At Enerdes we can identify the ideal cooling system for your specific greenhouse using Computational Fluid Dynamics modelling. We compare different scenarios between evaporative cooling and active cooling with chillers and optimize the benefit of both. Sometimes this will lead to an efficient combination of both methods, lowering operational costs and giving extra cooling capacity when needed.
Enerdes is part of the Reinders Corporation and has been developing and producing climate control systems since 1910.
At Enerdes we have decades of experience in the agriculture and horticulture industry. Our greenhouse cooling systems and chillers are market-leading and our engineers are the most experienced out there to develop the ideal system for your individual location and crop.
Advantages of greenhouse cooling systems by Enerdes:
Enerdes – experts in creating the perfect air conditions in greenhouses.
There are 3 methods available to cool an industrial greenhouse:
At Enerdes, we know exactly how to develop a greenhouse cooling system for your individual needs that operates with minimal energy consumption and low costs.
Based on the following factors, Enerdes determines the heating and cooling demand for your greenhouse and what methods are most suitable to achieve the desired temperature:
It is also possible to combine several systems to get optimal temperature results. For example a chilled water system during humid months with an evaporative cooling system that is active in less humid periods and a heating system for cooler months
Enerdes can advise you on which climate control installation is most suitable for you and what capacity you will need. We make sure you have sufficient cooling and heating capacity without making unnecessary investments.
To cool a greenhouse, the first measures are ventilation and shading. Ventilation can be achieved by creating air circulation with greenhouse fans and opening roof vents and shutter vents.
However, these solutions may not be sufficient or not desired for many reasons such as:
For big buildings like offices, mechanical refrigeration can be used, also referred to as air conditioning. However, the amount of heat that needs to be removed from greenhouses is so much bigger, air conditioning with mechanical refrigeration is not an economically feasible option.
When ventilation and shading are not sufficient, greenhouse temperatures can be controlled by means of evaporative cooling, also referred to as swamp cooling.
How does it work?
When water evaporates in the air, energy is needed. This energy comes from heat which is dissipated from the hot air. The more water can evaporate in the air, the more heat is dissipated and thus the more the greenhouse is cooled. The initial temperature and the initial relative humidity of the air determine how much water can be evaporated and thus what the cooling capacity is and how much the greenhouse temperature can drop.
Two types of greenhouse cooling systems are available of which the working principles are based on evaporative cooling:
Advantages of evaporation cooling in greenhouses:
When the recirculation of air in the greenhouse is not enough to create a perfect climate for the crop, air from the outside is required. When outside air is drawn in, the use of cooling pads is the most efficient way to cool the greenhouse. By using cooling pads, the ambient temperature can be significantly lowered.
Advantages of Enerdes Cooling Pads:
The quantity and size of the cooling pads that you will need, depend on:
How does an Enerdes cooling pad work?
A “wet wall greenhouse” is created, but no water is wasted in Enerdes climate systems!
The cooling pads with frames are sold separately for existing greenhouses, but also with water distribution units.
There are several factors that affect the lifetime of cooling pads, including
Cooling pads can warp by these influences or fall out of the wall. Enerdes cooling pads are constructed for long product life time and we can advise you on how to sufficiently cool your greenhouse, while maintaining your cooling pads in a good condition.
How does adiabatic cooling work?
The evaporation of a crop requires energy. This energy is withdrawn from the greenhouse air. The energy in the form of heat is converted into water vapor. The energy is still there, but does not feel as heat. The crop can be helped in the conversion of sensible heat to water vapor using fogging. This is also known as adiabatic cooling.
Enerdes fogging systems consist of high-pressurized lines hung at the top of the greenhouse. The stainless steel high-pressure line has a branch every 2 to 3 meters with a special high pressure nozzle which will atomize the water to a very fine mist. Our systems are custom made and thus tailored to your requirements.
Two systems are available:
Advantages of adiabatic cooling:
A fogging system may also be referred to as a misting system or a spraying system.
Many greenhouses revert to ventilation and evaporative cooling to achieve the desired temperature. However, in warm and humid climates, it is not possible to cool down the greenhouse sufficiently with evaporative cooling. Other technology must be used, namely, active cooling. This cooling technology can be compared with air conditioning, but on a really big scale. It requires a chiller to provide the water and an air handling unit to cool and dehumidify the air.
Active cooling system in a greenhouse can be based on
The choice and the design will be based on the cooling demand and the energy costs.
Advantages of active greenhouse cooling using chillers:
How does a chiller work?
A chilled water cooling installation consists of a chiller and a piping network. Chilled water is transported throughout the greenhouse in a loop to provide cooling. The process during which water is used as the heat-transfer medium is called hydronics, in this case to provide cooling.
Using valves, the piping network can be divided into several groups, so the greenhouse can be segregated in several areas in which the temperature is controlled separately. Individual temperature zones are assigned in the greenhouse. The air handling units together with the chiller provide optimal greenhouse temperature and humidity conditions.
In the air handling unit, a fan draws warm and humid air past a heat exchanger with the chilled water, the cooling coils. The air is cooled and the moisture condenses. Cool and dry air is spread into the greenhouse. The temperature in the cooling coils is regulated with temperature sensors and valves and variable fan power influences the amount of air that is cooled. This allows precise climate control in the greenhouse.
A chilled water cooling installation for greenhouses offers very precise control over your greenhouse temperature and growing conditions. Enerdes can also provide well designed control technology that contains robust control PID, that will smoothly operate all components in the installation in order to achieve the perfect greenhouse climate.
Components that are monitored and controlled are:
By meticulously controlling the valves and fans, the desired greenhouse temperature and humidity can be achieved to a very accurate level and the automated control allows energy and cost savings.
Enerdes optimizes every greenhouse cooling installation to the unique requirements and conditions of the customer’s greenhouse. Together we will look into how we can achieve a robust climate control solution that will provide your greenhouse with appropriate cooling with minimal operating costs.
Enerdes can provide you with a complete climate control system, or selected parts of it, such as:
Do you have any questions on our products, services or projects?
Please feel free to contact us.
