A Comparison of Five Solar Systems for Heating Greenhouses

Abstract

Five greenhouses equipped with different solar heating systems have been built in Bonn (FRG). Performance of the systems has been monitored for about two years to establish energy balances for the houses. During the same period simulation models have been developed and validated with the measurements. The systems considered are: groundwater heat pump, rock bed storage and the greenhouse itself acting as collector, concentrating collectors with water storage, Venetian blind air collectors with rock bed storage, flat plate collectors consisting of rotating lamellas with stratified water storage and heat pump. All systems are integrated within the greenhouse, no outside space is required.