Determination of the Optimal Orientation of Chinese Solar Greenhouses Using 3D Light Environment Simulations

Anhua Liu,Michael Henke,Yue Zhang,Demin Xu,Tianlai Li,Xingan Liu,Yiming Li

doi:10.3390/rs14040912

Abstract

With the continuous use of resources, solar energy is expected to be the most used sustainable energy. To improve the solar energy efficiency in Chinese Solar Greenhouses (CSG), the effect of CSG orientation on intercepted solar radiation was systematically studied. By using a 3D CSG model and a detailed crop canopy model, the light environment within CSG was optimized. Taking the most widely used Liao-Shen type Chinese solar greenhouse (CSG-LS) as the prototype, the simulation was fully verified. The intercepted solar radiation of the maintenance structures and crops was used as the evaluation index. The results showed that the highest amount of solar radiation intercepted by the maintenance structures occurred in the CSG orientations of 4–6° south to west (S-W) in 36.8° N and 38° N areas, 8–10° S-W in 41.8° N areas, and 2–4° south to east (S-E) in 43.6° N areas. The solar radiation intercepted by the crop canopy displayed the highest value at an orientation of 2–4° S-W in 36.8° N, 38° N, 43.6° N areas, and 4–6° S-W in the 41.8° N area. Furthermore, the proposed model could provide scientific guidance for greenhouse crop modelling.

Highlights

IntroductionAs a typical energy-saving horticultural facility, solar greenhouses ease the antiseasonal production of vegetables
Introduction published maps and institutional affilAs a typical energy-saving horticultural facility, solar greenhouses ease the antiseasonal production of vegetables
To clear the effect of optimization for greenhouse orientation based on the maintenance To clear effect ofcommon optimization for greenhouse basedwere on the maintestructures and the crops, three evaluation indices fororientation the optimization compared nance structures and crops, three for the optimization were

Summary

Introduction

As a typical energy-saving horticultural facility, solar greenhouses ease the antiseasonal production of vegetables. It remains a challenge to produce vegetables in these facilities during winter without additional heating systems. The energy efficiency demand generated by a further increasing number of solar greenhouses is a major environmental and economic problem for crop producers worldwide [2,3]. To provide a suitable environment for the production of vegetables during the winter season using CSGs, the efficient use of renewable energy sources, including solar energy is essential [4,5]. A greenhouse is a permanent structure whose productivity highly depends on its location, orientation, and shape. When the location of the greenhouse iations

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion