Analysis of CO₂ and Harmful Gases Caused by Using Burn-type CO₂ Generators in Greenhouses

• Published in: Journal of Bio-Environment Control Vol. 19; no. 4
• Main Authors: Park, J.S., Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, Kwangyang, Republic of Korea, Shin, J.W., Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea, Ahn, T.I., Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea, Son, J.E., Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 01.12.2010
• Subjects: harmful gases; LPG; PARAFFIN; PARAFFINE; PARAFINAS
• ISSN: 1229-4675

Burn-type CO₂ generators are widely used in greenhouses for the purpose of CO₂ supply for photosynthesis and greenhouse heating. However harmful gases included in the air might give severe effects on the plant growth. For investigating the possible emission of harmful gases from commercial burn-type CO₂ generators, we carried out the analysis of the harmful by-products (NO, NOx, NO₂, CO, and VOCs) and CO₂ caused by using a burn-type CO₂ generator in greenhouses. And the harmful by-products from different type of fuels such as kerosene, LPG, and LNG were quantified. In order to minimize the uncertainties from a CO₂ generator, 4 different CO₂ generators were utilized in four plastic greenhouses and a glasshouse located at different places during the experimental works. The results showed that the concentration of NOx is proportional to CO₂ concentration. Levels of harmful gases in the most of greenhouses, where the new burn-type CO₂ generators were installed, were lower than 1.0 ppm when CO₂ concentration was set at 1,000 ppm. In case of LNG combustion, the concentration of CO reached out up to 300 ppm and pre-treatment for CO reduction, such as the adsorption process, would be inevitable to abate the adverse effects on plant growth.