Equal pressure for free-range houses

In traditional poultry houses that use negative pressure, air inlets are used to create a good ventilation pattern. In free-range houses with pop holes this classic concept with negative pressure ventilation cannot control the climate adequately as the multiple openings in the side wall of the house disrupt the desirable ventilation pattern.

Project free range farm (168 mtr long) Australia.JPG

The pop holes draw in air over the floor of the house and this air is not circulated correctly over the entire building. This creates draughts at pop hole level which discourage the birds from using the outdoor access. The air entering the house can also condense and cause wet litter close to the pop holes. Ventilation along the length of the house also creates extreme ventilation at the inlets closest to the fans, which makes it very difficult to control ventilation in the rest of the house.

No cold drop on the birds

To avoid these problems, systems with equal pressure are applied in free-range poultry houses. An equal pressure system maintains the air pressure in the house at the same level as the outside air pressure so the indoor climate is not disrupted when the pop holes are open. Inlet chimneys blow fresh air into the house and distribute incoming fresh outside air throughout the house. The inlet chimneys feature a recirculation element that mixes the incoming outside air with the warmer air already in the house. The size of the recirculation opening can be adjusted to automatically regulate how much outside air is mixed with the house air. This prevents a cold drop on the birds and ensures the litter stays nice and dry. Preconditioning the air also saves on heating costs. The stale air is extracted from the house by exhaust chimneys. The climate controller ensures that both fans are accurately coordinated to create neutral air pressure in the house.

Recirculation inlet chimney

Fancom offers the recirculation inlet chimney to supply fresh air to the house specially for poultry houses with outdoor access and equal pressure ventilation. The recirculation inlet chimney consists of four components which are regulated by the climate controller for perfectly harmonised functioning:

An adjustable inlet to ensure the right amount of fresh air is supplied.
An adjustable recirculation opening that warms the incoming air by mixing it with the air already in the house.
A controllable fan that uses your precious energy with high efficiency and controls the throw of the pre-heated air to prevent any cold air drop on the birds.
A diffuser plate that, in combination with the fan, determines how quickly fresh air flows into the house.

The Fancom poultry computers automatically control this process, resulting in an optimal climate for all the birds in the house, even in free-range houses.

Proven functioning

The recirculation inlet chimney is part of Fancom’s chimney system. This durable and maintenance free system is made from dimensionally stable polyethylene. The 80 cm diameter recirculation inlet chimney is an efficient solution suitable for every house.

Benefits of equal pressure ventilation

A perfectly controlled indoor climate for all birds in free-range houses.
Encourages good distribution of birds over the entire house
Better litter quality prevents leg and footpad problems.
Preheating incoming air helps save on heating costs.

Take a closer look at our equal pressure system

Find out which products ensure a balanced climate system in your free-range house.

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