Electrostatic particle ionization for suppressing air pollutants in cage-free layer facilities

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Animal Science

Background:

• Cage-free (CF) poultry farming is growing, increasing concerns about air quality in barns.
• Particulate matter (PM) and ammonia (NH3) are significant air pollutants affecting bird and worker health.
• Electrostatic particle ionization (EPI) is a potential technology for mitigating these pollutants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of EPI systems with varying ion precipitator lengths in reducing air pollutants in CF poultry houses.
• To investigate the relationship between PM reduction efficiency and electricity consumption of EPI systems.
• To assess the impact of EPI on PM2.5, PM10, and ammonia concentrations.

Main Methods:

• Four identical CF rooms with 175 hens each were used in a Latin Square Design.
• Treatments included control (0 m), 12 ft, 24 ft, and 36 ft EPI systems.
• Daily measurements of PM, temperature, and humidity; bi-weekly measurements of NH3, litter moisture, and ventilation were conducted.
• Statistical analysis included ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests (P ≤ 0.05).

Main Results:

• EPI systems with longer ion precipitator wires significantly reduced PM2.5 concentrations (up to 31.7%) and small particles (>0.5 μm) (up to 32.4%).
• No significant reductions were observed for PM10 or large particles (>2.5 μm), although T4 showed potential reductions.
• Ammonia (NH3) levels were not significantly affected by EPI, likely due to already low concentrations and litter moisture.
• Electricity consumption increased significantly with longer EPI system lengths.

Conclusions:

• Longer EPI corona pipes are recommended for improved air pollutant reduction in CF poultry housing.
• Further research is needed to optimize EPI technology, assess cost-effectiveness, and explore combined strategies for air quality management.