USING CORN FOR GREENHOUSE HEAT

UMass Agricultural Innovations Center Project

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Began in spring 2008

Focuses on using locally grown shelled corn as an alternative fuel to heat greenhouses

Uses available and proven technology

Project emphasis is on making the best possible use of our land for food and fuel production and not to detract from our ability to grow food crops

Project page available through www.umassvegetable.org

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

ATLAS FARM CASE STUDY

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

THE GREENHOUSE

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

THE GREENHOUSE

35'x144' gothic style ridge vent greenhouse with 6mm double poly glazing

Maintains a night temperature of 62 degrees.

Starts at the beginning of March

Six HAF fans in two rows of three for air mixing

The tomatoes are grown in a compost mix in trenches on the floor

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

THE CROP

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

THE SYSTEM

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

THE FURNACE

165,000 btu Amaizeing Heat boiler from LDJ Manufacturing

The boiler, a standard 7 bu hopper, and freight came to $6,000

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

THE TANK

$400 for a 250 gallon storage tank for the heated water

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

THE TROUGHS

Troughs are 132' long by 2' wide

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

THE TROUGHS

One loop of heat tubing in each trough

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

THE PLUMBING

$150 in tubing – used 3/4” black poly pipe

Plumbing parts and labor ran an additional $3,000

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

THE PLUMBING

140 degree water coming from the tank is mixed with cooler water

The water in the heating tubes at the root zone is 90 degrees

Keeps the root zone of the tomatoes at 70 degrees

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

HOT AIR

$800 for a 165,000 btu water to air heat exchanger

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

THE COSTSFurnace, hopper, & freight

Water holding tank

Heat exchanger

Tubing

Plumbing (parts & labor)

TOTAL

$6,000

$400

$800

$300

$3,000

$10500

Tuesday, March 16, 2010