SR9214 - Photo and Heat Selective Greenhouses for Sustainable Crop Production

This project was funded by OMAFRA through the 2009 New Directions & Alternative Renewable Fuels Research program.

Lead researcher

Dr. Paul Charpentier, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Western Ontario

Objectives

One

• Examine several commercial plastics e.g. ethylene-vinyl acetate (Thermax, EIFFEL) polyurethane (Pellethane), and polyvinylfluoride (Tedlar) used for greenhouse films spectral and heat transport properties as a function of temperature and CO2 concentration, both unused and exposed for various lengths of time under real growing conditions.
• Examine Westerns polymer films spectral and heat transport properties with embedded nanoparticles of Si nanogels for heat retention and Ti/quantum dots for photoselectivity and distribution of nanoparticles.
• Examine how solar thermal heating/cooling can be integrated into the plastic structure for temperature control of Greenhouses during both the winter and summer.
• Optimize thermal and photoselectivity of produced films for Biomes testing in Biotron.
  

Two

• Grow cultivars of crops of interest to Ontario in the Biomes (e.g. peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and ginseng), using commercial polymer greenhouse films under typical growing conditions of temperature and CO2 concentration,
• Examine plant size, chlorophyll content, sugar and carbohydrate content, and water requirements for growing using newly available facilities at the UWO's Biotron.

Expected benefits

1. Examine the optical and heat transfer properties of currently used greenhouse polymer films and novel light/heat selective films using our patent pending technology.
2. Examine how the conventional and novel films effect tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and ginsengs growth using the Biotron facilities at Western (www.biotron.uwo.ca).
3. Explore the possibility of using solar thermal for greenhouses.

The conventional polymer films that will be examined include ethylene-vinyl acetate (Thermax, EIFFEL) polyurethane (Pellethane), and polyvinylfluoride (Tedlar) before and after use, which will be obtained from local growers. Also by integrating nanoparticles of silica/titania aerogels, and quantum dots into these films using various approaches, we will explore how heat and light can be better controlled through plastic films of the above 3 polymers. This will provide better knowledge for our Ontario climate both providing better heat retention during the evening, and control the wavelengths of light for controlling specific types of plant/herb growth. Using Western's unique Biotron facilities and a Biome and growth chambers, this project will explore photoselective films on the underlying science of how plants and cultivars of crops of interest to Ontario greenhouse operations (e.g. tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and ginseng), can have their growth controlled.

Results

Currently not available

Related information

• Other projects which were funded through the 2009 New Directions & Alternative Renewable Fuels Research Program
• The Alternative Renewable Fuels Research and Development Fund
• The New Directions Research Program