Lets be a little more technical. Each of the 4 fans I have are supposed to move 4000 cubic metres of air per hour. The largest bays in my greenhouse have a volume of very roughly 250 cubic metres, so that means moving the same volume of air as in that bay in 4 minutes.
If they were intake fans, I presume replacing the air every 4 minutes would lead to a significant temperature reduction, as I guess the air would not heat up much under the glass in that time.
However, as circulation fans, even with windows and doors open, there is a surprisingly large temperature difference between inside and outside (15 C would be unexceptional).
The volume of air in a 6' x 8' x 5' (guessing average height) greenhouse is about 7 cubic metres. A "gaming" PC fan I found online was rated at about 100 cubic metres per hour, which gives a pretty similar time for moving the entire volume of air in the greenhouse.
So, to my surprise, a computer fan could be just as effective in a small greenhouse as my much larger fans, in terms of fraction of the greenhouse's air moved in a certain time.
Gut feelings can be just as wrong as other poeple's beliefs, if not more so!
Anyway, I think Mike has it right, that the benefit temperature-wise is that mixing prevents pockets of stagnant hot air which can scorch plants.
keeping plants cool the computer way
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Please respect all forum members opinions and if you can't make a civil reply, don't reply!
- ralphrmartin
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Re: keeping plants cool the computer way
Ralph Martin
https://www.rrm.me.uk/Cacti/cacti.html
Members visiting the Llyn Peninsula are welcome to visit my collection.
Swaps and sales at https://www.rrm.me.uk/Cacti/forsale.php
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https://www.rrm.me.uk/Cacti/cacti.html
Members visiting the Llyn Peninsula are welcome to visit my collection.
Swaps and sales at https://www.rrm.me.uk/Cacti/forsale.php
My Field Number Database is at https://www.fieldnos.bcss.org.uk
- Ernie
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Re: keeping plants cool the computer way
Hi Ralph. No hard feelings. I am perhaps a little over sensitive to perceived insults when non is intended.Downside of keyboard exchanges and getting old.
As you say back to our plant discussions. There has been some very good plant related issues raised on this forum, may it continue. My failure is I have far too many interests/hobbies and regret not giving this one more time hence my plant knowledge is not what it ought to be after 50 years or so collecting them.(off and on!) I get interested in something, it becomes an obsession and off I go.
BTW I have just obtained another 2 Duleya greenei and as far as I am concerned they are exactly the same as D. gnoma. (the one that sells for quite a bit more cash)
As you say back to our plant discussions. There has been some very good plant related issues raised on this forum, may it continue. My failure is I have far too many interests/hobbies and regret not giving this one more time hence my plant knowledge is not what it ought to be after 50 years or so collecting them.(off and on!) I get interested in something, it becomes an obsession and off I go.
BTW I have just obtained another 2 Duleya greenei and as far as I am concerned they are exactly the same as D. gnoma. (the one that sells for quite a bit more cash)
'Eternity is but a a brief moment away'