Comparing low-pressure and high-pressure fogging systems in naturally ventilated greenhouses

• Published in: Biosystems engineering 2008-09, Vol.101 (1), p.69-77
• Main Authors: Li, S., Willits, D.H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural machinery and engineering; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; equipment performance; evaporation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Generalities. Biometrics, experimentation. Remote sensing; greenhouses; natural ventilation; pressure; temperature
• ISSN: 1537-5110; 1537-5129
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2008.06.004

The cooling performance of a low-pressure (405 kPa working pressure) and a high-pressure fogging system (6.89 MPa) was evaluated. Experiments were conducted in two empty, naturally ventilated greenhouses under summer conditions for a period of about two months. One greenhouse was used as the treatment greenhouse (fogged house) and another was used as the control house (un-fogged house). Cooling efficiency was defined by the ratio of the temperature difference between the un-fogged and fogged greenhouses to the difference between the temperature in un-fogged house and the wet-bulb temperature in the fogged greenhouse. Evaporation efficiency was defined as the ratio of fog evaporation rate to spray rate. Cooling efficiency and evaporation efficiency were compared for the low-pressure and high-pressure systems after accounting for differences in weather conditions under which the two systems were operated. It is suggested that on average evaporation efficiency for the high-pressure system was at least 64% greater than the low-pressure system; cooling efficiency for the high-pressure system was at least 28% greater than for the low-pressure system.