HORTEB - Planning program for greenhouse heating by biomass fuels - I: Basics and description of the program
Brokeland, R.; von Zabeltitz, C.; Wippermann, H.J.
Gartenbauwissenschaft 66(1): 2-8
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0016-478X Document Number: 249036
At the Institute for Horticultural and Agricultural Engineering of the University of Hannover the planning program HORTEB (,,Horticultural Energy Supply with Biomass") was developed (BROKELAND 1998). With this program the energetic use of biomass for heat production can be planned with consideration of complete process engineering chains. For each individual case calculations of the heat production costs, the CO2-emissions and the energy balances are made. To determine the break-even point each individual case of biomass use is compared with the use of fossil fuel oil and natural gas. This investigation and the creation of the program were financed by the Federal Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Forestry. A special attention was put on the energy supply for greenhouse heating. In horticulture there is energy-intensive crop and plant production. Because of the limited resources of fossil fuels we must look for alternative fuel sources. In northern countries the use of biomass for heat production has the greatest importance. In horticulture the heat production by using biofuels would give an important contribution for environmentelfair plant production. The application of the program HORTEB to non-horticultural ranges is also possible, because 14 different buildings types (e. g. greenhouses, residential building, office building, hospital) are flown into the investigation. This article (part 1) describes the basics, the sequence of the program and the including parameters. Part 2 presents the results of an analysis of the parameters.