The most commonly used evaporative cooling system used in greenhouses is the fan and pad evaporative cooling system see figures 5 5 and 5 6.
Fan and pad cooling system definition.
Several evaporative cooling systems work well in commercial greenhouses.
Ventilation pad and fan systems also called evaporative pad and fan systems is the most common method of cooling a greenhouse in warm weather regions.
They are supplied with water from a pipe above the pads and excess water is collected in a gutter at the bottom.
Fan and pad system.
Fan and pad systems consist of exhaust fans at one end of the greenhouse and a pump circulating water through and over a porous pad figure 2 installed at the opposite end of the greenhouse.
This technique utilizes the cooling effect produced when water evaporates and cools the air as it is pulled through the pad.
Pad and fan systems are part of a greenhouse s mechanical ventilation system.
Fan and pad evaporative cooling systems.
In this system aspen or cellulose pads are mounted in one endwall or sidewall of the greenhouse.
The pads are held in place by component parts of the system.
The fans exhaust air from the greehnouse and draw in fresh air through the pads.
Although not optimal it is better than no cooling at all.
The 4 or 6 inch thick pad is treated with anti rot salts stiffening and wetting agents.
Note that swamp coolers can be considered stand alone evaporative cooling systems but otherwise operate similarly as pad and fan systems.
Cooling pads cool by creating large amounts of surface area that are exposed to air being drawn into the greenhouse by exhaust fans.
Tall evaporative cooling pad system supports are required on 4 inch pad systems over 48 inch tall and 6 inch pad systems over 72 inch tall.
The fan and pad system has been the standard system for evaporative cooling for more than 50 years.
With this type of system exhaust fans are placed in one wall of the greenhouse and pads are in the opposite wall.
The most common is the fan and pad system.
A fan and pad system uses exhaust fans to pull air through evaporative cooling pads.