Peak power demand leveling to stabilize and reduce the power demand of dairy barn

In this study, power demand leveling technologies were evaluated through the adjustment of electrical equipment operating times based on the results of a measurement survey on livestock feeding management system electricity usage. The results showed peak power demand at two specific times. One was during milking time, when a pipeline milker, a bulk cooler and other milking equipment were used. In the other case, power demand peaked early in the morning and at night, when electric water heaters were in operation, due to the large number of milking cows and the time-consuming milking method used. In either case, it was found that ventilation fans and other incidental facilities used over extended periods were major consumers and accounted for the base of power demand, and that power consumption would definitely be reduced by peak power demand leveling through adjustment of operational methods for this equipment. It was found that operational control involving the introduction of inverters and the operation of ventilation fans only in parlors and holding areas during milking reduced daily power consumption by utmost 40% on farms with milking parlors and by approximately 30% on farms without. The use of an ice builder to pre-cool raw milk on large-scale farms could reduce daily power consumption by approximately 13%. When combined with the reduced power consumption from operational control of ventilation fans, power consumption could be reduced by over 50%.