Breeding Farm Air Conditioning

When installing evaporative coolers in livestock farms (pig farms, poultry farms), it is necessary to develop a comprehensive plan that considers the type of livestock, the structure of the breeding house, and environmental requirements, covering everything from model selection and installation location planning to hardware fixation and system debugging. Below are installation guidelines and key technical points for different scenarios:
I. Evaporative Cooler Types and Their Suitability for Farms
Type Core Components Suitable Scenarios Installation Advantages
Wet Pad Evaporative Cooler (Most Common) Fan + Porous Wet Pad + Water Pump Open-style pig houses, broiler houses, fattening houses High cooling efficiency (5-8°C), low energy consumption (only fan + water pump)
Industrial Evaporative Cooler (AC-style) Compressor + Evaporator + Fan Closed brooder houses, breeding pig houses Precise temperature control (±1°C), independent humidity adjustment
Spray Evaporative Cooler High-pressure Nozzles + Fan Open farming areas in hot and humid regions Rapid cooling, requires ventilation system to prevent humidity buildup
II. Pre-installation Site Survey and Planning
1. Breeding House Structure Assessment
Pig Houses:
Fattening Pig Houses: Span 8-12 meters, height 3-4 meters, install coolers on both gable or longitudinal walls with a spacing of 8-10 meters (to avoid cooling dead zones).
Piglet Houses: Smaller area (10-15㎡/room), prioritize small coolers installed 1.2-1.5 meters above the ground (away from piglet activity areas).
Poultry Houses:
Broiler Houses (Closed): Length 50-100 meters, evenly distribute coolers along side walls with outlets angled upward (to avoid direct airflow on birds).
Layer Houses (Stacked Cage System): Install coolers at the top or high on side walls, paired with ceiling ducts for even air distribution.
2. Cooling Load Calculation (Determining Number of Units)
Formula Reference:
Cooling Load (kW) = House Volume (m³) × Air Exchange Rate (pig houses 15-20 times/h, poultry houses 20-30 times/h) × Specific Heat of Air (1.2kJ/m³·°C) × Temperature Difference (target cooling value, e.g., 5°C).
Example: For a 1000㎡ pig house (3m high) needing 5°C cooling, Cooling Load ≈ 1000×3×20×1.2×5÷3600 ≈ 10kW, requiring two 5kW wet pad coolers.
III. Key Installation Steps for Wet Pad Evaporative Coolers (Using Pig Farms as an Example)
1. Hardware Installation Process
① Wet Pad Installation (Side or Gable Wall)
Positioning Requirements:
1.8-2 meters above ground (to prevent livestock contact), with a 10cm waterproof base at the bottom, fixed with aluminum alloy frames on all sides.
Seal gaps between the wet pad and wall with sealant to prevent air leakage (which can reduce cooling efficiency by 10%-20%).
Water System Connection:
Connect the water pump (head ≥3m) via PVC pipe to the top inlet of the wet pad, install a Y-filter (to prevent clogging from debris), and route the return pipe to the collection tank (regular water changes needed to prevent algae growth).
② Fan Installation (Opposite Wall from Wet Pad)
Mounting Method:
Secure the fan to the wall with angle steel brackets, using rubber pads at connection points for vibration damping (noise ≤75dB to avoid animal stress).
Add protective mesh at the fan outlet (to prevent debris intake) and a rain cover for outdoor installations.
Airflow Matching:
Total Fan Airflow = Wet Pad Area (㎡) × Air Velocity (2-3m/s), e.g., a 10㎡ wet pad requires a fan with 72,000-108,000 m³/h capacity.
③ Electrical and Control System Installation
Electrical Requirements:
Dedicated circuit for the cooler with overload protection (current ≥1.2 times rated current), wires in galvanized steel conduit (to resist ammonia corrosion).
Install temperature sensors (1.5m above ground, away from airflow) linked to the controller (automatically starts/stops the cooler at set temperatures).
2. Special Considerations for Poultry House Cooler Installation
Dust Protection Design:
Add medium-efficiency filters (≥80% efficiency) at cooler intakes, clean every 2 weeks (high dust in poultry houses can reduce airflow by 30% if clogged).
Prevent Wet Pad Dripping:
Install a drip tray at the top and a sloped (5%) collection pan at the bottom to avoid water dripping on birds or feed (causing mold).
IV. Key Points for Industrial Evaporative Cooler (AC-style) Installation (Closed Farms)
1. Indoor and Outdoor Unit Layout
Indoor Unit: Mounted under the ceiling, outlet 2.5-3m above ground to avoid direct airflow on animals, return air inlet with air filter.
Outdoor Unit: Installed in a shaded area outside, copper pipe length ≤15m (longer runs reduce efficiency), insulated to prevent condensation.
2. Condensate Management
Drain condensate via PVC pipe to an external ditch with ≥3% slope, prevent standing water (weekly bleach cleaning for poultry houses).
V. Post-installation Debugging and Validation
1. Operational Testing
Cooling Efficiency: After 30 minutes of operation, measure temperatures at various points (e.g., corners, center); difference should be ≤2°C, overall cooling meets target (pig houses 26-28°C in summer, poultry houses 24-26°C).
Humidity Control: With wet pad coolers, indoor humidity should be ≤75% (activate exhaust fans if exceeded); industrial coolers can maintain 60%-65% humidity in dehumidification mode.
2. Safety Checks
No abnormal vibration during fan operation (check bracket verticality ≤1° with level), secure electrical terminals, grounding resistance ≤4Ω (prevents electric shock).
VI. Installation Optimization Strategies for Different Farming Stages
Farming Scenario Adjustment Points Purpose
Nursery Piglet Houses Add deflectors (45° angle) at cooler outlets Avoid direct airflow causing diarrhea
Broiler Brooding (1-7 days) Synchronize coolers with heaters (heat first, then cool) Prevent stress from sudden temperature changes
Sow Farrowing Houses Raise cooler installation height to 2.2 meters Avoid equipment contact when sows stand
VII. Common Installation Errors and Solutions
Error 1: Excessive distance between wet pad and fan (>15m) → Increased air resistance, reduced cooling.
Solution: Keep straight-line distance ≤10m, or add intermediate ducts (cross-section ≥0.5㎡).
Error 2: Cooler outlets directed downward at birds in poultry houses → Localized chilling, respiratory issues.
Solution: Install louvers (angled upward 15°) or deflectors below (airflow speed 1.5-2m/s).
Summary
Installing evaporative coolers on farms should focus on "efficient cooling, animal safety, durability, and energy savings." Tailor details to environmental differences in pig and poultry houses (humidity, dust, density), emphasizing symmetrical layout, even airflow, and comprehensive protections. Post-installation, optimize settings based on实测数据 (e.g., run coolers only during peak heat for piglets) to balance cooling and energy use.