Reduced-Order Modeling of Greenhouse: Ventilation and Solar Power

INDUSTRY

Sustainable Agriculture/ Renewable Energy Systems

CLIENT TYPE

Research organization focused on energy-efficient greenhouse systems

SERVICE PROVIDED

Reduced-order modeling (ROM) and thermal-fluid simulation

OBJECTIVE

Improve computational efficiency while accurately modeling greenhouse airflow, ventilation, and heat transfer behavior

ENGINEERING TOOLS

SOLIDWORKS, ANSYS simulation environment

SIMULATION FOCUS

Transient turbulent airflow, ventilation efficiency, and thermal energy distribution

At AWJ Engineering, our team developed a reduced-order model (ROM) in SOLIDWORKS to optimize computational efficiency and resources. We designed a transparent greenhouse structure with end openings, ventilation fans, and underground floor heaters for bottom-up heat flux, then exported it to ANSYS for advanced simulation. Client-provided designs and parameters guided the process, enabling precise analysis of transient turbulent flow.

Convection coefficients were calculated using Nusselt number formulas, with Prandtl numbers assigned based on established literature for accurate heat transfer modeling.

This project showcases our ability to deliver efficient, simulation-driven solutions for sustainable energy applications.

The Client

The client was developing a greenhouse system designed to support sustainable agricultural production through optimized ventilation and solar energy utilization. Modern greenhouses rely heavily on carefully controlled environmental conditions to maintain plant health and productivity. Temperature, airflow, and heat distribution must be precisely balanced to create optimal growing environments while minimizing energy consumption. To achieve this balance, the client required a simulation-based approach to evaluate how ventilation systems, solar heat gain, and internal heating mechanisms interact within the greenhouse structure. However, full-scale computational models for such systems can be extremely resource-intensive, often requiring significant processing time and computational power. The client therefore sought a solution that could provide accurate physical insights while maintaining computational efficiency.

The Challenge

Simulating greenhouse environments presents several engineering complexities.

Key challenges included:

modeling turbulent airflow within a confined structure
capturing the interaction between ventilation systems and internal heat sources
accurately representing heat transfer through convection and solar radiation
maintaining computational efficiency for large-scale transient simulations

Traditional high-fidelity simulations can require extremely dense computational meshes and long simulation times, which makes iterative design evaluation slow and expensive.

The client needed a modeling strategy that could reduce computational complexity without sacrificing simulation accuracy.

Engineering Challenge

The engineering task required developing a simplified yet physically accurate representation of the greenhouse environment.

Key modeling considerations included:

airflow patterns created by ventilation fans
heat distribution from underground floor heaters
thermal exchange between air and greenhouse surfaces
solar energy effects on the transparent greenhouse structure

To accurately represent these interactions, the simulation also required reliable calculation of convective heat transfer coefficients, which depend on fluid properties and flow conditions.

Achieving a balance between model accuracy and computational efficiency was central to the project.

Our Approach

AWJ Engineering implemented a structured modeling and simulation workflow to address the client’s requirements.

Reduced-Order Model Development

Our engineering team developed a Reduced-Order Model (ROM) using SOLIDWORKS to simplify the geometric complexity of the greenhouse system while preserving the key physical characteristics necessary for accurate simulation.

This approach significantly reduced the computational requirements while maintaining the fidelity needed for engineering analysis.

Greenhouse Geometry and System Design

The simulation model included key structural and environmental components of the greenhouse system:

transparent greenhouse enclosure
ventilation openings at both ends
mechanical ventilation fans
underground floor heating elements providing bottom-up heat flux

These features allowed the simulation to represent realistic airflow and heat transfer conditions.

Simulation setup in ANSYS

The reduced-order model was exported to the ANSYS simulation environment, where advanced computational analysis was performed.

The simulation evaluated transient turbulent airflow behavior, allowing engineers to observe how air circulation and thermal energy evolved over time within the greenhouse.

Heat Transfer Modeling

Convective heat transfer coefficients were calculated using Nusselt number correlations, a widely accepted approach in heat transfer engineering.

To ensure accuracy, Prandtl numbers were assigned based on validated literature sources, allowing the simulation to capture realistic fluid thermal properties.

Client-Driven Parameter Integration

The simulation incorporated design parameters and specifications provided directly by the client, ensuring the results aligned with the intended greenhouse configuration and operational conditions.

The Solution

Through reduced-order modeling and advanced simulation, AWJ Engineering created an efficient computational framework capable of analyzing the greenhouse system’s ventilation and heat transfer behavior.

The simulation enabled engineers to examine:

airflow circulation within the greenhouse environment
temperature distribution resulting from floor heating systems
the effectiveness of ventilation fans in controlling internal climate
the interaction between solar heat gain and internal heat sources

By simplifying the model without compromising essential physics, the ROM approach allowed the client to conduct detailed environmental analysis with significantly lower computational costs.

Technologies Used

Multiphysics Modeling: Electrostatic, Fluid Dynamics and PDE Module coupling

Numerical Methods: Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

Simulation Focus: Electrohydrodynamic airflow modeling, Ion transport dynamics, Momentum exchange between ions and gas molecules

Validation Method: Benchmark comparison with established electrohydrodynamic research

Technologies Used

Model Development

SOLIDWORKS

Simulation Environment

ANSYS

Engineering Methodology

Reduced-Order Modeling (ROM)

Fluid Dynamics Modeling

Transient turbulent flow simulation

Heat Transfer Analysis

Nusselt number-based convection modeling with Prandtl number assignment

Results & Business Impact

The project delivered valuable insights into the environmental behavior of the greenhouse system while maintaining efficient computational performance.

Key outcomes included:

development of a computationally efficient greenhouse simulation model
improved understanding of ventilation-driven airflow patterns
accurate evaluation of heat distribution from underground heating systems
reliable prediction of convective heat transfer behavior
reduced computational resource requirements for future design studies

These results allow greenhouse designers and energy engineers to optimize ventilation strategies and thermal management systems for improved sustainability and energy efficiency.

Key Takeaways

This project demonstrates AWJ Engineering’s expertise in simulation-driven engineering for sustainable energy and environmental systems.

By combining reduced-order modeling with advanced fluid dynamics analysis, our team helps clients:

reduce computational costs in large-scale simulations
evaluate environmental control systems more efficiently
optimize energy usage in agricultural infrastructure
accelerate engineering research and design validation

Our approach enables organizations to gain deep insights into system behavior without the burden of excessive computational complexity.

Need Simulation Support for Sustainable Energy or Environmental Systems?

If you are developing energy-efficient infrastructure, agricultural technologies, or environmental control systems, AWJ Engineering can help you analyze and optimize system performance through advanced simulation.

Contact our team today to discuss how engineering simulation can support your project.