Cooling system for livestock barns

Abstract

To provide a simple livestock barn cooling system which can effectively cool down a livestock barn by ventilating cooled fresh air.SOLUTION: A livestock barn cooling system 1 includes: a curtain or a flip-up door 5 for taking in an outside air (outdoor air); a fog nozzle 6 for spraying fog 9 to the taken-in outside air; a cooling pad 7 to which the fog 9 is sprayed; and a fan 8 for guiding the air that passes through the cooling pad 7. Three fog nozzle 6 are provided at a predefined interval therebetween in a vertical direction (upper fog nozzle 6a, middle fog nozzle 6b, and lower fog nozzle 6c, from top in this order). When the ejected fog 9 abuts against the cooling pad 7, the upper fog nozzle 6a, the middle fog nozzle 6b, and the lower fog nozzle 6c are arranged to form a region where the ejected fog 9 overlap in a vertical direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling system for a livestock house. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cooling system suitable for cooling the inside of a closed livestock house in which pigs, broilers, breeding chickens, etc. are raised. [Background technology]

[0002] Heat is considered to be one of the environmental stresses for livestock, and it affects the fattening condition and meat quality. Among livestock, pigs are said to be relatively weak to heat, and the rise in temperature in livestock sheds, especially in summer, is likely to cause a decrease in appetite (so-called summer fatigue), and in piglets, it can also be a factor in reducing the survival rate. Temperature control in livestock barns is extremely important in maintaining the health and productivity of livestock, and measures to protect livestock from heat must be taken, taking into account the recent effects of global warming.

[0003] In the past, in order to protect livestock from the summer heat, the temperature was cooled by spraying water on their bodies. However, there is a problem in that a sufficient cooling effect cannot be obtained by this alone.

[0004] In recent years, therefore, air conditioning (cooling) systems for livestock houses have been proposed that effectively store cold air in the winter and use it to air condition (cool) the livestock house in the summer (see, for example, Patent Document 1, etc.). The cooling system for a livestock house proposed in Patent Document 1 basically includes a warehouse, a livestock house, piping connecting the warehouse and the livestock house, and a blower mechanism for blowing air into the livestock house through the piping or for drawing outside air into the warehouse. The cold air from the cold season in winter is stored in the warehouse as cold air stored in snow or heat storage material, and this cold air is used to cool the livestock house in summer. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-183006 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, the livestock barn cooling system proposed in Patent Document 1 etc. requires a warehouse separate from the livestock barn to store the cold air during the winter months as snow or heat storage material, which makes the system larger and more complicated, resulting in problems such as increased equipment costs.In addition, for livestock, it is also important to replace the air inside the barn with fresh air (ventilation), but the livestock barn cooling system proposed in Patent Document 1 etc. does not take into consideration "replacement of the air inside the barn with fresh air (ventilation)".

[0007] The inventors therefore conducted extensive research to solve these problems, and as a result came up with a mechanism that makes it possible to effectively cool the inside of a livestock house while ventilating it with cooled fresh air (outside air), thus resulting in the present invention.

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a simple livestock barn cooling system that makes it possible to effectively cool the inside of the livestock barn while ventilating it with cooled fresh air. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the cooling system for a livestock house according to the present invention is configured as follows: (1) A cooling system for a livestock building, comprising: A curtain or a trapdoor for letting in outside air; A fine mist nozzle that sprays fine mist into the outside air; A cooling pad onto which the fine mist is sprayed; a fan for directing air through the cooling pad; The present invention is characterized by comprising:

[0010] The cooling system of the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration (1) has the following advantages. That is, the outside air (outside air) taken in through the opening (outside air intake) of the curtain or trapdoor is first cooled by the heat of vaporization of the fine mist sprayed from the mist nozzle before entering the cooling pad (primary cooling). The air thus cooled is then further cooled (secondary cooling) as it passes through a space (tunnel) in the cooling pad, where the air has lost heat due to the heat of vaporization of the sprayed fine mist. The doubly cooled air that has passed through the space in the cooling pad is then guided backward in the livestock house by a fan and discharged to the outside. The above operations are then repeated, so that the inside of the livestock house is effectively cooled while being ventilated with cooled fresh air. Therefore, according to the above configuration (1), a simple livestock barn cooling system can be provided that makes it possible to effectively cool the inside of the livestock barn while ventilating it with cooled fresh air.

[0011] In particular, the configuration (1) above employs a method of spraying fine mist onto the cooling pad using a fine mist nozzle (tunnel cool system), which makes it possible to improve cooling efficiency compared to a method of flowing water down onto the cooling pad. When water is made to flow down onto a cooling pad, a water film is created in the space inside the cooling pad, which creates resistance for the air, whereas when a fine mist is sprayed onto the cooling pad, the air is able to pass through the space (tunnel) inside the cooling pad without resistance, and the air can be cooled by the thickness of the cooling pad. In addition, by using a method that uses a fine mist nozzle to spray a fine mist onto the cooling pad (tunnel cool system), there is no need to worry about the space inside the cooling pad becoming clogged with water stains, etc.

[0012] In addition, according to the above configuration (1), by installing a curtain or a trapdoor that can adjust the amount of air entering the livestock house by opening and closing the opening (external air intake) that takes in outside air, it becomes possible to flexibly control the cooling inside the livestock house. Also, in winter, it is possible to use it as a humidifier that weakens the air flow and efficiently takes in only moisture into the livestock house.

[0013] In the above-mentioned configuration (1) of the cooling system of the present invention, it is preferable to configure it as in the following (2) to (12).

[0014] (2) In the above configuration (1), the livestock house is of a closed type. That is, the livestock house has a highly airtight structure.

[0015] Since the cooling system of the present invention cools the inside of the livestock house while ventilating it with cooled fresh air, the wind speed of the air flowing inside the livestock house is the key to increasing the cooling efficiency. According to the preferable configuration of (2) above, the static pressure can be increased to ensure the wind speed of the air flowing inside the livestock house, which makes it possible to increase the cooling efficiency. In addition, according to the preferable configuration of (2) above, it is possible to prevent hot air from entering through gaps in the livestock house, thereby making it possible to reliably achieve the cooling effect of the air conditioning system of the present invention.

[0016] (3) In the above configuration (1), the fan is installed inside the livestock house and / or on a wall of the livestock house facing the cooling pad.

[0017] If the livestock house is long in the front-to-back direction (vertical direction), temperature unevenness will inevitably occur inside the livestock house using only a cooling pad and a fan (negative pressure ventilation fan) installed on the wall facing the cooling pad (the rear end wall of the livestock house). In contrast, according to the preferred configuration of (3) above, in addition to the fan (negative pressure ventilation fan) installed on the rear end wall of the livestock house, intermediate wind fans can be installed, for example, at intervals of several tens of meters inside the livestock house to keep the wind speed of the air flowing inside the livestock house constant, thereby reducing temperature unevenness in the front-to-back direction (vertical direction) of the livestock house. Furthermore, installing intermediate wind fans stirs the air, which increases evaporation efficiency and improves the cooling effect.

[0018] (4) In the above configuration (1), an air intake chamber is provided adjacent to the livestock house, The cooling pad is installed on a surface adjacent to the livestock house in the air intake chamber, The curtain or trapdoor is attached to a wall of the air inlet chamber facing the adjacent surface, The mist nozzle is located intermediate the curtain or trapdoor and the cooling pad.

[0019] According to the preferred configuration of (4) above, by providing an air inlet chamber for the cooling pad, the cooling pad is not exposed to direct sunlight, so that the service life of the cooling pad itself can be extended. In addition, since the cooling pad itself is installed in the shade, the temperature inside the livestock house becomes stable, and effective cooling can be performed.

[0020] (5) In the configuration of (4) above, the air inlet chamber is of a closed type, that is, the air inlet chamber has a highly airtight structure.

[0021] According to the preferable configuration of (5) above, it is possible to prevent hot air from entering through gaps in the air inlet chamber, thereby making it possible to ensure that the cooling effect of the cooling system of the present invention is achieved.

[0022] (6) In the above configuration (1), the distance from the curtain or trapdoor to the fine mist nozzle is preferably 60 to 180 cm, and more preferably 100 to 120 cm. The distance from the mist nozzle to the cooling pad is preferably 20 to 150 cm, and more preferably 60 to 90 cm.

[0023] If the distance between the mist nozzle and the cooling pad is too small (for example, about 30 cm), the spray will bounce off the cooling pad, making the ground between the mist nozzle and the cooling pad more likely to get wet. If the cooling system is operated for a long time, water will accumulate on the ground between the mist nozzle and the cooling pad, which may result in mold growth and other problems that could damage the hygienic environment in the livestock barn. Incidentally, the fine mist sprayed from the fine mist nozzle is sucked toward the cooling pad by the negative pressure in the livestock house, and is guided by the negative pressure into a space (tunnel) within the cooling pad. According to the preferred configuration of (6) above, the sprayed mist hits the cooling pad and there is no longer any part that bounces back, and the ground between the mist nozzle and the cooling pad does not get wet until the time that the evaporation capacity of continuous spraying is exceeded. Therefore, even if the cooling system is operated for a long time, water can be prevented from accumulating on the ground between the mist nozzle and the cooling pad, and as a result, it is possible to eliminate the risk of the hygienic environment in the livestock house being damaged by mold growth, etc.

[0024] (7) In the above configuration (1), the fan guides the air so that the air having passed through the cooling pad passes at a position 90 to 120 cm above the livestock.

[0025] According to the preferable configuration of (7) above, for example, it is possible to cool the female pig giving birth while preventing the piglets from being directly exposed to cold air.

[0026] (8) In the above configuration (1), the mist nozzle performs intermittent operation in which spraying for a predetermined period of time and stopping for a predetermined period of time are repeated depending on the air temperature.

[0027] According to the preferable configuration of (8) above, it is possible to enhance the cooling effect while achieving high evaporation efficiency, and to control excessive humidity more than necessary. In other words, it is possible to create a comfortable environment for livestock. Furthermore, by performing such intermittent operation, less water is used, which makes it possible to reduce water bills.

[0028] (9) In the above configuration (1), the average particle size of the water droplets sprayed from the mist nozzle is preferably 10 to 50 μm, and more preferably about 30 μm.

[0029] According to the preferable configuration of (9) above, the fine mist sprayed onto the outside air or the cooling pad is easily evaporated, so that the outside air taken into the livestock house can be effectively cooled. In addition, according to the preferred configuration of (9) above, it is possible to prevent the water droplets sprayed from the mist nozzle from dripping down and accumulating on the ground between the mist nozzle and the cooling pad, thereby eliminating the risk of mold growth or the like damaging the hygienic environment in the livestock house.

[0030] (10) In the configuration of (1) above, the water sprayed from the fine mist nozzle is sterilized with ultraviolet light.

[0031] According to the preferable configuration of (10) above, it is possible to reduce the cost of livestock management by using well water that has been sterilized to prevent E. coli and the like and is cheaper than tap water.

[0032] (11) In the above configuration (1), the fine mist nozzle is provided in plurality at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction, The plurality of mist nozzles are arranged so that when the ejected mist hits the cooling pad, an area where the ejected mist overlaps vertically is formed.

[0033] According to the preferred configuration of (11) above, the entire surface of the cooling pad facing the mist nozzle is kept wet, so that the air passing through the cooling pad can be effectively cooled.

[0034] (12) In the above configuration (11), the opening of the curtain or trapdoor for taking in outside air is located at approximately the same height as the vertical center of the fine mist nozzles, which are provided in multiple vertical directions.

[0035] According to the preferred configuration of (12) above, the outside air taken in through the opening (outside air intake) of the curtain or trapdoor flows evenly into the multiple mist nozzles and is guided by negative pressure, so the fine mist sprayed from the mist nozzles does not fall onto the ground between the mist nozzles and the cooling pad. Therefore, even if the cooling system is operated for a long time, it is possible to prevent water from accumulating on the ground between the mist nozzles and the cooling pad, and as a result, it is possible to eliminate the risk of the hygienic environment in the livestock house being damaged by mold growth, etc. Effect of the Invention

[0036] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a simple cooling system for a livestock house, which makes it possible to effectively cool the inside of the livestock house while ventilating it with cooled fresh air. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0037] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the basic configuration of a cooling system for a livestock house in one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a more specific configuration of a livestock barn, particularly, in a cooling system for the livestock barn according to an embodiment of the present invention (the air intake chamber is omitted). [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the relationship between a plurality of fine mist nozzles and a cooling pad in an air conditioning system for a livestock house according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the relationship between an outside air intake and a plurality of fine mist nozzles in a cooling system for a livestock house according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0038] The present invention will be described in more detail below using preferred embodiments. However, the following embodiments are merely examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0039] (Configuration of livestock barn cooling system) First, the configuration of a cooling system for a livestock house in one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4, taking as an example a case in which the livestock house is a pigpen.

[0040] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the basic configuration of a livestock barn air conditioning system in one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing a more specific configuration of the air conditioning system, particularly within the livestock barn (the air intake chamber is omitted), Figure 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the relationship between multiple mist nozzles and cooling pads in the air conditioning system, and Figure 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the relationship between the outside air intake and multiple mist nozzles in the air conditioning system.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioning system for a livestock barn of this embodiment (hereinafter simply referred to as the "air conditioning system") 1 includes a curtain or trapdoor 5 that takes in outside air, a fine mist nozzle 6 that sprays fine mist 9 onto the taken-in outside air, a cooling pad 7 onto which the fine mist 9 is sprayed, and a fan 8 that guides air passing through the cooling pad 7.

[0042] The cooling pad 7 is made of paper or plastic, and is formed, for example, by bonding cellulose paper in a honeycomb shape. The cooling pad 7 has a vertical height of 150 to 250 cm, and a front-to-rear thickness of 10 to 20 cm.

[0043] The opening (outside air intake) 5a (see FIG. 4) of the curtain or trapdoor 5 for taking in outside air is opened and closed manually by an operator. The spraying operation of the fine mist 9 by the fine mist nozzle 6 is automatically started by turning on a drive switch (not shown), including the intermittent operation described later. The same applies to the rotation operation of the fan 8.

[0044] The above-described configuration of the cooling system 1 of the present embodiment provides the following advantageous effects. That is, the outside air (external air, see wavy arrow A in FIG. 1) taken in from the opening (outside air intake) 5a (see FIG. 4) of the curtain or trapdoor 5 is first cooled by the heat of vaporization of the fine mist 9 sprayed from the fine mist nozzle 6 before entering the cooling pad 7 (primary cooling). The air thus cooled is then further cooled (secondary cooling) when passing through the space (tunnel) in the cooling pad 7, where the heat has been removed by the heat of vaporization of the sprayed fine mist 9. The doubly cooled air that has passed through the space in the cooling pad 7 is then guided backward in the livestock house 3 by the fan 8 (see wavy arrow B in FIG. 1) and discharged to the outside (see arrow C in FIG. 1). The above operations are repeated, so that the inside of the livestock house 3 is effectively cooled while being ventilated with cooled fresh air. Therefore, with this configuration, it is possible to provide a simple cooling system 1 that enables the inside of the livestock house 3 to be effectively cooled while ventilating it with cooled fresh air.

[0045] In particular, this embodiment employs a method (tunnel cool system) in which fine mist 9 is sprayed onto the cooling pad 7 using a fine mist nozzle 6, making it possible to improve cooling efficiency compared to a method in which water is made to flow down onto the cooling pad. In the case of a method in which water is made to flow down onto a cooling pad, a water film is formed in the space inside the cooling pad, which creates resistance to the air, whereas in the case of a method in which fine mist 9 is sprayed onto cooling pad 7, air is able to pass through the space (tunnel) inside cooling pad 7 without resistance, and the air can be cooled by the amount of the thickness of cooling pad 7. In addition, if a method (tunnel cool system) is adopted in which fine mist 9 is sprayed onto cooling pad 7 by fine mist nozzle 6, there is no need to worry about the space inside cooling pad 7 becoming clogged with water stains or the like.

[0046] Also, by installing a curtain or trapdoor 5 that can adjust the amount of air entering the livestock house 3 by opening and closing the opening (external air intake) 5a that takes in outside air, it becomes possible to flexibly control the cooling of space D (see Figures 3 and 4) in the livestock house 3. Also, in winter, it becomes possible to use it as a humidifier that efficiently takes in only moisture into the livestock house 3 by weakening the air flow. In addition, the air flow between AB and BC in FIG. 1 can be controlled by adjusting the opening / closing amount of the opening (outside air intake) 5a that takes in outside air.

[0047] This will be explained in further detail below. The livestock house 3 shown in Fig. 1 is a closed type. That is, the livestock house 3 has a structure in which the degree of airtightness is increased by using a polythene film or the like (a highly airtight structure). The cooling system 1 of this embodiment cools the inside of the livestock house 3 while ventilating it with cooled fresh air, so the wind speed of the air flowing inside the livestock house 3 is key to increasing the cooling efficiency. If the livestock house 3 is a closed type, the static pressure can be increased to ensure the wind speed of the air flowing inside the livestock house 3, making it possible to increase the cooling efficiency. Furthermore, by making the livestock house 3 a closed type, it is possible to prevent hot air from entering through gaps in the livestock house 3, thereby making it possible to reliably achieve the cooling effect of the air conditioning system 1 of this embodiment. In this manner, the cooling system 1 of the present embodiment is a cooling system suitable for cooling the inside of a closed livestock house (pigpen) 3 in which pigs 2 are raised, for example.

[0048] The fan 8 guides the air passing through the cooling pad 7 from the front end to the rear end of the livestock house 3, and is installed inside the livestock house 3 and / or on the rear end wall of the livestock house 3 (the wall opposite the cooling pad 7).

[0049] If the livestock house 3 is long in the front-to-back direction (vertical direction), temperature unevenness will inevitably occur inside the livestock house 3 if only the cooling pad 7 and the fan (negative pressure ventilation fan) 8 (see Figure 2) installed on the wall of the livestock house 3 facing the cooling pad 7 (the rear end wall of the livestock house 3) are used. In contrast, according to the above configuration, in addition to the fan (negative pressure ventilation fan) 8 installed on the rear end wall of the livestock house 3, intermediate wind fans 8 are installed, for example, at intervals of several tens of meters within the livestock house 3, and the wind speed of the air flowing within the livestock house 3 can be kept constant, thereby reducing temperature unevenness in the front-to-back direction (vertical direction) of the livestock house 3. Furthermore, by installing intermediate wind fans 8, the air is stirred up, which increases the evaporation efficiency and improves the cooling effect. The fan (negative pressure ventilation fan) 8 installed on the rear end wall of the livestock house 3 has a blade diameter of 80 to 150 cm and a rotation speed of about 15 rpm.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 1, a closed air intake chamber 4 is provided adjacent to the front end of the livestock house 3. A curtain or trapdoor 5 for taking in outside air (external air) is attached to the front end wall of the air intake chamber 4 (the wall facing the "adjacent surface" described later). The amount of air taken into the air intake chamber 4 and thus the livestock house 3 can be adjusted by opening and closing an opening (external air intake) 5a (see FIG. 4) for taking in the external air. A fine mist nozzle 6 for spraying fine mist 9 onto the external air taken into the air intake chamber 4 is provided at approximately the center in the front-to-rear direction of the air intake chamber 4. A cooling pad 7 for spraying fine mist 9 onto the external air taken into the air intake chamber 4 is provided at the rear end of the air intake chamber 4 (the surface adjacent to the livestock house 3).

[0051] According to this configuration, by providing the air inlet chamber 4 for the cooling pad 7, the cooling pad 7 is not exposed to direct sunlight, which makes it possible to extend the service life of the cooling pad 7 itself. In addition, since the cooling pad 7 itself is installed in the shade, the temperature inside the livestock house 3 tends to be stable, making it possible to perform effective cooling. Furthermore, since the air inlet chamber 4 is of a closed type (i.e., a highly airtight structure), it is possible to prevent hot air from entering through gaps in the air inlet chamber 4, thereby ensuring the cooling effect of the air conditioning system 1 of this embodiment.

[0052] The distance from the curtain or trapdoor 5 to the mist nozzle 6 (the distance from position A to position B in FIG. 1) is preferably 60 to 180 cm, and more preferably 100 to 120 cm. Moreover, the distance from the mist nozzle 6 to the cooling pad 7 (the distance from position B to position C in FIG. 1) is preferably 20 to 150 cm, and more preferably 60 to 90 cm. Here, the length of the mist nozzle 6 is preferably 30 to 70 cm, and more preferably about 60 cm.

[0053] With this configuration, even if the cooling system 1 is operated for a long time, it is possible to prevent water from accumulating on the ground (see surface E in FIG. 3) between the fine mist nozzle 6 and the cooling pad 7, and as a result, it is possible to eliminate the risk of mold growth or the like damaging the sanitary environment in the air intake chamber 4 and therefore the livestock house 3. Details will be described later.

[0054] It is preferable that the fan 8 guides the air so that the air having passed through the cooling pad 7 passes at a position 90 to 120 cm above the pigs (livestock) 2. A more detailed explanation will be given with reference to Fig. 2. In Fig. 2, reference symbol 10 indicates a piglet fence (cage), and the piglet fence 10 has a vertical height of approximately 110 cm. An air intake window 11 is provided between the cooling pad 7 and the piglet fence 10, located directly opposite a fan (negative pressure ventilation fan) 8 installed on the rear end wall of the livestock house 3. The air intake window 11 is provided above the upper edge of the piglet fence 10, for example, approximately 20 cm above, and the vertical height of the air intake window 11 is approximately 20 to 30 cm. The ceiling height is approximately 240 cm. At this time, fan (negative pressure ventilation fan) 8 guides the air that has passed through cooling pad 7 so that it passes through a point about 100 to 110 cm above the farrowing sow (back height: about 50 cm) (see arrows D, E, and F in Fig. 2), and then discharges the air to the outside (see arrow G in Fig. 2). Note that since warm air has a lower density than normal air and cold air has a higher density than normal air, only the cold air descends (see arrows H, R, and N in Fig. 2).

[0055] According to this configuration, for example, it is possible to cool a female pig about to give birth while preventing the piglet 12 (back height: approximately 30 cm) from being directly exposed to cold air. In addition, since it is taboo to cool newborn piglets (neonatal piglets), it is preferable to provide an insulated box equipped with a floor heating mat or a Coltz heater.

[0056] The mist nozzle 6 performs intermittent automatic operation by repeating spraying for a predetermined period of time and stopping for a predetermined period of time according to the air temperature (outside air temperature). For example, as shown in Table 1 below, the spray time and stop time are proportionally controlled (P control) according to the temperature. In other words, the spray time and stop time are automatically controlled in proportion to the upper and lower limits of the temperature.

[0057] [Table 1]

[0058] This configuration makes it possible to control excessive humidity more than necessary by increasing the cooling effect while achieving high evaporation efficiency, and for example, by performing proportional control (P control) as shown in Table 1 above, it becomes possible to lower the temperature inside the livestock house 3 by about 7°C. In other words, it becomes possible to create a comfortable environment for pigs 2, such as sows giving birth, and piglets 12, for example. Furthermore, by performing the above-mentioned intermittent operation, less water is used, which makes it possible to reduce water bills.

[0059] The average particle size of the water droplets sprayed from the mist nozzle 6 is preferably 10 to 50 μm, and more preferably about 30 μm. The water pressure of the fine mist nozzle 6 is about 5k (5kgf / cm 2 ≒0.49MPa) or more about 10k (10kgf / cm 2 ≒ 0.98 MPa). As a pump for supplying water to the mist nozzle 6, a high-pressure pump such as a cascade pump (vortex pump) or a dynamic spray pump is used.

[0060] According to this configuration, the fine mist 9 sprayed onto the outside air and the cooling pad 7 is easily evaporated, so that the outside air taken into the livestock house 3 can be effectively cooled. This configuration also makes it possible to prevent water droplets sprayed from the mist nozzle 6 from dripping downward and pooling on the ground (see surface E in FIG. 3) between the mist nozzle 6 and the cooling pad 7. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the risk of mold growth or the like damaging the hygienic environment in the air inlet chamber 4 and therefore the livestock house 3.

[0061] The water sprayed from the fine mist nozzle 6 has been sterilized with ultraviolet (UV) rays.

[0062] According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce the costs of livestock farming by using well water that has been sterilized to prevent E. coli and other bacteria and is cheaper than tap water.

[0063] 1 and 3, three fine mist nozzles 6 are provided at a predetermined interval in the vertical direction (from the top, the upper fine mist nozzle 6a at the top, the medium fine mist nozzle 6b in the middle, and the lower fine mist nozzle 6c at the bottom). These three nozzles, the upper fine mist nozzle 6a, the medium fine mist nozzle 6b, and the lower fine mist nozzle 6c, are arranged so that when the sprayed fine mist 9 hits the cooling pad 7, an area where the sprayed fine mist 9 overlaps vertically is formed (see the diagonally hatched area slanting downward to the right in FIG. 3).

[0064] More specifically, as described above, the distance from each mist nozzle 6 to the cooling pad 7 (the distance from position B to position C in Figure 1) is 60 to 90 cm, and the water pressure of each mist nozzle 6 is approximately 5k (approximately 0.49 MPa) or more and approximately 10k (approximately 0.98 MPa) or less. By arranging the upper fine mist nozzle 6a, the middle fine mist nozzle 6b, the lower fine mist nozzle 6c and the cooling pad 7 as described above and setting the water pressure of each mist nozzle 6 to a predetermined water pressure of about 5k or more and about 10k or less, when the sprayed fine mist 9 hits the cooling pad 7, a region where the sprayed fine mist 9 overlaps by about 30% vertically (see the diagonally hatched portion slanting downward to the right in Figure 3) can be formed.

[0065] Furthermore, with this configuration, the entire surface of the cooling pad 7 that faces the mist nozzle 6 becomes wet, making it possible to effectively cool the air passing through the cooling pad 7.

[0066] In the above configuration, if the distance from each mist nozzle 6 to the cooling pad 7 is too small (for example, about 30 cm), the sprayed mist 9 will hit the cooling pad 7 and bounce back, making surface E in Fig. 3 (the ground between each mist nozzle 6 and the cooling pad 7) more likely to get wet. If the cooling system 1 is operated for a long time, water will accumulate on the ground between each mist nozzle 6 and the cooling pad 7, which may result in the growth of mold and other problems that may impair the sanitary environment in the air intake chamber 4 and ultimately the livestock house 3. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the fine mist 9 sprayed from each mist nozzle 6 is sucked toward the cooling pad 7 by the negative pressure in space D inside the livestock house 3 (see the arrow L in Figure 4), and is guided by the negative pressure into the space (tunnel) inside the cooling pad 7. In this case, if the distance from each mist nozzle 6 to the cooling pad 7 is set to 60-90 cm as described above, there will be no part where the sprayed mist 9 hits the cooling pad 7 and bounces back, and surface E in Fig. 3 (the ground between each mist nozzle 6 and the cooling pad 7) will not get wet until the time exceeds the evaporation capacity due to continuous spraying. Therefore, as described above, even if the cooling system 1 is operated for a long time, it is possible to prevent water from accumulating on the ground between each mist nozzle 6 and the cooling pad 7, and as a result, it is possible to eliminate the risk of the hygienic environment in the air intake chamber 4 and ultimately the livestock house 3 being damaged by mold growth, etc. Thus, in the cooling system 1 of this embodiment, the distance from each mist nozzle 6 to the cooling pad 7 is an important factor.

[0067] 4, the opening (outside air intake) 5a of the curtain or trapdoor 5 that takes in outside air is located at approximately the same height as the vertical center of the three fine mist nozzles 6 (upper fine mist nozzle 6a, medium fine mist nozzle 6b, lower fine mist nozzle 6c) that are provided at a predetermined interval in the vertical direction. In other words, the opening 5a that takes in outside air of the curtain or trapdoor 5 is located at approximately the same height as the medium fine mist nozzle 6b.

[0068] According to this configuration, the outside air taken in from the opening 5a of the curtain or trapdoor 5 for taking in the outside air enters evenly into the upper fine mist nozzle 6a, the medium fine mist nozzle 6b, and the lower fine mist nozzle 6c, and is guided by negative pressure, so that the fine mist sprayed from the upper fine mist nozzle 6a, the medium fine mist nozzle 6b, and the lower fine mist nozzle 6c does not fall onto the E plane (the ground between the fine mist nozzle 6 and the cooling pad 7) in Fig. 4 (see the dashed arrow with a cross in Fig. 4). Therefore, even if the cooling system 1 is operated for a long time, it is possible to prevent water from accumulating on the ground between the fine mist nozzle 6 and the cooling pad 7, and as a result, it is possible to eliminate the risk of the hygienic environment in the air intake chamber 4 and the livestock house 3 being damaged by the growth of mold, etc.

[0069] (Operation of the livestock barn cooling system) Next, the operation of the cooling system for a livestock house in one embodiment of the present invention will be briefly described with reference to FIGS.

[0070] First, as shown in FIG. 4, the opening (outside air intake) 5a for taking in outside air of the curtain or trapdoor 5 is opened to allow outside air (external air) to be taken into the air inlet chamber 4.

[0071] Next, the drive switch (not shown) is turned ON to start the upper fine mist nozzle 6a, the middle fine mist nozzle 6b, and the lower fine mist nozzle 6c spraying the fine mist 9 (intermittent operation) and starting the rotation of the fan (negative pressure ventilation fan) 8 (see Figure 2). The rotation of the fan (negative pressure ventilation fan) 8 creates a negative pressure in space D (see Figures 3 and 4) in the livestock house 3. The fine mist 9 sprayed from the upper fine mist nozzle 6a, the middle fine mist nozzle 6b, and the lower fine mist nozzle 6c is sucked toward the cooling pad 7 by the negative pressure in space D inside the livestock house 3 (see the arrow L in Figure 4), and is guided by the negative pressure into the space (tunnel) inside the cooling pad 7.

[0072] The outside air (see wavy arrow A in FIG. 1) taken in from the opening 5a of the curtain or trapdoor 5 for taking in outside air is first cooled by the heat of vaporization of the fine mist 9 sprayed from the upper fine mist nozzle 6a, the middle fine mist nozzle 6b, and the lower fine mist nozzle 6c before entering the cooling pad 7 (primary cooling). The air thus cooled is then further cooled when passing through the space in the cooling pad 7, which has been cooled by the heat of vaporization of the sprayed fine mist 9. The doubly cooled air that has passed through the space in the cooling pad 7 is then guided backward in the livestock house 3 by the fan (negative pressure ventilation fan) 8 (see wavy arrow B in FIG. 1, arrows D, E, and F in FIG. 2, and arrow W in FIG. 4), and is discharged to the outside (see arrow C in FIG. 1 and arrow T in FIG. 2). The above operations are repeated, so that the inside of the livestock house 3 is effectively cooled while being ventilated with cooled fresh air.

[0073] In this embodiment, the cooling system 1 is used to cool a pig house. However, the use of the cooling system for a livestock house of the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. The cooling system for a livestock house of the present invention is particularly suitable for cooling a closed livestock house, and can also be used to cool a livestock house in which broilers, breeding chickens, etc. are raised.

[0074] In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which three mist nozzles 6 are provided at a predetermined interval in the vertical direction. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this configuration. The number of mist nozzles may be one, two, or four or more. Furthermore, multiple mist nozzles 6 may be provided at predetermined intervals in the left-right direction according to the left-right length of the cooling pad 7. In this case, the multiple mist nozzles 6 in the left-right direction are preferably arranged so that when the sprayed mist 9 hits the cooling pad 7, an overlapping region is formed between the sprayed mist 9 on the left and right.

[0075] Further, in the present embodiment, an example has been described in which measures to protect the livestock house 3 from heat are taken only by the cooling system 1. However, the cooling system of the present invention can also be used in combination with other existing cooling systems. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 1. Cooling system (for livestock barns) 2. Pig 3. Livestock shed (pig house) 4. Air Inlet 5. Curtains or trapdoors 5a Opening for taking in outside air (outside air intake) 6 Fine mist nozzle 6a Upper fine mist nozzle 6b Medium-fine mist nozzle 6c Lower mist nozzle 7. Cooling Pad 8 Fans 9 Fog 10 Piglet Cage 11 Air intake window 12 piglets

Claims

1. 1. A cooling system for a livestock house, comprising: A curtain or a trapdoor for letting in outside air; A fine mist nozzle that sprays fine mist into the taken-in outside air; A cooling pad onto which the fine mist is sprayed; a fan for directing air through the cooling pad; Equipped with The fine mist nozzle is provided in plurality at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction, The plurality of mist nozzles are arranged such that when the mist is ejected and hits the cooling pad, an area where the mist is vertically overlapped is formed; An air conditioning system characterized in that the opening of the curtain or trapdoor for taking in outside air is located at approximately the same height as the vertical center of the fine mist nozzles, which are provided in multiple vertical directions.

2. 1. A cooling system for a livestock house, comprising: A curtain or a trapdoor for letting in outside air; A fine mist nozzle that sprays fine mist into the taken-in outside air; A cooling pad onto which the fine mist is sprayed; a fan for directing air through the cooling pad; Equipped with 2. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the fan guides the air so that the air having passed through the cooling pad passes at a position 90 to 120 cm above the livestock.

3. 1. A cooling system for a livestock house, comprising: A curtain or a trapdoor for letting in outside air; A fine mist nozzle that sprays fine mist into the taken-in outside air; A cooling pad onto which the fine mist is sprayed; a fan for directing air through the cooling pad; Equipped with The livestock house is provided with a fence and a wall between the cooling pad and the fence, A cooling system characterized in that the wall between the cooling pad and the fence has an air intake window located above the fence and directly opposite the fan.

4. 4. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the livestock house is a closed type.

5. 4. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the fan is installed inside the livestock house and / or on a wall of the livestock house facing the cooling pad.

6. Further comprising an air intake chamber provided adjacent to the livestock house, The cooling pad is installed on a surface adjacent to the livestock house in the air intake chamber, The curtain or trapdoor is attached to a wall of the air inlet chamber facing the adjacent surface, 4. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the mist nozzle is disposed intermediate the curtain or trapdoor and the cooling pad.

7. The cooling system of claim 6 , wherein the air inlet chamber is closed.

8. the distance from the curtain or trapdoor to the mist nozzle is 60 to 180 cm; 4. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the distance from the mist nozzle to the cooling pad is between 20 and 150 cm.

9. 4. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the mist nozzle performs an intermittent operation in which spraying for a predetermined period of time and stopping for a predetermined period of time are repeated depending on the air temperature.

10. 4. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the water droplets sprayed from the mist nozzle have an average particle size of 10 to 50 μm.

11. 4. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the water sprayed from the mist nozzle is sterilized with ultraviolet light.

Images