Advantages and Constraints of CFD Greenhouse Modelling

For the first attempts to model the greenhouse climate using Computer Fluid Dynamics (CFD), this approach has gained ground and the number of studies in this field is continuously growing in an increasing variety of application domains. As illustrated by the acceleration of the number of publications and the abundance of review papers on this topic, this is now a mature study field. Thus, the objective of this keynote conference is not to add a review more on the state of the art concerning CFD modelling of greenhouses, but with respect to the other existing modelling approaches, to try listing the advantages and constraints of the numerical models for exploring the greenhouse crop system or to help mastering it, in line with the new constraints of sustainable production. The main modelling approaches and particularly CFD will be reminded, together with their objectives and application domains. Particular attention will be devoted to their ability to reproduce the various state variables characterising the system, together with their spatial distributions and dynamic evolutions. Their ability to be coupled with the other models allowing understanding of the greenhouse-crop-biotic agents system will be also carefully examined, as well as their use facilities. This analysis will pertain both for knowledge and applied models, in such various fields as greenhouse design improvement, greenhouse-crop system optimisation, greenhouse climate control, phytopathology and on line climate control. Finally, the main objectives involved in the sustainable development of greenhouses will be mentioned and the ability of greenhouse CFD modelling to help achieve them will be thoroughly examined.