A Long-Term Analysis of the Possibility of Water Recovery for Hydroponic Lettuce Irrigation in Indoor Vertical Farm. Part 1: Water Recovery from Exhaust Air
Source abstract
Abstract
This paper presents the characteristics of the operation of the system for recovery of water from exhaust air in moderate climates in the years 2012–2019. The proposed system for water recovery uses the phenomenon of condensation in a cross-flow heat exchanger operating as an element of the air conditioning system. The parameters of exhaust air behind the heat exchanger have been determined using a mathematical model of the so-called black box. The mathematical model considers the risk of the cross-freezing of the heat exchanger. The calculations carried out for variable parameters of external air during the analyzed period confirm that the system allows to cover the demand for water for lettuce irrigation during the cold and transitional period, which is a major part of the year. It has been noted that the effectiveness of the system is very high (av. 67.12% per year) due to the specific parameters of the internal air in which the lettuce must be grown and the need for continuous air exchange in such facilities. This means that air is a stable source of water recovery, where the recovery rate depends on the parameters of external air.
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Light effects on plants · Greenhouse Technology and Climate Control · Innovations in Aquaponics and Hydroponics Systems
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Affiliations
Department of Cryogenics and Aerospace Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
Department of Environmental Protection Engineering, Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
Department of Control Systems and Mechatronics, Faculty of Control Systems and Mechatronic, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Systems, Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
Funding
Narodowe Centrum Badań i Rozwoju · Narodowa Agencja Wymiany Akademickiej
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