Functionalities in the virtual greenhouse software

Weather file

Annual record on an hourly basis based on the GPS coordinates with Meteonorm.

  • Temperature
  • Relative humidity
  • Solar radiation (global, diffuse, normal, PAR)
  • Cloudiness
  • Sky temperature
  • Wind speed and direction

Greenhouse covering

Most of classic, innovative and energy effcient greenhouse covering material are included.

  • Orientation and dimensions
  • Shape of the greenhouse: glass, gothic arch, multi-span plastic
  • Roof and wall materials
  • Airtightness
  • Screen for each wall (quantity, characteristics)
  • Summer whitening (period, characteristics)

Techniques involved

The crop library includes most of the crops

  • Type of culture
  • Type of growing medium
  • Planting and harvesting dates

Heating equipment

Most of greenhouse energy efficient heating equipment can be modelled

  • Rail pipes
  • Grow pipes
  • Air unit heaters
  • Perimeter heating
  • Low temperature pipe under bench
  • Overhead heating pipes
  • Pulsed-air generator

Heat production and storage

Most of heat production and storage can be modelled to improve greenhouse energy efficiency.

  • Type of energy source
  • Primary production: type and characteristics (maximum and minimum power, condenser, etc.
  • Secondary production / back-up: type and characteristics (maximum and minimum power, condenser, etc.)
  • Storage tank

Climate control and regulation

Climate setpoints are similar as those of a climate computer to model inner climate and optimise greenhouse energy consumption.

  • Temperature: day/night at different periods of the year and morning revival
  • Relative humidity control: RH or humidity deficit
  • Screen: depending on the sunlight (thermal/shading) or internal/external temperature difference
  • Open buffer: Water DT, CO2 production (Minimum solar radiation, required CO2 level), optimisation of the primary system (minimum power), etc.

Semi-closed greenhouse

Hortinergy can model semi-closed greenhouse, closed greenhouse, pad & fan, fog systems etc… to optimise greenhouse energy consumption and inner climate.

  • Semi-closed greenhouse
  • Air revival maximum rate
  • Air internal recirculation rate
  • Fan specification
  • Cooling system (pas, fog)
  • Pad specification
  • Cooling temperature
  • Vent opening temperature

Assimilation light

Assimilation light calculations are included to design energy efficient greenhouse.

  • Type of light (LED, HPS)
  • Maximum power required
  • Lighting efficiency
  • Lighting regulation (DLI, hour)

Greenhouse gas emission

Greenhouse gas emission calculation (g CO2/m² or CO2 / kg product) are required to design energy efficient greenhouse.

  • Nutriments
  • CO2 injection
  • Embodied energy of the greenhouse structure
  • Heating