Utilization of solar energy and climate control systems for enhancing poultry houses productivity

• Published in: Renewable energy Vol. 154; pp. 278 - 289
• Main Authors: Gad, S., El-Shazly, M.A., Wasfy, Kamal I., Awny, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2020
• Subjects: Ammonia emissions; Cost analysis; Energy requirements; Feed conversion rate; Poultry houses; Poultry production; Solar energy applications; Ammonia emissions; Poultry houses; Feed conversion rate; Energy requirements; Cost analysis; Solar energy applications; Poultry production
• ISSN: 0960-1481; 1879-0682
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2020.02.088

Poultry housing is chosen for the development because it has the highest portion of energy consumption. Solar energy and climate control systems are utilized for producing the highest productivity and conversion rate poultry housing comparing with the conventional methods. Thermal analysis of solar heating unit and photovoltaic is conducted to find out their thermal efficiencies. Experiments are conducted under the following conditions using three power operating systems [flat-plate solar collector + electricity (power operating), flat plate solar collector + photovoltaic and conventional system (depending on only electricity)] and fan stopping periods (2, 5 and 8 min). The poultry house performance was evaluated in terms of relative humidity, ammonia concentration, poultry production, feed conversion rate, required power and production cost. Based on the theoretical analysis, the efficiency of the solar heating system and photovoltaic cells was about 71.6% and 12.5%, respectively. Experimental results reveal that the optimum conditions for enhancing the poultry production (2.29 kg) with conversion rate (1.45 kg feed per kg gain), ammonia concentration at the fifth week (13.65 ppm), production cost (1.12 US $/kg) are achieved by using power operating system of flat-plate solar collector integrated with photovoltaic under 2 min fan stopping periods. •Develop poultry house to be operated by solar energy and climate control systems.•Compare the poultry house performance using two solar power operating systems (flat-plate solar collector and photovoltaic).•Study the effect of fan stopping periods on ammonia gas emission.•Evaluate the effect of using solar energy and climate control systems on poultry house performance economically.