Low-Cost Solar Collectors to Pre-Heat Ventilation Air in Broiler Houses

Yi Liang, Michael Janorschke and Chad E. Hayes
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Yi Liang: Biological & Agricultural Engineering Department, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Fayetteville, Little Rock, AR 72207, USA
Michael Janorschke: Biological & Agricultural Engineering Department, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Fayetteville, Little Rock, AR 72207, USA
Chad E. Hayes: Poultry Science Department, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Fayetteville, Little Rock, AR 72207, USA

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-9

Abstract: The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of a low-cost solar collector to pre-heat ventilation air in commercial broiler buildings on supplemental heating demand and air quality during the cold season. Six black fabric-based solar collectors of 36 m 2 each were installed on the south-facing rooftop of a broiler house. The solar collectors provided fresh warm air into the house during the ON cycle of minimum ventilation and during the OFF cycle of minimum ventilation when the temperature under the collectors met certain criteria. The daily cumulative duration of solar collectors in operation averaged 125 and 133 min during the first two or four weeks of brooding in the fall and winter flocks, respectively. When in operation, the solar collectors were able to raise up to 20 K above the ambient temperature, reducing fuel usage by 7% in the fall and winter flocks. The greatest challenge of solar collector utilization was the collectors providing less than half of ventilation air during daytime due to not enclosing the fresh air inlets. The limited airflow capacity and limited activation of the solar collectors due to the existing minimum ventilation scheme is another reason for low heating fuel savings.

Keywords: energy consumption; energy efficiency; ventilation; solar energy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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