1B. Tech. Student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, Punjab, India
2Professor-cum-Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, Punjab, India
*Corresponding author email id: vpsethi@pau.edu
Online published on 20 August, 2016.
In this study, thermal models of a greenhouse coupled with aquifer coupled cavity flow heat exchanger system (ACCFHES) and earth-to-air heat exchanger system (EAHES) have been presented to compare their performance for a particular hot summer day in north India climate. In ACCFHES, the deep aquifer water is made available on ground through irrigation tube well whereas in EAHES the pipes are buried under surface of earth for heat transfer. The analysis of both the models is based on the energy balance equations for various elements like plant, floor and inside air of greenhouse. A computer programme has been developed to solve the energy balance equations and compute the performance parameters for given set of input climatic and geometric data. The results showed that during extreme summer day, the inside air temperature of greenhouse is maintained below ambient air temperature with ACCFHES and EAHES but the overall performance of ACCFHES is better as compared with EAHES.
ACCFHES, EAHE, Thermal model, Energy balance, Solar energy, Greenhouse, Heat exchanger
