Use of branch and bound algorithms for greenhouse climate control

Abstract

Optimization of greenhouse climate management during winter period is an issue that intensely preoccupied researchers over the last two decades as it is directly linked to energy saving, products quality, and reduction of chemical inputs. Goal of this project was the use of Branch and Bound algorithms in order to obtain the optimize greenhouse climate control. For this purpose a biophysical simulator were used and experiments were carried out in the farm of the University of Thessaly in the region of Volos (Greece), during the autumn and winter periods of 2005 and 2007. Branch and Bound algorithms used for two different climate scenarios and the results showed the difference between the classical greenhouse climate control and the control according B & B optimization technique. Finally results showed the contribution of optimization technique to increase tomato production and to reduce energy consumption. © 2015 for this paper by its authors.