With the help of air curtains in dairy farms, two different environments can be separated without the need for a physical door. Once the door opens, the machine lets out a stream of air that doesn’t get in the way of any movement. They are not only a must-have for any type of building or industry, but they also cut your annual energy use by 80% and save you a tonne of money.
Air curtains have been used for decades to save energy on industrial building entrances and, more recently, on commercial building entrances like hospitals, hotels, and schools. Now, they are being used successfully on dairy farms to keep milking parlor equipment from freezing up. They also help stop the growth of housefly larvae and the spread of hay dust across the farm.
Air curtain helps to create a free-fly zone
Many farmers find the presence of house flies and stable flies to be an annoyance on their dairy farms. Not only can they cause trouble for farmers and livestock, but they also stress out cows, resulting in less milk being produced. In addition, research shows that flies spread many other types of animal illnesses, such as diarrhea, mastitis, Rift Valley fever, and bluetongue. Since this is the case, having houseflies or stable flies on a dairy farm is not only annoying but also potentially harmful.
Flying insects are unable to penetrate air velocities of 4,133 to 4,527 feet per minute, which are typical of air curtain discharge velocities. Air curtains let employees come and go as they please through open doors, but they keep flying insects out, which could be bad for the employees happiness, health, and cleanliness.
Using air curtains helps in reducing energy use thus saving money
The capacity of air curtains in dairy farms or buildings to keep in heat or air conditioning is becoming more crucial as energy prices continue to rise. Even though many farm buildings have heaters for the animals and the workers, few have air conditioning.
Air curtains have the potential to reduce the amount of heat lost from an outdoor event by as much as 80%. The return on investment for an air curtain that reduces energy use is typically under 4 months.
Many farms that prepare meat on-site or store food find that air curtains keep everything cool and dry. Installation of air curtain systems designed for walk-in coolers may help farms save a lot of money on their power bills.
Why to Ventilate a Dairy Plant by using an air curtain
Ventilation is the process of circulating air to keep the air quality in a building stable. The ventilation system makes clean air while getting rid of contaminants, heat, dust, harmful gases, and unpleasant smells. In dairy plants, large amounts of water, cleaning agents, hot water, and steam are used for a variety of tasks.
The relative humidity of the air goes up when water evaporates from several places. Higher relative humidity levels are not good because they make it uncomfortable for farm workers to do their jobs. Most people need relative humidity between 60 and 65 percent and air temperatures between 22 and 24 degrees Celsius to be comfortable.
Without good air quality management, keeping a plant that processes fluid milk comfortable is hard. Increased humidity makes corrosion and mold growth. It should be noted that it may not be possible to get good air quality with ventilation alone and that a cooling system may be needed to make sure that the factory has the best air quality. Ventilation is important for hygiene and product quality in the dairy industry. Milk and milk products are hurt by odors that get trapped in places with poor ventilation.
What are the benefits of using an air curtain on a dairy farm?
- Large and powerful air currents make it easier to avoid flying insects, rodents, and dust. It purifies and filters the air in the room.
- Air curtains is the best way for dairy farms to save energy because they stop air from flowing between the inside and outside.
- The air curtain makes it easy to move around while keeping the temperature and humidity levels the same in both rooms.
- To transport a lot of milk or milk products, you need to be mobile.
- The Air Curtain Machine keeps the inside temperature stable, protects it from outside smells and dust, and keeps it clean. It stops diseases from spreading and keeps hay dust out of the facility.
Why an Automatic ON/OFF Air Curtain Is Necessary for Dairy Farm
The air curtain should be automated to reduce the possibility of human error. The dairy sector is just one of several that are increasingly pushing for greater levels of machine control. In this setup, the fan will activate immediately upon the opening of the door. The fan turns off mechanically when the door is closed.
This automation may be implemented at a minimal cost and achieve remarkable efficiency.
To do this, an infrared or electrical sensor is attached to the door. The sensor detects when the door is opened and sends a signal to turn on the fan. It’s possible that the door-opening switch’s control panel, in addition to a sensor, will send out an alert.
Due to the excessive mobility of animals, workers, or machines at dairy farms, it is very difficult to maintain the temperature barrier between the two environments, and that too, manually. So it’s best to use an automated air curtain that turns on and off by capturing the movements of every individual.