A review of common natural ventilation and evaporative cooling systems for Greenhouses and the Nigerian reality

Abstract

Greenhouses simulate the "desired" environment for successful growth and development of plants. They, by design, achieve this desired environment by supplying the necessary climatic inputs needed by the plants to strive and at the same time exclude factors impeding the growth of plants, hence it is called a controlled environment. One of the common and most desired attribute of the greenhouse is its ability to provide effective cooling to the plants. This paper reviewed, extensively, the concept of evaporative cooling as applied in greenhouses. Factors like Vapor Pressure deficit (VPD), Relative Humidity, Ambient Temperature were also discussed with regards to its effects on the efficiency of the evaporative cooling system. The efficiencies of the Fan and Pad System and the Fog systems were reviewed and compared with their consequent dependence on factors like nozzle spacing, nozzle length, saturation efficiency of pad material etc. The Natural Ventilation method was also reviewed as a "stand alone " greenhouse cooling method and as an augmentation to other cooling systems. Factors like rate of air exchange, total area of vents, wind speed, vent opening angles etc. were also discussed in line with their effects on the effectiveness of the Natural ventilation method. The Nigerian Perspective on Greenhouses and its Cooling methods was also discussed with reference to local development of evaporative coolers as well as its importation, its affordability, management, availability and appliance to the Nigerian farming culture.