The commercial greenhouse environment, from season
to season, is one of constant change. With todays long cropping programmes
and often non-traditional planting dates, the pressure to produce an optimal
growing environment for 365 days a year is now a matter of necessity.
One proven technique, which assists growers in
achieving an improved growing environment, is with the use of air circulation
fans within the greenhouse. “Horizontal air flow” fans works on the
principle of invigorating the internal environment to circulate, mix and
stabilise temperature and humidity fluctuations.
When the greenhouse is closed up or cannot be properly
ventilated due to poor weather, The commercial greenhouse environment, from season to season, is one of constant change. With today’s long cropping programme’s and often non-traditional planting dates, the pressure to produce an optimal growing environment for 365 days a year is now a matter of necessity.
One proven technique, which assists growers in achieving an improved growing environment, is with the use of air circulation fans within the greenhouse. “Horizontal air flow” fans works on the principle of invigorating the internal environment to circulate, mix and stabilise temperature and humidity fluctuations.
When the greenhouse or glasshouse is closed up or cannot be properly ventilated due to poor weather, outside temperatures, or during the night, a ‘still air’ environment can quickly develop. ‘Still air’ will pool firstly within the roof canopy of the structure closely followed by the crop area and then becomes susceptible to rapid temperature and humidity fluctuations.
These conditions expose the crop to unnatural environmental stresses and can degrade the growing area to become stale, damp and disease prone. Fog may even form within the greenhouse.
By providing gentle air movement, this effect can be countered. The air motion needs to be only slight but must be provided throughout the entire house.
Air movement will displace transpiration moisture from the foliage, and lowers the dew point at the leaf surface. The combination of air movement and drier foliage inhibits most kinds of fungal growth and therefore reduces the frequency of any fungal spray programmes.
Redpath offer an improved horizontal airflow fan to the market. “One of the key issues for us to improve this product, was to produce a fan unit that was made from 100% corrosion free materials to better resist the aggressive nature of the typical greenhouse environment”. Until now this has always been a problem for this type of equipment. Also considered were safety standards, which place greater responsibility on both the supplier and the operator to provide a safe work area, the fan units therefore include double-ended safety grilles. The grilles are designed to also to act as a directional wind vane.
The new fan features an outer shell manufactured from marine grade aluminum which is additionally powder coated white to maintain good light reflection & reduce crop shading. The impellor blade is injected nylon & is both very strong & totally corrosion free. The impellor material also operates considerably quieter than metal or aluminum types. All fasteners used in the Vortex fan design are made of stainless steel & the suspension eye hooks are 8mm thickness steel. Redpath say that this enables the company to offer its customers & distributors a three year body parts warranty against corrosion.
A highly efficient 200 watt electric motor is utilized which was chosen for its double-sealed design, giving superior life and trouble free performance even when exposed to high humidity and temperature conditions. “The motor also offers the advantage of being able to accept a speed controller if required and is supplied with a twelve month warranty”.
Performance has been almost doubled over similar fans and the Vortex 500 series is capable of providing an excellent throw of air throughout the greenhouse canopy. Usually the fans would be located approximately 30meters apart from each other – however the greenhouse design & the crop type will dictate the amount of air stirrer fans required.
“Feedback from our customers has been extremely positive” says the company, with many of their customers commenting that they are pleased to be able to now purchase a fan that is manufactured from a much higher grade of long life materials than was previously available for much the same price. Growers also comment that the fans are used for the full 12 month season & combat warm temperatures in summer, damp conditions in autumn / spring & assist considerably with reducing heat stratification in the winter season.
Vortex fans are on display and being stocked by most major horticultural suppliers, nationwide – or call Redpath on freephone 0508 733 728 for your nearest stockist. www.redpath.co.nz
