Heuristic control of the nontemperature-based ventilation rate in confinement animal housing

The use of microcomputers in animal housing is discussed. A project is described in which a microcomputer implementation of environmental control utilized as an input the operator´s perception of the total building environment to control the nontemperature-based ventilation rate. This is the ventilation rate which must be provided, independent of the room temperature, in order to maintain acceptable air quality and litter moisture. An optimum environment is one which achieves a balance between concerns for animal and worker health and concerns for heating costs. Open-loop control was simulated using a computer model of broiler housing. Electronic inputs included indoor and outside temperature and feedback of controller output voltages to heaters and ventilators. The heuristic controller eliminated the problem of unreliable sensors for litter moisture and for air contaminants such as humidity, ammonia, and dust by having the operator input a perception of the environment. Descriptions of parameters were created and the operator was able to select and confirm a description of the current building environment using a window-like interface