Ventilation

System that delivers fresh air into the house and

removes obnoxious gases from the house
Important Terminology
• Psychrometrics
The relationship between the mixtures of air and
water vapor at various temperatures
• Dry Bulb Temperature
Ambient Temperature
• Wet Bulb Temperature
Temperature at Saturation or 100% relative
Humidity
Important Terminology
• Relative Humidity
A ratio of quantity of water vapor in the air
compared with the total that can be held at a given
temperature
• Dew Point Temperature
Temperature at which water vapor is transformed
back to liquid
Relative Humidity

• Warm air significantly hold more water than

cold air

• Water holding capacity of air doubles with each

11oC increase in temperature
CFM and Static Pressure
• Volume of air being moved by a fan or entering
an air in let

• The difference between inside and outside

atmospheric pressure
Air inlet & impingent air jet
•Acontrollableopeninggenerallylocatedatthe
Acontrollableopeninggenerallylocatedatthe
eave controlling the velocity of air

• Air that is allowed to travel adjacent to a smooth

surface, generally a ceiling or side wall.
Throw
• The distance an air jet will travel before its
maximum speed is decreased to 75 feet per min.

• Less than 75 fpm the air moves aimlessly

Throw
X=K×Vi×b
Vx
X=throw
K=10
Vi=air velocity(fpm)
b=width of air inlet
Vx=air velocity (X) feet from the air inlet(75fpm)
Hot Vs Cold Weather Management of
Ventilation
• Fundamental principles of ventilation systems
used in summer and winter months are quite
similar but reasons for ventilating during the
two seasons are very different
• During summer the main aim is to control
temperature
• During winter the main purpose is to control
moisture and ammonia
Types of Ventilation
• Tunnel Ventilation
• Minimum Ventilation
• Transitional Ventilation
• Natural Ventilation
Mechanisms of Ventilation
• Positive pressure
• Negative pressure
• Turbo
Reasons for Ventilation
• There are basically five reasons why we must
ventilate poultry houses:
• To remove heat
• To remove excess moisture
• To minimize dust and odors
• To limit the build up of harmful gases such as
ammonia and carbon dioxide
• To provide oxygen for respiration

(Bucklin et al., 2008)

Tunnel Ventilation
• Consists of fans on one side of the house and
pads on the other side
• Uses Negative pressure
• For Tunnel Ventilation, generally the
dimensions of house are 40ft x 450ft x 8-10ft
8
Fan Requirements for Tunnel
Ventilation

Cross Sectional Area × Air Velocity

CFM of Air Moved by Fan
Example
Cross Sectional Area = 40 × 10 = 400 sq. ft.
Required Air Velocity = 450 ft/min
CFM of box fan = 19500
No. of fans = 400 × 450 / 19500
No. of fans = 9.2
10 fans will be required
Calculation for Pads

Total Fan Capacity (CFM)

Desired Air Velocity
Example

• Total Fan Capacity = 10 × 19500 = 195000 cfm

• Desired Air Velocity = 450 ft/min
• Pad Area required = 195000/450
• Pad Area Required=433.33 sq.ft.
Calculation for Evaporative Cooling
• 8,747 Btu required to convert 1 gallon (3.79
liters) of water into vapor
• The equation used to calculate heat loss by
evaporative cooling is converting cubic ft./min to cu.
ft./hr

Q = 0.018 × Δt × cfm × 60 quantity of air

being exhausted
from the house in
cubic ft per minute

Heat Production Desired reduction in

in Btu (per hour) a constant temperature (normally 8 - 10
F)
o
Example
• Q = 0.018 × Δt × cfm × 60
•Q=o.018×10×19500×60 60
•Q=210600Btumustbelosttogetthedesired
Q=210600Btumustbelosttogetthedesired
temperature
• As 8747 evaporate 1 gallon
• 210600 Btu will evaporate 210600/8747 gallons
• So, 24 gallons or 91.25 liters of water will be
required
Fan Calculation for Minimum
Ventilation

vg. body weight × CFM requirement per kg×No of birds

CFM of Fan
Example
• Avg body weight = 2.5 kg
• Cfm required = 0.5 /kg
• Cfm of fan = 9000
• No. of Fans = (2.5 x 0.5 x 30000)/9000
• No. of Fans = 4.16
•5fanswillbeneededforwinterventilation
5fanswillbeneededforwinterventilation
Operating time for Fan

Total CFM Requirement

Total Fan Capacity
Example
• Total cfm requirement = 37500
• Total fan capacity = 9000 x 5 = 45000
• Operational time = 37500/45000=0 .83
= 0.83 x 60 sec
= 49.9 sec
• It means that in 1 min fan should be on for 50 sec
and off for 10 sec.
• To get reasonable operational time, we multiply by 4
50 x 4 = 200
• It means in 4 min fan should be on for 3 min & 20
sec and off for 40 sec
Inlet Calculation
• Inlet area (sq. in.) = Total cfm required ÷4
= 37500/4
= 9375 sq inch
= 65.10 sq ft
• No. of Vents = Area Required/Area of Vent
= 65.10/ 1m x 0.4 m
= 65.10/ 3.2808 x 1.3123
= 65.10/4.30
= 15. 13
• 16 inlets will be required
Inlet Calculation on basis of CFM
No. of inlets = capacity x average weight x
0.5cfm(per kg)/2000cfm
= 30000 x 2.5 x0.5 /2000
=18.75
This formula suggests 19 inlets should be used
Review
• In tunnel ventilation air is drawn into one end of the
house and exhausted at the other end.

• The air velocity in a tunnel ventilated house is greater

than that in a conventional cross-ventilated
cross arrangement
with similar rates of air exchange.

(Lott et al.1998)
Review

• There is improvement in weight gains of broilers in

tunnel ventilated houses as compared to traditional cross
ventilated houses

(Lacy and Czarick, 1992)

Review

• Higher air velocities cause faster reduction in

body temperature as compared to lower
velocities after a thermal stress

(Drury and Siegel, 1966)

Review

• Body weight gain of broilers in tunnel ventilated

houses is more than cross ventilated houses.

(Lacy and Czarick, 1992)

Review

• With increased air velocity there is increase in

body weight gain and improvement in feed
utilization.

( Lott et al., 1998)

Review
• At 30 oC, sensible heat loss of broilers increases
by increasing wind speed.

(Mitchell, 1985)
Review

• Higher wind speeds increase sensible heat loss and

reduce latent heat loss in broilers.

(Timmons and Hillman, 1993)

Review

• There are improvements in broiler performance

with an air velocity of 125 m/min as compared
with an air velocity of less than 15 m/min (still
air).

(Lott et al., 1998)

Review

• Optimum velocity for big birds is 600 to 650 foot

per minute during the last two weeks of grow out

• Replace worn fan belts, clean dirty shutters and

clean pads

(Doizzer, 2007)
Review

• Total heat loss remains the same but increased

air velocities result in greater sensible heat loss
and less latent heat loss between 29.5oCand 35oC

(Simmons et al., 1997)

Review
• Factors like corrosion, dirt accumulation and out belts
can cause variation in fan worn performance up to 24%

• Plastic shutters offer less resistance to air flow as

compared to aluminum shutters due to less corrosion
and better design

• Power consumption varies even among similar fans

(Casey et al., 2008)

Review
• An increase in air velocity over the birds
decreases skin temperature in broiler chickens,
mainly in unfeathered areas such as the legs.

• Broiler chickens seem to reach thermal

equilibrium during ventilation within the first 10
min with incoming air temperature of 29°C
29

(Furlan et al., 2000)

Review
• Tunnel ventilation is an arrangement in which
ventilating air is drawn into one end of the house
and exhausted at the other end. The air velocity
in a tunnel ventilated house is greater than that
in a conventional cross--ventilated arrangement
with similar rates of air exchange.

(Lott et al., 1998)

Review

• Ventilation flow in the building influences heat,

moisture and gas balance, and thus it affects the
indoor Temperature, RH and gas concentration

(Blanes and Pedersen 2005)

Review
• The ventilation, together with some other
factors, such as building geometry, location,
number and size of the inlets and exhaust fans
and the presence of indoor obstacles, determines
the airflow pattern in the buildings and,
therefore, air velocity in the zone occupied by
the animals

(Bjerg et al., 2000, 2002).

Review
• Air velocity has an important influence on animal
heat loss. Consequently, under Mediterranean
conditions, when the outdoor T and RH are
extremely high and the efficiency of the evaporative
cooling systems on the farm decreases, air velocity
becomes a decisive factor in the control of animal
heat stress

(Dozier et al., 2005)

Review
• T, RH and air quality can be defined on a theoretical
basis, by means of relatively simple heat, moisture
and gas concentration balances, respectively.
Therefore, by adjusting airflow rate, it is possible to
obtain a T, RH, and gas concentration suitable for
the birds

(Schauberger et al., 2000)

Conclusion

• Improved weight gain and FCR

• Faster reduction in body temperature

• Less chances of disease outbreak

References
• Bjerg B., Svidt K., Zhang G., Morsing S., 2000.The effects of
pen partitions and thermal pig simulatorson airflow in a
livestock test room. J Agric Engng Res 77(3), 317-326.
317

• Bjerg B., Svidt K., Zhang G., Morsing S., Johnsen J.O., 2002.
Modelling of air inlets in CFD prediction of airflow in
ventilated animal houses. Comput Electron Agric 34, 223-235.
223

• Blanes V., Pedersen S., 2005. Ventilation flow in pig houses

measured and calculated by carbon dioxide, moisture and
heat balance equations. Biosyst Eng 92(4), 483-493.
483
References

• Casey, K. D., R. S. Gates, E. F. Wheeler, H. Xin, Y. Liang,

A. J. Pescatore and M. J. Ford, 2008. On-Farm
On
Ventilation Fan Performance - Evaluations and
Implications J. Appl. Poult. Res. 17:283-295
17:283
doi:10.3382/japr.2006-00055
00055

• Drury, L. N., and H. S. Siegel. 1966. Air velocity and heat

tolerance of young chickens. Trans. ASAE 9:583-585.
9:583
References
• Dozier W.A., B.D. Lott, S.L. Branton, 2005. Growth responses of
male broilers subjected to increasing air velocities at high ambient
temperatures and a high dew point. Poultry Sci 84(6), 962-966.
962

• Drury, L. N., and H. S. Siegel, 1966. Air velocity and heat tolerance
of young chickens. Trans. ASAE 9:583-585.
9:583

• Furlan', R. L., M. Macari, E. R. Secato, and J. R. Guerreiro, 2000.

Air velocity and exposure time to ventilation affect body surface and
rectal temperature of broiler chickens. j. applied poult. Res.9:1-5
Res.9:1

• Harral B.B., Boon C.R., 1997. Comparison of predicted and

measured air flow patterns in a mechanically ventilated livestock
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221
References

• Lacy, M. P., and M. Czarick, 1992. Tunnel-ventilated

Tunnel broiler
houses: broiler performance and operating cost. J. Appl.
Poult. Res. 1:104-109.

• Lott, B. D., J. D. Simmons, and J. D. May, 1998. Air Velocity

and High Temperature Effects on Broiler Performance Poultry
Science 77:391-393
References
• Lacy, M. P., and M. Czarick. 1992. Tunnel-ventilated
Tunnel broiler houses:
Broiler performance and operating cost. J. Appl.Poult. Res. 1:104-
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109.

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radiant heat transfer from domestic fowls at environmental
temperatures of 20 and 30 C. Br. Poult. Sci. 26:413-423.
26:413

• National Research Council. 1994. Nutrient Requirements of Poultry.

9th rev. ed. National Academy Press, Washington, DC.
References
• Simmons, J. D., B. D. Lott, and J. D. May, 1997. Heat loss
from broiler chickens subjected to various wind speeds and
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13(5):665

• Simmons, J. D., B. D. Lott, and J. D. May. 1996. Heat loss

from broiler chickens subjected to various wind speeds and
ambient temperatures.

• Schauberger G., Piringer M., Petz E., 2000. Steady-state

Steady
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References

• Smith J.H., Boon C.R., Webster A.J.F., Wathes C.M.,1999.

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References

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