Abstract
Broiler production in modern poultry farms commonly uses mechanical ventilation systems. This mechanical ventilation requires an amount of electric energy and a high level of investment in technology. Nevertheless, broiler production is affected by periodic problems of mortality because of thermal stress, thus being crucial to explore the ventilation efficiency. In this article, we analyze a cross-mechanical ventilation system focusing on air velocity distribution. In this way, two methodologies were used to explore indoor environment in livestock buildings: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations and direct measurements for verification and validation (V&V) of CFD. In this study, a validation model using a Generalized Linear Model (GLM) was conducted to compare these methodologies. The results showed that both methodologies were similar in results: the average of air velocities values were 0.60 ± 0.56 m s−1 for CFD and 0.64 ± 0.54 m s−1 for direct measurements. In conclusion, the air velocity was not affected by the methodology (CFD or direct measurements), and the CFD simulations were therefore validated to analyze indoor environment of poultry farms and its operations. A better knowledge of the indoor environment may contribute to reduce the demand of electric energy, increasing benefits and improving the thermal comfort of broilers.
Highlights
In many areas, broiler production is affected every year by several episodes of massive bird mortality because of the confluence of high temperature and humidity values during summer seasons.This problem causes great economical losses and animal suffering, which is inconceivable in a modern society, which uses a high technological investment at these poultry farms and establishes regulations to ensure animal welfare
As the fluctuations of values and trajectories of air velocity is the most expanded method to control thermal comfort at poultry farms with forced ventilation systems, this paper focuses on the validation of the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)-air velocity results with the direct measurements performed in a broiler farm located in the Valencia Community (Spain)
Commercial CFD FLUENT was used to conduct the numerical simulations, whereas direct measurements were obtained using a multisensor system for poultry farms. To analyze this input data obtained were used the Generalized Linear Model (GLM) procedure of SAS Systems. This model showed that both methodologies were similar in results: the mean of air velocity values were 0.60 ± 0.56 m s−1 for CFD techniques and
Summary
Broiler production is affected every year by several episodes of massive bird mortality because of the confluence of high temperature and humidity values during summer seasons.This problem causes great economical losses and animal suffering, which is inconceivable in a modern society, which uses a high technological investment at these poultry farms and establishes regulations to ensure animal welfare. Cross-mechanical ventilation is widely used in poultry farms but the problems of mortality and broiler stress appears more frequently in hot and humid climates, especially in summer For this reason, it is crucial to explore thoroughly the efficiency of these ventilation systems in order to improve the whole livestock building design and to improve their indoor environment. A reduction of electric energy consumption in livestock farms can be achieved by optimizing livestock building design and improving ventilation efficiency by an appropriate management This may contribute to reduce costs for farmers, and indirectly may reduce the consumption of fossil fuel or other non-renewable sources contributing to the control of the global warming. In agricultural systems such as greenhouses or farms, two methodologies are used to analyze problems related to the indoor environment: direct measurements by the suitable electronic instrumentation and Computational Fluid
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