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Low-GWP and High-Temperature Heat Pumps
Using hydrocarbons as refrigerants is not new. Propane, under the moniker R290, has been around for many years as an efficient thermal transfer medium. Likewise with Isobutane; R600a. The reason hydrocarbon refrigerants are not more widely used is due to their flammability and explosive risk. Nevertheless, hydrocarbons have excellent thermodynamic properties, meaning their prevalence is…
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Technical Update – Vertical farming
Vertical farming emerged in a gradual way. Growers, experimenting with the opportunities presented by new technologies, added an upper layer of plants; this robbed the original layer of daylight, so lighting was provided beneath the upper layer; and the farm became vertical. Further layers were added. As progressively more artificial light was provided, with only…
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Carbon Calculators in Horticulture
Carbon emissions and Net Zero have become increasingly important talking points across all businesses, with food production gaining particular attention from both retailers and consumers. Naturally, the first step that most businesses take is to calculate their current levels of carbon emissions, to act as a baseline against which improvements can be effectively targeted tracked.…
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Agrivoltaics
Energy from the sun is in abundance, so, being able to utilise more of that energy can significantly aid in the UKs net zero goal by 2050. Why is it useful? The current volatility on the electricity market has significantly increased the interest in installing Solar PV to provide stability against the uncertainty in costs.…
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Do you have effective air movement
Optimising production methods is one of the aims of many greenhouse growers. Determining what makes an optimal climate for crop quality and production, however, can be challenging, and it’s certainly worth bearing in mind that what feels comfortable to a person may be less than ideal for a crop. Air movement should be seen as…
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What can air movement do for you
Determining what makes an optimal climate for crop quality and production, however, can be challenging, and it’s certainly worth bearing in mind that what feels comfortable to a person may be less than ideal for a crop. Air movement should be seen as a tool to help maintain an active and homogeneous climate – this…
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Techniques for Improving Air Movement
Air movement should be seen as a tool to help maintain an active and homogeneous climate – this can lead to multiple benefits to growers. Optimising production methods is one of the main aims of greenhouse growers. Determining what makes an optimal climate for crop quality and production, however, can be challenging, and it’s certainly…
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Air Movement in Greenhouses – free video training course
Free training course aimed at growers to help you think about air movement within glasshouses and optimise operations. Air Movement (thinkific.com) – click the title to be taken to external website where you can register to access the free course.
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How to identify high risk of condensation and possible solutions
A look at greenhouse temperature, calculated plant temperature and dew point temperature and the reasons for high condensation risk.
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How to use plant temperature
The aim is to make sure that the plant temperature is never lower than the dew-point of the air. You can take direct measurements from the plant or use a computer model to predict the temperature.
