the greenhouse during the cold season. In the absence of a heating system, the additional temperature generated by DryGair is a significant added value which is highly crucial to the produce. a. Yield in peppers' greenhouse

2 Temp. C RH % Kg/stem b. Yield in tomatoes' greenhouse Cumulative Cherry Tomatoes production per week (kg/stems) 2.00 DryGair Piccolo (Kg) Control Piccolo (Kg) ~25% more per stem c. Climate conditions a. DryGair maintained optimal climate conditions with a humidity level of ~80%. In greenhouses with no heating system and no DryGair units the RH during cold nights was above 90%. Since the air outside is very humid the ventilation was inefficient and failed o decrease humidity. RH %- greenhouse without heating DryG. DryGair Operation 60 Cont Time in the Day *Tomatoes greenhouse in Spain b. DryGair concept raisedthe temperature inside greenhouses without a heating system in 2-8 C. The amount of increase in temperature depends on the greenhouse's level of isolation Temp in the greenhouse during the day (C) additional ~5 C Time in the day *Tomatoes greenhouse in Spain DryG. Cont. Am. Outside

3 Relative Humidity % 2. Greenhouse with a heating system A heating system in the greenhouse enables the growers a better control of the temperature throughout the year. Although the initial investment and daily costs are higher compared to a greenhouse without a heating system,it provides better yield.. In this type of greenhouses DryGair concept's main financial advantage is the significant energy saving combined with an increase in the quality and quantity of the yield. a. Energy saving An average 70% energy savings. DryGair concept saved more than 80% of the greenhouse's energy consumption, compared to a greenhouse with a heating system and without a thermal screen,in which the grower uses ventilation to control the humidity. DryGair concept saved more than 60% of the greenhouse's energy consumption, compared to a greenhouse with a heating system and a thermal screen in which the grower uses ventilation to control the humidity. b. Climate conditions DryGair maintained optimal climate conditions with a humidity level of ~80%. In comparison to the control greenhouse, even with heating and ventilation, the humidity level was around 90%. Growers that try to ventilate as a solution for humidity problems, often compromise on the conditions inside their greenhouses either due to energy costs or to the inability to achieve the required conditions (for example during humid/rainy nights). Time

4 Temp C 3. Homogenous climate conditions for the plant In order to have a better understanding of the climate conditions of the plants, DryGair Energies and the growers installed sensors on the leafs in different heights throughout the greenhouse ( in different distances from the DryGair unit). In all greenhouses, once DryGair was operating the recorded temperature on the leafs was uniform. DryGair operation 4. Integration- simple integration within the rows: Time 5. DryGair operation: Stand alone or connected to the climate control system Simple operation (plug and play), according to the required set point

5 6. ROI: In all greenhouses the ROI is between 2-4 years. ROI results from both increase in production and energy savings. In greenhouses with a heating system the ROI is mainly derived from energy saving, while in greenhouses without a heating system the ROI is from increase in produce. This is a conservative ROI calculation as it doesn't include some of DryGair's additional advantages such as a decrease in pesticide use, loss of CO2, a decrease in working hours etc.