Computational fluid dynamics analysis of the effect of the interaction between the airflow of two naturally ventilated neighbouring greenhouses on the microclimate
2025
Honore, Mireille Nathalie | Molina Aiz, Francisco Domingo | Fatnassi, Hicham | Valera Martínez, Diego Luis | López Martínez, Alejandro | Franco Salas, Antonio | Moreno Teruel, María de los Ángeles
The objective of this work is to analyze the impact of airflow exiting one greenhouse on the microclimate inside an adjacent greenhouse, separated by a 3-m gap. One of the problems that exist in many areas with a high concentration of greenhouses, as is the case of the province of Almeria (Spain), is the excessive proximity of greenhouses. When wind conditions produce air outlet through the side openings, a part of that airflow enters the adjacent greenhouse through its side openings. In conditions of high temperatures and with a well-developed crop inside the greenhouses, the airflow that enters from the greenhouse located to windward has higher temperature and humidity than the outside air, and a concentration of CO2 lower than the environmental. Using three-dimensional simulations of computational fluid dynamics (CFD), the interactions of the airflow of the two greenhouses included in the same calculation domain can be analyzed. For the modeling of crop photosynthesis, a sub-model was included within the CFD model with a use of user defined functions. In this way, the simulated photosynthesis is a function of the values of CO2 concentration in each iteration of the CFD model. For the validation of the numerical model, temperature, humidity and air velocity were measured in the 12 openings of the Almería-type greenhouse, and photosynthesis and CO2 concentration were measured in the leaves of the tomato plants. In this preliminary work, the results obtained with an initial version of the CFD model are presented. Given the complexity of the 3D geometry, as it includes two different greenhouses each divided in two independent sectors, and of the equations, modeling solar radiation and crop photosynthesis, it will still be necessary to continue its evolution process.
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