Low-pressure cooling system for pigs

Species-appropriate climate plays a decisive role in increase of performance. The low-pressure cooling system reduces temperatures during summer. We either make use of the pipes of already existing soaking units or we plan a combined cooling and soaking unit right from the start for new buildings. Cooling and soaking units are integrated into the system. Used for this purpose are nozzle combinations with cooling nozzles at the top and soaking nozzles at the bottom. They allow easy switching from soaking to cooling operation by turning a ball tap.

Depending on the local conditions it might be useful to install a separate cooling nozzle branch in addition to the soaking lines. In doing so the cooling nozzle is directly mounted to the nozzle sleeve. This solution is advantageous for farrowing pens where the number of nozzles can be reduced or in pens with gangway ventilation to cool down the supply air. 

Special cooling nozzles generate fine mist which evaporates gradually. The required evaporative energy is taken from the air in form of heat what makes the air temperature fall.

The soaking and cooling control unit MBWeich 200 allows the user to preset temperatures at which cooling operation should start.

The integrated pressure release prevents dripping of nozzles. For this a magnetic valve opens for a few seconds and makes some water escape from the cooling pipe system. The pressure is then released and nozzles stop spraying immediately. This procedure allows short spraying intervals, such as 2 to 6 seconds spraying and 6 to 12 seconds break period. These intervals have proved effective in practice. They break temperature peaks inside stables by up to 5 °C and maintain the animals' performance due to consistently high feed intake and daily weight gain.

Customized soaking units of Meier-Brakenberg take care of three important tasks at the same time. One single pipe systems for cooling, soaking and disinfection of stables.

A cooling and soaking unit controls the soaking nozzles which spray and soak excrements, dirt and food remains in individually adjustable intervals. Subsequent rinsing off with the high-pressure cleaner is twice as fast as before. That reduces water consumption accordingly.

It is also possible to use the existing soaking nozzles for disinfection of pens. A stationary disinfection pump aspirates the disinfecting solution and supplies the solution via a bypass to the soaking unit. Optionally it is possible to connect a disinfection trolley containing the solution directly to the soaking unit.