“The gas savings are around 50%, although every year is different. But there’s also 30% more tulips.” Arjan Rood says regarding integrating DryGair in a vertical tulip greenhouse. Arjan is the president of the horticulture supply and installation company, KaRo BV.
Humidity problems in vertical layers
Adding vertical layers to a greenhouse lets growers grow a lot more flowers without expanding or building new greenhouses. This is a great way to increase production and improve profits. However, there are challenges when you add more plants to a space.
One of these challenges is humidity. The math is simple: more plants create more moisture. Without proper treatment, this can lead to various molds and diseases, lowering the quality and even decreasing yields.
“I can give an example of A. de Wit with the 4 DryGair units we have running there,” Arjan says. “This is a 3x12.8 and 60m long greenhouse. They work with moving tables of 6x0.6m. When they began with 1 layer, that worked fine. Later, with 2 layers, they used a ventilation box with a heat exchanger, which can take air from outside or inside. The box would blow air with sleeves under the second layer.”
“However, when they put in the third layer, there was a problem with humidity.”
Using dehumidification to grow vertically
One solution many vertical growers are turning to is DryGair. Using DG dehumidifiers extracts the additional moisture, creating ideal conditions for cultivation and allowing more plants to grow in the space without risking mildew outbreaks.
Arjan continues, “So after installing the third layer, we put in 4 DryGair units with extra strong fans and made an air canal system – 800mm with sleeves. The canals let the treated air from the DryGair units reach all layers evenly. This ensures humidity is just right for all plants. We can see the tulips don’t sweat anymore.”
Maintaining the right humidity setpoints doesn’t just prevent diseases. It creates an active climate that stimulates the crops to grow faster and at a higher quality. “With an active climate, there is a better uptake of calcium in the leaves, which makes the stems stronger.” Says Arjan.
“However, one of the main benefits of using dehumidification is the energy savings. The grower is very satisfied with the system because they can close the windows and keep the heat inside without worrying about humidity. The gas savings are around 50%, although every year is different, of course.”
Adjusting for vertical layers
DryGair dehumidifiers are standalone units and do not normally require air canals. However, in the case of vertical layers, it’s sometimes necessary to distribute the air in all layers.
Arjan says, “The canal system was calculated by an external adviser. They calculated the air canals and the sleeves. We made sure everything fit, and today, the project is running successfully, and the grower is happy.”
DryGair is fully compatible with vertical greenhouses and indoor cultivation. The dehumidification systems are distributed by KaRo and Royal Brinkman.
For more information:
DryGair Energies
8 Hamanofim St, Herzliya
Tel.: +972-9-7730989
www.drygair.com