Experimental investigation and performance evaluation of a solar space heating/cooling and ventilation system for a poultry house in Egypt

Abstract

AbstractThis research presents an experimental investigation of the space heating/cooling and ventilation system of the poultry houses in Egypt. High temperature and lack of proper environment, poultry production faced heat stress that reduced feed consumption, weight gain, and egg yield. This will lead to reducing production and consequently increased the price of poultry in the local market. The present work provided an experimental study to signify the effectiveness of the evaporative cooling system using several pads that made from low cost, and locally available materials. Designing a proper ventilation system is also introduced. The energy needed for heating and cooling purposes are provided by solar energy equipment. It can provide the system with the required electrical and thermal energy that derive the cooling/heating systems throughout the year. It was found that the system performance is affected by several parameters like type and thickness of pad materials, air temperature distribution inside the poultry house, meteorological conditions, temperatures of the hot water and cooling water. It was found that the highest ambient air temperature reduction is achieved by using pad materials of carton, linen, canvas, and rice straw respectively.