Project Category: Multidisciplinary
Join our presentation
About our project
The Passive Solar Greenhouse is our solution to food insecurity in Canada. Highlighted by recent global events, we understand the importance of sustainable local food sourcing. The passive solar design of the greenhouse allows for the operation of the system without the emissions of greenhouse gases. Using a ground-to-air heat transfer system, or climate battery, we aim to use the subsurface soil to act as a thermal battery, to heat in the winter and cool in the summer. The moderation of the temperatures throughout the year allows for 365 days of growing, locally produced food without reliance on fossil fuels for heat. The design incorporates a unique, 3 x Climate battery system for redundancy and efficiency. The tailored solar system will produce electricity year-round using the optimal tilt angles calculated for Southern Alberta. Finally, the utilization of efficient materials to limit the heat loss to the atmosphere can limit the operation of the system, allowing for resale of excess green-power to the grid. The 44 x 88 ft greenhouse (~4000sqft) will provide Cultivate Cochrane with; year-round food growing capabilities, a beautiful learning space for food education, and a carbon-friendly community hub for sustainable practices, for many years to come.
Meet our team members
Brayden Russell
Daylan Morgan
Logan Fischer
Michael Kuchel
Details about our design
HOW OUR DESIGN ADDRESSES PRACTICAL ISSUES
Supported by recent world events; sustainable, local, food sourcing is an issue unrecognized by many Canadians. Globalization has resulted in a international dependence on food accessibility. The COVID-19 pandemic raised many issues on food security, even in unlikely developed nations. The Passive Solar Greenhouse is our solution to this issue. Enabling climates such as Alberta’s to grow fresh produce year-round.
WHAT MAKES OUR DESIGN INNOVATIVE
The “Passive Solar” part of our system allows the greenhouse to run year round using minimal amounts of fossil fuels due to the implementation of the climate battery. Using solar power to operate the fans within the battery, we can store thermal energy in the soil to balance out the climate within the greenhouse.
WHAT MAKES OUR DESIGN SOLUTION EFFECTIVE
The year round operation of the system, proven from earlier systems, allows the owner to have gardening conditions year round for food growth. The greenhouse is designed to operate completely under it’s passive solar system, but has the necessary hookups to natural gas lines and the Alberta grid as fail-safes.
HOW WE VALIDATED OUR DESIGN SOLUTION
Using theory taught in University with mass and heat transfer, thermodynamics, and alternative energy. As well as comparisons to existing systems of similar climate conditions, visiting a local passive solar greenhouse with a climate battery, and extensive research.
FEASIBILITY OF OUR DESIGN SOLUTION
The goal of the design was to limit high capital costs while maintaining the primary function of the system: passive solar operation within specified seasonal parameters of a greenhouse.
Partners and mentors
Ms. Carrie Corbin and the Cultivate Cochrane Team
Dr. Simon Li
Dr. Roes (Arief) Budiman
Mohsen Hassani
Hull Greenhouse & Vaden Somers
Our photo gallery
References
- T. L. Bergman and A. S. Lavine, Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer, 8th Edition, Lawrence: Wiley, 2017.
- J. Polsky and D. Garriguet, “Household food insecurity in Canada early in the COVID-19 pandemic,” Statistics Canada, 18 February 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-003-x/2022002/article/00002-eng.htm. [Accessed 1 March 2022].
- O. Svec, L. Goodrich and J. Palmer, “Heat Transfer Characteristics of In-Ground Heat,” National Research Council (NRC), Canada, 1983. [Online]. [Accessed 4 October 2021].
