Electric infrared heating panels as an alternative source of heating for greenhouses
Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Technological Equipment of Buildings, Kamycka 129, CZ165 21 Praha 6, Czech Republic
Correspondence: kic@tf.czu.cz
Abstract:
The aim of this article is to show the possibilities of supplementary heating of greenhouses. There was used for this research an electric infrared heating panel ITA 700. The average total power was 630.8 W in laboratory measurements, of which 504.3 W has been transferred by the front part of the panel, of which 267.2 W has been transmitted by radiation. The total radiation efficiency of the front part was 42.4%. Similar measurements have been carried out in an experimental greenhouse (length 24 m, width 3.5 m). Approximately 448 W of average total power 603.7 W has been transferred by the front part of the panel, of which 159 W has been transferred by radiation. The total radiation efficiency of the front part was 26.3%. Differences between measured surface temperatures confirmed the influence of panel radiation on the flower bed. The average temperature in the soil (9 °C) shows that the influence of heating is mainly on the surface of the flower bed, where it could protect cultivated plants during the lowest temperature period. The obtained results can be useful for choosing suitable panel parameters for the placement in small horticultural or hobby greenhouse.
Key words:
convection, heat transfer, low temperature, measurement, radiation, soil