THERMAL PERFORMANCE AND MODEL OF TWO TYPE OF GREENHOUSES WITH SOLAR ENERGY STORAGE

Both systems work in two greenhouses of 200 m2 covered with double-skin polycarbonate. Successive crops of lettuce and tomato are grown under the two greenhouses.

In one of the greenhouses, the solar energy which is in excess inside the greenhouse is transferred and stored in the greenhouse soil, by circulating the greenhouse air through buried PVC pipes.

In the other greenhouse, internal air is recycled through a network of PVC containers (heat exchangers) specially designed to increase exchange surface. These containers are filled with "serrolite", a phase change material (PCM) which has a melting point of 21° C : this temperature is well suited for greenhouse solar energy recuperation.

Microclimatic and thermal performances of the system, including both sensible and evapocondensative heat transfers, have been performed during two heating seasons (1985–1986 and 1986–1987).

These experimental results are used for validation of the soil storage system model, including simulations of sensible and latent heat transfer phenomena. This model could be used to investigate the influence of the main design parameters, in order to improve their efficiency and to control the microclimate under the greenhouse.

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