Thermofluid Modelling of Large-Scale Orchards for Optimal Design and Control of Active Frost Prevention Systems

Abstract

Accurate modelling and simulation of temperature dynamics in large-scale orchards is important in many aspects, including: (i) for the calculation of minimum energy required to be used in optimal design of active frost prevention energy systems (fully renewable or partially renewable) to prevent freezing of fruit flowers, buds, or leaves; (ii) for testing frost prevention control systems before real-implementation which regulate active heating systems inside orchards targeted to prevent frost. To that end, in this study, first, a novel and sophisticated parametric computational thermofluid dynamics (CTFD) model for orchard air thermal dynamics for different orchard parameters (such as fruit type, climate, number of trees, their sizes, and distance between them) and boundary/initial conditions was developed and validated with field data from the literature. Next, the use of the developed parametric CTFD model was demonstrated through a case study to calculate the minimal thermal energy required to prevent frost under different frost levels in a test Prunus armeniaca orchard located in Malatya, Turkey, which is the world capital for dry apricot production.