Measurement of Convective Heat Transfer Coefficients of Horizontal Thermal Screens under Natural Conditions

Abstract

Convective heat transfer is the main component of greenhouse energy loss because the energy loss by this mechanism is greater than those of the other two components (radiative and conductive). Previous studies have examined the convective heat transfer coefficients under natural conditions, but they are not applicable to symmetric thermal screens with zero porosity, and such screens are largely produced and used in Korea. However, the properties of these materials have not been reported in the literature, which causes selectivity issues for users. Therefore, in this study, three screens having similar color and zero porosity were selected, and a mathematical procedure based on radiation balance equations was developed to determine their convective heat transfer coefficients. To conduct the experiment, a hollow wooden structure was built and the thermal screen was tacked over this frame; the theoretical model was applied underneath and over the screen. Input parameters included three components: 1) solar and thermal fluxes; 2) temperature of the screen, black cloth, and ambient air; and 3) wind velocity. The convective heat transfer coefficients were determined as functions of the air–screen temperature difference under open-air environmental conditions. It was observed from the outcomes that the heat transfer coefficients decreased with the increase of the air–screen temperature difference provided that the wind velocity was nearly zero.