Modeling of Natural Ventilation Using a Hierarchical Fuzzy Control System for a New Energy-Saving Solar Greenhouse

Abstract

Abstract. Natural ventilation as part of a greenhouse environment control system can save energy, reduce pollution, and cut the costs of production. Many studies have used the energy balance method to model greenhouse environments and calculate the rates of ventilation needed to control them. However, the efficacy of this method is influenced by many factors. There are often many parameters in the energy balance model, related to the greenhouse structure, crop growth, and climate. Thus, the effectiveness and applicability of greenhouse ventilation systems based on energy balance can be compromised. Here, we study a hierarchical fuzzy control method and use simple fuzzy logic controllers to control the coordination and opening angles of a new energy-saving solar greenhouse roof and sidewall ventilation. This design reduces the complexity of the fuzzy rule base and the fuzzy subsystem related to the physical model, therefore making it easy to design and build. The system uses the fuzzy tool in the Matlab environment, enabling a quick design, and the fuzzy inference engine fis.c file (Fuzzy Inference System) to load the design results into the fuzzy control system, thus making the modification and maintenance of the system easier. The experimental data showed that the new hierarchical fuzzy control reduced temperature fluctuations and maintained temperature closer to desired temperature than a non-fuzzy control method. Moreover, this method can also be easily used to control other equipment in the greenhouse. Keywords: Hierarchical fuzzy model, Natural ventilation, Matlab, Solar greenhouse.