Effect of material ageing and dirt on the behaviour of greenhouse insect-proof screens

Autor: Karlos Espinoza, F.D. Molina-Aiz, Alejandro López, Araceli Peña, Diego L. Valera
Přispěvatelé: Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (grant AGL2015-68050-R)
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2019
Předmět:
Zdroj: Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research; Vol 16, No 4 (2018); e0205
Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research; Vol. 16 No. 4 (2018); e0205
Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research; Vol. 16 Núm. 4 (2018); e0205
SJAR. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research
instname
Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol 16, Iss 4, Pp e0205-e0205 (2019)
ISSN: 2171-9292
Popis: The present work examines the variations in the aerodynamic characteristics of four insect-proof screens by means of wind tunnel tests and digital image processing. The tested insect-proof screens were examined in three different conditions: (i) in their new, unused state; (ii) under conditions of accumulated dust and dirt after a period of 3 to 4 years of use; and (iii) under clean conditions after a period of 3 to 4 years of use and a cleaning treatment with high-pressure water. The deterioration of the screens caused the mesh to become less tense, therefore increasing its thickness and improving its aerodynamic behaviour despite a slight increase of the thread diameter and a subsequent decrease of the 2-dimensional porosity. The pressure drop coefficient, F φ , of the used but clean screens was 1.5% to 8.8% lower (for u =1.0 m/s) than that of the new ones, thus increasing the discharge coefficient, C d,φ , by between 0.8% and 4.8% as a result of the presence of the screens. On the other hand, comparison of the used screens in their clean and unclean states showed that the accumulation of dirt has a major bearing on their aerodynamic characteristics: F φ increased by between 16.5% and 61.2% (for u =1.0 m/s) for the unclean screens, resulting in a C d,φ reduction of between 7.5% and 21.3% and therefore a lower natural ventilation capacity of the greenhouse. A regular cleaning treatment of the insect-proof screens is a simple measure that improves the natural ventilation capacity of the greenhouse.
Databáze: OpenAIRE