Determination of the Optimal Orientation of Chinese Solar Greenhouses Using 3D Light Environment Simulations

Abstract

With the continuous use of resources, solar energy is expected to be the most used sustainable energy. To improve the solar energy efficiency in Chinese Solar Greenhouses (CSG), the effect of CSG orientation on intercepted solar radiation was systematically studied. By using a 3D CSG model and a detailed crop canopy model, the light environment within CSG was optimized. Taking the most widely used Liao-Shen type Chinese solar greenhouse (CSG-LS) as the prototype, the simulation was fully verified. The intercepted solar radiation of the maintenance structures and crops was used as the evaluation index. The results showed that the highest amount of solar radiation intercepted by the maintenance structures occurred in the CSG orientations of 4–6° south to west (S-W) in 36.8° N and 38° N areas, 8–10° S-W in 41.8° N areas, and 2–4° south to east (S-E) in 43.6° N areas. The solar radiation intercepted by the crop canopy displayed the highest value at an orientation of 2–4° S-W in 36.8° N, 38° N, 43.6° N areas, and 4–6° S-W in the 41.8° N area. Furthermore, the proposed model could provide scientific guidance for greenhouse crop modelling.

A review study on the design and control of optimised greenhouse environments

“…The solar energy transmitted was computed using the greenhouse cover's transmittance as a function of incidence angle (polycarbonate (PC)). Anhua Liu et al (Liu et al 2022), who examined the 3D CSG model and a detailed crop canopy model altered the light environment within CSG. The simulation was thoroughly validated using the Liao-Shen type Chinese Solar Greenhouse (CSG-LS) as the prototype.…”