Enhancing crop yield in hydroponic greenhouses: Integrating latent heat storage and forced ventilation systems for improved thermal stratification

•The integration of a solar collector with latent heat storage regulates a temperature increase of 2 to 6 °C.•The combination of heating and ventilation systems reduced the temperature difference by more than 3 °C between desired and actual value.•Proposed system improves air circulation and improves the overall microclimate for optimal plant growth. Greenhouses play a crucial role in modern agriculture, creating an ideal environment for plant growth. Nevertheless, maintaining air temperature distribution inside a greenhouse remains a significant challenge due to the inherent tendency of warm air to stratify. This paper proposes an innovative integrated system that combines both heating and ventilation mechanisms. Its primary objective is to tackle the issue of air temperature stratification inside greenhouses, ultimately enhancing the microclimate to optimize crop production. The heating system comprises of a solar air heater with latent heat storage energy and a ventilation system designed to promote air circulation while eliminating stagnant zones. An experimental study was conducted to assess the performance of the integrated heating and ventilation systems in various greenhouse scenarios. The study begins by examining the thermal performance of the solar collector and its subsequent impact on the indoor environment of the hydroponic greenhouse. The results showed that the solar collector has a remarkable thermal performance with a daily energy efficiency between 32 % and 44 %. Incorporating the heating system into the greenhouse led to significant improvements in temperature stability, particularly during nighttime hours, when temperatures ranged from 17 °C to 20 °C. This translated to a temperature increase of 2 °C to 6 °C compared to greenhouses without heating, effectively illustrating the benefits of incorporating phase change materials into the heating system. The combination the heating and ventilation systems, resulted in a reduction of over 3 °C in the temperature difference between actual and desired levels.