2012, Article / Letter to editor (Acta Horticulturae, iss. 952, (2012), pp. 523)In this paper the design and development of a new type of greenhouse with an integrated filter for reflecting near infrared radiation (NIR) and a solar energy delivery system is described. Especially the optical parts as the spectral selective film, the properties of the circular reflector and the efficiencies of photo voltaic cells are studied. As a first measure, the spectral selective cover material, which prevents the entrance of NIR radiation, is investigated. It has to block up to 35% of the solar energy outside the greenhouse, which will reduce the needed cooling capacity. The second measure is the integration with a solar energy system. When the NIR reflecting coating is designed as a circular shaped reflector integrated in the greenhouse, the reflected solar energy of a PhotoVoltaic (PV) cell in the focus point delivers electric energy. With a ray tracing computer program the optimal geometry of the reflector was designed with respect to the collecting efficiency. The PV cells mounted in the focal point require cooling due to the high heat load of the concentrated radiation (geometric concentration factor of 30). The properties of different PV materials were investigated to find the optimal cell for this application. Cooled greenhouses are an important issue to cope with the combination of high global radiation and high outdoor temperatures. All parts are integrated in a 100m2 prototype greenhouse which will be applied for the proof of principle.
2012, Article / Letter to editor (Acta Horticulturae, iss. 927, (2012), pp. 43)In previous research a new type of greenhouse with an integrated concentrated photovoltaic system (CPV) was developed based on a circular covering geometry and an integrated filter for reflecting the near infrared radiation (NIR) of the greenhouse and exploiting this radiation in a solar energy system. The performance of the system was promising. In this study further optimalisation of the CPV system is made to avoid the large construction for solar tracing and the high investment. Hereto all parts for the solar concentrating system will be integrated into the greenhouse. The NIR-reflector material is carried out as a NIR-reflective lamellae system and the CPV-module is mounted into the ridge. In this paper the results of the optimization process of the CPV system based on NIR reflecting lamellae is presented. The optimization process is based on a maximal total annual electricity production and is performed with a ray tracing model and actual radiation data. Results show that the optimization of the lamellae greenhouse can be seen from a theoretical and a practical point of view. Theoretically, the number of lamellae for the investigated concept must be high (>100) and focus with a generic focal length of 3.5 m and glazing bars must be avoided. Then the maximal annual electricity output can be over 26 kWh/m2. In practice, mechanical restrictions, plant conditions and costs will determine the implementation. The proposed CPV-system has positive side-effects like reducing the heat load (and the need for cooling) during summer and blocking of the direct radiation which can be harmful for some crops. With this, the feasibility of the system depends greatly on local conditions which require a tailor-made economic analysis.
2012, Article / Letter to editor (Acta Horticulturae, iss. 952, (2012), pp. 531)A greenhouse with Fresnel lenses in the south facing roof and a receiver for concentrated Photovoltaics with water cooling (CPVT system) will result in electrical and thermal energy output from the solar energy excess entering a greenhouse. The PV system converts about half of the direct radiation into heat and electricity. During periods with direct radiation this will significantly reduce the heat load on the greenhouse. For an optimal performance the roof elements must be asymmetric with a steep inclination at the north side (the exact angle of course depends on the latitude of the building site). The Fresnel lens structure is best oriented in upwards direction. In the current design, two lenses are placed in the inner space of a double glass. This prevents pollution and condensation on the lenses. By the upward facing of the lens structure, the focus quality is preserved over a much broader range of angles of incidence compared to a lens with downward facing structures. Each PMMA lens with a size of 1.20×1.52 m is composed of 12 ‘tiles’ for easy production. The focal distance of the lens is 1,875 m and the geometrical concentration factor is 50×. This means that in most cases the focus line is thinner than 3 cm. The performance of the lens with respect to the shape of the focal area and the position of the focal line has been analyzed with ray tracing techniques. From this analyses and by the development of a smart tracking system only two motors can bring the receivers in the required positions. One motor controls the distance between lens and receiver and the other controls the translocation of the receivers parallel to the lens. The second conclusion was that the positions of the focal line are within the bounds of the greenhouse construction for almost the whole year. Only in winter, in the early morning and at the end of the day, the focal line will be unreachable. The 480 m2 greenhouse, with the LCPVT system based on Static Fresnel lenses and a 40 m CPVT-module and a 200 m CT-module, is designed by Bode Project Engineering and constructed by Technokas in Bleiswijk the Netherlands.
2012, Article / Letter to editor (Kritiek, vol. 2012, iss. 5, (2012), pp. 10-11)Het Erasmus MC, Kennemer Gasthuis en Ziekenhuis Gelderse Vallei werken samen met het Lectoraat Acute Intensieve Zorg (LAIZ) van de Hogeschool van Arnhem en Nijmegen aan het verbeteren van de zorg voor familie en andere naasten op de intensive care (IC). Daarnaast ontwikkelen zij gezamenlijk een Consumer Quality Index (CQI) om de ervaringen van naasten met deze zorg te meten.
2011, Article / Letter to editor (Solar Energy, vol. 2011, iss. 85, (2011), pp. 432-442)A new type of greenhouse with linear Fresnel lenses in the cover performing as a concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) system is presented. The CPV system retains all direct solar radiation, while diffuse solar radiation passes through and enters into the greenhouse cultivation system. The removal of all direct radiation will block up to 77% of the solar energy from entering the greenhouse in summer, reducing the required cooling capacity by about a factor 4. This drastically reduce the need for cooling in the summer and reduce the use of screens or lime coating to reflect or block radiation. All of the direct radiation is concentrated by a factor of 25 on a photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) module and converted to electrical and thermal (hot water) energy. The PV/T module is kept in position by a tracking system based on two electric motors and steel cables. The energy consumption of the tracking system, ca. 0.51 W m-2, is less than 2% of the generated electric power yield. A peak power of 38 W m-2 electrical output was measured at 792 W m-2 incoming radiation and a peak power of 170 W m-2 thermal output was measured at 630 W m-2 incoming radiation of. Incoming direct radiation resulted in a thermal yield of 56% and an electric yield of 11%: a combined efficiency of 67%. The annual electrical energy production of the prototype system is estimated to be 29 kW h m-2 and the thermal yield at 518 MJ m-2. The collected thermal energy can be stored and used for winter heating. The generated electrical energy can be supplied to the grid, extra cooling with a pad and fan system and/or a desalination system. The obtained results show a promising system for the lighting and temperature control of a greenhouse system and building roofs, providing simultaneous electricity and heat. It is shown that the energy contribution is sufficient for the heating demand of well-isolated greenhouses located in north European countries.
2011, Article / Letter to editor (Acta Horticulturae, iss. 893, (2011), pp. 343-350)The scope of this investigation is the development and testing of a new type of greenhouse with an integrated linear Fresnel lens, receiver module and an innovative system for tracking to exploiting all direct radiation in a solar energy system.
2010, Article / Letter to editor (Biosystems Engineering, iss. 106, (2010), pp. 48-57)Performance results are given of a new type of greenhouse, which combines reflection of near infrared radiation (NIR) with electrical power generation using hybrid photovoltaic cell/thermal collector modules. Besides the generation of electrical and thermal energy, the reflection of the NIR will result in improved climate conditions in the greenhouse. In a previous paper (Sonneveld, P. J., Swinkels, G. L. A. M., Bot, G. P. A., & Flamand, G. (2010). Feasibility study for combining cooling and high grade energy production in a solar greenhouse. Biosystems Engineering, 105, 51–58) a design and feasibility study of this electricity-producing greenhouse was presented. After the description of the construction of this greenhouse, the peak power for Dutch climate circumstances is determined based on the amount of electrical and thermal energy (hot water) produced. The typical yearly yield of this greenhouse system is determined as a total electrical energy of 20 kW h m-2 and a thermal energy of 160 kW h m-2. Improvements are possible in the spectral range of the NIR film and in the focusing unit of the system. In future the improved electricity-producing greenhouse system could generate 31 kW h m-2 of electrical energy and 270 kW h m-2 of thermal energy, so it could operate independent of fossil fuels.