Computational fluid dynamics simulation of air temperature distribution inside broiler building fitted with duct ventilation system

An investigation was conducted to develop ventilation systems to prevent cold air drafts during the winter season and create a suitable atmosphere inside the broiler rearing building. In the cold weather, ventilation ducts and low ventilation rates are used to maintain the required air temperature. Perforated ducts are preferred for heating spaces because they provide efficient and uniform distribution of the entire air volume. Four ventilation systems were designed in order to establish a comfortable zone for the broilers during winter season. To investigate these different systems under realistic conditions, computational fluid dynamic simulation was used. Field experiments were conducted to validate the designed cases. From the validation results, very low errors were observed. The improved designs were compared with the standard design in terms of ventilation rate, air temperature distribution and indoor gas concentration reduction. Case four (C-4) of the improved designs achieved the highest ventilation rate in the broiler zone. In C-4, theinlet duct was installed in building side and the outlet duct in the opposite side. It achieved about 54% of the ventilation in comparison to standard design. All improved designs showed high uniformity ranging around 60–70% compared to the standard design. For gas dilution in broiler zone, C-4 showed 15% ammonia reduction efficiency 3 min after operating the ventilator. ► Duct ventilation system designs in broiler buildings simulated by CFD. ► Air temperature distribution inside the building assessed. ► Stability, uniformity and suitability of air temperature assessed. ► Results from simulations and experiments compared CFD models validated.