Conditioned growing without the need for unnecessarily expensive technology is a breakthrough in the glasshouse growing industry. This is possible in both existing and new glasshouses via the Aircokas concept. The climate control in an Aircokas utilises a natural process, the cooling effect of evaporating water. Thanks to an optimum climate, production increases. In addition, the loss of CO2 through open vents is less than with traditional glasshouses, and you can make considerable savings on fossil fuels. The Aircokas is the result of a unique cooperation between innovative growers Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture, installers and Hoogendoorn Automation. And in this, they didn’t use technology, but the plant and the growing climate as their starting point. The climate of the first Aircokas project can be followed live on the Internet at www.aircokas.nl.
Aircokas in short
- Flexible installation with misting, cooling, air treatment units, NIR screen, roof sprinklers and vertical fans
- Lower energy consumption and higher production without expensive technology
- Important contribution to reducing CO2 emissions
- New approach to an optimum climate for the plant thanks to a controllable RH
- Optimum function of biological plant protection
- A result of a unique cooperation between practice, research and business operations
- Complete openness about the learning process of growing in an Aircokas
- All climate graphs live on the Internet for 24 hours a day
- Can be incorporated in existing and new greenhouses for any crop
New type of climate control
The Aircokas is a semi-closed greenhouse, where various components are used in a new type of climate control. The concept is simple and can be introduced in each greenhouse step by step. No large investments in expensive cooling equipment are required to get rid of excess heat. With the Aircokas, it is possible to adjust to the plants’ specific requirements even better. Research has indicated that a saving of 30% of energy consumption is possible in tomato crops, with a production increase of 10% and a reduction in the CO2 emissions by 40%.
Misting
Aircokas takes advantage of one important physical principle, e.g. that evaporating water has a cooling effect. The Aircokas is therefore fitted with misting equipment at the top, which introduces a fine water spray into the greenhouse if there is a lot of sunshine. This mist evaporates, thus cooling the greenhouse down. Misting therefore forms a natural extension of plant evaporation. Vents have to open less quickly this way, and the RH in the greenhouse increases. Thanks to the high RH, the plants’ photosynthesis process can take place at an optimum level, leading in turn to extra yields. Choosing the correct moment for misting alone doesn’t lead to any extra risk for additional diseases. Biological pest controls, such as parasitic wasps and bee mites, work much more effectively with a higher RH. And by the vents staying closed for longer, less CO2 is expelled outside.
Vertical ventilation
To further optimise the climate in the Aircokas, you can install small vertical fans, transporting warm air in the greenhouse from above to the bottom. This creates an even temperature distribution in the plant, and you don’t have to use any pipe rail heating during the change from night to day to prevent condensation. In addition to energy savings, this type of warming plants up has the advantage of root pressure not getting too big. This also decreases the risk of undesirable mould or root injury, rust etc.
A unique project
The first Aircokas is the result of a special cooperation between practice, research and business operations. This cooperation could serve as an excellent example for other innovative projects. In addition, anyone interested can continuously follow the latest developments and insights on the Internet. Expressed as a graph, you can follow the climate in the first Aircokas project live at www.aircokas.nl. This way, new know-how is directly available for practical use. This openness about the learning process is unique in this sector.
Catching on in practice
The Aircokas concept is catching on in practice. Hoogendoorn Automation has developed a special module for controlling the climate in the Aircokas, the Hoogendoorn Aircomatic. This module is can easily be installed on any process computers in use. Using the Hoogendoorn Aircomatic, you can easily incorporate these new insights into the existing climate control system. At the moment, there are three innovative tomato sites which have completely integrated the Aircokas principle in their new greenhouses.