THE MARKET
Large heated greenhouses
Greenhouses of one hectare or more are often used for market gardening.
Tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers are the most common crops. These plants are tall and occupy a significant volume of the greenhouse. The foliage is extensive, with a large leaf surface generating high evapotranspiration.
Many growers cultivate in containers on gutters, and some have chosen to install air ducts in the space under the gutters.
The AirGaïa solution has the advantage of being ideally installed in these greenhouses by blowing air under the crop through ducts.
In the case of semi-closed greenhouses, the compact indoor units can easily be housed in the corridor.
Thermally, since the greenhouse is heated, care must be taken to retain the heat as much as possible, so it should not be opened.
This will also help retain CO2. Finally, the airflow temperature should remain close to the greenhouse temperature to avoid disturbing the crop.
Medical cannabis
In a closed, insulated ‘indoor’ environment, the cultivated areas are modules of approximately 100m², whereas in greenhouses, the cultivation is more often divided into independent zones of around 500m².
This crop has high evapotranspiration and is extremely demanding in terms of thermal and humidity stability. The question of choosing an active dehumidification system is not up for debate: intensive dehumidification is required year-round.
Artificial lighting or the greenhouse effect generates significant heat inputs. Since the plant is sensitive to excessive temperatures, the dehumidification process must operate without additional heat input.
The airflow temperatures must be controlled and have low fluctuations to avoid affecting the health and growth of the plant.
Overall, it is essential to ensure a very stable climate to achieve optimal quality, especially in terms of active ingredient concentration.
This crop is also very energy-intensive: high setpoint temperatures, high dehumidification needs, indoor artificial lighting combined with cooling requirements. Therefore, it is wise to use an energy-efficient system.
Air treatment equipment is essential for cannabis cultivation, but its installation must not compromise the cultivated area.
AirGaïa provides a specific solution tailored to the unique needs of each project
AB greenhouses versus cold greenhouses
Cold greenhouses, also known as unheated or minimally heated greenhouses, maintain minimum temperatures of 1 or 2°C to prevent freezing. Sometimes, a minimum temperature close to 10°C is maintained.
Throughout the day, the temperature can vary significantly, ranging from a few degrees in the morning to 20 or 25°C in the afternoon due to sunlight.
These greenhouses consume little to no heating energy, but they are difficult to dehumidify because the outdoor air is often at a temperature similar to that of the greenhouse. Growing without pesticides is more challenging in a cold greenhouse compared to a heated greenhouse.
Greenhouse operators with thermal and air circulation requirements:
- Keep the greenhouse closed as long as possible
- Have sufficient dehumidification capacity
- Blow air at the appropriate temperature for the crop (neither too hot nor too cold)
- Avoid cooling the greenhouse in winter and heating it during the summer
- Do not blow air directly onto the foliage
Limit fan energy consumption - Ensure temperature and humidity uniformity throughout the greenhouse with the correct vertical temperature gradient
- Avoid hot spots and cold spots.
Installation issues
- Keep the greenhouse closed as long as possible
- Have sufficient dehumidification capacity
- Blow air at the right temperature for the crop (neither too hot nor too cold)
- Avoid cooling the greenhouse in winter and heating it in summer
- Do not blow air directly onto the foliage
- Limit fan energy consumption
- Ensure temperature and humidity uniformity throughout the greenhouse with the correct vertical temperature gradient
- Avoid hot spots and cold spots.