Controlled environment agriculture (CEA), such as greenhouses, and high-density controlled environment agriculture (CEA-HD), also known as « plant factory » or « vertical farm », aim to raise yield by decoupling the production microclimate from weather variations, which raises considerably the energy consumption. Furthermore, the production microclimate uniformity is essential to obtain a uniform product and mitigate diseases. Currently, CEA energy models are often developed for a specific application, are not flexible enough and are not available publicly. Currently, no validated energy modelling software is capable of accurately simulating the complex energy interactions within CEA production spaces and, consequently, CEA-HD facilities. This hinders quantifying energy consumption impacts associated with various wall constructions, energy systems, and control implementations.
Therefore, the main objective of this research thesis is to develop an energy modelling method for CEA-HD spaces based on the use of building performance simulation (BPS) tools while considering the production microclimate uniformity. The methodology used is based on modifying existing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and BPS tools, i.e., ANSYS Fluent and EnergyPlus, and integrating the physical phenomena associated with the crops cultivated. This article-based thesis addresses several aspects of high-density controlled environment agriculture (CEA-HD) space modelling, such as leaf energy balance, photosynthesis, flow resistance, and the impact of internal surface convective heat transfer coefficients on simulation results.
This thesis makes three original contributions: (1) a method for optimizing air distribution in CEA-HD spaces while considering the production microclimate uniformity, (2) the integration of a leaf energy balance resolution algorithm into a BPS tool using a simplified graphical interface and (3) an internal surface convective heat transfer coefficients (CHTCs) algorithms evaluation based on reference values from a CFD model for their use in a BPS tool.
These three contributions will support building engineering professionals, enabling them to enhance their CEA-HD spaces and associated energy systems modelling, design, and operation.
| Date | 1 Aug 2024 |
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| Original language | French |
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| Awarding Institution | - École de technologie supérieure
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| Supervisor | Danielle Monfet (Supervisor) |
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Larochelle Martin, G. (Author),
Monfet (Supervisor),
1 Aug 2024Student thesis: Doctoral thesis › Doctorate in Engineering: Engineering