Measuring and Modeling Mechanical Ventilation for Long-Term Environmental Monitoring in Large Commercial Laying Hen House

Abstract

Determining ventilation rates in commercial animal buildings has been technically challenging. This study aimed to develop an innovative method and a ventilation model and provide new insights into animal building ventilation. A layer house with 46 fans was studied over six months. A full-size and fast-response portable fan tester was developed for on-site fan ventilation measurement. Results indicated that the house differential pressures (dP) varied from +10.4 to 3 min−1, averaging 4.68 m3 h−1 per hen. This study concluded that house dP can be greatly affected by strong winds in addition to fan operations and air inlet openings. Fan rotational speeds are influenced by pulley sizes and fan belt maintenance. On-site fan tests with the fan tester can generate reliable data for fan ventilation characterization. Fan models that incorporate both fan rotational speeds and differential pressures considerably improve ventilation rate calculations.

Keywords

• animal environment
• animal system management
• building ventilation
• indoor climate
• poultry building
• ventilation measurement