Contents

1.0 Problem Statement

2.0 Aim
3.0 Objectives
4.0 Background: Malaysia’s Profile
5.0 Greenhouse
6.0 Solar Cooling
7.0 Methodology
8.0 Work Status
9.0 Expected Results
References
1.0 Problem Statement

• Demand for temperate climate fruits and

vegetables has risen over the years (Kamarudin,
Bailey & Montero 2002) in Malaysia.

•Local production is incapable of catering for this

rising demand (Mat Sharif, Mohammud, Abd Kahar
2006).
• Application of greenhouse assisted by solar cooling
facility will be an alternative approach to meet this
market demand.

• A thorough analysis for implementation is

required due to Malaysia’s high rainfall, high
relative humidity and high ambient temperature.
2.0 Aim

The Research Investigation aims to identify and

select solar cooling technology applicable in
greenhouses for temperate climate crop production
in Malaysia.
3.0 Objectives

• Review available greenhouse design for tropical

climate

• Review available solar cooling technologies

• Design greenhouse system based on operating

parameters for
lettuce and strawberry production for Malaysian
weather

• Recommendation
Questions to ask and get answered:

• What is a greenhouse?

• What is solar cooling?

• Why does Malaysia need greenhouse and solar

cooling?

• Where can Malaysia apply this technology?

• When can it apply this technology?

• How can it apply this combined technology?

• Who can apply this technology and benefit from it?

4.0 Malaysia’s Profile (A Brief Outlook)

• Climate
o Located between 1 and 7o North and 100 and
119o East
o Equatorial climate with average
 annual rainfall of 150-400cm (Mohd Desa &

Rakecha 2006),
 annual temperature of 27 degC,
 high humidity of 80%
 daily solar radiation of 15-20 MJ/m2
• Agriculture
o Total land area of 329667 km2
o Only 22% of the land utilised for agriculture
(Shamsudin
2004)
o Arable land for fruit and vegetable is only 1.4%
and
forecasted to reach 4610 km2 in the year 2010
(Economic
Malaysia’s Profile (A Brief Outlook) - continue

• Economy

o Has a population of 27 million with 61%

making up
middle to upper income group

o Net importer of food products

 more than RM 16 billion annual imports
(Chang 2006)
 temperate fresh fruits import: RM291
million in 2004
 temperate vegetables import : RM576
million
 annual growth demand for temperate
climate fruits (strawberry, rasberry and
gooseberry) is 5%
 annual growth demand for temperate
climate vegetables is 7.6% (Chang 2006)

(Note: 1RM = AUD 0.35 (2007))

5.0 Greenhouse

• A structure covered with a transparent or partially

transparent
material for the purpose of admitting natural light
for
cultivation and propagation of plants (Nelson
2003).

• Most greenhouses have been developed for winter

conditions
and colder climates.

• Tropical greenhouses require reflection of solar

radiation in
the non PAR (photosynthetically active region) to
reduce heat
gain, and lower absorptance of IR (infra-red)
region for the
same reason.

• Natural ventilation for relative humidity (RH) and

temperature control may not work all the time due
6.0 Solar Cooling Technology

• Solar cooling technology in its modest form had

existed since
ancient Greek time (Florides et al. 2002).

• The technology uses energy from sun for space

cooling.

• Presently, it can be divided into two main

categories:
 electrical photovoltaic (PV) system
 solar thermal system
(Saman, Krause & Vajen 2004)

• The thermal system is focused in this research.

 Thermo-sorption process
 Thermo-mechanical process (vapour
compression)
- continue

•The thermo-sorption: open-cycle or close-cycle

absorption process for heat removal and generation
of cooling media.

• Use of hygroscopic properties of certain chemicals

(such as sea salt or alkali metal halides) to absorb
moisture from one media and transfers the heat to
another media through heat exchange.

•Depending on a closed or open cycle, the result will

be chilled water or chilled air.
7.0 Methodology

• Select greenhouse type, solar cooling technology

and specific
crop cultivation parameters.

• Select a greenhouse size, geometry, material of

construction
and crop coverage for Malaysian weather.

• Select a case year from available Malaysian

meteorological
data after data processing using FORTRAN90 and
EXCEL.

• Design the system via available components in

TRNSYS 16,
write other additional equations and run the
design using the
weather data.
- continue Methodology

• Carry out a financial analysis for the design based

on the
output for crop specific.

• Carry out a comparative financial analysis for the

conventional system based on the output.

• Discussion and conclusion.

8.0 Work status

• Research Model

 The model uses single span PE (NIR blocking

film)
greenhouse with lithium chloride liquid
desiccant for
dehumidification of inlet air and evaporative
pad and
fan coolers to obtain inlet greenhouse
temperature and
relative humidity.

 Flat plate solar collector is used to generate

hot water for
regeneration of dilute salt solution in the
regenerator
(50-70 degC).
-Continue Work status

 Crop’s temperature and relative humidity

requirement
sets the model criteria (22-26 degC, 60-65%
RH).

 Input to the model is hourly solar radiation

(MJ/m2),
hourly ambient temperature, wet bulb
temperature and
wind speed.

• Other inputs are equipment datasheet for

absorber,
regenerator and evaporative pad.

• Financial analysis to be concluded after completing

simulation.
9.0 Expected Results

• Greenhouse design dimensions and operating

outputs.

• Equipment specifics for absorber, evaporator, solar

flat plate collector and regenerator.

• Greenhouse temperature and relative humidity for

specific
crop (strawberry and lettuce) – related to above.

• Financial analysis of solar cooling system

References
ASHRAE 2005, in pp. 10.1 -.22.
Chang, J 2006, Malaysia Exporter Guide Annual 2006, MY6042, USDA Foreign
Agricultural Service.
Davies, P 2005, 'A solar cooling system for greenhouse food production in hot
climates', Solar Energy, vol. 79, pp. 661-8.
Economic Planning Unit 2005, Ninth Malaysia Plan 2006-2010, Prime Minister's
Department, Malaysia.
Florides, GA, Tassou, SA, Kalogirou, SA & Wrobel, LC 2002, 'Review of solar
and low energy cooling technologies for buildings', Renewable and
Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 6, p. 557–72.
Grossman, G 2002, 'Solar-Powered Systems for Cooling, Dehumidification and
Air-conditioning', Solar Energy, vol. 72, no. 1, p. 53–62.
Kamaruddin, R, Bailey, BJ & Montero, JI 2002, 'A Naturally Ventilated
Greenhouse For Temperate Vegetable Production in the Tropics', paper
presented to International Symposium on Trop. Subtrop. Greenhouses.
Mohd Desa, M & Rakhecha, P 2006, 'Annual Highest Persisting 24-hr Dew
Points in Malaysia', paper presented to National Conference – Water for
Sustainable Development Towards a Developed Nation by 2020.
Mat Sharif, I., C. Mohammud, et al. (2006). SMART Environmental Control
System for the Production of Strawberry in Lowland Tropics. Proc. IS on
Greenhouses, Environmental Controls & In-house Mechanization for Crop
Production in the Tropics and Sub-tropics.
Nelson, PV 2003, Greenhouse Operation and Management, 6 edn, Prentice
Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.
Saman, W, Krause, M & Vajen, K 2004, 'Solar Cooling Technologies: Current
Status and Recent Developments', paper presented to Solar 2004: Life, the
Universe and Renewables.
Shamsudin, MN 2004, Infrastructure Issues: Implications for the Food and
Agricultural System.
Evaporative-cooled greenhouse with solar regenerated liquid desiccant (Davies 2005)
Absorption solar cooling (Grossman 2002; Saman, Krause & Vajen 2004)
Type of Solar Cooling Technology (Saman, Krause &
Vajen 2004)
 Lean-to Even-span

Uneven-span Ridge-and-furrow
Structural type of Greenhouse (Nelson 2003)
Type: Tunnel, Single Span

Source: www.greenhousesolutions.com.au
Type: Sawtooth,
Multispan

Source: www.greenhousesolutions.com.au