CFD Study of a Tunnel-Ventilated Compost-Bedded Pack Barn Integrating an Evaporative Pad Cooling System
Evaporative cooling is one of the most efficient techniques to reduce heat stress in cows in agricultural facilities. Additionally, compost-bedded pack barn has been shown to improve the welfare and production of cows. Two techniques were combined and analysed by developing a computational fluid dyn...
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/14/1776 |
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| author | Felipe Andrés Obando Vega Ana Paola Montoya Ríos Jairo Alexander Osorio Saraz Rafaella Resende Andrade Flávio Alves Damasceno Matteo Barbari |
| author_facet | Felipe Andrés Obando Vega Ana Paola Montoya Ríos Jairo Alexander Osorio Saraz Rafaella Resende Andrade Flávio Alves Damasceno Matteo Barbari |
| author_sort | Felipe Andrés Obando Vega |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Evaporative cooling is one of the most efficient techniques to reduce heat stress in cows in agricultural facilities. Additionally, compost-bedded pack barn has been shown to improve the welfare and production of cows. Two techniques were combined and analysed by developing a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of a tunnel-ventilated compost-bedded packed barn that integrated the heat and airflow dynamics of an evaporative pad cooling system. This allowed us to study the distribution of dry-bulb temperature, relative humidity and airflow velocity inside the barn based on the external environmental conditions, thickness of the pad, water temperature and specific manufacturer characteristics of the pad, providing optimal cooling pad location, size and operating conditions in the barn. Employing experimental data the CFD model was validated showing good agreement. The Equivalent Temperature Index for dairy Cattle (ETIC) was used to determine the level of stress of the cows considering the airflow velocity. It was found a moderate stress due to high relative humidity and low airflow velocity. From the predicted results, it was recommended to increase the airflow velocity above 3 m s<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula> when simultaneously the external dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity exceed 30 °C and 55%, respectively, simultaneously. Additionally, installation of baffles at the pad outlet to drive the airflow to the floor was suggested to improve the drying of the compost-bedded closed to the pads, where a low airflow velocity region was established. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:22:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c6b3614b5eff48f1aed6a7da391330e8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:22:10Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-c6b3614b5eff48f1aed6a7da391330e82023-11-30T22:40:04ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-07-011214177610.3390/ani12141776CFD Study of a Tunnel-Ventilated Compost-Bedded Pack Barn Integrating an Evaporative Pad Cooling SystemFelipe Andrés Obando Vega0Ana Paola Montoya Ríos1Jairo Alexander Osorio Saraz2Rafaella Resende Andrade3Flávio Alves Damasceno4Matteo Barbari5Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 65 N<sup>∘</sup> 59A-110, Medellín 050034, ColombiaFacultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 65 N<sup>∘</sup> 59A-110, Medellín 050034, ColombiaFacultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 65 N<sup>∘</sup> 59A-110, Medellín 050034, ColombiaDepartment of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, University Campus of Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, BrazilDepartamento de Engenharia, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Rua Prof. Edmir Sá Santos, University Campus, Lavras 37200-900, BrazilDepartment of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, P. le Delle Cascine, 18, 50144 Firenze, ItalyEvaporative cooling is one of the most efficient techniques to reduce heat stress in cows in agricultural facilities. Additionally, compost-bedded pack barn has been shown to improve the welfare and production of cows. Two techniques were combined and analysed by developing a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of a tunnel-ventilated compost-bedded packed barn that integrated the heat and airflow dynamics of an evaporative pad cooling system. This allowed us to study the distribution of dry-bulb temperature, relative humidity and airflow velocity inside the barn based on the external environmental conditions, thickness of the pad, water temperature and specific manufacturer characteristics of the pad, providing optimal cooling pad location, size and operating conditions in the barn. Employing experimental data the CFD model was validated showing good agreement. The Equivalent Temperature Index for dairy Cattle (ETIC) was used to determine the level of stress of the cows considering the airflow velocity. It was found a moderate stress due to high relative humidity and low airflow velocity. From the predicted results, it was recommended to increase the airflow velocity above 3 m s<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula> when simultaneously the external dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity exceed 30 °C and 55%, respectively, simultaneously. Additionally, installation of baffles at the pad outlet to drive the airflow to the floor was suggested to improve the drying of the compost-bedded closed to the pads, where a low airflow velocity region was established.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/14/1776compost-bedded pack barntunnel-ventilatedanimal welfarethermal comfortdairy cattleETIC |
| spellingShingle | Felipe Andrés Obando Vega Ana Paola Montoya Ríos Jairo Alexander Osorio Saraz Rafaella Resende Andrade Flávio Alves Damasceno Matteo Barbari CFD Study of a Tunnel-Ventilated Compost-Bedded Pack Barn Integrating an Evaporative Pad Cooling System Animals compost-bedded pack barn tunnel-ventilated animal welfare thermal comfort dairy cattle ETIC |
| title | CFD Study of a Tunnel-Ventilated Compost-Bedded Pack Barn Integrating an Evaporative Pad Cooling System |
| title_full | CFD Study of a Tunnel-Ventilated Compost-Bedded Pack Barn Integrating an Evaporative Pad Cooling System |
| title_fullStr | CFD Study of a Tunnel-Ventilated Compost-Bedded Pack Barn Integrating an Evaporative Pad Cooling System |
| title_full_unstemmed | CFD Study of a Tunnel-Ventilated Compost-Bedded Pack Barn Integrating an Evaporative Pad Cooling System |
| title_short | CFD Study of a Tunnel-Ventilated Compost-Bedded Pack Barn Integrating an Evaporative Pad Cooling System |
| title_sort | cfd study of a tunnel ventilated compost bedded pack barn integrating an evaporative pad cooling system |
| topic | compost-bedded pack barn tunnel-ventilated animal welfare thermal comfort dairy cattle ETIC |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/14/1776 |
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