Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) as a tool for the analysis of ventilation and indoor microclimate in agricultural buildings

et al. 2021

This work investigated alternative ventilation schemes to help define a proper ventilation system design in cage-free hen houses with the goal of assuring bird welfare through comfortable conditions. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling was employed to simulate indoor and outdoor airflows to quantify the effectiveness of ventilation systems in maintaining suitable and uniform living conditions at the hen level. Four three-dimensional CFD models were developed based on a full-scale floor-raised layer house, corresponding to ventilation schemes of the standard top-wall inlet, sidewall exhaust, and three alternatives: mid-wall inlet, ceiling exhaust; mid-wall inlet, ridge exhaust; and mid-wall inlet, attic exhaust with potential for pre-treatment of exhaust air. In a sophisticated and powerful achievement of the analysis, 2365 birds were individually modeled with simplified bird-shapes to represent a realistic number, body heat, and airflow obstruction of hens housed. The simulated ventilation rate for the layer house models was 1.9–2.0 m3/s (4100 ft3/min) in the desired range for cold weather (0 °C). Simulation results and subsequent analyses demonstrated that these alternative models had the capacity to create satisfactory comfortable temperature and air velocity at the hen level. A full-scale CFD model with individual hen models presented robustness in evaluating bird welfare conditions.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of Alternative Ventilation Schemes in Cage-Free Poultry Housing

et al. 2021

“…Agricultural engineers have embraced CFD modeling as a sophisticated numerical approach to simulate airflow in various agricultural production facilities to address environmental problems with specific aims, as CFD modeling is highly objective-oriented [ 14 ]. In particularly, using CFD simulations to evaluate agricultural ventilation designs is economical in terms of time and capital costs [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical Simulation of Airborne Disease Spread in Cage-Free Hen Housing with Multiple Ventilation Options

et al. 2022

The current ventilation designs of poultry barns have been present deficiencies with respect to the capacity to protect against disease exposure, especially during epidemic events. An evolution of ventilation options is needed in the egg industry to keep pace with the advancing transition to cage-free production. In this study, we analyzed the performances of four ventilation schemes for constraining airborne disease spread in a commercial cage-free hen house using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling. In total, four three-dimensional models were developed to compare a standard ventilation configuration (top-wall inlet sidewall exhaust, TISE) with three alternative designs, all with mid-wall inlet and a central vertical exhaust. A one-eighth scale commercial floor-raised hen house with 2365 hens served as the model. Each ventilation configuration simulated airflow and surrogate airborne virus particle spread, assuming the initial virus was introduced from upwind inlets. Simulation outputs predicted the MICE and MIAE models maintained a reduced average bird level at 47% and 24%, respectively, of the standard TISE model, although the MIRE model predicted comparable virus mass fraction levels with TISE. These numerical differences unveiled the critical role of centrally located vertical exhaust in removing contaminated, virus-laden air from the birds housing environment. Moreover, the auxiliary attic space in the MIAE model was beneficial for keeping virus particles above the bird-occupied floor area.

“…In recent years, the agricultural engineering community has embraced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to model airflow fields and thereby predict the performance of ventilation systems under various conditions for the sake of comprehensive design and evaluation [ 10 ]. Moreover, CFD modeling allows full control of the influencing factors and provides universal data in the computational domain for relatively little time and expense [ 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hence, researchers have been encouraged to use CFD simulations to design better poultry housing ventilation systems to address indoor environmental problems. Mistriotis and Jong used a two-dimensional CFD model to study a broiler house with natural ventilation and found that employing a solar chimney improved indoor temperature and air velocity [ 10 ]. Seo et al evaluated airflow, indoor air temperature, and the ventilation efficiency of a naturally ventilated broiler house for four modified ventilation systems using CFD simulation [ 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of Ventilation and Hen Environment in Cage-Free Egg Facility

et al. 2020

Poultry facilities are going through an evolution in design due to growing demands for cage-free eggs and egg products without unified guidelines to accommodate these transitions. The goal of this study was to help builders and egg producers assess current ventilation design within cage-free production facilities for conditions that impact hen comfort and welfare. The method of evaluation was simulation of the indoor environment of a hen house via computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling with individual hens modeled at a typical stocking density. This paper describes the development of a three-dimensional model of a commercial floor-raised cage-free hen house that is cross-ventilated to document current environmental conditions. A one-eighth section of the barn was modeled at full-scale using existing ventilation schemes with each bird represented by a hen-shaped, heated, solid body. A conventional top-wall inlet, side-wall exhaust (TISE) ventilation configuration was modeled for this study. The simulated ventilation rate for the hen house was approximately 3 m3/h (1.77 ft3/min) per hen resulting in 7092 m3/h (4174 ft3/min) for the 2365 birds, which falls at the higher end of the desired cold weather (0 °C) ventilation range. Contours of airflow, temperature, and pressure were generated to visualize results. Three two-dimensional planes were created at representative cross-sections to evaluate the contours inside and outside the barn. Five animal-occupied zones within each of the model planes were evaluated for practical hen comfort attributes. The simulation output suggested the TISE standard ventilation system could limit air speed to a comfortable average of 0.26 m/s (51 ft/min) and the temperature could be maintained between 18 and 24 °C on average at the bird level. Additionally, the indoor static pressure difference was very uniform averaging −25 Pascal (0.1 inches of water), which falls in the normal range for a floor-raised hen house with negative-pressure ventilation during cold weather conditions. Findings confirmed that CFD modeling can be a powerful tool for studying ventilation system performance at the bird level, particularly when individual animals are modeled, to assure a comfortable indoor environment for animal welfare in poultry facilities.