2018 Volume 16 Issue 2 Pages 4-12
The objective of this study was to develop an energy-saving ventilation system for a Shiitake cultivation facility. While in the cultivation stage, the spawns generate heat and CO2 during their growth. To maintain an optimal growth temperature and labor-safe CO2 concentration, an air conditioner and ventilation must employed. For energy saving, a heat exchange ventilator is widely used. For a more efficient utilization of this ventilator, we focused on two modes: heat exchange and normal ventilation. When the room temperature is higher than the outside temperature, using cool air with normal ventilation benefits the air conditioner. Moreover, we propose that spawn heat may be used as a heat source with heat exchange ventilation, when the room temperature is low. To determine the ventilation mode, we designed a control unit considering the inside and outside temperatures of a cultivation facility. After operating this system for one year, the highest efficien cy was observed at an outside average temperature of 10 to 15℃. Therefore, a 25 % energy saving was achieved in this cultivation facility in Tamano city, Okayama.
