Vochtbeheersing in kassen en terugwinning van latente energie: Een verkenning naar vochtbeheersing in kassen en de mogelijkheden van het terugwinnen van de energie die opgesloten zit in de gewasverdamping

Dehumidification of a greenhouse by ventilation increases the energy input with 8-10 m3/m2.year of natural gas to compensate the heat losses. This study shows different methods to reduce those energy losses. A 25% reduction in ventilation is obtained by using heat exchangers connected to plastic distribution ducts or by using the Ventilationjet system. The sensible heat from the exhaust air can be used to heat the incoming outside air to greenhouse temperature. Heat exchangers with 100% efficiency to do that are available. The latent heat included in the water vapour leaving the greenhouse can be recovered by means of a condensating wall. A good working priciple is the Dewpoint Heat Exchanger in which outside air is wettened to reach the lowest possible temperature and then used to cool down the greenhouse air far below the temperature where condensation begins. The recovered latent heat must be stored in a water tank to use it in the heating pipes. Another approach is to skip ventilation and use a set of a cold and warm heat exchanger connected to a heat pump or to use a salt water absorber. The absorber opens the possibility to use solar or wind energy to dehumidify the greenhouse and collect 100% of the sensible and latent heat.