Greenhouse Environment Simulator 1.

0
http://www.uvm.edu/wge/

Users manual
Written by

Efren Fitz-Rodriguez

The University of Arizona

Controlled Environment Agriculture Center
Tucson, AZ
April 2006

Greenhouse Environment Simulator 1.0

(Multimedia Instrument for World Wide Greenhouse Education Grant)
http://www.uvm.edu/wge/simulator/

Users manual

Content
Page
Preface......................................................................................................................... 2
Introduction................................................................................................................. 3
System requirements................................................................................................... 3
How to run the Greenhouse Simulator........................................................................ 4
Description of the Greenhouse Simulator................................................................... 4
Running the Simulator ................................................................................................ 6
6.1
Parameter selection ............................................................................................. 6
6.1.1
Climate selection (location and season)...................................................... 7
6.1.2
Structure type .............................................................................................. 7
6.1.3
Glazing material.......................................................................................... 7
6.1.4
Ventilation type and capacity...................................................................... 7
6.1.5
Evaporative cooling and shade curtains...................................................... 8
6.1.6
Heating........................................................................................................ 8
6.1.7
Plant size ..................................................................................................... 8
6.1.8
Control system ............................................................................................ 8
6.2
Executing the simulation (6 scenarios) ............................................................... 9
6.2.1
Greenhouse without ventilation .................................................................. 9
6.2.2
Greenhouse with ventilation ..................................................................... 12
6.2.3
Greenhouse with plants............................................................................. 13
6.2.4
Greenhouse with plants & evaporative cooling system............................ 14
6.2.5
Greenhouse with heaters ........................................................................... 15
6.2.6
Greenhouse with controllers ..................................................................... 16
7
Results....................................................................................................................... 17
8
Saving the results ...................................................................................................... 17
9
List of contributors to the Greenhouse Environment Simulator............................... 18
1
2
3
4
5
6

Greenhouse Environment Simulator

1 Preface
A USDA Higher Education Challenge Grant (#2003-03869) entitled, Multimedia
Instrument for Worldwide Greenhouse Education was completed during the period 2003
2006. An inter-disciplinary (agricultural engineering, environmental horticulture,
agricultural education & communication) multi-institutional (The University of Vermont,
University of Florida, The Ohio State University, and The University of Arizona) team of
faculty, staff and graduate students developed a multimedia instrument for greenhouse
controlled environment education. The instrument consists of (1) greenhouse videos
produced on site in Arizona, Vermont, Ohio, and Florida that emphasize state-specific
production, environmental control, labor, and marketing issues; (2) an interactive Flashbased greenhouse environment simulator that allows users to model greenhouse
environments based on climate data from each of the four video locations; (3) a
searchable digital repository containing hundreds of useful greenhouse images, videos,
and lectures, and (4) a web-based method for instructors to evaluate perceived student
learning of greenhouse concepts. It can be found at the website,
http://www.uvm.edu/wge/.
The original concept was to provide an interactive learner-centered module that
represents 5 scenarios of a greenhouse environmental system (or day in the life of a
plant). These were based on simple and distinct situations, created by demonstrating the
greenhouse under solar radiation, with/without plants, and with/without
ventilation/cooling capabilities, in terms of greenhouse air temperature and solar
radiation.
A Greenhouse Environment Simulator resulted, but with much more capabilities for
simulating thousands of scenarios of greenhouse design possibilities, and climate
conditions, while providing graphical response of greenhouse moist air properties and
solar radiation.
The following manual was written as a technical guide for use of the simulator.

2 Introduction
The greenhouse environment simulator is a computer simulation program designed to be
used as an education tool for demonstrating the physics of greenhouse systems and
environmental control principles.
The simulator incorporates user-selected information from its database of greenhouse
designs, operation, and geographic climate conditions, and graphically displays dynamic
changes in greenhouse environments, including moist air properties. The animation
allows learners to simulate changes in the greenhouse-plant environment based on
climate, structure, and environmental control choices.
The interactive greenhouse environment simulator was developed by integrating
simplified mathematical models and an animation interface, which was created using
Flash MX Pro 2004 (Macromedia, Inc., San Francisco)
The greenhouse mathematical model, which is based on the energy and mass balance of
the greenhouse system, utilizes a series of differential equations. The numerical solution
provides a dynamic response of the greenhouse climate conditions to the outside climate
conditions and for a particular greenhouse design.
The design incorporates user-selected inputs for climate, structure, glazing, and
environmental control systems. Each simulation demonstrates the response of a
greenhouse system design over a 28-hour period.
In the near future it will integrate plant physiological responses to controlled
environments, and then begin to represent a day in the life of a greenhouse plant.

3 System requirements
The greenhouse simulator is independent of the operative system and runs in the most
widely used web browsers, including:
1. Microsoft Internet Explorer
2. Netscape
3. Mozilla FireFox
4. Opera
Make sure you have the most recent plugin for the macromedia player in the browser of
your preference (at least 7.0) (http://www.macromedia.com/)

4 How to run the Greenhouse Simulator

The greenhouse simulator runs within a web browser and can be accessed online or by
local access (CD-ROM).
1. Online access (web).
Open one of the following URLs using your web browser
http://ag.arizona.edu/ceac/wge/simulator/
http://www.uvm.edu/wge/
2. Local access (CD-ROM/ Hard drive)
Open the folder where the simulator is stored and look for the following file.
/wge/simulator/greenhouse.html
By accessing one of these URLs the simulator is launched and the user interface is
displayed, similar to that on figure 1. If the simulator is not loaded completely, reload it
by clicking on the Refresh button of the browser or click the Reset button.

5 Description of the Greenhouse Simulator

[0] Web browser

1
[1] Navigation
toolbar

[2] Current readings

3
[3] Parameter
selection
4

[4] Animation area

6
[6] Graphic results
[5] Messages display
Figure 1. Components of the User Interface in the greenhouse simulator
As shown here, the greenhouse simulator includes 6 components, each of them showing
particular information and allowing for the selection of parameters or for navigation.

The components of the user interface include:

[0] Web browser
The web browser is where the simulator is executed.
[1] Navigation toolbar
The Navigation toolbar includes the following buttons:

Figure 2. Navigation toolbar component

[Main]
Access the home directory of the World Greenhouse Education
website, which includes a repository of resources related to the greenhouse
industry.
[Search] Makes searches within the website repository
[Help]
Access this user manual and other documents with more detailed
information related to the simulator.
[Reset] To reload the simulator.
[Credits] Displays a list of collaborators involved in the development of the
simulator.

[2] Current readings

This component displays regional data for the site selected. Real time values of
the outside and inside greenhouse climate conditions will also be displayed every
15 minutes as the simulation progresses through the day.

Figure 3. Current readings component

[3] Parameter selection

This component includes a set of menus that allows the
selection of climate, structure and several environmental control
choices.
The Settings tab includes all the submenus for the parameter
selection.
The Simulation tab includes the execution button for running
the simulation and the numerical results button for saving the
results.

Figure 4. Parameter selection component

[4] Animation area

The animation area component displays the choices of
climate, the greenhouse design, and environmental
control components. Also it shows the animation of a day
progressing from early morning (still dark), dawn, sunrise,
sunset and night, in a time lapse of 28 hours.
Figure 5. Animation component

[5] Message display

After executing the simulation the message display component shows
the list of parameters selected by the user. If no parameters were
selected, it will display the default parameter values.
The send results button currently is not operational.

Figure 6. Message display component

[6] Graphic results
The graphic component plots the results of solar radiation, air temperature, relative
humidity, and humidity ratio. In each case the outside and inside greenhouse conditions
are included.

Figure 7. Graphic component

6 Running the Simulator

6.1 Parameter selection
The simulation begins with the selection of parameters for climate (location and season),
greenhouse design (structure and covering/glazing material), greenhouse environmental
control choices (shading, ventilation, cooling, heating), crop size (none, small and large)
and greenhouse climate control strategies.
To access the parameters submenus, select the settings tab. Each submenu includes an
Apply button that must be clicked for the selection to be implemented and displayed in
the animation area.
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6.1.1 Climate selection (location and season)

This submenu allows you to select the greenhouse location and season
you want to simulate. When the simulator runs, it will withdraw climate
data from a database according to your selection.
Location:[Tucson, AZ; Fort Pierce, FL; Columbus, OH, Burlington, VT]
Season: [Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter]

6.1.2 Structure type

This submenu allows you to select from three different greenhouse
structure types including:
A-frame
Arch
Quonset
All greenhouse designs have the same floor area (300 m2), but different heights and thus
different volumes.

6.1.3 Glazing material

Selecting the glazing material of the greenhouse includes the material
and the number of layers. Your selection will prescribe the optical and
thermal properties of the glazing material.
The options include Single and Double layer from three types of glazing
materials (Glass, Polyethylene and Polycarbonate)

6.1.4 Ventilation type and capacity

There are three general ventilation options to choose from:
1. No ventilation (includes only infiltration)
2. Natural ventilation (openings)
3. Forced ventilation (Fans)
For natural and forced ventilation, a fixed value of air exchanges rate per
hour (N) can be defined. The values include 10, 20, and 30 h-1 for
natural ventilation, and 60 and 120 h-1 for forced ventilation.

6.1.5 Evaporative cooling and shade curtains

When ventilation alone can not provide enough cooling to the
greenhouse, evaporative cooling or shade curtain options may be added.
Shading the greenhouse will reduce the solar radiation and evaporative
cooling systems, such as wet pads and fans or fog systems, will convert
sensible heat into latent heat.
Shading options include shade curtains with different light reduction
percentage (0, 30, 50, and 70%).
Evaporative cooling system options include a half or full evaporative cooling capacity
(50 or 100%), where 100% the cooling capacity is a typical semiarid greenhouse cooling
capacity in the summer.

6.1.6 Heating
The options for heating the greenhouse include:
1. No heating
2. One heater
3. Two heaters
The capacity of the heater is predefined to 75 kW (256000 BTU h-1) per
heater.

6.1.7 Plant size

Water transpired by the plants will have a cooling effect in the
greenhouse environment. Selecting the plant size will affect the amount
of water transpired by the crop which contributes to cooling of the air. A
larger crop will transpire more water. Instantaneous transpiration rate
was assumed to be proportional to the solar radiation inside the
greenhouse.
The options include:
1. No plants (no transpired water)
2. Small plants (transpiration = 0.5 L/Plant/day)
3. Large plants (transpiration = 1.5 L/Plant/day)

6.1.8 Control system

The control menu activates the set-points for each of the controlled
variables
No control: Parameter values (ventilation rate, evaporative cooling,
shading and heating) are kept constant during the simulation period.
Control to: defines a set-point air temperature of 18 C at night and
24C during the day and activates the climate control systems
selected.
This part works for some locations/seasons and with some parameters, but requires
adjustments to be functional in all situations.

6.2 Executing the simulation (6 scenarios)

After choosing the greenhouse design parameters, the environmental
control options, and the location of the greenhouse, the simulation can
be executed by clicking the Play button located on the Simulation
tab of the parameter selection component.

Scenarios
Given the amount of possible selections offered by the simulator
(116 640, not including control strategies), only a few will be described
to aid and demonstrate the use of the greenhouse simulator.
No. of scenarios = (Places, 4) * (Seasons, 4) * (Structures, 3) * (Glazing, 5) *
(Ventilation, 6) * (Cooling, 3) * (Shade curtains, 3) *
(Heating, 3) * (Crop, 3) * (Control, not active)
= 116 640
For more information regarding the mathematical models and specific parameters see the
Greenhouse Environment Simulator Technical Reference.

6.2.1 Greenhouse without ventilation

Greenhouses were originally developed in cold climates for creating a warm environment
for extending the season of plants. However when outside air temperatures and solar
radiation levels are higher (e.g. summer for some
regions) the temperature of the greenhouse can become
excessively high.
The higher air temperature in the greenhouse is a result
of the limited convection between inside and outside
the greenhouse. Relative to the outside air, there is
practically limited air movement in the greenhouse, and
the slow air replacements lead to the high air
temperatures.
The greenhouse without ventilation is the simplest
scenario that could be played by just executing the
simulation with the default values.
Open the Simulator: open the following URL in your browser:
http://ag.arizona.edu/ceac/wge/simulator/, or
http://www.uvm.edu/wge/simulator/
Execute the simulation:
Click:
Simulation/Play

Default options:
ENVIRONMENT:
Season:
Spring
Location: Tucson, AZ
STRUCTURE:
Type:
A-Frame
Spans:
Single
Orientation: North-South
GLAZING:
Type:
Glass
Layers:
single
Fans:
Quantity: 0
Capacity: 0
Inlets:
Quantity: 0
Capacity: 0
Wet Pads:
Quantity: 0
Capacity: 0
Shade Curtains:
Quantity: 0
Capacity: 0
Heaters:
Quantity: 0
Capacity: 0
Plants:
None
Control:
Not defined

Other variants of the same scenario include selecting different climates (location/season),
and different greenhouse design (structure type and glazing material).
There are no control measurements to steer the greenhouse climate, so the remaining
parameters are kept to the defaults (No ventilation, No shade curtains, No Cooling, No
Heating, and No Control).
The results (graphics and numerical results) show that as the sun rises, the air temperature
outside the greenhouse also starts to raise and the relative humidity and humidity ratio
decrease following the increase in air temperature. However, the climate conditions
inside the greenhouse will follow its own natural way depending on the design
characteristics of the greenhouse and the control mechanisms to modify it, but always
depending on the outside conditions.

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Graphical results of the simulation of a greenhouse without ventilation

The solar radiation inside the greenhouse is lower than the outside, since the covering
material and the structure represent an obstruction to the radiation coming into the
greenhouse. The inside solar radiation is reduced depending on the optical and thermal
properties of the glazing material and how obstructive the greenhouse structure is.
Air temperature inside the greenhouse gets higher than the outside conditions, because no
air exchanges are occurring (only that due to infiltration). Air temperature differences
(Tin Tout) are higher during the day, when the thermal gain is higher due to the solar
radiation. At night time, the greenhouse air temperature is still higher than outside due to
the heat flux provided from the ground inside the greenhouse.
The relative humidity inside the greenhouse is reduced as a result of the increased air
temperature within the greenhouse.
The humidity ratio (amount of water in the air) remains the same, because water is not
being added or removed from the greenhouse.
Although the inside humidity ratio in the graphics does not look equal to the outside
humidity ratio, in theory it is the same. This difference, resulting from the numerical
approximation of the mathematical model, is improved by increasing the number of air
exchanges (by implementing ventilation).
Although of no practical use, it is good to demonstrate the greenhouse environments with
the same settings but in a different season (e.g. winter) or a different place (e.g.
Burlington, VT) with a colder climate.

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6.2.2 Greenhouse with ventilation

In a typical spring day in Tucson, AZ, it is
clear that ventilation is required as a way to
reduce the greenhouse inside conditions at
most to the outside conditions.
The parameter worth trying first is changing
the ventilation rates by means of natural
ventilation (N=10, 20 or 30) or by forced
ventilation (N=60 or 120)
Select: Ventilation / Natural Ventilation: N =10
Execute the simulation
Click: Simulation/Play

After executing the simulator, the results displayed in the graphics show that the solar
radiation are equal to the previous scenario (if the structure and glazing material are kept
the same). However, the air temperature difference (Tin Tout) is reduced. The relative
humidity is greater than the previous scenario but less than the outside relative humidity.
This is due to the increased greenhouse air temperature and to the air exchanges selected.
The humidity ratios (inside and outside) are the same, because water was not added, nor
removed from the greenhouse environment.
If we keep increasing the ventilation rates from N=10 to N=120 (air exchanges per hour),
we will see the air temperature inside the greenhouse getting closer to the outside
conditions; and relative humidity tracking the outside relative humidity.
The humidity ratios (inside and outside the greenhouse) will remain equal, as it happened
with N=10 (no water was added to the greenhouse environment).
By increasing the ventilation rate up to N=120 the greenhouse air temperature is
decreased from 55 to 36 C in this Tucson spring example, which is still slightly above
the maximum outside air temperature (34 C).

Graphical results of the simulation of a greenhouse with ventilation rate of N=10

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6.2.3 Greenhouse with plants

The previous scenario (Greenhouse with
ventilation) demonstrated that greenhouse
climate conditions are brought to, at most,
the outside climate conditions by increasing
the ventilation rate.
Even though the greenhouse air temperature
can be significantly reduced, 36 C is not a
suitable air temperature for plant growth.
It has been demonstrated that plants transpire water proportionally to solar radiation.
A feasible way to cool down the greenhouse environment is by evaporative cooling
methods where plants can be used as evaporative cooling surfaces. The water transpired
by plants reduces the temperature of the leaves, while holding the sensible heat of the air
which once removed by ventilation reduces the temperature of the greenhouse air.
In this scenario we will add plants and see the effect of water transpired by plants in
reducing air temperature.
Select: Ventilation / Natural Ventilation: N = 20
Select: Plants/Large
Execute the simulation:
Click: Simulation/Play

After running the simulator and comparing the results with the previous scenario, it is
shown that the maximum greenhouse air temperature is reduced from 41 to 39 C, by just
adding a large crop at the same ventilation rate (N=20).
The relative humidity graph shows how the greenhouse humidity ratio is higher than the
outside conditions, and this is because the crop is transpiring water into the greenhouse
environment. Because transpiration correlates to solar radiation, it mostly occurs during
daylight time.
Greenhouse relative humidity is at times lower than the outside when greenhouse air
temperature is higher than outside conditions and at times higher when transpiration is
occurring.
39 C is still not a suitable environment for plant growth.

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6.2.4 Greenhouse with plants & evaporative cooling system

Evaporative cooling methods which use
systems such as: wet pads and fans, foggers,
or misters, provide efficient ways to reduce
the greenhouse air temperature, especially in
hot and dry climates.
The contiguous figures show two of the
evaporative cooling systems.
The water provided to the environment
evaporates, and the change of phase from
water to vapor requires energy that is taken
from the air sensible heat, which in turn is
reflected in the reduction of the air
temperature
Evaporative cooling methods are associated
with adequate ventilation rates. In this way
high ventilation rates will reduce the effect
of evaporative cooling.
A good combination of evapo-transpired water and ventilation rate must be found to
obtain the best air temperature reduction, at the same time avoid water vapor saturation of
the greenhouse environment.
In the following scenario we will add another component to induce a larger air
temperature drop.
Select: Ventilation / Natural Ventilation: N = 20
Select: Evaporative Cooling/With Cooling @ 100%
Select: Plants/Large
Run the simulator:
Click: Simulation/Play
After running the simulator we see how the greenhouse air temperature is less than the
outside conditions, even at night conditions. This is because in the simulation all climate
control options (ventilation rates and evaporative cooling) were kept constant during the
execution of the simulation.
The greenhouse humidity ratio now is higher than the outside conditions because water
was added to the environment trough the evaporative cooling system and by the plants.

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The relative humidity inside the greenhouse reached saturation (100%) during the dark
period, because the greenhouse air temperature decreased reducing its capacity to hold
water, therefore lowering the saturation point of water vapor.
It is evident than we need some type of control mechanism that allows us to ventilate and
apply water to the environment only when it is needed (turning on/off each of the
systems). The evaporative cooling system and ventilation should be OFF at night time, to
increase the air temperature above the outside conditions, and turn them ON during the
daylight time when the air temperature is higher.

6.2.5 Greenhouse with heaters

Previous scenarios showed how to reduce the greenhouse air temperature by increasing
ventilation rates, and by applying evaporative cooling methods in a particular situation of
a hot and dry climate.
We mentioned that the greenhouse keeps the air warmer than outside, and if you executed
the simulator by choosing a different location/season than the default, you probably
noticed that the solar heat gain was not enough to maintain air temperature setpoints in a
cold winter climate. This is due to heat loss through glazing by convection, conduction
and radiation.
To compensate for the heat loss, a heating system is required to maintain a desired
greenhouse air temperature.
In this scenario we will add another component (heater) to get greenhouse air temperature
higher than the outside conditions.
To make it clear lets select a different location/season:
Select: Environment/Season: Winter/Location: Burlington, VT
Select: Ventilation / No Ventilation: N = 2
Select: NO Cooling /
Select: Plants/Large
Select: Heating/2 heaters
Run the simulator:
Click: Simulation/Play
From the results we can see that the greenhouse air temperature raised from -22 C to
8 C with a closed greenhouse (No ventilation, N=2, due to infiltration) and two heaters
of 75 kW capacity each.
Plants were added to the greenhouse and they keep transpiring water to the environment
which is reflected in the higher greenhouse humidity ratio.
Relative humidity is reduced due to the fact that greenhouse air temperature is increased
by the heaters.

15

However, 8 C may still be a low temperature for a crop. A heating system of larger
capacity may be required under these conditions.
Select different ventilation rates, or choose No heating and see the results under this cold
climate condition.

6.2.6 Greenhouse with controllers

It is evident from the previous examples that for manipulating the greenhouse climate
to a desired value, some control mechanism must be implemented. For this purpose the
ventilation system must be active when the greenhouse air temperature reaches a preset
air temperature. The same is applied for the evaporative cooling system, the shade
curtains and the heating system.
These preset values vary for each of the conditions and must be defined for each specific
climate condition and season.
The following example implemented for a winter in Tucson, AZ works for this particular
climate, but may not be appropriate for other conditions.
The control component (set-point definition) requires specific values for each of the
climates.
The control definitions establish the set-points to maintain a greenhouse air temperature
at 18 C during the night and 24 C during daytime.
Select: Environment/Season: Winter/Location: Tucson, AZ
Select: Ventilation / Natural Ventilation: N = 10
Select: NO Cooling /
Select: Plants/Large
Select: Heating/1 heaters
Run the simulator:
Click: Simulation/Play
After running the simulation, the result shows that the greenhouse air temperature is
maintained closer to the desired values. However, the same control strategy may not be
appropriate for other climate conditions.

16

7 Results
After executing the simulation a 28 hour period animation (from 4:00 am to 8:00am of
the next day), will appear on. The current readings component will show the actual
values of the outside and inside conditions of the greenhouse as the day progresses. At
the same time the data will be displayed on the graphic results area.
The results of the simulation are displayed in four areas:
1. The current readings component which shows the real time values of outside and
inside conditions of the greenhouse.
2. An animation area displaying each of the components and parameters selected, and a
time progression as the simulation is executed.
3. A graphical component showing the results of the simulation.
4. Numerical results of the simulation, in a coma separated format that could be copied,
saved and processed for better plotting.

8 Saving the results

It may be of interest to save the numerical result of the executed simulation for
comparisons of different scenarios (remember, there are 116 640 possible combinations),
and achieve a better design, to choose a better location to grow a crop or to implement
better climate control strategies.
You can save the numerical results of the simulation by clicking the Numerical results
button within the Simulation tab (or hit the down arrow), a text window with the
numerical results will display the numerical values of each of the variables of interest.
To copy these results:
1. Click on the result text area
2. Hit the Ctrl + A sequence keys to select all the results.
3. Hit the Ctrl + C sequence keys to copy the results to the clipboard (memory)
4. Open a text editor (Worpad or Texpad)
5. In your text editor (Worpad or Texpad) paste the results by hitting the Ctrl+V
sequence keys.
6. Save the file as a text (ascii) file in the location of your choice.
The data will be coma separated in a text format that could latter be opened in any
spreadsheet such as Excel.
To hide the numerical results window in the simulator click again the Numerical result
button (or, hit the up arrow). This will allow you to see again the animation area and
the graphic component, and run another scenario.
The parameters selected for that particular scenario could also be copied in the same way
from the message display component.

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9 List of contributors to Greenhouse Environment

Simulator
The University of Arizona
(Controlled Environment Agriculture Center)
http://ag.arizona.edu/ceac/

Concept design
Actionscript mathematical greenhouse models
GUI concept development
Flash GUI upgrade (Ver. 1.0 first deliverable)
Documentation development (Users Manual & Technical Reference)

University of Florida
(UF/IFAS)
(Center for Instructional Technology and Training)

Sandra Wilson
Marcela Pineros

Flash graphical user interface development (Beta 1)

The University of Vermont

(Plant and Soil Science Department)

Efren Fitz-Rodriguez
Chieri Kubota
Gene Giacomelli

Milton E. Tignor
Andrew Laing

Integration of GUI and Actionscript mathematical greenhouse models

18