Effects of surrounding buildings on air patterns and turbulence in two naturally ventilated mediterranean greenhouses using tri‐sonic anemometry

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to increase the available information concerning the influence of surrounding buildings on air patterns and turbulence characteristics of the ventilation airflow in greenhouses. With a view to evaluating the possible effect of different obstacles close to greenhouse vents, sonic anemometry has been used. At the side opening, the airflow was mainly horizontal, while at the roof vent it was upward or downward. The vicinity of obstacles to the greenhouse side openings reduced the incoming mean flow up to 79% and increased turbulence. Larger ventilation rates were observed for the leeward roof vent, since the wind impacts directly with the windward side opening without obstacles, with a maximum of 31.6 air exchanges per hour. However, when the roof vent is on the windward side, the wind is partially blocked by another similar greenhouse located upwind, as the outside air enters through the roof vent and exits through the two side openings. In this situation, the maximum ventilation rate observed was 14.5 air exchanges per hour. Natural ventilation was more effective in eliminating heat from the part of the greenhouse with a crop when the air entered through the side openings and exited through the roof vent. In this case, the ventilation efficiency for temperature ( T) was greater than 1. The maximum turbulence levels were associated with low air speeds and were observed mainly at the points located close to the side openings influenced by surrounding buildings. The turbulent energy levels of the airflow were higher at the windward openings without obstacles.