Design and Experiment of a PLC-Based Intelligent Thermal Insulation Box for Nursing Piglets

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Engineering
• Animal Science
• Environmental Control Systems

Background:

• Local heating is vital for piglet health and barn energy efficiency.
• Traditional heating methods (lamps, covers) lack precise control and waste energy.
• Existing systems cannot adapt to piglet age or changing environmental conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)-based thermal insulation box for nursing piglets.
• To compare the new system's performance against traditional heating lamps.
• To assess improvements in temperature control, energy consumption, piglet health, and growth.

Main Methods:

• Developed a PLC-controlled thermal insulation box with a strip heater and dynamic power adjustment.
• Conducted laboratory tests for temperature uniformity, stability, and power consumption.
• Performed animal trials in a farrowing barn comparing the new system with traditional heating lamps.

Main Results:

• The new system reduced temperature fluctuations by 31.6% and spatial variation by 78.3%.
• Significantly higher temperatures were maintained in the piglet insulation area (p < 0.05).
• Energy consumption decreased by 58.3%, and daily weight gain increased by 9.8% (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• The intelligent thermal insulation box provides precise, dynamic temperature control for nursing piglets.
• The system significantly reduces heating energy consumption while improving piglet health and welfare.
• This technology offers a more efficient and effective alternative to conventional piglet heating methods.