CALS Greenhouse Design Team Team Green Thumb Fall 2012 Team Green Thumb Caitlin Keith Jiangong Li Brian Lockner Josh Miller (From L to R)

CALS Greenhouse Design Team

Team Green Thumb

Team Green Thumb

Fall 2012

Caitlin KeithJiangong LiBrian LocknerJosh Miller(From L to R)


Team Green Thumb Fall 2012

Background Information

The Client Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency (SURA)

OpportunitiesCreate a year-round industry for locally grown

produce including warm weather vegetables



Problem Statement

Propose and optimize a variety of cold weather greenhouse designs ranging from inexpensive to innovative that meet the growth requirements for a variety of crops.

Perform an economic analysis of estimated expenditures and returns for SURA and provide a scaled model of the final design.



First Semester Flow Chart

Project Learning

Phase II Influence

Greenhouse Tours

SURA Influence

Structural Design

Internal Design

Economic Analysis

Team Green Thumb


Vegetable Zones

Vegetable groupings based on plant growth requirements.

Factors Considered:

•Temperature ranges

•Humidity

Fall 2012

Project Learning

Zone A Vegetables Zone B Vegetables Zone C Vegetables

day - 50-70 F Broccoli day - 60-85 F beans day - 60-85*F cucumbers

night - 45-55 F Cabbage night - 55-65 F zuccini/squash night - 55-65*F peppers 45-60% shumidity Cauliflower melons high humidity tomatoes

chard strawberries

leaf lettuce tarragon

radish

spinach

garlic

kale

herbs and spices

Team Green Thumb


Air Distribution

Air Circulation is vital to temperature and humidity control.

Stagnant air can result in crop mildew and infectious disease

Fall 2012

Project Learning

Team Green Thumb


Material Pros and Cons

Important Considerations:

•Cost

•Rigidity

•Useful Life

•Light Penetration

Fall 2012

Project Learning

Greenhouse materials Pros and Cons

Items Advantages Disadvantages Light pass Age limitPolycarbonate High

TemperatureImpact

ResistanceLow

flammability

Easily scratchedHigh coefficient of thermal expansion

Yellowing

79-87% 5-12yrs

FiberglassReinforced Polyester

Low priceHigh strength

Easy installation

Bad UV transmittanceLow pressure

resistance

60-88% 7-15yrs

Poly Films Easy installLow price

High transparency

Short useful lifespanNot rigid

90% 4yrs

Team Green Thumb


Azimuth Angles

Azimuth angles can be used to generalize the sun’s path through the sky as a function of latitude and time of year.

Fall 2012

Project Learning



Design Alternatives

Inexpensive Design• Low Building Costs• Frequent MaintenanceConventional Design• High Yield• FunctionalityInnovative• High Yield• Energy Efficient• Largest Initial Investment

Team Green Thumb


Isometric View

Fall 2012

Inexpensive Design

Materials

•Polyethylene covering

•Aluminum Frame

•Native Flooring

•Natural Gas Heating

Specifications

Footprint: 15,000 ft2

Growing Space: 10,050 ft2

Energy Usage: 929 MW-hr

Team Green Thumb


Isometric View

Fall 2012

Innovative Design

Materials

•Polycarbonate shell

•Steel Frame

•Full Concrete Floor

•High-Efficiency Natural Gas Heating

Specifications




Team Green Thumb


Isometric View

Materials

•Polycarbonate shell

•Steel Frame

•Full Concrete Floor

•High-Efficiency Natural Gas Heating

Specifications




Fall 2012

Conventional Design



Computer Modeling Data

• Engineering Equation Solver (EES)• Solved for heat loss in each design

Accounting for: materials, building geometry, climate conditions

• Solved for heating needs due to airflow Accounting for: elevation, climate conditions, plant needs



Preliminary Economic Analysis

Inexpensive DesignPresent Worth = $510,416

Innovative DesignPresent Worth = $275,902

MARR = 6%

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

$0

$360,000 $360,000 $360,000

-$995,000

-$173,400 -$226,900 -$173,400

Cash Flow Diagram - Conventional

MARR = 6%Present Worth: $783,844



Our Recommendations

Grow Organic• Bigger profit margins• Increasingly large niche marketUse Conventional Structure*• Simple construction• Relatively Low Initial Investment• High Yield* Non-monetary factors not considered



Future Possibilities

• Automated Roof Venting• Solar Options• Automated “Heat Shade”• CFD CAD modeling• Hydroponic Irrigation



Future WorkSpring 2013

Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

1/7 1/14 1/21 1/28 2/4 2/11 2/18 2/25 3/4 3/11 3/18 3/25

Optimize Best Design

Detailed Economic Analysis

Model Planning and Design

Purchase Model Materials

Written Report

Model Construction

Week 13 14 15 16 17 18

4/1 4/8 4/15 4/22 4/29 5/6

Report, cont'd

Model cont'd

Poster Design

Expo Preparation

Design Expo

Final Exams



Questions?

Documents

CALS Greenhouse Design Team Team Green Thumb Fall 2012 Team Green Thumb Caitlin Keith Jiangong Li Brian Lockner Josh Miller (From L to R)