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Vented vs. Unvented Infrared Heating Systems for Broilers

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  Paper number  024220,  2002 ASAE Annual Meeting . (doi: 10.13031/2013.11236) @2002
Authors:   RD MacDonald, Mark Armstrong, Terry Feldmann
Keywords:   Air quality, broilers, heater exhaust, carbon dioxide, infrared heat, mortalities

A test was done comparing two identical broiler barns with different radiant tube infrared heater exhaust vent systems. One barn vented the heater exhaust inside the barn, while the other vented outside. Carbon dioxide levels were observed to be as much as 2000 ppm higher in the unvented barn compared to the vented barn. Relative humidity levels were generally higher in the unvented barn. Bird performance appeared to improve when venting heater exhaust outside, with fewer mortalities and condemnations. Bird performance from the vented heating system far out weighs any energy savings by the unvented heating system. Barns with unvented heaters should operate the minimum ventilation at higher levels than that for vented barns in order to better control the levels of CO2 and relative humidity. However, even with higher minimum ventilation in unvented barns, bird performance may still be lower compared to a vented system.

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