{"id":4360,"date":"2017-11-01T08:00:53","date_gmt":"2017-11-01T08:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/informatech.energir.com\/?p=4360"},"modified":"2021-04-16T08:46:25","modified_gmt":"2021-04-16T13:46:25","slug":"greenhouses-using-the-co2-produced-by-natural-gas-appliances-to-save","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/informatech.energir.com\/?p=4360&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Greenhouses: Using the CO<sub>2<\/sub> produced by natural gas appliances to save money"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"intro\">For horticultural and vegetable producers in Quebec, greenhouse heating represents up to 30% of their operating costs. To remain competitive, they have to reduce these costs by implementing new solutions, such as more efficient equipment, thermal screens and methods for controlling nighttime temperatures. These measures are interesting strategies for reducing their energy bill. From a perspective of increasing profitability, greenhouse producers need to balance saving energy with improving productivity. Using artificial lighting and enriching greenhouse air with CO<sub>2<\/sub> accelerates plant growth by prolonging the photosynthesis periods.<\/span><br>\n&nbsp;<br>\n<span class=\"titre-sous\">Two ways to enrich greenhouse air with CO<sub>2<\/sub><\/span><br>\n<span class=\"texte-courant\">There are two methods for CO<sub>2<\/sub> enrichment in greenhouses:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"texte-courant\">Injection of CO<sub>2<\/sub> purchased and delivered in liquid form;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"texte-courant\">Local production of CO<sub>2<\/sub> from natural gas combustion.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"titre-sous\">Two methods, four technologies<\/span><br>\n<span class=\"intro\">Liquid-CO<sub>2<\/sub> storage tank<\/span><br>\n<span class=\"texte-courant\">The process of injecting liquid CO<sub>2<\/sub> into greenhouses requires a storage tank for the CO<sub>2<\/sub> equipped with an integrated depressurization system to vaporize the liquid.<\/span><br>\n<span class=\"texte-courant\">It is important to note that small variations in pressure can impact the distribution of the CO<sub>2<\/sub> in the greenhouse.<\/span><br>\n<span class=\"intro\">Natural gas CO<sub>2<\/sub> generator<\/span><br>\n<span class=\"texte-courant\"><a href=\"https:\/\/informatech.energir.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7921_Ge%CC%81ne%CC%81rateur-CO2_an_epr02.png\" data-rel=\"lightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-4367 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/informatech.energir.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7921_Ge%CC%81ne%CC%81rateur-CO2_an_epr02-300x109.png\" alt=\"7921_Ge&#769;ne&#769;rateur CO2_an_epr02\" width=\"300\" height=\"109\"\/><\/a>A CO<sub>2<\/sub> generator is a natural gas burner that exhausts its combustion products (CO<sub>2<\/sub> + H<sub>2<\/sub>O&nbsp;vapour) directly into the greenhouse. Each cubic metre of natural gas burned produces 1.9 kg of CO<sub>2<\/sub>.<\/span><br>\n<span class=\"texte-courant\">CSA code B149.1<sup>1<\/sup> allows the use of this type of equipment provided the installed capacity does not exceed 20 BTU\/hr*ft&sup3; of greenhouse volume. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><br>\n<span class=\"texte-courant\">Although the heat is recovered in the greenhouse, using this equipment for heating is not recommended. In fact, the greatest need for heating is during the night when adding CO<sub>2<\/sub> is not required. What&rsquo;s more, injecting CO<sub>2<\/sub> during the nighttime can harm the plants.<\/span><br>\n<span class=\"intro\">Recovery of the exhaust gases from a decentralized condensing natural gas unit<\/span><br>\n&nbsp;<br>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/informatech.energir.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7921_Ge%CC%81ne%CC%81rateur-distribution-CO2_an_epr02.png\" data-rel=\"lightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-4369\" src=\"https:\/\/informatech.energir.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7921_Ge%CC%81ne%CC%81rateur-distribution-CO2_an_epr02-1024x595.png\" alt=\"7921_Ge&#769;ne&#769;rateur distribution CO2_an_epr02\" width=\"640\" height=\"371\"\/><\/a><br>\n<span class=\"texte-courant\">This concept of exhaust gas recovery is possible because of an exemption in <em>Natural gas and propane installation code<\/em> CSA B149.1. Article 8.9.1 requires that all appliances be connected to a chimney or vent pipe, with certain exceptions, such as in paragraph d):<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"tableau-texte\" style=\"height: 10px;\" valign=\"middle\">\n<td colspan=\"5\"><span class=\"texte-courant\">(d) for an <em><strong>appliance<\/strong><\/em> installed for the production of carbon dioxide in a greenhouse where the rate of combustion does not exceed 3 Btuh\/ft<sup>3<\/sup> (30 W\/m<sup>3<\/sup>) of greenhouse volume and the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere does not exceed 5000 ppm (0.5%); and<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span class=\"texte-courant\">This process recovers the CO<sub>2<\/sub> contained in the combustion products of a decentralized natural gas heating appliance (e.g. a unit heater) and injects it into the greenhouse as needed. When CO<sub>2<\/sub> is required, a deviation valve routes the exhaust gas into the greenhouse. To maintain the same humidity level in the greenhouse during CO<sub>2<\/sub> injection, use of a unit whose efficiency enables condensing is recommended given the dehumidification of the exhaust gases. Note that Gaz&nbsp;M&eacute;tro offers financial assistance for the installation of condensing unit heaters.<\/span><br>\n<span class=\"intro\">Recovery of the exhaust gases from a centralized natural gas unit<\/span><br>\n<span class=\"texte-courant\">High-capacity boilers exhaust combustion products that are too hot to be injected directly into a greenhouse. So a condensing recuperator is required to lower the temperature of the combustion products while condensing the water vapour resulting from the combustion. However, this can create an energy surplus. If so, it can be stored in a well-insulated buffer water tank to be used when heating the greenhouse.<\/span><br>\n<span class=\"texte-courant\">Water is produced at a rate of 1.5 kg\/m&sup3; of natural gas burned and can be recovered for use in irrigation. It must be neutralized or diluted to obtain the required PH level. The rate of CO<sub>2<\/sub> injection in the greenhouse depends on the type of plants grown. Since the CO<sub>2<\/sub> will tend to acidify the water from the combustion products, the recuperator must be designed for a slightly acidic PH.&nbsp;<\/span><br>\n<span class=\"texte-courant\">To distribute the thermal energy in the greenhouses, networks of hot-water pipes are the most effective for achieving a uniform temperature. The hot-water pipes also serve as rails for the carts between the rows of plants and facilitate transpiration while creating air movement around the plants. A second, moveable hot-water network, installed above the plants, can be used to heat the plant tops and control vertical growth. Finally, a third high-temperature network can be installed under the greenhouse roof, if necessary, to provide heat to melt snow and prevent accumulation.<\/span><br>\n&nbsp;<br>\n<span class=\"titre-sous\">Which solution to choose?<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"tableau-entete\" style=\"height: 10px;\" valign=\"middle\">\n<td><strong>Technology<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Advantages<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Disadvantages<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"tableau-texte\" style=\"height: 10px;\" valign=\"middle\">\n<td><strong>Liquid-CO<sub>2<\/sub> injection<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>Does not generate humidity<\/li>\n<li>Easy to use<\/li>\n<li>Low maintenance<\/li>\n<li>Easy to direct at plant leaves<\/li>\n<li>Adapts well to production schedule<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>Provisioning cost<\/li>\n<li>Compressor location<\/li>\n<li>Deliveries<\/li>\n<li>Loss of space used by tank<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>CO<sub>2<\/sub> generator<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>Ease of installation<\/li>\n<li>No storage tank or need to manage deliveries<\/li>\n<li>Heat recovery possible<\/li>\n<li>Doesn&rsquo;t require much space<\/li>\n<li>Adapts well to production schedule<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>Need to manage greenhouse oxygen levels to avoid oxygen deprivation from breathing the air<\/li>\n<li>Periodic maintenance to ensure complete combustion of the natural gas<\/li>\n<li>CO<sub>2<\/sub> not evenly distributed in the greenhouse<\/li>\n<li>Need to manage humidity contained in gases<\/li>\n<li>Excess heat in the greenhouses<\/li>\n<li>CO<sub>2<\/sub> requirements different than those for heating<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"tableau-texte\" style=\"height: 10px;\" valign=\"middle\">\n<td><strong>CO<sub>2<\/sub> recovery from gases (Decentralized &ndash; Unit heater)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>Simple, low-cost installation, because it uses existing combustion equipment and standard plumbing products<\/li>\n<li>No storage tank or need to manage deliveries<\/li>\n<li>Recovers the heat from the appliance<\/li>\n<li>No loss of space inside or outside the enclosure<\/li>\n<li>Condensing unit: high efficiency<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>Periodic maintenance to ensure complete combustion of the natural gas<\/li>\n<li>CO<sub>2<\/sub> sensor required to ensure concentration does not exceed 5,000 ppm<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>CO<sub>2<\/sub> recovery from gases (Centralized &ndash; Boiler)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>A tank makes it possible to recover heat when necessary<\/li>\n<li>Since acidic condensate must be neutralized before being discarded, might as well use it for irrigation<\/li>\n<li>Very effective process with no greenhouse gas impact<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>Space required for equipment<\/li>\n<li>Expensive system<\/li>\n<li>Uses extensive piping<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"clear: both;\">\n<\/p><p style=\"clear: both;\">\n<span class=\"texte-courant\">A pilot project to inject CO<sub>2<\/sub> from the gases of condensing unit heaters and modify the temperature conditions in a Gaz M&eacute;tro customer&rsquo;s horticultural greenhouse served to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness and potential savings of this strategy. For this project, the customer received $35,000 in financial assistance under Gaz M&eacute;tro&rsquo;s Innovation program.<\/span><br>\n<span class=\"texte-courant\">In the final analysis, with natural gas heating appliances, each cubic metre consumed produces 1.9 kg of CO<sub>2<\/sub>, which customers can use to boost plant growth and significantly reduce production costs while recovering greenhouse gases for a good purpose and keeping savings from going up the chimney.<\/span><br>\n&nbsp;<br>\n<span class=\"texte-courant texte-signature\">Sami Maksoud, Eng., M. Eng., MBA, CMVP&reg;<br>\nAdvisor, Energy Efficiency, DATECH, Gaz M&eacute;tro<\/span><span class=\"texte-signature\">Charles C&ocirc;t&eacute;, Eng.<br>\nAdvisor, Technologies, Codes and Standards, DATECH, Gaz M&eacute;tro<\/span><span class=\"texte-signature\">Guy Desrosiers, Eng., CEM, CMVP<br>\nAdvisor, Major Industries, Energy Efficiency, DATECH, Gaz M&eacute;tro<\/span><br>\n&nbsp;<br>\n<span class=\"texte-note-ligne\">1 Natural gas and propane installation code<\/span><br>\n&nbsp;<br>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/informatech.energir.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/7921_v31_n3_serres_EN.pdf\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-3985 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/informatech.energir.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/pdf-e1425302301840.png\" alt=\"pdf\" width=\"50\" height=\"36\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For horticultural and vegetable producers in Quebec, greenhouse heating represents up to 30% of their operating costs. To remain competitive, they have to reduce these costs by implementing new solutions, such as more efficient equipment, thermal screens and methods for &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/informatech.energir.com\/?p=4360&amp;lang=en\">Lire la suite<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":5049,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[198],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v16.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/informatech.energir.com\/?p=4360&#038;lang=en\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"fr_FR\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Greenhouses: Using the CO2 produced by natural gas appliances to save money | Informa-TECH\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"For horticultural and vegetable producers in Quebec, greenhouse heating represents up to 30% of their operating costs. 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