Impact of Automated Control Systems and Supporting Technologies on Greenhouse Environmental Conditions and Energy and Water Consumptions for Crop Production Under Arid Conditions
摘要
Some of the techniques applied in the greenhouse including shading during hot periods, natural ventilation during moderate periods, and thermal screens during cold periods. Additionally, an automated control system was developed to operate the evaporative cooling system during hot periods, activate the heating system during cold periods, and regulate the opening and closing of natural ventilation openings based on the air temperature inside the greenhouse. The results show that the environmental conditions within the greenhouses were maintained at acceptable levels. Growth efficiency and productivity of tomatoes were enhanced in the automatically controlled greenhouse. The water consumption for evaporative cooling in the automated greenhouse was lower compared to the traditional greenhouse due to the reduction in evaporative cooling usage at times and the utilization of natural ventilation and shading in the automated greenhouse. Additionally, the diesel consumption for heating in the automated greenhouse is lower than in the traditional greenhouse throughout all months due to the utilization of thermal screens that insulate the greenhouse from all sides.