CFD Study of Climate Conditions under Greenhouses Equipped with Photovoltaic Panels

Accurately predicting the microclimate distributed inside a greenhouse equipped with photovoltaic panels is a prerequisite for sustainable energy-saving greenhouse management. It can also help to improve the design of these kinds of greenhouse while enhancing the radiation transmission inside. This study is an essential prerequisite for research on crops, namely those adapted to specific conditions in greenhouses equipped with photovoltaic panels. With this context in mind, the solar radiation distribution, thermal air, water vapour and dynamics fields were simulated using the Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) model in two types of greenhouses (Asymmetric and Venlo) equipped with photovoltaic panels on their roof, as well as crop cover characteristics and the interactions between crops and airflow. A detailed description of the thermal, dynamic and radiation fields inside the greenhouse was obtained and the analysis of data collected during this study shows that (i) solar radiation is more evenly distributed in the Venlo greenhouse than in the Asymmetric greenhouse. On an average, the solar radiation transmission in the Asymmetric greenhouse is 41.6% whereas that of the Venlo greenhouse is 46%. These luminosity values are not well adapted to plant requirements. (ii) For the same boundary conditions, the Venlo greenhouse has a cooler climate than the Asymmetrical greenhouse (-3 degrees C in summer and -3 degrees C in winter). This effect is beneficial in summer, but not in winter. The various different openings in the Venlo greenhouse help to maintain temperature control and a homogeneous climate (temperature variation of 5 degrees C in summer and 3.3 degrees C in winter).