Constructing a Greenhouse Window

3984 Words8 Pages

Constructing a Greenhouse Window

Building and testing a sensor to determine number of degrees to which

a window is open

Introduction

When making use of a greenhouse to grow plants out of season or on a

large scale for commercial reasons, the temperature within the green

house must be carefully regulated, in order to ensure that the plants

are under the optimum growing conditions. With the windows shut

permanently, the temperature may become too high, and the windows need

therefore to be opened. This will allow the temperature to drop back

to the correct level.

Different numbers of degrees to which the window is open have

different cooling effects. For example, if the window is open by 50

degrees, then there is probably a more rapid cooling effect upon the

greenhouse than if the window was 10 degrees open. Thus, it is

important to know how many degrees the window on a greenhouse is open.

It could however be very time consuming for people to check the

greenhouse(s) manually, or particularly problematic if the temperature

should become a problem during unsociable hours.

It would be extremely useful, then, if a sensor could be attached to

the windows of a greenhouse, and a reading sent back to a control room

as to how open the windows are. Someone could then either use a motor

attached to the window to alter the setting, or adjust the window

manually. My sensor could be used in conjunction with a number of

other sensors, e.g. temperature sensors and moisture sensors, to send

all the required reading back to a control room, thus allowing the

control of the climate within in the greenhouse to be totally

automated.

[IMAGE]

Text Box: Windows need to be opened and closed according to temperature

[IMAGE]

Above: a typical greenhouse

Alex Furber 12HW Sensing Project 20-02-02

PLAN

There a number of ways in which a sensor could be built to measure the

angle at which a window is open.

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