As farming has developed over the years shelters have become an important method to protect and raise animals in a controlled environment.  In the attempt to shield out exterior climate influences, interior conditions that resemble ideal living conditions may have been neglected.  Ensuring proper air exchange via Natural, Powered, Tunnel or Hybrid ventilation becomes a vital part in attaining maximum productivity.

All living creatures have basic needs air, water, food and shelter. The order has been established by the amount of time that a living organism can survive without the listed need. For example survival may become critical after three weeks without food or three days without water.Ask anybody with asthma how long three minutes without air feels like.  Unlike the other three needs air is relatively inexpensive, and just about accessible to anybody. Because we have created shelters to control the amount of outside influences attributed via inclement weather we have taken on the added responsibility of assisting the ventilation process.  Just like a bank vault it is possible to have an excellent shelter but neglect the ventilation in the process. I order to maximise milk production all needs must be sufficiently met.  Enclosed areas have a tendency of building up humidity, dust and other pathogens.  This is where the exhausting of stale air and the introduction of new controlled fresh air in termed as ventilation.

Natural Ventilation (G3 Polymat, Tela simple, Tela Inflated, Isopan, Clearpan, Chimneys, Linear roof vents)

Natural ventilation for the agricultural industry is an economical and environment friendly method of providing fresh air to livestock.  Typically buildings will have insulated cathedral ceilings or at least the highest possible ceiling to allow for the use of air buoyancy to generate the natural ventilation effect.  The main advantage of the G3 membrane curtain is that when it is inflated there is almost no infiltration of outside air even on windy days.  Unlike standard curtain systems that block sunlight and cannot create a proper seal the G3 will let in lots of natural light as well as the suns radiant energy.  Since the eaves block the summer sun and the sidewalls are completely open in the summer this is not a real advantage, but in the winter when the solstice of the sun is rather low the energy it generates assists in warming up the air. Being that the animals also contribute to the latent heat no additional heating is required.We utilize the controlled cold air that is introduced into the building by applying the general laws of physics through Bernoulli's equation, cold air with 70% rh will be warmed up inside the building, expand to at least 2-3 times its volume and absorb any humidity it can around as it rises and exits through the chimneys or ridge vent.  This ventilation concept is one where we can argue that what goes out is not exactly what goes in as for air volume but if the energy equations are balanced we are not breaking any thermodynamic laws. The G3 system ensures an even temperature gradient within the building regardless of the outside environment. Wind, rain or snow have little or no influence on the performance of the polybag.

In general buildings are oriented in a North-South axis considering that the prevalent winds are out of the west or east.  However, some buildings are already built in accordance to zoning or other layout issues and the concepts will still work fine.  

Mechanical Ventilation (Exhaust Fans, Air inlets, Magnum Fan)

In some cases there are buildings, structures or natural barriers that make natural ventilation of buildings rather difficult.  Also for smaller animals or processes that require a tighter temperature and ventilation rate control mechanical ventilation is an acceptable alternative.  Using the appropriate extraction fans to create a lower pressure environment within the building and strategically placed air inlets controlled by a central automation system the minimum air requirements as well as the hot season cooling needs are met. 

Tunnel Ventilation (Ridgid Panel, Magnum Fan, Max-Air Series)

This type of ventilation is considered a version of mechanical ventilation but is most often used as a summer cooling method.  By using the smallest possible cross sectional area of the building the low pressure created by the exhaust fans creates a wind speed that effectively cools the animals within the shelter. Air speeds must be sufficient to ensure that the latent heat from the animals is removed quickly enough and exhausted from the building prior to warming the surrounding air excessively.  Too much airspeed however can create an additional stress on the animals.

Hybride Ventilation (Cyclone or mix ventilation concept)

This type of ventilation occurs when many ventilation concepts are utilised together within a common building. Quite often more elaborate climate computers and algorithms are required. A simplified version of a hybrid system is the VHV Cyclone fan.  This unit permits the ventilation in a barn to resemble that of tunnel ventilation without the investment for extraction fans and inlets.  More complex versions of tunnel ventilation may include all items from our product line. For example small fans and urethane ceiling inlets for the winter ventilation mode, followed by with G3 polymat and chimneys for spring and fall natural ventilation and the large FRP-72 fans and rigid panel inlets for tunnel ventilation in the summer. 

Regardless of the system or the type of production that must be ventilated the Ventec team posses the team, the experience, and production facilities required to meet projects on a worldwide basis. Let us prove our mettle and send your projects for our evaluation and recommendations.