Determination of the Effect of Thermal Screen Usage on Heat Saving in Greenhouses and an Evaluation from Economic Perspective

WOS: 000491878100010Reducing the heat requirement, obtaining heat energy in a cheap, efficient and environmentally friendly manner is possible by reducing the losses that occur during the transmission of energy. In addition to reducing the heat requirement, by structural improvements in modern greenhouses, it is also preferred to use thermal screen for the protection of heat energy. However. the thermal screen has an important place in the greenhouse investment cost. For this reason. it is important to analyze the airtightness and saving rates of the thermal screen before investing in order to effectively saving with the thermal screen. In this study, thermal insulation and fuel saving rate of thermal screen were investigated in the greenhouse in Eastern Mediterranean climate conditions in Turkey. The greenhouse side walls were covered with polycarbonate and the roof was covered wit h single layer PE. Its length was 55 m and total floor area was 7392 m(2). It had three compartments and aluminum striped thermal screen were used. The findings showed that the thermal screen airtightness coefficient was 0.30 and the fuel saving rate was 28%. Also. the thermal screen investment was evaluated from an economic perspective