Design and Concept of an Energy System Based on Renewable Sources for Greenhouse Sustainable Agriculture

Abstract

Bio-organic greenhouses that are based on alternative resources for producing heat and electricity stand out as an efficient option for the sustainable development of agriculture, thus ensuring good growth and development of plants in all seasons, especially during the cold season. Greenhouses can be used with maximum efficiency in various agricultural lands, providing ideal conditions of temperature and humidity for short-term plant growing, thereby increasing the local production of fruit and vegetables. This paper presents the development of a durable greenhouse concept that is based on complex energy system integrating fuel cells and solar panels. Approaching this innovative concept encountered a major problem in terms of local implementation of this type of greenhouses because of the difficulty in providing electrical and thermal energy from conventional sources to ensure an optimal climate for plant growing. The project result consists in the design and implementation of a sustainable greenhouse energy system that is based on fuel cells and solar panels.

From Plastic to Fuel - New Challenges

“…There are some well-known pathways for plastic wastes recycling and reintroduction into the industrial cycle, but the feasible option of disposal through energy recovery seems an effective alternative [2]. The energy recovery from wastes, including plastics, or the design and concept of energy systems based on renewable sources [3,4], would represent modern ways of efficient fossil fuel consumption, preservation and resources sustainability for Romania. Pyrolysis is an irreversible process of chemically decomposition of organic materials at high temperatures, in the absence of oxygen.…”

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology for the Sustainable Future of Stationary Applications

“…This analysis includes fuel cell assemblies of various types, namely proton exchange membrane fuel cells, solid oxide fuel cells, phosphoric acid fuel cells and molten carbon fuel cells, having dimensions of power generation systems with generated power ranging from 5 kW up to 2.8 MW, and the equipment has nominal powers ranging from 0.5 kW up to 400 kW [20,21]. Fuel cell systems are used in stationary applications [59][60][61][62][63] where they can be used for various purposes, namely as back-up power supplies, power generation for remote locations, stand-alone power stations for one or more consumers, distributed generation for buildings and cogeneration (in which excess thermal energy resulting from the production of electricity is used to provide the thermal agent) [24,40].…”

PLC Automation and Control Strategy in a Stirling Solar Power System

“…In this paper, we have designed, tested, and optimized the starting, operating, and stopping sequences of a Tedom-modified Stirling alpha V191 engine, representing the conversion unit of the Sunflower 35 solar concentrator [27], through an automation system. In the laboratory, we designed the electrical installation and the automation system, we implemented practically the automation system [28,29], and we programmed the PLCs in order to realize the starting sequences and the opening of the valves for both the cooling system of the compressor and the charging system with helium. The automation also provides the protection and alarm system, control of the protection curtain, and command and control of the electric generator, the heat exchanger, and fan control for the Stirling engine.…”