MODELING OF FLUORESCENT LIGHTING SYSTEMS FOR MICROPROPAGATION

A study of the modeling of fluorescent lighting systems for micropropa gation is presented. A full scale mockup of a micropropagation shelf w as constructed, and measurements afflux density at various locations u nder various luminaire mounting heights and configurations were record ed. Analytical and empirical modeling using a number of calculation te chniques, including the Integrated Area Fourier Series (IAFS) techniqu e and empirical regression based; modeling techniques, were employed t o replicate the measured values. The error of the techniques was analy zed. Modeling of the flux densities at the vessel lid level using the analytical IAFS technique results in a Relative Mean Absolute Error (R MAE) of 5.1% when calculating average flux density on a shelf, and 4.5 % when calculating relative mean deviation, which is a measure of unif ormity. Use of an empirical regression model based an IAFS values to p redict flux densities at the plant level results in a RMAE of 9.2%, wi th a corresponding value for relative mean deviation of 12.1%.