Prediction of Greenhouse Energy Loads using Building Energy Simulation (BES)

Reliable estimation of energy load inside the greenhouse and the selection of cooling and heating facilities are very important preceding factors to save energy as well as initial and maintenance costs of operating a greenhouse. Recently, building energy simulation (BES) technique to simulate a model similar to the actual conditions through a variety of dynamic simulation methods, and predict and analyze the flow of energy is being actively introduced and developed. As a fundamental research to apply the BES technique which is mainly used for analysis of general buildings, to greenhouse, this research designed four types of naturally-ventilated greenhouses using one of commercial programs, TRNSYS, and then compared and analyzed their energy load properties, by applying meteorological data collected from six regions in Korea. When comparing the greenhouse load of each region depending on latitude and topographical characteristics through simulation, Chuncheon had nearly 9~49 % higher heating load per year than other regions, but its annual cooling load was the reverse to it. Except for Jeju, 1-2W type greenhouses in five regions showed about 17 % higher heating load than a widespan type greenhouse, and 1-2W type greenhouses in Chuncheon, Suwon, Cheongju, Daegu, Cheonju and Jeju had 23 %, 20 %, 17 %, 16 %, 18 % and 20 % higher cooling load respectively than a wide span-type one. Glasshouse and vinyl greenhouse showed 8~11 % and 10~12 % differences respectively in heating load, while 2~10 % and 7~10 % differences in cooling load respectively.