Recipient Organization
Precision Combustion, Inc.
410 Sackett Point Road
North Haven,CT 06473
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Ammonia removal from animal agricultural operations is critical to the well-being of the animals, workers, the environment, and for animal growth. Depending on time of year and other factors, this can be accomplished by increased ventilation, use of scrubbers or sorbents, changes to animal feed, or litter additives. None of these options are satisfactory, as they either shift the problem elsewhere, eventually resulting in NH3 emissions to the environment, or require additional equipment and operating costs. Increasing attention on the adverse impacts of agriculturally derived ammonia and on ammonia control is coming from sources including EPA and OSHA, with regulations being considered to require measurement and control of ammonia levels exhausted from the houses.Our approach is readily deployable inside poultry (or similar) facilities, using existing off-the-shelf hardware (blowers, sheet metal enclosures), already designed for and in use in poultry houses. Total installed costs will be about $1900 per unit, compared to an estimated ~$2800/year fuel savings per 400'x40' facility, with operating costs varying from $200 to $900/year. Units will be transportable, enhancing the benefits and savings for use of multiple brood cycles and houses. As Univ. of Arkansas Div. of Agriculture reported that 20% of broiler gross farm income is required to pay the annual propane costs (www.poultrysite.com), this savings can be important to grower economics, especially for low-margin operations.
Animal Health Component
70%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
70%
Developmental
30%
Goals / Objectives
We are developing a portable photocatalytic air purifier for reduction of ammonia levels in poultry houses. This will be effective regardless environmental conditions, integrate with existing ventilation equipment, enable cleaner air for improved poultry productivity and weight gains, and have a cost payback of about one year. Our approach will reduce the number of air changes needed to maintain indoor air quality during colder months. Cleaner indoor air will reduce the consumption of propane used to heat ventilation air during these colder periods. Other benefits of this approach include reduced emissions of ammonia from animal operations and reduced impact of NH3 and NOx, on the environment and lessen impact on waterways and ground water.Ammonia removal from animal agricultural operations is critical to the well-being of the animals, workers, and the environment. This can be accomplished by increased outside air ventilation, use of scrubbers or sorbents, changes to animal feed, or litter amendments. None of these options are satisfactory, as they all either shift the problem elsewhere or add equipment and operating costs. Effective permanent ammonia elimination is possible with PCI's novel high-intensity photocatalytic reactor technology, which outperforms existing photo-reactors in terms of ability to convert reactants to products while enabling conversion of reactants to harmless products at significantly increased flow rates, enabling the decomposition of ammonia to water and nitrogen gas in a low-cost package. Phase II work will include detailed economics and assess system durability via on-site poultry house field trials.We are developing a portable photocatalytic air purifier for reduction of ammonia levels in poultry houses. This will be effective regardless environmental conditions, integrate with existing ventilation equipment, enable cleaner air for improved poultry productivity and weight gains, and have a cost payback of about one year. Our approach will reduce the number of air changes needed to maintain indoor air quality during colder months. Cleaner indoor air will reduce the consumption of propane used to heat ventilation air during these colder periods. Other benefits of this approach include reduced emissions of ammonia from animal operations and reduced impact of NH3 and NOx, on the environment and lessen impact on waterways and ground water.Ammonia removal from animal agricultural operations is critical to the well-being of the animals, workers, and the environment. This can be accomplished by increased outside air ventilation, use of scrubbers or sorbents, changes to animal feed, or litter amendments. None of these options are satisfactory, as they all either shift the problem elsewhere or add equipment and operating costs. Effective permanent ammonia elimination is possible with PCI's novel high-intensity photocatalytic reactor technology, which outperforms existing photo-reactors in terms of ability to convert reactants to products while enabling conversion of reactants to harmless products at significantly increased flow rates, enabling the decomposition of ammonia to water and nitrogen gas in a low-cost package. Phase II work will include detailed economics and assess system durability via on-site poultry house field trials.
Project Methods
PCI has test equipment for evaluation of photocatalyst activity, fully instrumented with flow meters, pressure gauges, temperature indicators, gas analyzers, and automated control and data acquisition. This equipment is operational and will require only routine maintenance and calibration for use in this project, with a small amount of fittings to interface with a photocatalytic reactor. We anticipate that no new capital equipment will be required for Phase I.Tasks include:- Photocatalystic coatins onto Microlith mesh- Assembly and testing of the photocatalytic reactor for NH3 oxidation to N2 and H2O- Validate concept by determining limits of reactor performance and predication of effectiveness in poultry facilities- Modeling and design optimization of the reactor, and then determination of cost/benefits to growers- Outreach to growers, including potential human and animal benefits, and installed and operating costs