Pigsty Floor Heating and Cooling for Sow-Piglet Temperature Zoning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Intensive livestock farming of domestic pigs in large barn units with high stocking densities leads to increased ammonia production, stress, infection risk, and compromised animal welfare, resulting in suffering and higher meat prices, despite efforts to improve conditions.
Innovation Solution
A pigsty design featuring underfloor heating and cooling systems with integrated heat exchange surfaces, demand-based heat supply, and symmetrical pen arrangements to enhance animal comfort and reduce stress, utilizing heat recovery systems and renewable energy integration to control costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If intensive livestock farming with high stocking densities is used, then meat production efficiency increases, but animal welfare deteriorates and stress increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating distinct temperature zones within the same living space. Different areas of the floor are heated to different temperatures to accommodate the varying thermal needs of sows and piglets simultaneously, allowing high stocking density while maintaining animal welfare through localized environmental optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts heating temperatures in different zones based on the presence and needs of animals. The heating system can independently control temperature in sow areas versus piglet areas, adapting to changing conditions while maintaining optimal welfare standards throughout the facility.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If separate heating systems are provided for sows and piglets, then animal welfare improves, but device complexity and construction costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges heating functions into a single integrated floor heating system that serves both sows and piglets. By embedding heating elements within the floor structure, the system provides simultaneous heating to different zones without requiring separate heating apparatus, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining welfare benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The floor heating system performs multiple functions: it heats areas for sows, heats areas for piglets, and can be configured to provide different temperature levels in different zones. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate heating systems while maintaining optimal conditions for all animals.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If floor heating is provided in the farrowing area, then piglet welfare improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is activated in advance before piglets are placed in the farrowing area, ensuring immediate warmth is available when needed. This preliminary heating action prevents energy waste by avoiding the need for intensive heating after piglets arrive, as the thermal environment is already optimized for their welfare.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Improves animal welfare by creating optimal temperature zones and promoting natural behaviors, reduces stress and disease risk, while maintaining affordable meat prices through efficient resource utilization and reduced construction and operating costs.
Implementation Method 1
a common heat exchange surface is formed at least partially on the floor of each living area with the heating circuit and the cooling circuit
Implementation Method 2
the heating circuit piping and the cooling circuit piping are interconnected via a heat pump in a heat recovery system
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
In a pigsty comprising at least one pen unit, each pen has at least one living area (5, 6, 7, 8) for sows and piglets, at least one piglet nest (9, 10), and at least one feeding and toilet area (11, 12, 13, 14) furnished on a slatted floor. Each living area (5, 6, 7, 8) has underfloor heating, which includes a pipe (17, 18) laid in the floor to at least one heating circuit (15, 16). Furthermore, each living area (5, 6, 7, 8) has underfloor cooling, which includes a pipe (21, 22) laid in the floor to at least one cooling circuit (19, 20). With the heating circuit (15, 16) and the cooling circuit (19, 20), a common heat exchange surface (23, 24) is formed at least partially on the floor of each occupancy area (5, 6, 7, 8).The pipes (17, 18) of the heating circuit (15, 16) and the pipes (21, 22) of the cooling circuit (19, 20) run side by side in an alternating arrangement in the areas of a common heat exchange surface (23, 24).