Modeling greenhouse air temperature

Abstract

Research has been completed to predict the temperature difference between the inside and the outside of the greenhouse. Predicting the temperature difference would aid in determining the inside air temperature of the water-based greenhouse. Determination of the inside a1r temperature of the greenhouse is the first and important step in fulfilling the long-term objective of predicting the pond temperature inside the water-based greenhouse. The temperature difference has been expressed as a function of the time of the day , and coefficients such as total day light hours, maximum temperature difference occurred during a 24-hour period, time of the day corresponding t o the maximum temperature difference, and the base night ·time temperature difference. Predicted values have been compared with the actual values for a total period of 233 days and an average R-square of 0.844 was obtained which was highly significant at a - 0.001. Temperature data were collected from two different sources: Industrial Grain Products, Inc., Lubbock, Texas, and Texas Tech Civil Engineering research facility, Lubbock, Texas. The data collection was made possible by using a Campbell Scientific, Inc., Micrologger 2lx and a C-20 cassette interface unit.