Energy
Researchers test air-source heat pumps for poultry farms
A Turkish research team has demonstrated that air-source heat pumps could replace coal-fired boilers in commercial poultry houses, significantly lowering operating expenses.
Key points
- Air-source heat pumps reduced annual heating costs by roughly 44% compared to coal systems.
- The study combined field measurements, computational fluid dynamics, and economic assessments.
- Researchers from Sakarya University and ETA4 Engineering conducted the evaluation in Sakarya, Turkey.
What happened
Scientists in Turkey evaluated the viability of using air-source heat pumps instead of traditional coal boilers to warm commercial poultry facilities during cold weather. According to pv magazine, the investigation took place at a working farm in Sakarya, utilizing three identical broiler buildings. Two of the structures relied on coal-fired heating, while the third employed a heat pump linked to fan coil units and a hot-water storage tank.
Data collection began during a production cycle launched in January 2024. The academic team tracked temperatures, energy use, and ventilation metrics. They also built a computer simulation using Ansys Fluent to test different fan coil arrangements. Corresponding author Zekeriya Parlak noted that operating seven fan coil units simultaneously delivered the most consistent temperature and airflow levels across the space.
Why it matters
Financial analysis revealed that the heat pump setup decreased yearly heating expenditures from $15,506.26 down to $8,692.48. This amounts to a reduction of approximately 44% relative to coal heating. Additional comparisons showed potential savings of 18% against coal, 42% against natural gas, 48% against fuel oil, and 65% against direct electric resistance heating.
What comes next
According to the reporting, the research group intends to explore further technological combinations. Future projects will look at pairing heat pumps with photovoltaic solar panels, battery storage systems, and heat recovery units on agricultural properties to measure overall performance and financial returns.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
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Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
