Tuning eQUEST for Plastic Shell Greenhouses with Dirt Floors

Michael Stiles; Brendan Kelly

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijepe.20231202.11

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Tuning eQUEST for Plastic Shell Greenhouses with Dirt Floors

Michael Stiles, Brendan Kelly

Published in International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering (Volume 12, Issue 2)

Received: 26 April 2023 Accepted: 18 May 2023 Published: 5 June 2023

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Abstract

As growers expand year-round crop production in cold climates, considerable attention is being directed towards the energy performance of plastic shell greenhouses where crops grow in the native soil. A fundamental aspect of these structures is their temperature response in the absence of HVAC equipment. A review of the technical literature shows an absence of studies that reconcile thermal modeling of plastic greenhouses with actual field performance. Modeling studies typically emphasize parameters concerned only with the energy-saving performance of isolated components or systems like electric lighting or thermal curtains. The more fundamental parameters are unstated and presumably assume the default settings of the simulation tool. This paper investigates the implications of these modeling practices with respect to the passive temperature response of these structures. A set of criteria for reconciling modeled passive temperature response with field data-based performance has been developed previously for this type of greenhouse. Using the industry-standard simulation tool eQUEST as an example, we show that default parameters for the shell and for ground coupling do not reproduce key features of actual temperature response of these structures to ambient conditions. This paper reports work-arounds and parameter-tunings for eQUEST that produced a simulation that met the reconciliation criteria. These results call into question the suitability of present modeling approaches for baselining this type of greenhouse in simulations of active HVAC. Recommendations include revisiting the source files of published past simulations and directing the attention of industry stakeholders to these issues.

Published in	International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering (Volume 12, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijepe.20231202.11
Page(s)	22-28
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Building Energy Modeling, Plastic Greenhouses, eQUEST, Baseline Conditions, Utility Company Incentives

References

[1]	National Grid’s corporate website. Retrieved 4 April 2023 from https://www.nationalgridus.com/Upstate-NY-Business/Energy-Saving-Programs/Agri-business-program
[2]	New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) website. Retrieved 4 April 2023 from https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/New-Construction-Commercial-Program
[3]	Cannabis Association of New York website. Retrieved 4 April 2023 from https://www.cany.org/
[4]	“Greenhouse Thermal Curtains” Work Paper PGECOAGR101, Pacific Gas & Electric Company Customer Energy Efficiency Department, February 5, 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2023 from https://www.sdge.com/sites/default/files/Greenhouse%2520Thermal%2520Curtains%2520PGECOAGR101%2520R0_0.pdf
[5]	Contract Group H Evaluation Report: “PG&E Agricultural and Food Processing Program; Greenhouse Heat Curtain and Infrared Film Measures,” Volume 2: Appendices A-C CALMAC Study ID: CPU0024.02, February 10, 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2023 from https://www.calmac.org/publications/PG%26E_Ag-Food_Eval_Appendices_V2_021010.pdf
[6]	US Department of Energy eQUEST website. Retrieved 4 April 2023 from https://www.doe2.com/equest/
[7]	Larry Kinney, Marc Plinke, Michael Stiles. (February 2011). “Practical Green Greenhouse Development,” Synergistic Building Technologies Phase I Final Report Colorado Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 24 March 2023 from https://berthoud.catalog.aspencat.info/ColoGovDoc/ocn917935319?searchId=8806182&recordIndex=9&page=1
[8]	M. R. Stiles. (Spring 2012). “A Design Model of Transient Temperature Performance for a Green Greenhouse,” Distributed Generation and Alternative Energy Journal, Vol. 27 No. 2, pgs 56-76.
[9]	Murray Spiegel. (1961). Statistics. McGraw-Hill Book Company.
[10]	Various agricultural bloggers. Retrieved 24 March 2023 from https://blogs.ubc.ca/houphousegroup/files/2013/03/Screen-shot-2013-04-04-at-6.19.58-AM.png https://codata.rustprooflabs.com/page/tyg-temps-snow-hoophouse
[11]	M. R. Stiles. (2020). “Field Testing of Design Simulations for Passive Greenhouse Temperature Performance,” International Journal of Energy Management, Vol. 2, No. 2, pgs 9-23.
[12]	G. P. Williams, L. W. Gold. (July 1976). The Canadian National Research Council (CNRC) model: CBD-180. Ground Temperatures. Retrieved 24 March 2023 from http://irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/pubs/cbd/cbd180_e.html
[13]	John Bartok Jr. (Sept 2009). Save Fuel and Electricity with Energy/Shade Screens. Greenhouse Management and Production 29 (9): 38-39.
[14]	John Bartok Jr. (2001). Energy Conservation of Commercial Greenhouses (NRAES-3). Ithaca, NY: Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service.
[15]	College of Agricultural & Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison. (2011). Using Curtains to Reduce Greenhouse Heating and Cooling Costs (A3907-03). Retrieved 4 April 2023 from https://farm-energy.extension.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/4.-A3907-03.pdf

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APA Style

Michael Stiles, Brendan Kelly. (2023). Tuning eQUEST for Plastic Shell Greenhouses with Dirt Floors. International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering, 12(2), 22-28. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20231202.11

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ACS Style

Michael Stiles; Brendan Kelly. Tuning eQUEST for Plastic Shell Greenhouses with Dirt Floors. Int. J. Energy Power Eng. 2023, 12(2), 22-28. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepe.20231202.11

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AMA Style

Michael Stiles, Brendan Kelly. Tuning eQUEST for Plastic Shell Greenhouses with Dirt Floors. Int J Energy Power Eng. 2023;12(2):22-28. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepe.20231202.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijepe.20231202.11,
  author = {Michael Stiles and Brendan Kelly},
  title = {Tuning eQUEST for Plastic Shell Greenhouses with Dirt Floors},
  journal = {International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering},
  volume = {12},
  number = {2},
  pages = {22-28},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijepe.20231202.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20231202.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijepe.20231202.11},
  abstract = {As growers expand year-round crop production in cold climates, considerable attention is being directed towards the energy performance of plastic shell greenhouses where crops grow in the native soil. A fundamental aspect of these structures is their temperature response in the absence of HVAC equipment. A review of the technical literature shows an absence of studies that reconcile thermal modeling of plastic greenhouses with actual field performance. Modeling studies typically emphasize parameters concerned only with the energy-saving performance of isolated components or systems like electric lighting or thermal curtains. The more fundamental parameters are unstated and presumably assume the default settings of the simulation tool. This paper investigates the implications of these modeling practices with respect to the passive temperature response of these structures. A set of criteria for reconciling modeled passive temperature response with field data-based performance has been developed previously for this type of greenhouse. Using the industry-standard simulation tool eQUEST as an example, we show that default parameters for the shell and for ground coupling do not reproduce key features of actual temperature response of these structures to ambient conditions. This paper reports work-arounds and parameter-tunings for eQUEST that produced a simulation that met the reconciliation criteria. These results call into question the suitability of present modeling approaches for baselining this type of greenhouse in simulations of active HVAC. Recommendations include revisiting the source files of published past simulations and directing the attention of industry stakeholders to these issues.},
 year = {2023}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Tuning eQUEST for Plastic Shell Greenhouses with Dirt Floors
AU  - Michael Stiles
AU  - Brendan Kelly
Y1  - 2023/06/05
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20231202.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijepe.20231202.11
T2  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
JF  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
JO  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
SP  - 22
EP  - 28
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2326-960X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20231202.11
AB  - As growers expand year-round crop production in cold climates, considerable attention is being directed towards the energy performance of plastic shell greenhouses where crops grow in the native soil. A fundamental aspect of these structures is their temperature response in the absence of HVAC equipment. A review of the technical literature shows an absence of studies that reconcile thermal modeling of plastic greenhouses with actual field performance. Modeling studies typically emphasize parameters concerned only with the energy-saving performance of isolated components or systems like electric lighting or thermal curtains. The more fundamental parameters are unstated and presumably assume the default settings of the simulation tool. This paper investigates the implications of these modeling practices with respect to the passive temperature response of these structures. A set of criteria for reconciling modeled passive temperature response with field data-based performance has been developed previously for this type of greenhouse. Using the industry-standard simulation tool eQUEST as an example, we show that default parameters for the shell and for ground coupling do not reproduce key features of actual temperature response of these structures to ambient conditions. This paper reports work-arounds and parameter-tunings for eQUEST that produced a simulation that met the reconciliation criteria. These results call into question the suitability of present modeling approaches for baselining this type of greenhouse in simulations of active HVAC. Recommendations include revisiting the source files of published past simulations and directing the attention of industry stakeholders to these issues.
VL  - 12
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Michael Stiles

L&S Energy Services Inc., Clifton Park NY, The United States
Brendan Kelly

L&S Energy Services Inc., Clifton Park NY, The United States

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Michael Stiles, Brendan Kelly. (2023). Tuning eQUEST for Plastic Shell Greenhouses with Dirt Floors. International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering, 12(2), 22-28. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20231202.11

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ACS Style

Michael Stiles; Brendan Kelly. Tuning eQUEST for Plastic Shell Greenhouses with Dirt Floors. Int. J. Energy Power Eng. 2023, 12(2), 22-28. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepe.20231202.11

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AMA Style

Michael Stiles, Brendan Kelly. Tuning eQUEST for Plastic Shell Greenhouses with Dirt Floors. Int J Energy Power Eng. 2023;12(2):22-28. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepe.20231202.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijepe.20231202.11,
  author = {Michael Stiles and Brendan Kelly},
  title = {Tuning eQUEST for Plastic Shell Greenhouses with Dirt Floors},
  journal = {International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering},
  volume = {12},
  number = {2},
  pages = {22-28},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijepe.20231202.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20231202.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijepe.20231202.11},
  abstract = {As growers expand year-round crop production in cold climates, considerable attention is being directed towards the energy performance of plastic shell greenhouses where crops grow in the native soil. A fundamental aspect of these structures is their temperature response in the absence of HVAC equipment. A review of the technical literature shows an absence of studies that reconcile thermal modeling of plastic greenhouses with actual field performance. Modeling studies typically emphasize parameters concerned only with the energy-saving performance of isolated components or systems like electric lighting or thermal curtains. The more fundamental parameters are unstated and presumably assume the default settings of the simulation tool. This paper investigates the implications of these modeling practices with respect to the passive temperature response of these structures. A set of criteria for reconciling modeled passive temperature response with field data-based performance has been developed previously for this type of greenhouse. Using the industry-standard simulation tool eQUEST as an example, we show that default parameters for the shell and for ground coupling do not reproduce key features of actual temperature response of these structures to ambient conditions. This paper reports work-arounds and parameter-tunings for eQUEST that produced a simulation that met the reconciliation criteria. These results call into question the suitability of present modeling approaches for baselining this type of greenhouse in simulations of active HVAC. Recommendations include revisiting the source files of published past simulations and directing the attention of industry stakeholders to these issues.},
 year = {2023}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Tuning eQUEST for Plastic Shell Greenhouses with Dirt Floors
AU  - Michael Stiles
AU  - Brendan Kelly
Y1  - 2023/06/05
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20231202.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijepe.20231202.11
T2  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
JF  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
JO  - International Journal of Energy and Power Engineering
SP  - 22
EP  - 28
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2326-960X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepe.20231202.11
AB  - As growers expand year-round crop production in cold climates, considerable attention is being directed towards the energy performance of plastic shell greenhouses where crops grow in the native soil. A fundamental aspect of these structures is their temperature response in the absence of HVAC equipment. A review of the technical literature shows an absence of studies that reconcile thermal modeling of plastic greenhouses with actual field performance. Modeling studies typically emphasize parameters concerned only with the energy-saving performance of isolated components or systems like electric lighting or thermal curtains. The more fundamental parameters are unstated and presumably assume the default settings of the simulation tool. This paper investigates the implications of these modeling practices with respect to the passive temperature response of these structures. A set of criteria for reconciling modeled passive temperature response with field data-based performance has been developed previously for this type of greenhouse. Using the industry-standard simulation tool eQUEST as an example, we show that default parameters for the shell and for ground coupling do not reproduce key features of actual temperature response of these structures to ambient conditions. This paper reports work-arounds and parameter-tunings for eQUEST that produced a simulation that met the reconciliation criteria. These results call into question the suitability of present modeling approaches for baselining this type of greenhouse in simulations of active HVAC. Recommendations include revisiting the source files of published past simulations and directing the attention of industry stakeholders to these issues.
VL  - 12
IS  - 2
ER  -

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