dc.description.abstract | The research reported in this thesis was conducted at the University of
Nairobi with a broad objective of developing appropriate criteria for
environmental design and control in a poultry house in Kenya. The specific
objectives of the study were: to identify the pertinent physical parameters,
which affect the temperatures in a broiler chicken house; use the identified
parameters to develop a mathematical model for simulation of temperatures in
a poultry house in Kenya; use computer simulation to solve the model
developed and use physical model of the poultry production structure, to test
and verify the model developed.
Mathematical modelling and simulation were done based on the climatic and
constructional parameters that affect the temperature response of the poultry
house and the established theoretical work. The modelling of the dynamics of
energy balance of the building microclimate was developed and the
temperatures of the building were solved analytically. The equations
developed had the input parameters: outside air temperature; total solar
radiation; mass rate of airflow; properties and dimensions of the constructional
materials; number of birds and their average weight as well as the air
properties to predict hourly internal air temperature of a poultry house and sol
air temperature.
The mathematical model of the internal environment, which was developed,
was solved using a computer program written in Delphi. The program solves
analytically the temperatures of the building with the results presented, which
compare the model with experimental measurements made in a naturally
ventilated poultry house. A numerical analysis technique, finite element
method, was used to approximate the temperatures at various locations of the
poultry house.
Experiments were performed using a physical model to test and verify the
model at the University of Nairobi, Department of Animal Production at Kabete
Campus, during the month of March 2002. Results demonstrated no
significant difference between the internal air temperatures obtained by
simulations and observed measurements. Statistical analysis indicated that
the model adequately simulated the internal environment of the building.
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