Fundamental Experiments for Design of Air Inflating Apparatus of Air-Inflated Double-Layer Plastic Greenhouse

This study was conducted to provide fundamental data for design of air inflating apparatus of air-inflated double-layer plastic greenhouse. The variation of static pressure in air tube for different fans and filters, filtering performance for various kinds of filters and destruction phase of experimental greenhouse collapsed by excessive static pressure in air space were analyzed. The general type of forward centrifugal fan was recommended for inflating air space in air-inflated double-layer plastic greenhouse. The experimental greenhouse was collapsed down by excessive static pressure just like fallen by heavy snow load acting on it. The static pressure in air tube without filter decreased linearly as the number of outlet openings increased. But the pressure in air tube with filter declined quadratically, the decremental ratio diminished by the increase of outlet openings. The higher filtering efficiency and the greater decrements of static pressure in air tube, the larger capacity fan was required for maintaining proper static pressure in air space. Because the porosities of filter were blocked by dust as time goes by, the static pressure in air tube with filter decreased. The higher filtering efficiency, the less decremental ratio of static pressure in air tube as time passes by. Considering the filtering efficiency, decrement of static pressure and thickness of filter, the 5mm thickness filter of 75% efficiency was recommended for air inflating filter of air-inflated double-layer plastic greenhouse.