Grants and Contracts Details
Description
Proper ventilation of livestock barns is essential for health of animals and productivity of farms,
but it comes at a significant energy and monetary cost to farmers. In this project, improvements
to the operation of barn ventilation, inspired by gains made in non-agricultural buildings, that can
provide for animal comfort and health while substantially reducing the energy costs of ventilating
barns. The overarching technical goal of the work proposed is to demonstrate energy savings
in swine and dairy barns through the installation of high efficiency direct drive electronically
commutated (EC) motors on ventilation fans and sensor-driven smart control of these fans. We
will generate empirical measurements of energy conservation data, assess the economic impact
of implementing conservation practices and disseminate results to stakeholders. Two of the four
specific project objectives supported by University of Kentucky are as follows:
2.Demonstrate energy and cost savings from installing high-efficiency direct drive EC motors.
Dr. Hayes will assist with identifying the fans to be replaced, ensuring the replacements
are installed correctly and confirm the new ventilation scheme provides similar or more air
movement compared to the original fans. She will assist with the development of extension
materials that describe the effectiveness of the more efficient fans.
3.Develop optimal control strategies based on modulation of fans in response to temperature
and humidity signals and demonstrate the improved performance as quantified through
comparison to baseline operation measured previously.
Dr. Hayes will assist will installation of temperature, humidity, and air speed sensors at
the farms to be used by a co-PI at Ohio State to develop and validate the model used to
determine the optimal control strategies. She will also assist with getting the newer controller
installed and development of extension materials that describe how the controller and strategy
could be used.
Status | Active |
---|---|
Effective start/end date | 5/21/21 → 5/7/24 |
Funding
- Ohio State University: $30,438.00
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