Thermochemical fluids in greenhouse farming
-
Information -
Provider/source -
Material -
Assessment
FEFTS Specifications
Research project
for Clean energy supply (Energy production system)
Renewable energy source
Aerothermal (ambient air)
Technology used
Heat pumps
Special type
Other heat pumps
Energy produced
Heat
Suitable/ideal for
Heat for buildings
Agricultural domain
Greenhouses
Suitable for
Farmer, Producers association, Industry
Applications
Heating and cooling of agricultural constructions
Especially
Greenhouses
Type of solution
Methodology
Details
Project`s acronym: TheGreefa
Project funding type: EU
Project funding source: H2020
Project coordinator: ZURCHER HOCHSCHULE FUR ANGEWANDTE WISSENSCHAFTEN (Dr. Thomas Bergmann)
Coordinator location: Switzerland
Coordinator email / Contact form: research@zhaw.ch, martin.jaekel@zhaw.ch
Project status: Ongoing
Total budget: 4651865
Additional info
This project is aimed at a new technology for heating, cooling, air humidity control and water recovery in greenhouses as well as for drying of agricultural goods using thermo-chemical conversion principles based on the use of salt solutions (thermochemical fluids). The common effect in all applications is the hygroscopic property of thermochemical fluids, allowing an uptake of water vapor from air thus releasing sensible heat involved in the phase change.
The technology allows to (1) use unexplored potentials of solar- and residual heat at farm level, (2) to convert and to store the heat into thermochemical potential without thermal losses and (3) to use the potential through re-conversion of the potential into heat within the above-mentioned applications.
Within two different demonstrators in Central European Climate (heating) and Mediterranean Climate (cooling, water recovery and desalination) the technology will be tested, further developed and disseminated. Lab tests will explore the processes and materials involved, will include tests on material drying and on interactions between different applications. Thermochemical applications in agriculture have the potential to significantly reduce the energy consumption in greenhouse climate control as well as in crop drying and will provide an alternative to energy intensive water desalination in arid regions. The uptake, conversion and storage of solar heat from greenhouses even provides the perspective to turn protected intensive horticulture from an energy/water consuming to an energy/water producing method, allowing to secure the important market of food production and food processing and to extend it to new regions.
Relevant Files and Videos
Files: --
Audio Visual Material: --
Assessment
This section contains a brief assessment of the FEFTS described.
There are 3 basic categories: General, Environmental and Socioeconomic assessment.
The purpose of this assessment is to give a quick overview to the potential FEFTS user of its application benefits.
For each question, the Likert scale is used with the following possible answers:
Strongly disagree, Disagree, Neither agree nor disagree (Neutral)/non applicable, Agree, Strongly agree
General
This FEFTS contributes to improve the energy profiles of farming systems:Environmental
The application of this FEFTS directly reduces fossil energy use, in terms of:- Buildings heat use
Socioeconomic
The application of this FEFTS contributes to cost reductions of farming systems:Keep in mind that this assessment is subjective, based on publicly available information.
All registered users are asked to evaluate each FEFTS and when an adequate number of reviews is gathered the results depicted here are updated. Each review is screened in order to avoid malicious practices.
FEFTS providers who do not agree with the assessment results, can send their inquiry to info@agrofossilfree.eu and a direct action based on their petition will be taken.