The Effect of Time-Varying Wind Direction on the Indoor Climate of a Naturally Ventilated Greenhouse

Author(s):  
Sunita Kruger ◽  
Leon Pretorius

This paper presents a numerical investigation into the indoor climate of a four span naturally ventilated, four span greenhouse subject to a time-varying wind direction. The effect of transient wind conditions on the temperature and velocity distribution inside the greenhouse is numerically determined using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The research in this paper is an extension of work previously conducted on two-dimensional models of greenhouses. Current work concentrates on the three-dimensional effect of external winds. Results indicate that for a wind direction of 22.5 degrees, the microclimate at plant level varies throughout the length of the greenhouse. It was also found from transient simulations that even a slight change in wind direction have a pronounced effect on the indoor climate at plant level.

Author(s):  
Sunita Kruger ◽  
Leon Pretorius

In this paper, the influence of various bench arrangements on the microclimate inside a two-span greenhouse is numerically investigated using three-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models. Longitudinal and peninsular arrangements are investigated for both leeward and windward opened roof ventilators. The velocity and temperature distributions at plant level (1m) were of particular interest. The research in this paper is an extension of two-dimensional work conducted previously [1]. Results indicate that bench layouts inside the greenhouse have a significant effect on the microclimate at plant level. It was found that vent opening direction (leeward or windward) influences the velocity and temperature distributions at plant level noticeably. Results also indicated that in general, the leeward facing greenhouses containing either type of bench arrangement exhibit a lower velocity distribution at plant level compared to windward facing greenhouses. The latter type of greenhouses has regions with relatively high velocities at plant level which could cause some concern. The scalar plots indicate that more stagnant areas of low velocity appear for the leeward facing greenhouses. The windward facing greenhouses also display more heterogeneity at plant level as far as temperature is concerned.


Author(s):  
William E. Pedersen ◽  
Daniel N. Pope

This study presents the design and modeling of an integrated wind energy building. It is proposed that a building be constructed with an integral wind turbine that takes advantage of the funneling of wind from the building structure and the low pressure area above or leeward of the building. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was used to evaluate different building geometries and wind potentials. Preliminary investigations using two dimensional numerical modeling in both the horizontal and vertical planes are presented. Three dimensional analyses are also presented of promising geometries from the two dimensional preliminary results. While additional modeling efforts will be necessary to optimize this system, results indicate a significant improvement in performance over free standing turbines, allowing for utilization of wind power in geographic regions that have traditionally not been feasible.


1997 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. 661-674 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. A. Gifford

With the proper use of three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD), the design of extrusion dies can be taken from that of an art to a science. Although replacing simpler traditional one- and two-dimensional approaches with fully three-dimensional ones requires a much more in depth analysis and a large amount of computations, the design of most dies can be performed on a personal computer. This paper demonstrates how these techniques are being used to obtain optimized designs of extrusion dies.


Author(s):  
Sunita Kruger ◽  
Leon Pretorius

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of peninsular arranged perforated benches containing plants on the indoor environment of a naturally ventilated greenhouse. The results are compared to a greenhouse containing peninsular arranged solid benches with no plants. The investigation will be conducted numerically using three-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models. The overall temperature and velocity distribution were investigated at different sections of the greenhouse. The temperature and velocity distributions at plant level were of particular interest. Results indicated that the greenhouse containing the perforated benches were in general cooler, but also exhibited higher velocities throughout. The velocities observed were higher than those recommended by ASHRAE [1]. It was concluded that care should be taken when placing plants on the perforated benches especially in the regions adjacent to the walls, as this can lead to non-uniform crop production.


1997 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Mistriotis ◽  
T. De Jong ◽  
M.J.M. Wagemans ◽  
G.P.A. Bot

The basic concepts of CFD are presented in relation to applications in modelling the ventilation process and the resulting indoor climate of agricultural buildings. The validity and the advantages of this numerical technique are presented using 3 examples. Firstly the pressure coefficients along the roof of a 7-span Venlo-type greenhouse were calculated and compared with the corresponding experimental values. Next, the ventilation process in a single-span greenhouse was investigated and the results were compared to laboratory experiments. Finally, the use of CFD as a design tool for more efficient ventilation systems was demonstrated for the case of a broiler house.


Author(s):  
Sunita Kruger ◽  
Leon Pretorius

In this paper, the use of computational fluid dynamics is evaluated as a design tool to investigate the indoor climate of a confined greenhouse. The finite volume method using polyhedral cells is used to solve the governing mass, momentum and energy equations. Natural convection in a cavity corresponding to a mono-span venlo-type greenhouse is numerically investigated using Computational Fluid Dynamics. The CFD model is designed so as to simulate the climate above a plant canopy in an actual multi-span greenhouse heated by solar radiation. The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of various design parameters such as pitch angle and roof asymmetry and on the velocity and temperature patterns inside a confined single span greenhouse heated from below. In the study reported in this paper a two-dimensional CFD model was generated for the mono-span venlo-type greenhouse, and a mesh sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine the mesh independence of the solution. Similar two-dimensional flow patterns were observed in the obtained CFD results as the experimental results reported by Lamrani et al [2]. The CFD model was then modified and used to explore the effect of roof pitch angle and roof asymmetry at floor level on the development of the flow and temperature patterns inside the cavity for various Rayleigh numbers. Results are presented in the form of vector and contour plots. It was found that considerable temperature and velocity gradients were observed in the centre of the greenhouse for each case in the first 40mm above the ground, as well as in the last 24mm close to the roof. Results also indicated that the Rayleigh number did not have a significant impact on the flow and temperature patterns inside the greenhouse, although roof angle and asymmetry did. The current results demonstrate the importance of CFD as a design tool in the case of greenhouse design.


2005 ◽  
Vol 498-499 ◽  
pp. 179-185
Author(s):  
A.F. Lacerda ◽  
Luiz Gustavo Martins Vieira ◽  
A.M. Nascimento ◽  
S.D. Nascimento ◽  
João Jorge Ribeiro Damasceno ◽  
...  

A two-dimensional fluidynamics model for turbulent flow of gas in cyclones is used to evaluate the importance of the anisotropic of the Reynolds stress components. This study presents consisted in to simulate through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) package the operation of the Lapple cyclone. Yields of velocity obtained starting from a model anisotropic of the Reynolds stress are compared with experimental data of the literature, as form of validating the results obtained through the use of the Computational fluid dynamics (Fluent). The experimental data of the axial and swirl velocities validate numeric results obtained by the model.


2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (1) ◽  
pp. 158-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ashrafizadeh ◽  
G. D. Raithby ◽  
G. D. Stubley

This paper describes a method for calculating the shape of duct that leads to a prescribed pressure distribution on the duct walls. The proposed design method is computationally inexpensive, robust, and a simple extension of existing computational fluid dynamics methods; it permits the duct shape to be directly calculated by including the coordinates that define the shape of the duct wall as dependent variables in the formulation. This “direct design method” is presented by application to two-dimensional ideal flow in ducts. The same method applies to many problems in thermofluids, including the design of boundary shapes for three-dimensional internal and external viscous flows.


2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Ramalingam ◽  
J. Fillos ◽  
S. Xanthos ◽  
M. Gong ◽  
A. Deur ◽  
...  

New York City provides secondary treatment to approximately 78.6 m3/s among its 14 water pollution control plants (WPCPs). The process of choice has been step-feed activated sludge. Changes to the permit limits require nitrogen removal in WPCPs discharging into the Long Island Sound. The City has selected step feed biological nitrogen removal (BNR) process to upgrade the affected plants. Step feed BNR requires increasing the concentration of mixed liquors, (MLSS), which stresses the Gould II type rectangular final settling tanks (FSTs). To assess performance and evaluate alternatives to improve efficiency of the FSTs at the higher loads, New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) and City College of New York (CCNY) have developed a three-dimensional computer model depicting the actual structural configuration of the tanks and the current and proposed hydraulic and solids loading rates. Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Model, Fluent 6.3.26TM as the base platform, sub-models of the SS settling characteristics as well as turbulence, flocculation, etc. were incorporated. This was supplemented by field and bench scale experiments to quantify the co-efficients integral to the sub-models. As a result, a three-dimensional model has been developed that is being used to consider different baffle arrangements, sludge withdrawal mechanisms and loading alternatives to the FSTs.


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