Climate control in Finnish Pig farms

v.d. Voorst Klimaatbeheersing ing. Peter van der Voorst

15-02-2012   

A pig can live without:

Feed: for 3 weeksWater: for 3 daysAir: for 3 minutes

Therefore a good climate is very important

Ventilation in pig houses

Ventilation in a pig house is based on five important principals: The 5 A’s

-Air-inlet outside-Air-inlet inside-Air-movement-Air-quality-Air-outlet

  

Too coldRoom temperature below set temperature

Too much ventilationHeating system doesn’t work wellInsulation too lessWrong place of the temperature sensorMeasuring fan doesn’t work wellAir-inlet too big (wind influence)Wrong air movementWrong installed climate curve

Too warmRoom temperature depends on outside temperature

Too less ventilationHeating system doesn’t work wellNo insulated roofWrong place of the temperature sensorAir-inlet too smallWrong air movementWrong installed climate curve

Draught

Too much ventilationWrong air movementAir leaksWrong installed ventilation system

Air quality

Too less ventilationVery dirty pensAir movement in the slurry pit

Humidity: 60 – 80%Ammonia: < 20 ppmCarbon dioxide: 2000 – 3000 ppm

Climate control

What can be controlled?Air- inlet from outsideAir- inlet system inside Temperature sensorNH3CO2Measuring fan Rotations per minute of the ventilatorThe air movement of the incoming fresh air.Air leaks and bad insulation with infrared camera

Windinfluence is very bad

The air-inlet must be calculated with 1,5 cm²/m3 maximum ventilation.

We need this max. opening for about 2 weeks a year (high temperature + max. weight pigs)

Very important: The air-inlet must be automatically regulated!!

The inlet valve system:

Problems with the inlet valves:The openings of the inlet valves within one

room are not the same.Installation settings are quite difficult.

Many mistakes are made.Motors get broken.Cables get broken.Wrong place in the room.

Recommendations for existing farms:

Beware of good installation settings.Beware of that all the inlets within one

room has the same opening.For example 10% opening must be the

same for all the same rooms.Extra air inlet above the corridor

The best inlet system for Finnish circumstances

Animal group

System 1 System 2

Nursery Diffuse ceiling

Farrowing Combi diffuse ceiling

Ground channel

Gestation/ insemination

Combi diffuse ceiling

Inlet valves

Fatteners/ rearing gilts

Combi diffuse ceiling

Inlet valves

Diffuse Air-inlet system

Diffuse ceiling on 2.80 m. ± 1/3 of the ceiling must be closed and

insulated. Opening in ceiling panels: 0,8 cm²/m3 Two layers of 6 cm. special glass wool. Install strips of plastic bubble foil (20 cm.)

between the perforated plates and beams to prevent air leaks and “cold bridges”. Solid floor in the corridor.

Combi-diffuse Air-inletsystem

Above the corridor an opening of 2 cm. made of a hollow pvc-panel.

20 cm above the insulation and 40 cm below the ceiling.

Pvc panel exactly in the middle of the corridor.

Groundchannel-ventilation

- Air comes from an air-channel under the walkway through a slatted floor.

- The temperature cools down in summer (3-4 °C) - The temperature warms up in winter - 25 % less ventilation

Climate computer

SettingsTemperature set pointHeating set pointMinimum ventilationMaximum ventilationBandwidthClimate curve

Avoid mistakes in climate controlChoose the inlet system depending on the

animals.After that make the drawings and

calculations depending on that inlet system.Ask for 2 or 3 offers and choose not the

cheapest but the best company to make the ventilation system.Install the right settings. Very important are

the settings for 100% ventilation

Laying behavior

Peter v.d. Voorstpeter@vdvoorst.nlwww.voorstklimaatbeheersing.nl

Thank you for your attention