A study on energy strategy of a plant factory using sustainable energy combined with computational fluid dynamics simulation: An innovative practice of green information systems

An innovative practice of green information systems was implemented to increase the efficiency of energy usage and reduce the energy consumption in plant factories according to the concept of energy informatics. A plant factory is the extreme development of the greenhouse culturing technology. Plants are produced in a similar manner as the mass production in industries. The plants grow in a controlled environment, including light, humidity, biogas, nutrition, and culturing liquid. In addition, the plants are isolated from the outside environment, and climatic conditions during the growing period do not affect the quality and quantity of the plants, raising public food safety. However, the energy consumption of plant factories is a primary concern. The objectives of this study are to increase the efficiency of energy usage and reduce the energy consumption in plant factories. The use of sustainable energy, particularly the solar-driven ejector refrigeration system, to provide cooling capacity can reduce the water temperature in hydroponic beds from 33 °C to 25 °C. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation is also applied to the indoor climate data collected by Internet of Things sensors in this study to provide the temperature and flow fields of plant factories.