Analysis of Natural Ventilation Characteristics of Venlo-type Greenhouse with Continuous Roof Vents

In this study the characteristics of natural ventilation of Venlo-type greenhouse with continuous roof vents were analyzed using commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code. Developed CFD simulation model was verified by comparison with experimental data. Simulation errors were 1.9-46.0% for air velocity and 1.7-11.2% for air temperature at each measurement point. CFD simulations were conducted to estimate the effect of roof vents opening direction, opening angle, outside wind velocity and wind directions on ventilation rate and climate condition in greenhouse. The results of this study showed that ventilation rate of the present greenhouse was increased linearly in proportion to the increase of roof vent opening angle and outside wind velocity over 2.0 m/s. According to the analysis on the effects of different roof vent opening direction, simultaneous opening of wind and leeward vents showed the highest ventilation rate and lowest mean temperature in greenhouse.