Amelioration of a greenhouse through energy storage system Case study: Ghardaia region (Algeria)

The Mediterranean region is characterized by a strong solar radiation which promotes the development of greenhouses that can improve both the quantity and performances. However, during the winter the temperature inside the greenhouse decreases and can reach a value that can influence on the development of the plant. Under these conditions, it is useful to heat the greenhouse by a system of energy storage. The present paper shows an experimental of two greenhouses; the first one is unheated (witness) while the second one is heated by storage in a rock-bed which has done in Ghardaia region (south Algeria). This study allowed us to determine the evolution of humidity and temperature within the different subsystems of the greenhouse during the trial period. Regarding the impact of thermal storage on the microclimate of the greenhouse, the study showed that storage system allows storing excess heat, captured by greenhouse during the day and then returning it to need at night-time heating. It is found that our system can benefit from an excess of about 3°C to 5°C at max.