Leakage and ventilation rates were measured in a four span glasshouse at Si
lsoe Research Institute. Two tracer gas techniques were used, a decay rate
method with different positions of the leeward ventilator (0, 10 and 20% of
the maximum opening) and a continuous injection method with the leeward ve
ntilators open 10%. The influences of wind speed, wind direction and temper
ature difference between inside and outside were analysed for each ventilat
or position. It was found that wind speed had a strong influence on leakage
and ventilation rates. Some influence of wind direction occurred with nort
heast and southeast winds but no significant conclusions can be drawn becau
se of insufficient data. Temperature difference affected ventilation rates
under low wind speeds. For each ventilator position, the air exchange rate
was linearly related to wind speed. A dimensionless function was calculated
to express the ventilation flux per unit ventilator area and unit wind spe
ed as a function of the angle of ventilator opening. With a 10% opening, th
e results obtained with the decay and continuous methods were compared and
showed good agreement for wind speeds greater than 1 m/s.
The results for 10 and 20% ventilator openings obtained by using the decay
method were compared with those obtained by applying the theory of convecti
on, using pressure differences generated by wind forces and temperature dif
ferences. It was found that the combined effect of wind and temperature dif
ference gave satisfactory predictions of ventilation rates. Also, the value
s obtained by measurement and prediction based on pressure difference were
in close agreement, with a global wind effect coefficient similar to that f
ound in the literature. (C) 1999 Silsoe Research Institute.