KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY

DHULIKHEL, KAVRE

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

TERM PAPER ON

ROLE OF HEAT TRANSFER IN GREENHOUSE EFFECT

SUBMITTED BY SUBMITTED TO

BIGYAN PARAJULI [32142] ER. MALESH SHAH

ENERGY TECHNOLOGY DOME, KU

2 August 2020.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF FIGURES.............................................................................................................................ii

LIST OF TABLES..............................................................................................................................iii

CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................1

1.1 Heat transfer............................................................................................................................1

1.2 Greenhouse effect........................................................................................................................2

CHAPTER 2. DESCRIPTION...........................................................................................................2

2.1 Greenhouse gases and global warming....................................................................................2

2.2 Heat transfer in atmosphere during greenhouse effect...........................................................3

2.3 Heat at earth’s surface................................................................................................................4

CHAPTER 3. USEFULNESS OF GREENHOUSE EFFECT........................................................4

CHAPTER 4. CONCLUSION............................................................................................................5

CHAPTER 5. APPLICATION FOR FUTURE USE........................................................................6

REFERENCES....................................................................................................................................7

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 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 Three different modes of heat transfer [8].....................................................................1

Figure 2 Greenhouse Effect: Heat Transfer in Atmosphere….. [5]..............................................3
Figure 3 Commercial Greenhouse system [7]............................................................................5

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 LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 Origin of Greenhouse Gases..............................................................................................2

CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Heat transfer

The transfer of energy as heat from higher temperature medium to the lower temperature
medium is called heat transfer. High temperature medium is associated with higher
molecular energies whereas low temperature medium is associated with lower molecular
energies. Mainly heat is transferred in three basic modes: conduction, convection and
radiation. The basic requirement for the various modes of heat transfer is the temperature
difference present on them as no heat transfer is possible between two medium with same
temperature. Heat transfer is concerned with conservation of energy equation[ CITATION
JPH10 \l 1033 ].

Conduction is the transfer of heat through the solid or a stationary fluid due to the
temperature difference across the medium. It is the interaction between particles which lead

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to the transfer of energy from more energetic particle of substance to the less energetic
particle. Collision and diffusion of molecules in gases and liquids during the random motion
is due to conduction whereas in solids, it is due to combination of vibrations of the
molecules. For heat conduction, Fourier’s law is considered as rate equation. The
convection heat transfer mode consists of two mechanism: random molecular motion and
bulk motion of the fluid within boundary layer. According to the nature of flow, it is of two
types: forced convection and natural convection. Forced convection is the flow which is
caused due to Figure 1 Three different modes of heat transfer use of external
[ CITATION Ide20 \l 1033 ]
means such as pump, fan etc.
whereas natural convection is the flow caused due to buoyancy forces because of the
difference in density caused by variation in temperature of the fluid. For the heat convection,
newton’s law of cooling is considered as rate equation. Radiation is the process of transfer of
heat or energy without the presence of any medium or matter. It occurs through vacuum or
any medium through the random movements of atoms and molecules in matter. Movement
of charged proton and electron result in emission of electromagnetic radiation. All materials
radiate thermal energy based on their temperature difference. The hotter an object, the more
it will radiate. We can take sun as an example of radiation since it transfers heat across all
the solar system. For the radiation, Stefan-Boltzmann law is considered as rate
equation[ CITATION The11 \l 1033 ].

1.2 Greenhouse effect

The exchange of incoming and outgoing solar radiation from the sun that warms the earth is
often referred as the greenhouse effect. At first, the solar radiation coming from the sun
enters through the troposphere. Before entering troposphere, there are greenhouse gases
which acts as an insulation to earth. It reflects some of the energy back into space while
some of the energy back into space while some energy is trapped by greenhouse gases.
And the remaining radiation passes to earth surface which are absorbed by oceans, land,
stones and atmosphere. Some of the radiation are again reflected back to atmosphere which
are absorbed by the increased levels of greenhouse gases, caused by human activities that
increases earth’s temperature above normal causing significant climate change[ CITATION
Pie14 \l 1033 ].

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 CHAPTER 2. DESCRIPTION

2.1 Greenhouse gases and global warming

Greenhouse gases are the component of the atmosphere that moderate earth’s
temperature. Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, water vapour, methane, ozone,
nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbons. All are the normal part of the atmosphere except
CFCs.

Greenhouse gases Where it comes from

Carbon dioxide Respiration, Burning of fossil fuels,
Volcanic Eruptions
Methane Decomposition of plant materials
Nitrous oxide Produced by Bacteria
Ozone Atmospheric processes
Chlorofluorocarbons Not naturally occurring, made by
humans

Table 1 Origin of Greenhouse Gases

The table above shows each greenhouse gases with source from where it comes. Among
various greenhouse gases available they have different abilities in trapping of heat. For

example, one molecule traps 23 times as much heat as one CO 2 molecule. One CFC-12

molecule traps 10,600 times as much heat as oneCO 2. Still, it is considered as a very
important gas for greenhouse effect as it is highly abundant in atmosphere. Excessive
burning of fossil fuels is increasing day by day which is responsible for the production of
Carbon dioxide gas, nitrous oxide. All these gases are highly absorbent in nature which
absorbs infrared radiation from the earth, preventing it from escaping to space. Since, all the
objects in earth are emitting radiation continuously, the atmosphere emits radiation. Some of
them are reabsorbed by earth’s surface. Thus greenhouse gases are major factor for
increasing earth’s temperature which eventually leads to global warming[ CITATION Rob07 \l
1033 ].

2.2 Heat transfer in atmosphere during greenhouse effect

Sun is the major source of heat in our planet. Energy from sun is transferred through space
to atmosphere of earth then to earth’s surface. During which exchange of incoming and
outgoing radiation occurs which warms the earth and is known as greenhouse effect. The
greenhouse effect is a phenomenon which shows the radiative transfer, a process by which
energy of light waves is exchanged in matter. It dictates what energy is reflected, absorbed

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 Figure 2 Greenhouse Effect: Heat Transfer in Atmosphere….. [ CITATION Wan09 \l 1033 ]

and emitted. The radiative transfer properties of atmospheric chemical rely upon the energy
of the radiation, (both for absorption and emission) and their properties are different to every
chemical. Within the context of worldwide warming, we discover that it’s vital to contemplate
both how chemicals and particles reflect sunlight and also the way they absorb energy
radiated from the earth. Atmospheric reflectors, notably sulfates and nitrates, reflect and
scatter light before it ever hits the surface of the planet, effectively reducing the energy that

the planet receives. On the opposite hand, greenhouse gases like CO 2 ,CH 4, nitrous
oxide, are characteristically strong absorbers of the energy radiated by earth’s surface. They
absorb so strongly because they typically exhibit resonant absorption behavior within the
same energy range because the radiation is emitted by the earth. These trap heat before it
leaves the earth insulating earth and increasing earth’s equilibrium temperature[ CITATION
Wan09 \l 1033 ].

2.3 Heat at earth’s surface

About half of the solar radiation coming from sun is reflected back to space before reaching
ground initially strikes at the top of atmosphere. This energies are absorbed by various
atmospheric gases, reflected by clouds, or scattered. Scattering process occurs during the
period in which a light wave hits a particle and bounces off in various directions. Maximum
energy heating the earth’s surface is absorbed by rocks, soil, water and various things and
then radiate back into air as heat. About three percent of energy which hits the ground is
reflected back into atmosphere. The infrared wavelengths are only visible by infrared
sensors. Because solar energy continuously enters atmosphere of earth and surface which
makes planet hotter. As these radiation will not be able to pass out through the atmosphere.
Since, it contains greenhouse gases which prevents from escaping. Then it acts as

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insulation so, no energy goes out, only energy in is possible which eventually increases
earth’s temperature called greenhouse effect[ CITATION MIB56 \l 1033 ].

CHAPTER 3. USEFULNESS OF GREENHOUSE EFFECT

As the population of world is increasing day by day, limited availability of cultivable land and
increase in standard living of people has resulted in the widespread development of
commercial greenhouses. Commercial greenhouses can be taken for providing better quality
crops by protecting them against environmental effects along with the production of
offseason crops. Off season crops production is the useful feature of greenhouse as quality,
quantity and growth of crop can be done by controlling the climate inside the greenhouse. In
this case, there are four major parameters that control greenhouse and they are indoor
temperature, relative humidity, CO 2 concentration, and indoor lighting.

In order to maintain all the above mentioned parameters within the acceptable ranges. In
order to control the growth of a crop, indoor temperature must be within the limit as rate of
chemical reaction generally moves up with the rise in temperature. In addition to indoor
temperature, CO 2 concentration is also one of the control parameter of greenhouse as

Figure 3 Commercial Greenhouse system

[ CITATION Akh19 \l 1033 ]

photosynthesis of plant fully depends upon CO 2 concentration. So, proper amount of CO 2 is

required. Relative humidity is next factor in greenhouse, for providing suitable environment
to grow plant and to prevent it from diseases. High humidity directly effects the transpiration
process whereas lower humidity results in slower growth of plants. Because of which
humidity should be in limited amount. Indoor lighting is considered as one of the important

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factor for optimal growth of any plant in greenhouse. The radiations that are required for
plants can be provided through artificial as well as natural sunlight. Artificial lighting can be
done through fluorescent, metal halide lamps, and light emitting diodes which is considered
as important parameter in greenhouse[ CITATION Akh19 \l 1033 ].

CHAPTER 4. CONCLUSION

Every day on the earth there is delicate balance on the heat transfer that the planet receives
from solar radiation and radiation that is reflected back out to space. From the sun,
maximum amount of radiation comes inside earth. This solar radiation firstly hits earth’s
atmosphere in the form of light wave, plus ultraviolet, infrared and other types of radiation
that are not seen to human eye. Infrared radiation has longer wavelength with weaker
energy level whereas ultraviolet radiation has a shorter wavelength and a higher energy
level. Simply from above we can see that for earth to be habitable, there should be
equilibrium of incoming and outgoing radiation. Without the equilibrium condition in
atmosphere, there is chance that earth would be as cold and lifeless as its moon (has almost
no atmosphere) or as hot as Venus (has very hot temperature trapped from solar radiation).
In this way if there is balance in energy out and energy in of solar radiation at atmosphere
there would be no increase in temperature of earth. Human activities has generated many
problems on earth, as they have been spoiling environment by producing various
greenhouse gases which has been produced particularly from burning fossil fuels,
agriculture and land clearing. These activities are increasing the concentration of
greenhouse gases, which traps extra heat, causing the earth’s temperature to rise.

CHAPTER 5. APPLICATION FOR FUTURE USE

In case of application sector, greenhouse can be used in producing offseason crops by

protecting them against environmental effects along with the provision of out of season
cultivation. For greenhouse, there are four major control parameters which includes indoor
temperature, relative humidity, co 2 concentration, and indoor lighting.

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 REFERENCES

[1] J.P.Holman, Heat Transfer, New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010.

[2] A. S. L. F. P. I. D. P. D. Theodore L. Bergman, Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer, Jefferson:

John Wiley and Sons, 2011.

[3] V. P. A. Pietro Marchetta, "The Greenhouse Effect Attack," in IEEE, San Francisco, 29-31 oct 2014.

[4] R. G. Watts, "Energy and the Environment Technology," in Global Warming and the Future of the
Earth, Colorado, Morgan and Claypool, 2007.

[5] T. H. Wang Yanming, "Arbitary-Order Spherical Harmonics Method for Radiative Heat Transfer in
Semitransperent Medium," in International conference on Rnergy and Environment Technology,
Harbin, 2009.

[6] M. Budyko, Heat Balance of the Earth's Surface, Washington D.C: US department of Commerce,
1956.

[7] I.-S. C. Y. H. L. H.-M. K. Akhtar Hussain, "Optimal Operation of Greenhouses in Microgrid

Perspective," IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, vol. 10, no. 3, 2019.

[8] I. Sadrehaghighi, "Classical and Numerical Heat Transfer- A Quick Review," Research Gate, July
2020.

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