Open Access(297) Continuous Fogging using a Nozzle with an Upward Air Stream Contributes to Steady Air Temperature during Greenhouse Cooling
Author(s) -
Hiromi Toida,
Toyoki Kozai,
Handarto,
Katsumi Ohyama
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
hortscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.518
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 2327-9834
pISSN - 0018-5345
DOI - 10.21273/hortsci.40.4.1009d
Subject(s) - fogging , greenhouse , environmental science , nozzle , relative humidity , evaporative cooler , humidity , evaporation , atmospheric sciences , environmental engineering , meteorology , materials science , thermodynamics , composite material , horticulture , geology , geography , physics , biology
Fogging systems are still not widely used for greenhouse cooling, primarily due to their low fog: evaporation ratio, resulting in a low cooling efficiency and a high risk of pathogen expansion caused by excess wetness of plant foliage. The fogging is operated intermittently because of these problems. Consequently, the air temperature and relative humidity fluctuates inside the greenhouse. If nozzles with a high fog: evaporation ratio are employed, the fogging can be operated continuously. By continuous fogging, steady air temperature and relative humidity can be achieved inside the greenhouse. In our previous study under indoor conditions, a high fog: evaporation ratio was achieved by installing two small fans close to a conventional upright nozzle in order to obtain an upward air stream. The objective of this study was to draw a comparison between the environmental conditions inside a greenhouse with the continuous fogging with small fans and that with the conventional intermittent fogging without fans. Reduced fluctuation of the air temperature and relative humidity inside the greenhouse were observed in the case of continuous fogging as compared with that observed in the case of intermittent fogging. The air temperature inside the greenhouse during cooling was lower than that before cooling in both methods. In the case of continuous fogging, the adjustment of the amount of fogged water will provide the desired environmental conditions inside the greenhouse.