Estimation of ammonia emissions from a dairy farm using a computer program

Abstract

Ammonia emission tests were carried out on a dairy cow farm (100 large production units) with a slatted-floor system. The air for the tests was collected into gas washing bottles. Ammonia emissions were modeled using Operat FB software. The enthalpy of the process and the molar mass of the oxidized substance were used to calculate the calorific value of gases on the farm. The highest ammonia concentrations on the farm were obtained in the autumn and winter and amounted to 11.2 mg/m3. The highest mass of this gas in the modelling, defined as the maximum emission, was 0.85 kg/h. The annual emission was estimated at 2.78 Mg/year. These results were the basis for estimating the amount of energy (0.85 kg/h) obtainable from ammonia on the farm. The modeling of ammonia emissions applied in the study can be used to calculate the potential degree of pollution introduced into the environment and to estimate the degree of pollutants reduction.Ammonia from the farm, together with the methane emitted, can be catalytically oxidized as a potential energy source.