Agricultural systems engineering (greenhouse, fish farming, mushroom production)
R. Fathi; M. Ghasemi-Nejad Raeini; R. Hesampour
Abstract
Introduction: Environmental crises and resource depletion have adversely affected environmental resources and food security in the world. Therefore, with the global population growth in the coming years and the rising need to produce more food, attention must be given to environmental issues, energy ...
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Introduction: Environmental crises and resource depletion have adversely affected environmental resources and food security in the world. Therefore, with the global population growth in the coming years and the rising need to produce more food, attention must be given to environmental issues, energy consumption, and sustainable production. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the pattern of energy consumption, environmental impacts, and optimization of the studied energy indicators in dairy cattle breeding industrial units in Khuzestan province, Iran.Materials and Methods: This research was conducted in Khuzestan province, located in the southwest of Iran. Energy indicators including energy ratio, energy efficiency, specific energy, and net energy were used to determine and analyze the relationships between the output and input energy. Additionally, the life cycle assessment methodology was used to assess the environmental impact. Life cycle assessment includes a goal statement, identification of inputs and outputs, and a system for assessing and interpreting environmental impacts, and can be a good indicator for assessing environmental issues related to production. The life cycle assessment method used in this study was CML-IA baseline V3.05, which includes the four steps of (1) selecting and classifying impact categories, (2) characterizing effects, (3) normalizing, and (4) weighting. Overall, 11 impact groups were studied. The Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method with the Anderson-Peterson model was used for optimization. This method identifies the most efficient production unit and makes it possible to rank all of the farms in the region. In this study, each production unit (farm) was considered a decision-making unit (DMU), and its production efficiency was determined based on two models. Namely, the Charnes, Cooper, and Rhodes (CCR) model also known as Constant Return to Scale (CRS), and the Banker, Charnes, and Cooper (BCC) model also known as Variable Return to Scale (VRS).Results and Discussion: The results showed that the input and output energies per cow per day were 173.34 and 166 MJ, respectively. Livestock feed and electricity accounted for 65.47% and 27.2% of the input energy, respectively, while the oil used for tiller-scraper lubrication of fertilizer collection accounted for only 0.01%, making it the lowest input energy. Energy efficiency, specific energy, and net energy were calculated as 0.95, 0.13 kg MJ-1, 7.51 MJ kg-1, and -7.20 MJ per cow, respectively. In the abiotic depletion impact group, animal feed, machinery, and livestock equipment had the highest environmental impacts. The results showed that animal feed had the highest environmental emissions in all impact groups except for abiotic depletion of fossil fuels where electricity had the greatest effect. CRS model determined that 7 units were efficient; with an average efficiency of 0.78. In the BCC model, 20 production units were calculated as highly efficient, and the average efficiency was computed to be 0.78.Conclusion: In dairy farms in Khuzestan province, animal feed and electricity were found to have the highest energy consumption. In most impact groups, animal feed had the highest environmental effects. Specifically, in the abiotic depletion impact group, animal feed, livestock machinery, and equipment had the highest environmental effects. Considering the length of the heat period and the intensity of the solar flux, the installation of solar panels on the farm's roof to generate electricity can help reduce the consumption of non-renewable energy and mitigate radiation intensity under the roof.
Agricultural systems engineering (greenhouse, fish farming, mushroom production)
M. Jalali; A. Banakar; B. Farzaneh; M. Montazeri
Abstract
IntroductionIn the poultry industry, reducing energy consumption is essential for reducing costs. Energy requirements in the poultry industry include heating, cooling, lighting, and power line energy. Identifying factors that increase energy usage is crucial, and providing appropriate solutions to reduce ...
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IntroductionIn the poultry industry, reducing energy consumption is essential for reducing costs. Energy requirements in the poultry industry include heating, cooling, lighting, and power line energy. Identifying factors that increase energy usage is crucial, and providing appropriate solutions to reduce costs and energy consumption is inevitable. One of the major and expensive factors in the poultry industry is the use of fossil fuels, which also causes pollution. Energy costs directly impact the cost of production and increase the per capita cost of production in the meat and egg sectors. In Iran, poultry farms are among the most widely used energy consumers, especially for heating breeding halls, making them a significant subset of the agricultural sector.Materials and MethodsThe problem under study is the thermal simulation of a meat poultry farm located in Ardestan city, Isfahan province. Ardestan city is situated in a desert region in the north of Isfahan province, at a latitude of 33 degrees and 23 minutes north, and a longitude of 52 degrees and 22 minutes east. The dimensions of the poultry hall floor are 5 meters by 8 meters, and it has a capacity of 300 poultry pieces. There are two inlet air vents (windows), each with dimensions of 1.90 by 1.6 meters. The roof has an average height of 2.5 meters and is sloping, made from a combination of plastic carton, fiberglass, and sheet metal.To reduce energy consumption in this poultry farm, a solar heating system is designed and studied in this research. The farm is one of the functions of Isfahan province, with dimensions of 8 meters in length and 5 meters in width. The simulation is performed using TRNSYS software.Results and DiscussionThe results demonstrate that a collector surface area of 26 m2 is necessary to reach the technically optimal point, where the sun's maximum production is achieved with no energy dissipation. Furthermore, the findings indicate that a balance of 16 m2 is required to align the solar system with the auxiliary system.ConclusionBy installing 2 square meters of solar collectors, 5.2% of the total energy demand can be met with solar energy. To fully meet the energy demand using solar energy, a collector area of 30 square meters is required. As the solar fraction increases, the system's ability to extract solar energy also increases. The maximum production of solar energy without any wastage is achievable with a collector area of 26 square meters. Moreover, to maintain a balance between the use of solar energy and the auxiliary system, a collector area of 16 square meters is needed.
Agricultural systems engineering (greenhouse, fish farming, mushroom production)
S. Noroozi; A. Maleki; Sh. Besharati
Abstract
IntroductionSolar energy is one of the most important sources of renewable energy, and it is used to address problems related to energy needs, including increasing fossil fuels, rising energy transportation costs, higher energy demand worldwide, and greenhouse gas emissions. Solar collectors harness ...
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IntroductionSolar energy is one of the most important sources of renewable energy, and it is used to address problems related to energy needs, including increasing fossil fuels, rising energy transportation costs, higher energy demand worldwide, and greenhouse gas emissions. Solar collectors harness the sun's thermal energy to convert it into useful and usable energy. Solar collectors are divided into several types, including parabolic trough collectors (PTCs), linear Fresnel reflectors (LFRs), solar plates, and central towers. Among these, the most common heat generation systems are linear adsorption technologies. In this study, we examine the use of LFR technology for greenhouse heating during the winter in Shahrekord.Materials and Methods Previous studies (Huang et al., 2014) were used for optical analysis. The Daneshyar model was utilized to calculate the amount of solar energy available at a particular location. Mathematical formulas were employed to calculate the instantaneous energy equilibrium, and a heat transfer resistance model was developed to calculate the heat loss of different parts of the collector. To create a model, the total amount of exergy must first be calculated, which can be done by using the Petlla formula given by Bellos et al. (2019).Results and DiscussionThe following results were obtained from this study:The proposed mathematical model for calculating solar energy was accurate in terms of daily and instantaneous performance. This model was valid for both clear and cloudy days, making it applicable in a variety of weather conditions.The maximum useful heat production of the current system for February was about 2.5 kW, resulting in an increased liquid temperature of 16 degrees Celsius in the heat tank.The maximum thermal efficiency of the Fresnel collector during the day was 64%, while the average daily efficiency was 56.4%.The most significant parameters that affected the production of useful energy were the position of the sun during the day and the number of cloudy days.The system was capable of heating stored water to 98 degrees per day, available for up to 14 hours.The system under consideration can be used to produce heat up to 1260 watts for 15 hours without heating the tank. The generated heat can be utilized in the food industry for steam production and industrial desalination of water.The decrease in exergy efficiency was due to the reduction in the thermal efficiency of the system and the increase in the thermal difference between the collector and ambient temperatures. Higher values can be achieved by reducing the heat losses, which is a reason to reduce the exergy efficiency of the system.Conclusion This paper investigated the daily performance of a linear Fresnel collector with an 18 square meter mirror field, a parabolic collector, and an insulated storage tank with a volume of 250 liters. The investigation included experimental analysis and theoretical formulation of thermal phenomena under the weather conditions of Shahrekord. The mathematical model developed for this system is based on the energy balance in the collector and storage tank. The results show that this is an efficient greenhouse heating system, with an average thermal efficiency of 56%, which is reasonable and competitive with other similar technologies. Additionally, the cost of construction and maintenance of this system is much lower than that of competitors.
Agricultural systems engineering (greenhouse, fish farming, mushroom production)
P. Shamsi Roodbarsar; S. R. Mousavi Seyedi; D. Kalantari; K. Ghasemi
Abstract
IntroductionIt is predicted that the world population will grow to 9.3 billion by 2050 and the urban population will increase by 73%, growing from 3.6 billion to 6.3 billion. This huge population requires abundant food production. A plant factory with artificial light (PFAL) is a closed growing system ...
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IntroductionIt is predicted that the world population will grow to 9.3 billion by 2050 and the urban population will increase by 73%, growing from 3.6 billion to 6.3 billion. This huge population requires abundant food production. A plant factory with artificial light (PFAL) is a closed growing system that is insulated against heat and air. The plants grow on shelves under horizontal artificial lighting. The main goal of PFAL is commercial plant production, but mini PFALs do not have commercial goals and are used to produce plants in small domestic sizes. Plants that are less than 30 cm tall, and grow well in relatively low light conditions and at high planting densities, are suitable for the plant factory. Therefore, plants such as rice, wheat, and potatoes are not suitable for cultivation in a plant factory.The main purpose of this research is to study the proper light quality for growing radish plants. All light treatments had a significant effect on biomass, sugar, and photosynthetic pigments of radish. The results showed that the highest amount of chlorophyll a was 0.964 mg g-1 fresh leaf weight and the lowest amount was 0.318 mg g-1 fresh leaf weight. For chlorophyll b, the highest value was 0.666 mg g-1 wet weight and the lowest value was 0.229 mg g-1 wet weight. The highest and lowest carotenoid contents were 74.75 mg g-1 and 30.6 mg g-1 wet weight, respectively. The highest sugar content was 0.717 μg g-1 dry weight and the lowest was 0.02 μg g-1 dry weight. The highest fresh and dry weights of the plant were 0.27 g and 0.014 g, respectively, while the lowest values recorded were 0.155 g and 0.007 g, respectively. In this study, plant length was also examined, but no significant difference was observed between different light treatments. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the light composition (R2, G0, B1) was the most suitable light regime for use in the designed system.Materials and MethodsThe plant studied in this investigation was radish. The place of growth was a vertically built system consisting of four floors, each divided into two sections. A controller was required in each section to regulate parameters such as light time, temperature, and moisture. The controllers were designed using Fritzing software and built with parts and sensors like DHT 11, Arduino UNO based on ATMEGA328P, Relay module Arduino, data logging shield, and driver module RC. A programming platform like Arduino was used to write codes for controlling the remaining parameters. This study tested seven different light treatments, plus sunlight as a control, to investigate their effects on radish growth. The light treatments were developed by adjusting the number of three different lights: red, green, and blue. LEDs were installed after designing and constructing the m-PFAL system. Based on previous research conducted in this field, all LED lights were positioned above the shelves to ensure that the plants received an appropriate amount of light in a vertical orientation. Additionally, light reflectors were installed beside the plants to provide proper lighting for the lower leaves. The experimental design involved a completely randomized design with eight treatments and three replications, and all data analysis was conducted through SAS software. The average comparison was performed using the Duncan method at a probability of 1% and 5%.Results and DiscussionThe results indicate that the light regime (R2, G0, B1) resulted in the highest amount of chlorophyll "a", which was significantly different from both the control and other treatments. The treatment with the lowest amount of chlorophyll "a" was (R1, G0, B0), which did not differ significantly from the control or (R1, G1, B1). The treatment with the highest amount of chlorophyll "b" was (R2, G0, B1), which differed significantly from the control but not from (R2, G1, B0) or (R1, G0, B2). Using a mixed light treatment of blue and red resulted in higher amounts of photosynthesis pigments, especially when the red light was more prevalent. The treatment with the highest wet weight was (R2, G0, B1), which did not differ significantly from natural light. The treatment with the lowest wet weight was the just red light treatment, which was much lower than the other treatments. The dry weight of the radish was 4-6 percent of its wet weight, and the treatment with the highest dry weight was (R2, G0, B1), which did not differ significantly from (R0, G1, B2) or (R1, G0, B0). The treatment with the highest amount of sugar was (R2, G0, B1), which was significantly higher than other optical regimes used and natural light. Because the production of carbohydrates and sugar is directly related to photosynthesis, it can be concluded that the state of photosynthesis was most proper in the (R2, G0, B1) treatment.ConclusionThis study investigated the optimal light quality for the healthy and rapid growth of radish plants in a plant factory. LED lights can be an excellent alternative to natural light when there are limitations, such as in greenhouses or multi-floor plantings. The results show that the best light mixture was red and blue lights, with more red light than blue light, while the worst light regime was just red color, which had a negative effect on all parameters.
Agricultural systems engineering (greenhouse, fish farming, mushroom production)
M. Ghonimy; M. Morcos; A. Badr
Abstract
In this study a mathematical analysis for estimating the performance rate "RP" of wheel type trenching machine was studied. The mathematical analysis quantifies the analysis and resulted in an equation. This mathematical equation was checked under different operating conditions. The practical study of ...
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In this study a mathematical analysis for estimating the performance rate "RP" of wheel type trenching machine was studied. The mathematical analysis quantifies the analysis and resulted in an equation. This mathematical equation was checked under different operating conditions. The practical study of the performance rate showed that the deviation of the theoretical performance rate from the actual performance rate ranged from 5 to 7% for the 60.4 and 90.5 cm trench depth, respectively. The machine field efficiency also ranged between 43 and 50.1% for 90.5 cm and 60.4 cm trench depth respectively.
Agricultural systems engineering (greenhouse, fish farming, mushroom production)
M. Zangeneh; N. Banaeian
Abstract
IntroductionSo far, many studies have been conducted to evaluate the impact of input consumption patterns on energy, economic, and environmental indicators on horticultural and greenhouse crops in Iran. A review of these studies shows that the causes of the current situation in the systems have not been ...
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IntroductionSo far, many studies have been conducted to evaluate the impact of input consumption patterns on energy, economic, and environmental indicators on horticultural and greenhouse crops in Iran. A review of these studies shows that the causes of the current situation in the systems have not been investigated. These studies are mostly reporting the current situation and the interventions and their effect on improving the input consumption pattern in the sustainability of the system have not been considered by researchers. Also, studies showed that the study location and products do not fit well with the volume of production in the horticultural and greenhouse sector of Iran. Therefore, in order to increase the effectiveness and future direction of studies in this field, this review study was conducted. In this article, Iranian horticultural and greenhouse production systems were reviewed and analyzed by reviewing the published articles between 2008 and 2018, using the PRISMA method. The PRISMA method is a well-known method for conducting systematic review studies. The PRISMA method includes the following sections: background; objectives; data sources; study eligibility criteria, participants, and interventions; study appraisal and synthesis methods; results; limitations; conclusions, and implications of key findings. In this article, 16 types of garden products and 6 types of greenhouse products were studied.Material and MethodsIn this study, the methods used to determine the status of energy consumption, economic and environmental patterns for horticultural and greenhouse crops were analyzed. For this purpose, the indicators of total energy consumption (TEI), energy efficiency (EUE), net energy (NE), and energy efficiency (EP) were examined in the section of energy. The issue of sensitivity analysis of energy inputs was also examined and the highest values of t-statistic and MPP were reported for products. In some articles, the data envelopment analysis method was used in systems performance analysis. The indicators used included technical efficiency (TE), pure technical efficiency (PTE), scale efficiency (SE), and energy-saving target ratio (ESTR). The results of them were summarized and reported. In some studies, the method of artificial neural networks and the Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System were used. In general, in the present article, the challenges and risks in the methods used in previous studies were considered. The issue of sampling in the analysis of agricultural systems was discussed in detail and a new sampling procedure was proposed. To draw a general picture of energy and environmental indicators of orchard and greenhouse systems in Iran, the results published in the articles were reviewed. Not all researchers use the same equivalents in calculating the indices, and this makes the results of the studies slightly different from each other. The existence of such differences causes some deviations in comparing the results of similar articles in the same products. However, to adjust for these differences, averaging was used in the index report.Results and DiscussionThe study of the share of inputs in the total energy consumption shows that for horticultural products, the share of fertilizer and electricity inputs is very significant. In the case of greenhouse products, fuel input, which is mainly diesel, has the largest share of energy consumption. Walnuts have the lowest energy consumption and strawberries have the highest energy consumption among orchard products. Grapes, apples, and walnuts also have positive net energy, so they have the highest energy efficiency compared to other products. The most important inputs that have the greatest potential for energy savings in most products are diesel fuel and electricity. Among greenhouse crops in cucumber production, diesel fuel has great potential for energy savings that need to be reduced in future research. In the case of strawberry and rose products, electricity input has the greatest potential for energy savings. Knowing the potential of inputs that can be saved can be effective in changing the behavior of producers.ConclusionTo increase the effectiveness of research in this area, such studies should be done dynamically and for at least two or more years. In the first year, the input consumption pattern should be extracted and after performing the consumption pattern modifying interventions, the effect of these actions should be evaluated in the following years. Data envelopment analysis methods and multi-objective genetic algorithm can be well used to develop solutions to improve input consumption patterns. The review of articles showed that the study of the effect of social factors on the behavior of various production systems has been neglected. Since the pattern of energy consumption in the agricultural sector is significantly dependent on the behavior of users and the characteristics of systems and methods of production, it seems necessary to pay attention to this factor to prepare and design any process improvement strategy in the system. In this study, a new procedure including three stages of analysis, redesign, and evaluation was proposed to complete the studies related to the analysis of agricultural systems.
Agricultural systems engineering (greenhouse, fish farming, mushroom production)
H. Faridi; A. Arabhosseini; Gh. Zarei; M. Okos
Abstract
In this research, an attempt was made to utilize an Earth-Air Heat Exchanger (EAHE) system as a source of shallow geothermal energy to provide thermal demands of a commercial greenhouse located in Alborz province, Iran. The degree-day index was applied to estimate the EAHE system’s potential to ...
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In this research, an attempt was made to utilize an Earth-Air Heat Exchanger (EAHE) system as a source of shallow geothermal energy to provide thermal demands of a commercial greenhouse located in Alborz province, Iran. The degree-day index was applied to estimate the EAHE system’s potential to meet the thermal requirements of the greenhouse including cooling and heating demands. The results indicated that this region needed more energy to reach to the relevant temperature inside the greenhouse for the heating demand comparing to the cooling one. The average potential of the EAHE system based on the degree-day index was 10.76ºC for increasing temperature in the cold and 17.96ºC for decreasing temperature in the warm season. This means that the EAHE system was capable of supplying the greenhouse thermal demands in this area according to the calculated values of Heating Degree-Day (HDD) and Cooling Degree-Day (CDD). This method would be beneficial in monitoring and optimizing plant growth conditions as the best crop type or cultivation selection which in turn can help in irrigation and fertigation management of the crop grown.
