"DryGair gives grower the reins"
Grower Rinus van der Gaag and Eef Zwinkels
Marcel Vijverberg's nursery was the first Dutch grower to install two units. Pretty soon, he noticed the climate could be managed better. The plants grew healthier and more compact, without having to use growth inhibitors. This autumn, he installed another three units in the new part of the greenhouse. The grower's enthusiasm, and both parties' pride of the successful introduction, makes the nursery an ideal place for (potential) customers to look around.
Cold beer
DryGair works like a cold beer bottle straight out of the fridge. In the same way that liquids from the air attach to the cold glass, the liquid matter attaches to the cold panels in the DryGair unit. Humid air is sucked in at the side and is blown back into the greenhouse at the top, after having been dried and warmed up a bit. The water runs into a bin along the panels and is led away through a hose. The machine should hang or stand somewhere - preferably in the middle of the greenhouse, although this is not strictly necessary - and could be placed on wheels, if required. The water that comes out is clean and can be used for irrigation.
"In Next Generation Growing, the windows are kept closed as much as possible," Eef explains. "Energy-wise, that's a smart move, but what about humidity? That was the original idea of DryGair: is it possible to evaporate while still limiting heating costs? It's possible, but that also changes cultivation methods. A revelation that resulted from this move: when the windows are closed, it's possible to create an active, lively climate on wet and grey, rainy days as well."
The larger model dehumidifies 22,000 m3 per hour, extracting 30-55 liters of water (depending on the greenhouse air temperature). One unit suffices for 1,500-8,000 m2, depending on the crop, and in particular vaporization and the space above the crop. The investment can be recovered within years, thanks to the savings made on gas and the heat produced by the machine. What's more, a livelier climate makes for a more generative crop, and all sorts of problems - cracked tomatoes, fungi, botrytis, tarnished floors - are prevented.
Eef Zwinkels, former tomato grower, has been selling water technology for 30 years. He also followed the Next Generation Growing course, which, in addition to practical results, has increased his confidence in DryGair. "It's like a snowball effect. Growers are talking to each other, convincing each other. The modern grower can control all sorts of things, but humidity is often still a problem. By actively removing liquids from the air, growers now also have the reins in that respect!"
For more information:
Kwekerij Marcel Vijverberg
Westgaag 8A
3155 DE Maasland
Netherlands
T: +31(0)10-5903636
M: +31(0)6-22805570
F: +31(0)10-5903637
E: kw.m.vijverberg@planet.nl
Royal Brinkman
Woutersweg 10
2691 PR 'S-Gravenzande
Netherlands
T: +31(0)174 44 61 00
F: +31(0)174 44 61 50
M: +31(0)6-53723413
E: eef.zwinkels@royalbrinkman.com
www.brinkman.nl