ASABE Technical Library - Abstract

Abstract. A mathematical model is developed for simulation of the heating requirement in Chinese solar greenhouses. The model was developed based on heat balance of the greenhouse air that takes into account all of the heat sources and sinks and transfers mechanisms including the variation in solar radiation, ventilation and infiltration, heat storage capacities of the north wall and the ground, and heat exchanged in the process of plant photosynthesis and transpiration. The soil surface temperature and north wall surface temperature are estimated by solving the ordinary differential equations of heat balance equation of the north wall and the greenhouse floor. The model would be beneficial to the researchers and greenhouse industry for predicting the time-dependent heating requirement in Chinese solar greenhouses.