Summary

This project will address the RIRDC 2014–2019 R&D Plan by increasing the efficiency of chicken meat production (Objective 1) through investigating more efficient ventilation fans. Information gathered during this project will support and encourage growers to make informed choices in relation to ventilation fans.
The project will focus on new ventilation fan technology, namely direct-drive, variable speed, which is currently available in Australia and has the potential to reduce energy use in meat chicken sheds. Using available performance data from these fans, this project seeks to calculate potential energy savings associated with this style of fan using real world data collected from previous RIRDC projects.
Additionally, a survey will be conducted on growers that already have this style of fan installed, shedding light on the more practical side (advantages/disadvantages) of ‘living with’ direct-drive variable speed fans.
With the calculations and the grower input, the project will produce a handout styled brochure that can be disseminated to growers who are interested in this style of ventilation fan. Providing useful information about how to operate these fans and the potential energy savings that may be associated with them. The spreadsheet used to make these calculations will also be made available to growers.

Program

Chicken Meat

Research Organisation

The State of Queensland acting through the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

Objective Summary

The overall objective of this project will be to quantify the potential energy savings associated with direct-drive variable speed ventilation fans.