Modeling an integrated all-season passive greenhouse design

2023 UIUC Ph.D. dissertation (Agricultural & Biological Engineering) building a Python energy model comparing climate battery, earth shelter, and heat-sink wall passive greenhouse designs plus innovative half-soil and double-layer roofs. Author Rui Mao; advisor Xinlei Wang; Ph.D. December 2023; handle https://hdl.handle.net/2142/122262. Developed general mathematical model in Python for passive greenhouse designs; preliminary cases indicated validity. Studied existing designs: climate battery, earth shelter, heat-sink wall; innovative: half-soil roof, double-layer roof; integrated four-season design with energy and construction cost considerations. Conclusions stated: shallow geothermal heating/cooling systems have limitations; backwall primarily insulation unsuitable for thermal energy storage; solid roof segment at appropriate angles aids winter daylighting while blocking excess summer radiation; double-layered roof enhances insulation; proper cover and ground designs can achieve self-regulating winter warmth and summer coolness.

Dissertation models passive solar/earth-shelter/climate-battery systems—RELATED DISTINCT from Bolivian walipini field builds.

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