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Journals / Research in Agricultural Sciences / 2026 / Volume: 57 Issue: 1

Sustainable Cooling Solutions for Greenhouses under Humid Tropical Climate: A Preliminary Study of a Ground-to-Air Heat Exchanger Cooling System

Nemli Tropikal İklimde Sera İçin Sürdürülebilir Soğutma Çözümleri: Topraktan-Havaya Isı Değiştirici Soğutma Sisteminin Ön Çalışması

Ayorinde Abd-Qudus Asiru(University of Ibadan)0009-0006-2440-2743
Mobolaji Omobowale(University of Ibadan)0000-0002-7108-7188
Timothy Denen Akpenpuun(University of Ilorin)0000-0002-3211-3005
Yahaya Mijinyawa(University of Ibadan)0000-0000-0000-0000
Misbaudeen Aderemi Adesanya(University of Prince Edward Island)0000-0002-7335-4112
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-01-20
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Results demonstrate that deeper installation leverages stable subsurface temperatures, mitigating daytime thermal fluctuations and solar influence.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Greenhouse agriculture in humid tropical regions faces significant challenges due to excessive heat and humidity, which compromise crop productivity and necessitate energy-efficient cooling solutions.
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Key Findings & Data:This study evaluates the performance of a ground-to-air heat exchanger (GAHE) for greenhouse cooling under the humid tropical climate of Ibadan, Nigeria.
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Conclusion & Impact:Results demonstrate that deeper installation leverages stable subsurface temperatures, mitigating daytime thermal fluctuations and solar influence.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Earth-Air heat exchanger · Greenhouse cooling · Ground-to-air heat exchanger

Abstract

Greenhouse agriculture in humid tropical regions faces significant challenges due to excessive heat and humidity, which compromise crop productivity and necessitate energy-efficient cooling solutions. This study evaluates the performance of a ground-to-air heat exchanger (GAHE) for greenhouse cooling under the humid tropical climate of Ibadan, Nigeria. The GAHE system, comprising underground PVC pipes at 1 m and 2 m depths, was designed. Experimental trials measured inlet and outlet temperatures over 35 days, revealing that the 2 m depth achieved a mean cooling of 2.99 ± 1.01 °C, with maximum reductions of 4.45 °C. In contrast, the 1 m depth provided negligible cooling (0.06 ± 0.43°C) and occasionally increased air temperature due to soil heat absorption. Results demonstrate that deeper installation leverages stable subsurface temperatures, mitigating daytime thermal fluctuations and solar influence. The findings align with prior studies emphasising depth-dependent efficiency and validate GAHE’s potential as a low-energy cooling strategy in tropical greenhouses. This study concludes that GAHE systems installed at 2 m depth offer a sustainable and practical solution for greenhouse temperature control in humid tropics.

Özet

Nemli tropikal bölgelerde sera tarımı, aşırı ısı ve nem nedeniyle önemli zorluklarla karşı karşıyadır. Bu durum, ürün verimliliğini azaltmakta ve enerji açısından verimli soğutma çözümlerini gerekli kılmaktadır. Bu çalışma, Nijerya’nın Ibadan şehrindeki nemli tropikal iklim koşullarında, seralarda soğutma amacıyla kullanılan topraktan-havaya ısı değiştiricisinin (GAHE) performansını değerlendirmektedir. GAHE sistemi, 1 m ve 2 m derinliklerde yerleştirilmiş yer altı PVC borularından oluşacak şekilde tasarlanmıştır. 35 gün süren deneysel çalışmalarda, giriş ve çıkış sıcaklıkları ölçülmüştür. Bulgulara göre, 2 m derinlikte ortalama 2,99 ± 1,01 °C'lik bir soğutma sağlanmış ve maksimum 4,45 °C’lik sıcaklık düşüşleri gözlemlenmiştir. Buna karşılık, 1 m derinlikteki sistem neredeyse hiç soğutma sağlamamış (0,06 ± 0,43 °C) ve toprak ısısı nedeniyle zaman zaman hava sıcaklığını artırmıştır. Sonuçlar, daha derin kurulumların kararlı yer altı sıcaklıklarından faydalandığını, gündüz ısı dalgalanmalarını ve güneş etkisini azalttığını göstermektedir. Bulgular, önceki çalışmalarla tutarlıdır ve derinliğe bağlı verimliliğin önemini vurgulayarak GAHE sisteminin tropikal seralar için düşük enerjili bir soğutma stratejisi olarak potansiyelini doğrulamaktadır. Bu çalışma, 2 m derinliğe kurulan GAHE sistemlerinin nemli tropik bölgelerde sera sıcaklık kontrolü için sürdürülebilir ve uygulanabilir bir çözüm sunduğu sonucuna varmaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Asiru, A. A., Omobowale, M., Akpenpuun, T. D., Mijinyawa, Y., Adesanya, M. A. (2026). Sustainable Cooling Solutions for Greenhouses under Humid Tropical Climate: A Preliminary Study of a Ground-to-Air Heat Exchanger Cooling System. Research in Agricultural Sciences, Volume: 57 Issue: 1. https://doi.org/10.17097/agricultureatauni.1759084

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