Heat transfer efficiency as the determinant of the water mattress design: A sustainable cooling solution for the dairy sector

Jagoda Błotny and Sabina Rosiek

Energy, 2022, vol. 245, issue C

Abstract: Climate change and the increasing frequency of heat waves are creating unfavorable conditions for breeding dairy cattle. High relative humidity and air temperature hamper thermoregulation processes, limiting their ability to dissipate excessive heat. The main aim of this study is to provide a solution for the dairy sector, which is characterized by a rising global demand and the need to sustainably increase food production by creating a more efficient, cheaper and cleaner future energy system. To fulfill this objective, four new designs for dairy cow water mattresses were proposed, each working with the flow regime to create innovative cooling solutions. Energy and flow modeling was performed using the Ansys Fluent environment. The heat flow potentially transferred from the cows using the proposed models was calculated as being 518, 536, 509 and 715 W/m2, respectively, which represent extremely satisfactory results. The greatest heat flux correlates with the uniform water distribution achieved with a channel structure inside the mattress and the water distribution system. This has been selected as the most preferable design for future development in terms of thermal efficiency, technological potential and the cows’ own welfare.

Keywords: Heat transfer; Energy modeling; Sustainable design; Conductive cooling; Heat stress; Dairy cattle (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:245:y:2022:i:c:s0360544222001463

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2022.123243

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