Analysis of flow and heat transfer characteristics of porous heat-storage wall in greenhouse

Abstract

The flow and heat transfer characteristics of porous heat-storage wall in greenhouse are studied by using the one-dimensional steady energy two-equation model for saturated porous medium. The results show that the heat exchange between the air and the solid matrix of the porous heat-storage wall depends upon the inlet air velocity, the porosity and the permeability of porous medium, and the thermal conductivity of the solid matrix. Because the incidence of solar radiation on the porous heat-storage wall is not uniform, the new composite porous solar wall with different porosity is proposed to reduce the disadvantageous effect.

Keywords

greenhouse / porous heat-storage wall / flow / heat transfer