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