Effect of height on cooling of single-span and multi-span greenhouses in summer in the YRD Region

Abstract

Extreme summer heat in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) drives greenhouse air temperatures above crop tolerance, threatening yield stability. Natural ventilation offers a low-energy alternative to mechanical cooling, but its dependence on structural height remains poorly quantified. This study applies validated CFD simulations—benchmarking turbulence models, with the SST model achieving the highest accuracy—to assess single-span and multi-span greenhouses at varying heights. Results demonstrate contrasting mechanisms: taller single-span structures accumulate heat, whereas taller multi-span structures enhance buoyancy-driven ventilation and cooling. The findings establish a CFD-based framework for height optimization, delivering actionable guidelines for climate-adaptive greenhouse design.