Numerical Simulation of Temperature Decrease in Greenhouses with Summer Water-Sprinkling Roof

Abstract

Decreasing the temperature of a greenhouse in summer is very important for the growth of plants. To investigate the effects of a roof sprinkler on the heat environment of a greenhouse, a three-dimensional symmetrical model was built, in which a k-ε (k-epsilon) turbulent model, a DO (Discrete Ordinates) irrational model, a Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure-Linked Equations (SIMPLE) algorithm, and a multiphase model were used to simulate the effects of the roof sprinkler, at different flow rates. Based on the simulation results, it was found that the temperature could be further reduced under a proper sprinkle rate, and the temperature distribution in the film on the roof was more uniform. A test was conducted to verify the accuracy of the model, which proved the validity of the numerical results. The simulation results of this study will be helpful for controlling and optimizing the heat environment of a greenhouse.