Automatic opening of windows in the greenhouse: we improve ventilation. Do-it-yourself automatic greenhouse window opener Do-it-yourself greenhouse opening from temperature

Very important. No less than the correct sealing and strength of the covering material. Experienced gardeners often resort to automating the ventilation of greenhouses. This significantly saves time and effort on caring for the crop. A portable ventilation device can be assembled from improvised materials: a hydraulic cylinder or shock absorber of a car, an adjusting cylinder of an ordinary computer chair, and even plastic bottles. The simplest and most reliable mechanisms can be assembled with your own hands from a shock absorber.

Engineering thought allowed the owners of greenhouses to breathe a sigh of relief. Now you do not need to run into the building every time, as soon as the sun starts to bake. The thermal actuator will automatically open the window for fresh air access. Electric drives compete with these devices.

These are more complex devices with accurate sensors that require a fairly deep knowledge in creating electrical networks. Without power (batteries, 220V network), they will not work.

Thermal actuators for ventilation of greenhouses are more autonomous. However, when making with your own hands, they require high accuracy and painstaking work.

The principle of operation of mechanics is simple and is based on heating oil or other substance:

Any substance that actively expands when heated and contracts when cooled will do.
When heated, it pushes the piston.
The piston opens the ventilation window.
When the air temperature drops, the piston pulls the greenhouse window back.

Thermal drive from a car shock absorber: assembly procedure

To assemble a greenhouse ventilation device according to this scheme, you will need:

shock absorber piston or car gas spring;
a metal pipe a little more than 2 m in length;
thread cutting tool;
plumbing plugs - 2 pcs.;
bolt for brake hose with dimensions 10x1.25 (Zhiguli);
paronite gaskets;
oil.

The gas piston consists of:

air stop housings;
piston inside it;
epoxy glue;
stock.

Scheme of the hydraulic tank and hydraulic cylinder

Algorithm for assembling a thermal drive for ventilating greenhouses:

Prepare a couple of pieces of metal pipe. Length - 1 m each. Cut the threads and connect them with a tee. Screw ordinary plumbing plugs onto the free ends.
Remove the pin in the lower segment of the shock absorber. In the bottom, make a through hole with an 8.5 mm drill. Make a carving in this place as well.
There is a blind hole in the middle of the bolt. Drill it through.
You also need to make a 10 mm hole in the plug. Insert a bolt into it, fix it with a nut. There will still be a small segment left from the bolt - screw the shock absorber thread onto it. Soften all connections with gaskets.
The plug itself should be screwed into the tee.

Advice. Use of a plug with an internal carving is allowed. In this case, it must be connected to the tee with a drive using a lock nut.

In order for the system in the greenhouse to work, you first need to fill it with oil. Fill from one end of the pipe, after unscrewing the plug standing there. Then move the rod of the device to the lower position and release all excess air from the shock absorber. Return the blind screw to its place and proceed with the installation of the drive directly in the greenhouse. You can fasten it in any convenient way, even with wire. The main thing is to be reliable.

Advice. It is quite possible to attach the immovable parts of the structure directly above the landing. They can become a convenient support for tying plants in a greenhouse.

What you need to know before using a thermostat in a greenhouse

In order for the rod to freely raise and lower the window, you need to make an emphasis on the frame for it. It is not worth screwing the device tightly: you may always need to ventilate the greenhouse manually.
Do not install locks or other obstacles on windows or doors that will interfere with the normal operation of the device.
Remove the drive in the fall. Frost can damage the device.
Lubricate the moving parts of the structure with oil every spring.

The thermal device is inert in comparison with electronics. The latter, using a temperature sensor, reacts to the slightest thermal fluctuations. The oil needs time to warm up. The thicker the reacting layer, the slower the substance expands and the greenhouse window opens. To avoid mistakes, carefully study the installation sequence from the photo or video.

Automatic ventilation of the greenhouse: video

Growing a crop in a greenhouse is a given, due to the climatic conditions of many regions. To provide comfortable conditions for agriculture, it is necessary to provide for light, watering, heating and, of course, competent ventilation of the room.

The article will discuss how to properly organize the ventilation of closed ground, how many vents should be in the greenhouse, what size, where to place them. And separately, we will dwell on the question of how to make self-opening windows in the greenhouse with your own hands.

General rules for the device

Air vents in the greenhouse are a necessary condition for creating the right microclimate in the room, they help regulate the temperature and humidity of the air, which is the key to a good harvest. Proper ventilation will help to avoid infection of the greenhouse, greatly reduce the possibility of the appearance of harmful insects and microorganisms.

Look at the instructions with explanations on how to install a window in a polycarbonate greenhouse, in the video, a step-by-step process of manufacturing and installing the structure.

How much to do

When organizing the ventilation of the greenhouse, the question arises: how many windows to make? Here we turn to the advice of experts who recommend installing 1 transom with a size of 900 * 600 mm for every 2 m / n, so if the building is 3 m, then it is better to make 2 pieces, as well as for a 4-meter building. It is generally accepted that the total area of opening openings should be at least 20-25% of the total area of the greenhouse, which is sufficient for proper ventilation of the room.

Good to know: If the greenhouse has partitions in its design that divide it into 2 or more parts, then it is important to arrange vents in each section in order to organize proper air circulation.

Location

Due to the peculiarities of warm air rising up, the vents should be located at the top of the structure: mounted in the roof or make openings, stepping back 2/3 in height from the base of the structure.

Accommodation also depends on the location of the building. So, if the greenhouse is installed on the sunny side and is directed along the ridge from east to west, as recommended by agricultural standards, then 2-3 opening transoms per structure 6 m long are enough. But in regions with high humidity, as well as in damp areas, more should be provided number of vents.

Advice: Even if you bought a ready-made greenhouse, where all opening elements were calculated by specialists and provided for by the project, when placing a building on an area with high humidity, additional windows should be arranged.

The top position of the opening transoms reduces the likelihood of drafts

According to experienced gardeners, it is not recommended to place opening elements near the front door, this will help to avoid:

drafts;
slamming transoms with gusts of wind:

And it will evenly distribute the air flow. If you designed and built a greenhouse with your own hands, then first the opening should be arranged in the middle of the length of the building, and the rest of the windows should be placed at an equal distance from it.

The video instruction describes in detail how to properly make the upper vents in the greenhouse from a film on a wooden frame.

Why is it better to arrange self-opening windows in the greenhouse

The automatic window opener for greenhouses allows you to organize ventilation without human intervention. This greatly facilitates the work of gardeners, allows you to free up time. Even if there is no person on the site, the automatic opening of the windows in the greenhouse allows you to protect plantings from changing weather conditions. This reduces the risk of losses and increases the likelihood of a good harvest.

Principle of operation

The drive for greenhouse vents happens:

bimetallic;
hydraulic;
electric.

The principle of their operation is based on temperature fluctuations in the room: when the mechanism is heated, it opens the window, in the event of a decrease in temperature, the machine closes. In order to choose the right window opener for greenhouses, based on your own conditions, you need to study all the advantages and disadvantages of the devices.

We offer a video review with a comparative analysis of which automatic windows for polycarbonate greenhouses are better to install, with explanations of the nuances that will help readers make the right choice.

Bimetal mechanisms

Bimetallic devices consist of two different metal plates, and work due to the different coefficient of expansion of the metals. When the temperature rises, one of the slats expands, due to rigid fixation from the ends, it bends in an arc, under this influence the window opens. When the temperature drops, the reverse process occurs. But bimetallic devices cannot boast of high power, their use is advisable only in light structures and for opening small openings, for example, in film on an aluminum frame.

The principle of operation of bimetallic lifts

Electric openers

Electric drives for opening windows in the greenhouse are equipped with a fan and a thermal relay. If the temperature rises, the relay reacts to fluctuations and turns on the fan. Openers on electricity come in different capacities, you can choose a drive for both light and heavy, large windows. A greenhouse with an automatic window powered by electricity is more adapted to temperature fluctuations, since the sensitive relay reacts even to a small delta, and if necessary, the device can be programmed for any mode. But you will have to think about backup power, since when the light is turned off, the electric drive becomes useless. It is also not relevant in small suburban areas, a visit to which is temporary short-term.

The video below demonstrates the operation of electric openers, showing how to adjust the lifts using a thermostat.

Hydraulic devices

Hydraulic thermal drive for automatic opening of greenhouse vents is the most popular type of machines for organizing ventilation of closed ground. Lever system connected to the window, working on the principle of expansion of liquids.

Thermal cylinder for automatic ventilation device

Do-it-yourself hydraulic automatic window opener for greenhouses is simple, in fact, these are 2 containers filled with liquid, connected by a hose. The flask from below is sealed and partially filled with air, the other compartment is filled with air, it acts as a thermostat. The flask at the top is a weighting agent. The sun is hot, the temperature in the greenhouses is rising, the air in the first flask expands, displacing the liquid, which flows through the hose into the upper container, it fills up, becomes heavier, the window opens. The air cools - the opposite effect occurs.

Instead of a hose, a lever is sometimes installed, expanding air squeezes it out of the flask, and it opens the transom. There are a lot of options for home-made hydraulic devices, how easy it is to make a mechanism with your own hands is shown in the drawing below.

Scheme of a practical homemade hydraulic pusher for opening windows in a greenhouse

Important: When installing the flask, make sure that it is not in the shade, as there it will heat up more slowly relative to the general temperature in the greenhouse. This will delay the opening of the window, which will lead to overheating and may harm the plants.

Watch a video about a universal lift for ventilation of greenhouses, a video review of a device that is suitable for domed and pitched structures, as well as for doors.

How to make a window for a polycarbonate greenhouse with your own hands - a step-by-step instruction

We visually mark the greenhouse in height into 3 parts, at the very top we will install a window. We examine the frame, the openings should be located between the supporting elements. For example, a window for an arched greenhouse will be ergonomic and convenient if it is arranged between the upper and the next lower crossbar, under the highest point of the arc.

In the photo, a well-arranged window for a polycarbonate greenhouse, a bimetallic machine, is located in the middle to evenly distribute the weight of the transom

The video below will tell you how to properly bend the elements and make transoms for an arched structure.

If the distance between the crosshairs of the supporting elements is large for the window, then we additionally make a frame in the size of the transom. We take 4 pieces of pipe, fold them into a rectangle, install corners in the corners, fix them with metal screws. If the equipment is available, the frame can be welded. If the frame is already strong, it is enough to attach a transverse bar to it, on which the opening part of the window will be held.

In the photo, a yellow transverse bar is one of the ways to make a base for attaching a window

Next, we make a frame in size, for its manufacture it is better to use light material, if it is a metal frame, then take thinner pipes, for a wooden one 20 * 40 mm bars are suitable. We install hinges on the finished frame, simple hinged ones, and fasten them to the diameter. It is important that from the outside it is flush with the main frame, and the window of the arched greenhouse should follow the shape of the arc of the frame.

Photo example of how to assemble a window frame

Advice: If the frame for the window is large, then it is recommended to install a high power lift in the middle; for this, an additional stiffener should be made in the frame. On small and light vents, the automatic drive can be installed on the side.

If the greenhouse is already covered with polycarbonate, we fasten the covering material to the frame at the outside, and cut it with a knife in the middle of the frame profile. To avoid leaks, we make waterproofing around the perimeter of the window, a self-adhesive rubber gasket is ideal.

Since we have a frame for the window without a chamfer, so that the transom does not fall into the greenhouse, we install a stopper, these can be corners or a piece of pipe, the option is shown in the photo below. The latch will also be useful, it is very convenient to use magnetic devices.

The rectangle highlights how to make a simple stopper

In case of installation of an automatic drive, a latch is not needed. The finished mechanism can be bought at the store, assembled according to the instructions and installed in place. In order to save money, you can make an automatic window opener for greenhouses with your own hands.

Be sure to watch the video on how to make a hydraulic cylinder for opening windows and doors to greenhouses from a conventional shock absorber.

In conclusion, we invite readers to watch videos, installing a window on a greenhouse, the video describes in detail all the stages of assembly and installation.

The next video will talk about a very budget version of the opening transom device in the greenhouse.

Any summer resident does not mind having a convenient and trouble-free machine for ventilating greenhouses.

This becomes a real problem throughout the season as overheating and drafts affect plant growth and can kill them. They need fresh air and a normal temperature.

Types of structures for ventilation of greenhouses

The electric machine is a fan and a thermal relay that works at a certain temperature. The device is highly accurate, and its power can be any. One sensor can give a signal to open any number of vents.

Machines of varying complexity are commercially available, but you can also make the unit yourself. The disadvantages are the dependence on the supply of electricity and the cost of it.

The use of a solar battery with a battery allows you to make the ventilation system non-volatile. In addition, a similar energy source can be used for pumping water from a well, recharging a phone, and other purposes.

The signal from the sensor can also open vents for natural ventilation.

Devices based on different values of thermal expansion of materials are simple and reliable, for example, bimetals. The device contains as an actuator a composite metal plate made of metals with different thermal expansion. When heated, it bends, due to which the window opens. The disadvantage is low power.

A self-made hydraulic system works due to the thermal expansion of the liquid, which flows from one container to another and, by the action of its weight, opens the transom. To create the necessary force, you need to make a bulky device.

The most common hydraulic systems. They are simple in design and have high power. The principle of operation is to expand the oil with which the hydraulic cylinder is filled. The liquid presses on the piston, which moves the rod with a transom connected to it through the lever system.

Ways to ventilate greenhouses

The microclimate for plants in protected ground is maintained as follows:

Windows, transoms or a door open. The best option is the location of two windows at different heights.
Through ventilation of a long and narrow greenhouse through 2 doors located at the ends.
Automated ventilation system for industrial greenhouses with temperature sensors. Some cultures do not like drafts. To prevent it, ventilation frames are placed evenly across the greenhouse at the same height or with air circulation in the upper part.

All devices must be reliable and withstand the influence of the wind. To do this, they are made powerful and are equipped with special springs and stops.

"Dusya-san" - an automatic machine for ventilating greenhouses: reviews

A simple hydraulic cylinder device does not require batteries or electricity.

Automatic for ventilation of greenhouses "Dusya-Sun" is installed on the transom, door or window. The principle of operation is to expand when heated, the liquid, which moves the piston of the hydraulic cylinder.

When the temperature in the greenhouse decreases, the liquid decreases in volume, the device returns to its original state and the window closes.

The machine develops not very big efforts. The permissible maximum load on it does not exceed 7 kg. Proper installation and configuration allows you to use the device for many years. Operation for opening starts at a temperature of 15 - 25 0 C, and the setting is done manually. When the air in the greenhouse heats up to 30 0 C, the window opens for the entire length of the rod movement - 45 cm. When it gets cold, it will close again by a certain amount, maintaining the set temperature. The small dimensions of the cylinder allow the liquid to quickly warm up or cool down. Increasing the temperature in the greenhouse above 50 0 C does not guarantee reliable operation of the device. Strong winds also adversely affect the performance of the machine.

Automatic "Dusya-San" reinforced

Manufacturers have released a reinforced machine for airing the greenhouse "Dusyasan". It differs as follows:

wider lever;
replacement of an aluminum threaded connection for a cylinder with a steel one;
increase the power of the return spring.

Strengthening the design of the machine allows you to increase its resource and ability to withstand strong wind loads. Consumer reviews indicate that it is desirable to make the design of the machine even more powerful. The maximum load also remained at the level of 7 kg. The body is made of thin aluminum that bends easily. The fastening to the window leaf is constantly loosened by the wind, and it must be periodically tightened. Many craftsmen prefer the designs of automatic machines for opening greenhouses of their own manufacture.

Automatic for ventilation of the greenhouse "Dusya-San" is sold unassembled. An aluminum lever system is attached to the window and the frame of the greenhouse. Then a cylinder with a holder is screwed into it. The device is installed with the window closed, when the temperature inside the greenhouse does not exceed 15 0 C. The beginning of the window opening is controlled by twisting or unscrewing the cylinder.

Consumer reviews on the Dusya-San reinforced greenhouse ventilation machine note its following advantages:

Ease of DIY installation.
Work reliability.
Large amount of movement of the rod.

Maintenance of the machine consists in periodic lubrication of moving parts with engine oil, control of attachment to the frame and frame, and checking the settings.

The hydraulic cylinder must not be exposed to sunlight. It should work on the air temperature in the greenhouse, and not on the radiation. For this, screens are installed.

Structures where the hydraulic fluid contains paraffin should not be installed in early spring and late autumn. The liquid may solidify at low temperatures and the device becomes inoperable.

"Dusya-San" - an automatic machine for ventilation of greenhouses - works only in the warm season. After the end of the season, it will be dismantled until next spring. Before re-assembly, the ease of movement of the stem is checked.

Which machine to choose for ventilation of the greenhouse: thermal actuator

The thermal actuator is a universal device for opening doors, ceiling and hinged windows of greenhouses. Its basis is a hydraulic cylinder with a piston and the liquid inside. When heated, it increases in volume and pushes out the piston, which opens the window through a system of levers.

The domestic design "Ufopar" creates a force of up to 100 kg and moves the rod to a distance of 45 cm. It contains a storage and opening cylinders, which makes it quite powerful. The machine must be provided with appropriate supports in the greenhouse so that it can withstand heavy loads. To do this, they often have to be reinforced, since they are designed only to hold a transparent coating, which is used as polycarbonate. In addition to the pressure from the window, wind loads are transferred to the supports. Adjustment for actuation is made using nuts and an adjusting pin.

Air entering the cylinder is a problem for all hydraulic cylinders. It is forced out by automobile oil, which is poured through the neck.

The Tuymazy submachine gun has close technical characteristics.

Imported thermal actuator Autovent XL (made in England) provides lifting frames weighing up to 5.5 kg to a height of up to 30 cm. The design is made of light alloy, and the cylinder is filled with hydraulic fluid with stable temperature characteristics.

The machine for ventilation of greenhouses "Megavent" of Danish production raises transoms weighing up to 24 kg to a height of up to 45 cm. A device of greater power is 2 times more expensive (5 thousand rubles) compared to previous models. It is equipped with a hydraulic shock absorber that protects it from breakage in strong winds.

When choosing a model, they proceed from the design features and area of \u200b\u200bthe greenhouse. The effort to open doors, transoms or vents should not exceed the specified load capacity of the machine. The measurement can be easily made using a steelyard, attaching it at the point of contact with the hydraulic cylinder rod.

If the device cannot move the transom, then it is necessary to install a reinforced greenhouse ventilation machine.

You can also use 2 models per 1 object. If the windows are small, then opening one will not be enough. It is advisable to install in the greenhouse 1 automatic machine on the end door or several on the vents located close to the roof.

"Dusya-San" - an automatic greenhouse ventilation machine - has a small capacity, but it works reliably and is often installed. There may be several such devices in the greenhouse. To ensure the necessary ventilation, at least 1/5 of the total roof area should be fully opened.

Homemade automatic ventilation devices

Many make a do-it-yourself machine for ventilating a greenhouse on different principles of operation. Basically, this is a change in the shape of the device or the volume of the substance.

1. Hydraulic system with two liquid tanks

A self-made machine for ventilating greenhouses, where the working fluid is water, works reliably and does not require costs. A metal sealed container of a larger volume, filled with liquid, communicates with a small jar suspended and connected to the window through a system of blocks. When heated, the liquid flows from a large container into a small one, which communicates with the atmosphere. At the same time, the weight of the can increases and transfers the force to opening the window. When the temperature inside the greenhouse drops, the liquid flows back into a large container, and the sash closes under its own weight.

The installation of the greenhouse ventilation machine is carried out at a low temperature, corresponding to the closing of the greenhouse.

To do this, the weight of the window should slightly exceed the weight of a small container, which is balanced by an additional load. When the temperature in the greenhouse begins to rise, the liquid heats up and flows into a small container through a flexible hose. To make it visible, it is better to take it from transparent plastic. The weight of the latter increases, and the sash begins to open. In the evening, when the temperature in the greenhouse begins to decrease, the sash should close.

Do-it-yourself automatic greenhouse ventilation machine can be made from improvised means. But it is quite bulky, and there are no such systems for sale. Low power makes it impossible to work with large transoms. In the greenhouse, at least two windows should be opened at different heights to ensure the circulation of fresh air.

2. Automatic machine with pneumatic drive

The device works by expanding air as the temperature rises in a large volume hermetic container. It is placed under the roof of the greenhouse and connected with a flexible hose to a plastisol ball. The latter is placed in a closed space - between the cylinder and the piston. As the temperature rises, the volume of air in the container increases, and the ball begins to inflate and presses on the piston, which moves the transom leaf through the rod and string.

The system is adjusted at a temperature of no more than 15 0 C. To do this, air is pumped into it so that the balloon inflates a little. The bowstring is pulled, but the sash must be in the closed state. As the temperature rises in the greenhouse, the transom should open, and return to its original position at sunset.

The pneumatic actuator is bulky, but many use it because of the ease of manufacture.

A device is known, where the movement of the window is performed using a bellows, and the system is filled with acetone. It must be airtight and resistant to aggressive environments.

A simple and reliable greenhouse ventilation machine contains the following containers:

Accumulative, filled with air.
Closing, filled with water, suspended on a cable and transferring the force of its weight to the rotation of the greenhouse door.
Opening, suspended above and communicating with the atmosphere.

As a sealed container filled with air, a sewer pipe closed at the ends with plugs can be used. In the initial position at low temperature, there is no pressure in it. It is connected by flexible hoses with an opening container and a closing one, which holds the door in the closed position.

When the temperature inside the greenhouse rises, the air in the storage tank expands and transfers pressure to the closing tank, the water from which is forced into the opening tank. The effort to rotate the door is redistributed and it opens. In this case, only the resistance in the door hinges has to be overcome, since there is no return spring. When the temperature in the greenhouse drops, a vacuum appears in the storage tank, which ensures that the water overflows back into the closing tank. In this case, the greenhouse door returns to its original position.

3. Ventilation with valves

The simplest overheat protection device consists of inlet and outlet valves. The principle of operation is based on the difference in temperature inside the greenhouse and outside. A valve made of lightweight material is inserted inside a segment of a large diameter pipe. One is installed at the bottom of the greenhouse, and the other is at the top, on the opposite side.

The flow of warm air opens the top valve. Due to rarefaction, the lower one opens inside. To prevent the wind from affecting it, a protective shield is installed in front of it. The number of valves may be more.

4. Bimetallic systems

The principle of operation is based on the bending of a metal plate when heated. When cooled, it returns to its original position. However, the magnitude and force of the bend are small, and it is only possible to slightly open the window. Descriptions of some structures are often given, but their effectiveness is questionable due to extremely small thermal deformations.

Any home-made machine for ventilating greenhouses receives the most controversial reviews, since skill is required to make it. Most of the devices are complex and take up a lot of space in the greenhouse.

The undeniable advantage here is the lack of costs and the possibility of do-it-yourself repairs. But some designs require considerable investment, for example, when using an electric drive.

Conclusion

For closed ground, you really need an automatic machine for ventilating greenhouses. It must work constantly, maintaining the microclimate necessary for plants. One overheating may be enough to kill the entire crop.

There are many types of automatic machines that you can make with your own hands, and they work reliably. The most popular are foreign-made devices with a thermal drive, but their price remains high. The choice of design depends on the right balance of cost and effectiveness.

In a sense, the process of greenhouse cultivation of plants resembles military operations. After all, it is not for nothing that someone aptly called the labor of a farmer a “battle for the harvest.” And, perhaps, our main opponents in this battle are the unfavorable temperatures inside the greenhouse. And both low and high. But if the victory over the cold is easily ensured by the well-coordinated work of the "rear services" in the form of an intelligent and efficient heating system, then to fight the insidious and merciless heat, you, like any real soldier, will need a machine gun. Remark: the great-grandfather PPSh, buried in a treasured place near the barn "for every fireman", does not need to be dug up. In our case, this is an automatic greenhouse ventilation machine, with which you can ensure the optimal temperature for the growth and development of plants. You will learn how to organize automatic ventilation of the greenhouse with your own hands in the most correct and profitable way after spending 15 minutes of time reading this material.

volatile automated systems;
autonomous or independent mechanisms.

Greenhouse ventilation systems, included in the first category, are usually powered by the mains. Less often - from solar panels or other alternative energy sources. The main element of these greenhouse "robots" is a thermal relay with preset parameters, with the help of which electric fans are activated, which work both for supplying fresh air and for blowing "exhaust" out. Moreover, the algorithm of such systems can be of any complexity - from the simplest devices familiar from the school curriculum to ultra-modern "smart" models controlled by a computer.

British "smart" greenhouse: the ventilation system is built on the basis of automatic air vents with hydraulic drive

Advantages of volatile systems:

This greenhouse autoventilator has a large capacity and is suitable for greenhouses of any size.;
greenhouses are ventilated at exactly the specified time or in accordance with the temperature sensor readings;
dependent greenhouse ventilation systems are compact and high-tech.

Disadvantages of volatile systems:

a power failure can lead to the death of plants, so additional costs are required for the purchase and integration of a backup power source;
failure of the components of the system often turns into a "block" repair.

marginal notes
Forced ventilation systems are far from the only solution for energy-dependent ventilation. There are more interesting versions based on the automatic opening and closing of vents or transoms, using controlled hydraulic cylinders, a system of transmission rods and electric motors. The cost of manufacturing, and even more so the purchase, of these devices is quite high. Therefore, such systems are mainly used in large commercial greenhouse complexes.

Another version of the British "smart" greenhouse

The second type of automatic ventilators does not require electricity consumption. The operation of such devices is based on the ability of some materials and substances to change dimensions when heated. There are three main types of such devices:

hydraulic;
pneumatic;
bimetallic.

Of course, each of the above types has a lot of variations, advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, we will not test your patience with a dull lecture on the physical and technical properties of materials and a variety of engineering solutions for a particular device for ventilating greenhouses, but we will consider all this with specific examples. So - the slogan of the day ...

And in this original Canadian greenhouse, automation controls not only transoms, but also doors

We make a checker for the greenhouse with our own hands: quickly, affordable and without valerian!

From the many well-known autonomous ventilation devices, we have chosen three trouble-free designs that even a teenager can handle. Traditionally, let's start with the simplest.

Construction of a greenhouse in the Czech Republic. Please note that two fans are used in the ventilation system (external and additional, in the middle of the greenhouse)

Option Alpha: ventilation mechanism for greenhouses "Bankovsky"

Of course, our home-grown "machine" for the greenhouse has nothing to do with financial monsters. It’s just that at the heart of its design lie, or rather hang, two glass containers well known to us from childhood, left over from grandmother’s conservation eaten in the winter - a three-liter (clearly cucumber) and 800 grams (from under cherry jam).

A thermal drive for ventilation of greenhouses can be installed even in such a small

In addition to cans, we need:

seaming tin cover -1 pc;
polyethylene cover -1 piece;
copper or brass tube (d 5-8 mm.) - 300 mm;
dropper tube - 1000 mm;
wooden beam (for counterweight) - the size is equal to the length of the window frame;
nails "weaving" - 2 pcs;
twine or thin wire for hanging cans;
sealant or tin and rosin for soldering.

After all the necessary set of "banking" accessories is assembled, you can proceed with the installation. This problem is solved in three steps.

Act I

Pour 800 grams of water into a 3-liter bottle, after which we carefully roll it up with a tin lid. Next, we drill a lid, insert a brass tube into the jar (so that 2-3 mm remain to the bottom.) And securely seal the hole (solder or fill with sealant).

Act II

We make a hole in the polyethylene cover and insert a flexible tube into it (the distance to the bottom is the same as in the first case - 2-3 mm). Then we seal the hole and put the lid on a small jar. As a result, we got a device better known to specialists as a pneumohydraulic siphon. Grandma would be surprised

Act III

Now we just have to place our cans inside the greenhouse, as shown in the figure, adapt the counterweight beam to the frame, and the system is ready for operation.

1- beam-counterweight; 2 - transom; 3- central axis of the transom; 4 - fastening of a small capacity to the transom

It remains to add only that this design was proposed by V.A. Semenov in 2000, after the author had “tested” it for 15 years in his greenhouse.

Principle of operation: when the temperature rises, warm air will begin to displace water from the first large can into a small one. The weight of the can increases and the window, respectively, opens. And vice versa, when the temperature drops, a large balloon will “take” the water back and the transom, thanks to the counterweight, restores its status quo.

marginal notes

This simple and reliable machine is designed only for transoms that open along a horizontal central axis (see figure 1). In this case, the opening angle must be limited by a special stop. Once every two or three weeks, the "banking" system requires additional injections. That is, in a large cylinder you need to add fresh water, instead of evaporated. With this simple maintenance, your autonomous greenhouse "banking" will perform as well as the US Federal Reserve.

Variant Beta: Pneumatic ventilation system "Children's swindle"

This original project is also based on the use of thermal energy. Everyone who in childhood did not skip too often from physics and chemistry lessons remembers: when heated, air expands. Actually, the entire system below is based on this fundamental principle.

Scheme of a reversible automatic ventilation system

Required materials and parts

Old (or new) metal canister. In our design, it will act as a receiver - i.e. air storage vessel.
Cylinder with a bottom and smooth inner walls (glass). This is the basis of the working mechanism. It is convenient to make a glass from cellular polycarbonate left after covering the greenhouse.
Children's inflatable ball (plastisol).
Styrofoam and metal rod for the manufacture of the piston.
Rubber connecting hose.
Cord or fishing line for bowstring.
A bobbin from a sewing machine as a pulley.
A small piece of metal strip for making a rocker arm.
Cyanoacrylic (dummy) glue.
Silicone sealant.
Mounting tape (regular and double-sided).

We proceed to the assembly of the structure. This task looks somewhat more complicated than the previous one. Therefore, to solve it, not three, but four whole actions will be required.

Action I: paint, drill, seal.

First, let's take a look at the receiver. We paint the canister in matte black, this will allow it to quickly gain solar heat. Then, in the lid of the canister, we drill a hole for the connecting hose and securely fix it in the canister. We carefully process the cover itself and the gaps in the hole with a sealant.

Step II: cut, drill, glue.

Now we take up the manufacture of the working cylinder:

we roll a pipe of the required height and a suitable diameter from polycarbonate, glue the end ends of the plastic with breadboard glue;
we cut the bottom of the cylinder from the same material and drill a hole in the middle for the entrance of the hose (the hole, of course, is treated on both sides with a sealant);
we make the top cover of the cylinder. In the center of the cover, drill a hole for the guide for the stem. The guide is easily made from any plastic tube of suitable diameter. For its fastening we use the same mock-up glue. To make the system easy to set up, we make the cover removable.

Step III: we make a pneumatic piston.

To do this, we need a children's inflatable ball, adhesive tape, dense foam and a metal rod. We stick a strip of adhesive tape on the tube (the area inside the cylinder), put a balloon on it and fix it tightly at the junction with the same adhesive tape. The connection must be secure and tight. From dense foam, cut out a circle of the required diameter. We carefully glue the ends of the circle with ordinary tape. We choose the diameter in such a way that the piston fits snugly against the walls of the glass and can freely mix vertically. To reduce friction, the walls of the glass should be treated with petroleum jelly. Now we attach a metal rod to the foam circle, and our piston is ready.

Pneumatic ventilation system for greenhouses

Action IV: we make a rocker, we assemble the system.

The rocker in our design is a metal plate with two holes along the edges. Through a larger hole, the rocker is attached to the axle (as shown in Figure 2), the smaller one is used to attach the transfer bowstring. An ordinary nail is quite suitable as an axis.

Assembly sequence:

we mount the receiver under the ceiling of the greenhouse;
cylinder - in a convenient place, not far from the transom;
the pulley can be mounted either on the wall or on a free-standing stake.

Now we just have to draw a transmission string from the rocker to the window through the pulley and we can proceed to setting up the system.

The principle of operation of the device: the air in the receiver heats up, passes into the working cylinder and inflates the ball, which, in turn, raises the piston with the rod. The rod acts on the rocker, the bowstring is pulled and thereby opens the window.

Mechanism setting:

we connect the rubber hose to the ball, inflate it, then connect it to the receiver (this manipulation should be done at a temperature of 15 ° - 18 ° C);
install the piston. The weight of the piston should be such that when it is installed, the ball is blown off by about ¾ (thus, we will increase the power of our machine).

marginal notes
In order for the window to return to its place after cooling the air in the greenhouse, you can use a return spring. In the home version, a medical tourniquet is perfect for these purposes. The required stiffness of the harness is adjustable empirically. An interesting fact: approximately the same automation scheme is used in a proprietary device manufactured by the Canadian company PGS. The price of the Canadian device is $485.

Option Gamma: do-it-yourself thermal drive for a greenhouse according to a Belarusian recipe

This machine was invented in Minsk. Unlike the options discussed above, it is not intended for a side transom, but for a lifting frame on the roof of the greenhouse.

We make a thermal drive for a greenhouse with our own hands

To make this simple automatic device, we need a good mood, four hours of free time and the following details:

gas spring from the car (gas lift);
steel pipe DU-32 (d 30-50mm) in height corresponding to your greenhouse (with internal threads on both sides);
fitting 1-25 (for gluing gas lift);
coupling (for attaching a crane);
ball valve (1/2) and squeegee (1/2) (for filling with oil, adjusting and attaching the system to the upper frame).

In addition, you will need - a harsh thread, epoxy resin, emery, FUM tape, 1.6 liters of A8 motor oil and working tools.

Step-by-step instructions for making a thermal actuator:

we cut off the bottom of the gas lift, drill holes in the piston (d 1-2 mm), to prevent the rod from falling out, we reliably bend the edges of the body;
we thoroughly clean all the details with emery, then we wind a harsh thread pre-impregnated with epoxy onto the gas lift and tightly fit (i.e. we stuff) a fitting on it;
waiting for the resin to harden;
we seal the fitting with a gas lift with a FUM tape and screw it into the pipe, on the other side of the pipe we install a crane with a drive;
pour chilled oil into the device (this should be done in cool weather), close the tap, attach it to the frame being lifted from above, and to a special support below (a stable cross made of timber or metal is suitable).

Working principle: when the oil is heated, the pressure in the pipe increases and the gas lift piston opens the lifting frame on the roof. When the temperature drops, the frame will close. This greenhouse thermal drive will work for you for a long time and reliably.

Automation will save a lot of time for more enjoyable activities!

marginal notes
All of the above designs have one common drawback - they react rather slowly to temperature changes. Therefore, if a sharp change in weather is expected, it is better for you to be near the greenhouse at this time in order to personally control the ventilation process.

“People have forgotten this truth,” Fox said. But you mustn't forget her. We will always be responsible for those we have tamed. And you are responsible for your rose…” Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

Agree, these lines of the great writer may well claim the right to be inscribed before entering each greenhouse. After all, only love and care for plants can provide us with abundant shoots. Dare!

Nowadays, greenhouses are becoming more and more popular and are already being equipped with automatic parts, such as opening doors or window vents in the greenhouse.

By itself, the system for manufacturing an automatic device for opening doors and vents is quite simple.

After disassembling and reading the instructions, you can do all the work yourself. The classification of greenhouses with automatic ventilation can have electronic or hydraulic automation. It is worth considering each device in more detail in order to decide which is best suited.

The first system to be considered is electronic.

Of course, electronic automation is a great helper that will regulate the temperature in the greenhouse itself.

But this system has a big disadvantage, which concerns its cost.

Choosing an automatic window opener for ventilating greenhouses

The price of electronic equipment is quite high and not every summer resident can afford to purchase it.

Another disadvantage rather than a plus is that such a system, of course, requires electrical power, and not every summer resident conducts a network to a greenhouse.

Hydraulic ventilation system

These reasons have become key and it is because of them that most summer residents who have a greenhouse prefer to install a simpler hydraulic system.

The design and operation of the hydraulic system will be shown below.

The hydraulic device works quite simply: when the air inside the greenhouse is heated, the container made of plastic material, which contains air and water, also heats up.

When the water and air inside the container are heated, the water begins to expand and, with the help of a connecting barrel or tube, flows into another container. This process increases the weight of the second container, which, at a certain physical weight, will interact with the part that opens the door or window.

When the air inside the tanks, and hence inside the entire greenhouse, is cooled, this simple process will have the opposite effect and the reverse process will occur, which will entail closing the doors

It is worth noting that this simple law of physics is very suitable for a system with such a purpose.

What materials will be required for the manufacture of such a design:

A small metal container of about four liters.

Airtight stopper, which will close the container with liquid

Is it possible to have a greenhouse without doors and vents

In principle, the construction of a greenhouse without doors or vents is impossible, since the plants need a favorable climate, which cannot be achieved without good ventilation at the right time.

What is the greenhouse for?

In order to protect plants and vegetables from external irritants that destroy the entire crop even at the initial stage. Most often, such a negative factor is precisely the low temperature.

There is no such factor in the greenhouse. However, it is worth remembering that excessive heat will also adversely affect the growth and development of the plant, as well as low heat.

Greenhouse ventilation: options, devices, compliance

The cherished dream of gardeners is to grow fresh vegetables, berries, herbs and even exotic fruits all year round. Their desire is feasible on protected ground, and a rich and reusable harvest will provide not only watering, plant nutrition, but also properly organized do-it-yourself ventilation of the greenhouse.

Today, not only natural, but also effective automatic methods of useful ventilation are known.

There are complex installations that organize regular ventilation in a dosed and at the right time, preventing the flow of cold air to the plants.

But only the factory ventilation system of greenhouses fully meets all the requirements of ecology and safety.

ventilation requirements

Air circulation ensures the functioning of all plant growth factors.
Natural ventilation through ordinary greenhouse windows and the end door in the heat is not enough.
Ideally, if the temperature here is not higher than +30 degrees. and besides, with a little shading on hot summer days.
Ventilation systems must provide adequate favorable ventilation all 24 hours and without our intervention.

Types of ventilation systems

Modern ventilators for greenhouses from manufacturers are diverse and functional.

Most often it is an electric mechanism, but sometimes it is hydraulic or bimetallic.

We list the features of individual such systems and how to install them.

electrical device

This type is always equipped with a thermostat and a fan.
The system turns on automatically when the temperature drops to the programmed minimum.
An important advantage of the installation is in precise regulation with unlimited power.
We can place this compact system anywhere in the greenhouse, and there is no need to constantly monitor it - and this is another plus.
We will install these automatic ventilators for greenhouses ourselves: their installation is quick and easy.

Note!

The efficiency of these mechanisms depends on electricity, and its temporary shutdown can ruin the crop. An alternative is an auxiliary battery or special batteries on the roof.

Electric fans in the window, in the window are less powerful, but just as in demand.

Innovative devices with a specific program are easily installed in the window.

Then, when the temperature rises, the fan turns on at the signal of the sensor.

Autonomous hydraulic, bimetallic systems

In the photo - automatic ventilation in the greenhouse.

Bimetallic installations are made of metal-plastic plates with different rates of thermal expansion, which bend when heated, easily opening the vents, and close them when cooled.

Note!

It is difficult to make such an option manually, but the installation of ready-made temperature and even humidity control devices with fixing these readings on the sensors will pay off for us in the shortest possible time.

Minus: these systems are not designed for large transoms.

These devices are suitable for farm greenhouses of any size. their price depends on the power and complexity of the system.
Autoventilators with a hydraulic mechanism open fanlights weighing up to 5.5 kg with a maximum effective clearance of 30.5 cm.
These mechanisms are made of strong and light aluminum, work around the clock and without electricity.
The principle of operation is simple: when the weight changes on one of the 2 sides, the lever tilts like a rocker - and the transom opens.
When the air cools, the second arm rises and the transom closes itself.
It is the hydraulic cylinder that controls such raising and lowering.

Hydraulic automatic ventilation system

Both lever arms are two communicating containers.
This device for ventilating the greenhouse also has a common container, which hermetically holds air in itself and is a thermometer that signals the hydraulic cylinder.
When the air in the inner tank cools and contracts, the tank sucks some of the water through the hose, the outer counterweight is now lighter, which means that the hydraulic cylinder returns the spring.

Plus: the system works without electricity.

By the way, it is by this principle that we can do the auto-ventilation of the greenhouse with our own hands.

Automatic vents on hydraulic oil pushers are now popular.

With an unacceptable increase in temperature, the rod is pushed out - and the window opens.

Automatic opening of windows in the greenhouse: we improve ventilation

But the cylinder must be protected from the sun, and the window must be equipped with a safety tape.

Natural ventilation

Air exchange in the greenhouse

Consider natural ventilation. To do this, we will ensure air circulation through the end and side windows, doors: in a small room, this simplest method is more expedient and efficient than installing expensive machines.

One has only to slightly open the doors and windows of the country greenhouse - and the benefits are significant.

Economical autonomous ventilation

Homemade hydraulic mechanism

Greenhouse ventilator: 1 - counterweight (beam); 2 - window; 3 - limiter; 4 - nail.

Two glass jars - a three-liter and 0.8 ml will help us arrange automatic ventilation through a window that opens horizontally in the center of the axis with an emphasis from a bar.

The installation of the mechanism contains 3 points.

Pour 800 ml of water into a large jar and roll up the lid.
Then we drill this cover and insert a brass or copper tube there so that 2 mm remains to the bottom, we seal the hole.
In the polyethylene cap, we will make a hole for the tube from the dropper with the same distance to the bottom. We seal the hole, after which we put the lid on an 800-gram jar, having previously poured 200 g of water into it. We got a homemade pneumohydraulic siphon.
We attach a bar with nails - a counterweight from the outside to the lower transom, and hang a small jar on the upper one, driving in a nail and fixing it with wire, we fix a smaller jar.
We hang a large jar to the frame at the top.

This home-made greenhouse ventilation device works like this: warm air displaces water from a large can into a smaller one - and the window opens. And when it cools down, the water returns again - and the window will close.

We add water to a large jar 2 times a month.

The manufacture of this unique unit for only 10 rubles is available to everyone.

Homemade pneumatic drive system

Here is the solution to the question of how to ventilate a polycarbonate greenhouse. We will make a thermal cylinder from the remains of cellular polycarbonate. A metal canister is a vessel for the necessary accumulation of air.

Homemade devices for ventilating the greenhouse in this mechanism:

We will make the receiver from a canister and paint it black for maximum absorption of solar heat.
We drill a hole for the hose in its cover and firmly fix it with sealant.
A cylinder is a piece of polycarbonate rolled into a roll with ends connected by breadboard glue.
Similarly, we will make a cover by making a hole in the center for the stem guide. We will also fix the guide - a plastic tube with mock-up glue.
We get a pneumatic piston simply: we glue double-sided tape on a part of the tube inside the cylinder, put on a balloon, tightly wrapping it with tape.
From the foam we cut out a circle that fits snugly against the walls of this cylinder, but still moves freely vertically.
We will paste over its ends with simple adhesive tape. Coating the cylinder walls with petroleum jelly will reduce friction.
Now let's connect this circle with a metal rod.
Rocker - a metal plate with 2 holes along the edges: through a larger hole, we attach the rocker to the axis, and to the smaller one - the transfer bowstring. The axis is an ordinary nail.
A spring from a medical tourniquet will close the window when the temperature drops.

Construction assembly sequence:

we attach the receiver at the top of the greenhouse;
cylinder - next to the window;
we fix the pulley on the wall;
from the rocker arm through the pulley to the window we will stretch the transfer string.

The greenhouse ventilation device uses the following principle of operation: the heated air in the receiver-canister expands and enters the thermocylinder, acting on the ball, which will lift the piston up.

The rod moves the rocker, and the bowstring is stretched, opening the window, and the return spring - a medical tourniquet - will close it after cooling.

Note! such automatic ventilation reacts slowly to temperature fluctuations, so our control is necessary.

Conclusion

The removal of accumulated excess heat in the air and the observance of a heat balance favorable for plants greatly increases the yield, improves the taste, appearance and size of fruits, accelerates growth and promotes the formation of abundant ovaries.

We can assemble the structure ourselves.

Usually the instructions for the hydraulic mechanism convince us of its reliability: the kit consists of an improved hydraulic cylinder capable of autonomous operation, with levers and sensors connected to the transom.

Let us clarify that autoventilators are suitable for wooden, aluminum, iron frames.

For their half a century of service, they are still held in high esteem by gardeners not only in their homeland - England, but throughout the world.

Requirements for modern automatic ventilation:

anti-corrosion compact design;
balanced lift;
illustrated adjustment instructions;
choice of coatings.

in this article will introduce additional information on the topic of interest to us.

Use of drives in greenhouse automation

Factory and greenhouse

When designing automatic fans for greenhouses, many believe that the best way to get electronics is to have an electronics circuitry that will monitor the temperature in the greenhouse with sensors and provide commands to open and close the feed wheels when needed.

The drive in this case is just a drive.

The drive is a disk. Converts one type of energy to another, in our case, electrically linear motion, to a control signal.

Unfortunately, there are no conventional and inexpensive drives specifically designed for greenhouses. Therefore, for these purposes, we use various drives, which usually choose cheaper options.