Hydronic Radiant Heating for Sustainable Crop Frost Prevention

This research evaluates existing frost prevention methods on a local New Jersey farm and introduces an environmentally sustainable alternative. As climate change leads to shorter and milder winters, crops face increased vulnerability to frequent and severe spring frosts, posing significant risks to harvests. The proposed solution utilizes hot water circulation through outdoor pipes, delivering convective heat to shield crops from frost damage. Conventional frost protection techniques are often labor-intensive and environmentally damaging, but this study integrates heat transfer and thermodynamic principles to develop a more energy-efficient, autonomous alternative. Results from the heating system demonstrate its effectiveness as a sustainable frost prevention method. Tests identified PVC pipes as the most suitable material for this design, along with optimal pipe diameter and water flow rate. Continued optimization is recommended to further improve the system's efficiency and expand its application in agriculture.