An Investigation Into Par (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) and Energy Performances in Small-Scale Greenhouses in Northern China
Abstract
Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) and energy demand are critical factors to justify performances of greenhouses, which can be significantly affected by their configurations and orientations. Using RADIANCE (ray-tracing packages) & TRNSYS (energy modelling), two typical small-scale greenhouses combined with five orientations (south, south-east, south-west, east, and west) were studied under a climate of northern China, in terms of PAR received at the interior floor, and the heating and cooling demands across the whole space. Several key findings have been therefore achieved to optimize the design of greenhouses. They can be used to improve the availability of PAR, which is used for effectively supporting the growth of plants and vegetables, and at the same time reduce energy consumption in greenhouses.