Trends in US Poultry Housing for Energy Conservation

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Trends in US Poultry Housing for Energy
Conservation

• John W. Worley
• Associate Professor
• University of Georgia

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Co-authors

• Mr. Michael Czarick
• Biological and Agricultural Engineering
• University of Georgia
• Dr. Brian Fairchild
• Poultry Science
• University of Georgia

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Overview

• Background
• Energy Saving Technologies
• Survey Results
• Conclusions - Needs

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Growth in Broiler Production in Southeastern US
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• Reasons for regional growth
• Low-cost land, labor, and housing
• Synergy with cow-calf operations Restoration of
  depleted crop lands
• Low-cost housing meant
• Natural Ventilation
• Cheap construction
• Little or no insulation or powered ventilation

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Evolution of birds and housing

• Improvements in genetics and nutrition
• Improvements in buildings
• Better buildings necessary for better bird
  performance

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Energy efficiency

• Has always been considered
• Low historic energy prices
• Recent changes
• Energy now on Front Burner

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Objectives

• Quantify expected energy savings from eight
  technologies (per house)
• Determine present and projected adoption rate by
  industry (poll)
• Estimate potential energy savings attributable to
  these technologies (sample and industry-wide)

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Energy Saving Technologies

• Tunnel Ventilation
• Allows greater bird densities and improves bird
  performance
• No energy savings recognized in this report

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Energy Saving Technologies

• Electronic Controllers
• Tighter control of desired temperature
• Improved bird environment and performance
• No energy savings recognized in this report

Exhaust Fans
Heaters
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Energy Saving Technologies - Gas

• House Tightness
• Allows control of entering air (winter
  conditions)
• Curtain Flaps one example of tightening
• O.1 static pressure with one 48-inch fan
• Projected 15 gas savings

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Energy Saving Technologies - Gas

• Solid Walls
• Reduces leaks and conductive heat flow
• Savings depend on size of opening and R-value of
  solid wall
• Can be solid wall on both sides or North side
• Projected 15 gas savings

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Energy Saving Technologies - Gas

• Circulation Fans
• Reduces heat stratification
• Increases bird comfort while reducing gas
  consumption
• Savings depend on type of heat and management
  (10 to 30)
• Projected 20 gas savings

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Energy Saving Technologies - Gas

• Litter Treatments
• Reduce pH of litter
• Reduces ammonia emissions
• Reduces required ventilation during brooding
• Projected 20 gas savings

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Energy Saving Technologies - Gas

• Wider Houses
• Reduces exposed wall area per bird
• Usually thicker walls (increased R value)
• 50 ft wide or wider
• Projected 15 gas savings

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Energy Saving Technologies - Electricity

• High efficiency exhaust fans
• Combination of efficient motors and housing
• Cone exhaust is indicator of efficiency
• Projected 15 savings based on EER improvement
  from 19 to 22 (Typical range of 16 to 24 for
  poultry ventilation fans)

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Summary of Expected Savings
Technology Estimated Savings
House Tightness 15 (gas)
Solid Walls 15 (gas)
Circulation Fans 20 (gas)
Litter Treatments 20 (gas)
Wider Houses 15 (gas)
Hi-Eff. Exhaust Fans 15 (electric)
Note Gas savings are multiplicative, not additive
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Survey Results

• Sent survey to 20 complexes in GA, SC, and AL
• Received 11 replies (all from GA)
• Replies represent 806 million broilers per year
• 64 of production in Georgia
• 9.5 of total US production
• 6218 houses (projected 6418 by 2010)

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Conclusions

• Energy savings is recognized by the industry as
  important
• Technologies have had varying degrees of
  acceptance
• The need for education and further demonstration
  of technologies still exists
• Circulation fans, hi-eff. exhaust fans, and wider
  housing show the greatest potential for future
  savings