Energetic and economic assessment of pipe network effects on unused energy source system performance in large-scale horticulture facilities

Jae Ho Lee, In Tak Hyun, Yeo Beom Yoon, Kwang Ho Lee, Yu Jin Nam

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

As the use of fossil fuel has increased, not only in construction, but also in agriculture due to the drastic industrial development in recent times, the problems of heating costs and global warming are getting worse. Therefore, the introduction of more reliable and environmentally-friendly alternative energy sources has become urgent and the same trend is found in large-scale horticulture facilities. In this study, among many alternative energy sources, we investigated the reserves and the potential of various different unused energy sources which have infinite potential, but are nowadays wasted due to limitations in their utilization. This study investigated the effects of the distance between the greenhouse and the actual heat source by taking into account the heat transfer taking place inside the pipe network. This study considered CO2 emissions and economic aspects to determine the optimal heat source. Payback period analysis against initial investment cost shows that a heat pump based on a power plant's waste heat has the shortest payback period of 7.69 years at a distance of 0 km. On the other hand, the payback period of a heat pump based on geothermal heat showed the shortest payback period of 10.17 year at the distance of 5 km, indicating that heat pumps utilizing geothermal heat were the most effective model if the heat transfer inside the pipe network between the greenhouse and the actual heat source is taken into account.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3328-3350
Number of pages23
JournalEnergies
Volume8
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Geothermal
  • LCC
  • Large-scale horticulture facility
  • Pipe network
  • Power plant waste heat
  • River
  • Sea water
  • Unused energy sources

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