SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING AIR POLLUTANT EMISSIONS AND INDOOR ENVIRONMENTS OF POULTRY, SWINE AND DAIRY FACILITIES

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0183856
• Multistate No.: S-291
• Project Start Date: Oct 1, 1999
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2004
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
CLEMSON,SC 29634

Performing Department
AGRICULTURAL & BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING

Non Technical Summary
A. Aeration of broiler litter can collect 80% of the ammonia gases in 20% of the ventilation air. B. The ideal thermal environment for 1 to 21 day old chicks can best be determined by the chick itself using videos. A. The project seeks ways to implement litter aeration to improve indoor air quality and to aid treatment of air exhausted to the ambient environment. B. The project seeks to determine the ideal thermal environment for broiler chickens from 1 to 21 days of age based on bird preference.

Animal Health Component

60%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

10%

Applied

60%

Developmental

30%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
306	3220	2020	25%
401	3220	2020	45%
402	3220	2020	30%

Knowledge Area
401 - Structures, Facilities, and General Purpose Farm Supplies; 306 - Environmental Stress in Animals; 402 - Engineering Systems and Equipment;

Subject Of Investigation
3220 - Meat-type chicken, live animal;

Field Of Science
2020 - Engineering;

Keywords

air quality

ammonia

air pollution

pollutants

emissions

animal housing

poultry houses

swine

dairy cattle

broilers

poultry litter

aeration

odor

odor control

ambient temperature

environmental stress

agricultural engineering

ventilation

ventilation systems

chicks

multivariate analysis

Goals / Objectives
(1) Develop and improve sustainable systems to reduce air pollution emissions from poultry, swine and dairy buildings and improve indoor air quality. (2) Quantify animal response to thermal environments and develop improved methods for providing productive thermal environments without degrading air quality or sustainability.

Project Methods
(1) Litter aeration has previously been shown to improve indoor air quality and enhance the probability of implementing exhaust air treatment. Suitable/feasible litter aeration systems and alternate litter/bedding systems are being sought and/or determined. (2) Ongoing research to determine the ideal thermal environment for broiler chicks (1 day to 21 days old)based on chick preference will be completed. The primary remaining activity is data reduction. Data is generated by converting video tapes to digital information. Data generation/reduction will be followed by multivariate analyses.

Progress 10/01/99 to 09/30/04

Outputs
P.I. has been reassigned to an administrative position. No research accomplished during reporting period. South Carolina is withdrawing from S-291 effective 12-31-2002.

Impacts
Biofilters combined with liter aeration systems could remove 40 to 50 percent of the ammonia produced in broiler houses prior to release to the atmosphere.

Publications

• No publications reported this period

Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01

Outputs
Two biofilters were constructed to remove ammonia concentrated in air exiting an experimental broiler ventilation system. Filters were constructed in 60-gallon barrels and suspended via continuously weighing load cells. Water was added daily to maintain a constant filter weight and thereby an approximately constant moisture content. Exhaust air from a litter aeration system was passed through the filters. Ammonia concentration was measured before and after the filtration. The trial included two groups of broilers. To increase ammonia production, litter was retained between groups and top-dressed. The filter removed up to 50% of the ammonia in the exhaust air. Weight and depth data were maintained for the biomaterial within the filter and a chemical analysis determined for the material and for the leacheate upon completion.

Impacts
Biofilters combined with liter aeration systems could remove 40 to 50 percent of the ammonia produced in broiler houses prior to release to the atmosphere.

Publications

• No publications reported this period

Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00

Outputs
Previous research indicated that sub-floor ventilation of litter in a broiler facility could capture much of the odor and up to 75% of the ammonia produced by using approximately 25 to 30% of the ventilation air. Practical methods of implementing this technology are needed. Gravel was placed over drain pipe and covered with litter. Air was pulled down through the litter and exhausted through the drain pipe. This system performed satisfactorily without undue static pressure loss. However, only long-term testing will determine if the potential for clogging of the gravel porosity by the fines within the litter will be a significant factor. Air emerging from the litter aeration system is odorous and has an elevated ammonia content. Biofiltration is being employed to attempt removal of odors, ammonia and other obnoxious gases from the exhaust air. Both components of this research are continuing.

Impacts
Development of this system of litter aeration and subsequent treatment of exhaust air would improve the air quality for both human and animal occupants of the facility and improve the environmental compatibility of broiler poultry houses with the surrounding community.

Publications

• No publications reported this period