Open Access

ARTICLE

A Numerical Study of the Double Diffusivity with Convective and Radiative Turbulent Flow in a Greenhouse with Humidity Sources

J. Serrano-Arellano¹, M.I. Hernández-López¹, J. L. Chávez-Servín², E. V. Macias-Melo³, K. M. Aguilar-Castro^3,*
1 División de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Tecnológico Nacional de México/IT de Pachuca, Carretera México-Pachuca km. 87.5, Colonia Venta Prieta, Pachuca de Soto, 42080, México
2 Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Campus Juriquilla, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Av. de las Ciencias S/N, Juriquilla, Querétaro, 76320, México
3 División Académica de Ingeniería y Arquitectura, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, (DAIA-UJAT) Carretera Cunduacán-Jalpa de Méndez km. 1, Cunduacán, 86690, México
* Corresponding Author: K. M. Aguilar-Castro. Email:
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Innovative Cooling Systems: Design, Optimization, and Applications)

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer https://doi.org/10.32604/fhmt.2025.069560

Received 26 June 2025; Accepted 18 August 2025; Published online 18 November 2025

Abstract

A numerical study analyzed double diffusion caused by convective and radiative heat transfer in a greenhouse with and without internal humidity sources. Two cases were examined: one considering temperature and mass concentration gradients on vertical walls and another incorporating internal humidity sources, enhancing convective and diffusive flows. Four configurations were analyzed by varying the length of the greenhouse, and the Rayleigh number was calculated over a range from 2.29 × 10¹⁰ to 6.07 × 10¹². Simulations modeled the greenhouse interior six times a day (8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.), accounting for external temperature, humidity, and solar radiation. The Finite Volume Method solved the governing equations using the k-ε turbulence model for the turbulent flow regime. Results showed a maximum temperature of 50°C at 2:50 p.m. and a relative humidity of 84.12%. Adjusting inlet temperature and humidity effectively mitigated external weather effects. Adding humidity sources improved greenhouse performance, increasing humidity concentration by 4.93 to 5.35 times, particularly at 2:50 and 4:20 p.m. Convective and radiative Nusselt and Sherwood numbers were plotted for both cases, revealing higher humidity levels with internal sources, highlighting their importance in optimizing greenhouse microclimates.

---

Graphical Abstract

---

Keywords

Greenhouse; double diffusivity; solar radiation; turbulence model

---