A GREENHOUSE ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PROVIDING OPTIMAL GROWING CONDITIONS

A NEW TYPE OF CLOSED-LOOP GREENHOUSE COOLING AND HEATING SYSTEM THAT PERMITS CO2 ENRICHMENT OF A VARIETY OF PRINCIPALCROP AND NATIVE SPECIES OVER LONG PERIODS OF TIME WITHOUT LOSS OF CO2 DURING VENTILATION WILL BE CONSTRUCTED, INSTALLED IN AN EXISTING GREENHOUSE, AND TESTED FOR ITS ABILITY TO ACHIEVE ENERGY BALANCE DURING A RANGE OF SELECTEDCOOLING/HEATING LOAD CONDITIONS PRODUCED IN THE GROWTH CHAMBER DURING LONG-TERM CO2 ENRICHMENT USING LETTUCE AS A TEST CROP. THIS APPROACH TO OPTIMAL GROWING CONDITIONS IS BASED ON THE "THERMAL BANK" HEAT STORAGE SYSTEM: PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS (PCM) IN FLEXIBLE FILM LAMINATE CONTAINERS THAT REMOVE EXCESS HEAT FROM THE CIRCULATING ATMOSPHERE DURING PERIODS OF HIGH INSOLATION OR SUPPLEMENTARY LIGHTING,COOLING IT TO DESIRED GROWING TEMPERATURES, AND LATER, WHEN HEAT IS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN DESIRED GROWING TEMPERATURE, RETURNS HEAT TO THE CIRCULATING AIR. DATA ON THE ENERGY BALANCE ACHIEVED IN THE TEST CHAMBER DURING PHASE I WILL GUIDE US IN DETERMINING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A COMPLETE GREENHOUSE VERSION TO BE FABRICATED AND TESTED IN PHASE II AND USED TO STUDY ADDITIONAL CROPS FOR THEIR RESPONSE TO CONTINUOUS CO2 ENRICHMENT, OPTIMIZED PHOTOPERIODS AND OTHER CONTROLLED VARIABLES.