NUMERICAL OPTIMIZATION OF EVAPORATIVE MISTING SYSTEMS

ABSTRACT, A new method for implementing evaporative misting of broiler houses was developed and investigated. The method consisted of a nonlinear optimization of an objective function for bird comfort, subject to a set of constraints defining a thermal balance on the building. The method predicted the interior state point of the air, the ventilation rate and evaporative efficiency. The misting evaporation rate was specified at different values. The objective function utilized was a temperature-humidity index (THI). Minimizing THI with specified evaporation rates resulted in surprisingly low ventilation rates over an extremely wide range for outside conditions. Comparison of these results with conventional misting operations showed substantial reductions in THI (2° C for a typical case). Application of the proposed new method is discussed.