FME Transactions (Jan 2014)
Microclimate control in greenhouses
Abstract
The main reason for applying microclimate control in greenhouses is to achieve optimal growing environment. Because of its complexity, excessive control in greenhouses can adversely affect the growing crops. Moreover, we need an optimal ambiental control to accomplish these complicated objectives, including low emissions and reduced production costs. This paper describes one practical approach to the real-time control system in a greenhouse. Control system considers internal and external ambient factors related to the regulation process. Control system cyclically reads the data from the sensors and implements appropriate response on the actuator, based on required greenhouse conditions. Most challenging was the design of the control algorithm for this kind of process, due to a complexity of influential greenhouse variables.