THERMAL MODELING AND EXPERIMENTAL VALIDATION OF NATURALLY VENTILATED SOLAR GREENHOUSE FOR VEGETABLE CROP PRODUCTION IN AN INDIAN COMPOSITE CLIMATE

摘要

Greenhouse cultivation appears a viable option for healthy, nutritive and high-yield crop produces. This can also be used in off-season for crop cultivation. This communication deals with thermal modeling and experimental investigation of naturally ventilated solar greenhouse with shading net. It is found that such type of structure is not found suitable for growing crops during the month of May-June, particularly, in Rajasthan climatic conditions. Thermodynamic analysis of greenhouse in terms of energy and exergy analysis is presented to predict the actual performance conditions. Exergy transfer analysis in the greenhouse is also presented in this communication. We have also examined the economic feasibility of two vegetable crops (i.e., cucumber and tomato) cultivated in a naturally ventilated greenhouse, estimating the net present worth (NPW), cost- benefit ratio, payback period and internal rate of return for these crops on year- round cultivation. The cost-benefit ratio has demonstrated that growing cucumbers and tomatoes can be economically viable in this climatic region.