Animal House Climate Control With Automatic Ventilation Configuration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Configuring climate control systems for animal houses is a complex and time-consuming process, prone to errors, especially in protein growing industries where improper ventilation can lead to animal health issues and increased production costs, with existing systems lacking automated backup mechanisms for faulty equipment.
Innovation Solution
A method for automatically configuring a climate control system that uses a control unit to prioritize and select from various ventilation fans and actuators based on their operating characteristics and failure detection, allowing for seamless substitution of failed equipment to maintain optimal conditions, reducing human intervention and knowledge requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual configuration of climate control system is performed, then system can be properly set up, but it is time-consuming and prone to errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic self-configuration by detecting connected equipment and autonomously generating control parameters without requiring manual programming. The controller automatically identifies fans, heaters, and sensors, then configures their operational parameters based on detected animal characteristics and environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-configures control parameters and equipment settings before actual operation begins. By performing detection and configuration in advance, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming manual setup during deployment and ensures accurate initial settings.
2Reliability
If equipment failure occurs in climate control system, then system reliability is compromised, but quick automated response is needed to maintain animal welfare
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors operational parameters of all equipment including fans, heaters, and sensors. When deviations indicating equipment failure are detected, the system automatically triggers backup mechanisms by activating alternative equipment or adjusting operational parameters to maintain climate control within acceptable ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares backup control strategies and alternative equipment configurations in advance. When equipment failure occurs, pre-defined backup protocols are immediately activated to compensate for the failure, ensuring continuous climate control without requiring complex real-time decision-making.
3Productivity
If detailed configuration parameters are manually programmed, then system performance can be optimized, but it requires extensive animal husbandry knowledge and is cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines optimal control parameters by detecting animal characteristics (type, age, quantity) and environmental conditions, then autonomously configures ventilation, heating, and lighting settings without requiring manual programming of detailed parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts operational parameters based on detected conditions and automatically generated control strategies. By continuously optimizing parameters based on real-time data rather than manual static configuration, the system maintains high performance while eliminating the need for extensive manual programming knowledge.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A climate control system (20) for an animal house (10) is configured by determining a minimum ventilation curve for required minimum ventilation. A plurality of ventilation stages is created based on the minimum ventilation curve and the plurality of ventilation fans (23) in the climate control system, each stage providing a percentage of the required minimum ventilation. Creating the stages includes prioritizing the ventilation fans to create a selection hierarchy and determining a minimum stage ventilation and a maximum stage ventilation for each stage. Ventilation fans are selected following the hierarchy that provides the desired percentage of the minimum required ventilation. An increment between a maximum stage ventilation and a minimum stage ventilation for the next higher stage is defined, wherein the minimum capacity level is a function of the minimum capacity of the group of fans added to the next higher stage and the maximum capacity for the next higher stage is determined based on the increment.