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The Poultry Planning Guide includes recommendations on how to achieve:
-
Better cooling in the hot months
-
Reduced condensation in the building
-
Maximum dryness to bedding litter with a reduction in a number of changes
-
A comfortable flock of birds with a maximum oxygen supply for the building dimensions
-
Drastically reduced heating costs and enhanced energy savings.
The size of building, the number of birds to be confined, plus adequate ventilation of both warm and cool air, all are part of Northwest Agrifan's Poultry Planning Guide. Follow
the
steps
below
to
create
your
Agrifan
Ceiling
Fan
Layout.
NUMBER
OF
FANS
-
AGRIFAN's
aerodynamically
curved
blades
are
specifically
designed
to
maximize
both
floor
coverage
and
air
movement.
In
poultry
operations
ceiling
fans
are
typically
hung
on
40'
centers,
placed
to
cover
the
entire
house
area.
This
area
of
coverage
depends
on
the
placement
of
the
fans
within
the
dimensions
of
the
house,
and
also
on
the
speed
of
the
fans
as
defined
by
their
purpose,
the
season,
and
the
age
of
the
birds.
PLACEMENT
OF
FANS
-
The
general
rule
for
placement
of
AGRIFANS
in a
poultry
house
is:
-
30'
-
50'
wide
=
One
lengthwise
row
of
AGRIFANS,
centered.
-
60+'
wide
=
Two
lengthwise
rows
of
AGRIFANS.
-
Optimum
height
=
Blades
10'
from
floor.
Fans
hung
higher
cover
more
area,
but
with
less
velocity.
-
Optimum
clearance
=
Blades
1
1/2'
to
2'
from
ceiling.
-
Spacing
=
40'
between
fans
(spaced
on
40'
centers).
CONTROLS
-
Controls
for
AGRIFANS
should
always
be
solid
state,
variable
(infinite)
speed
controls.
Each
season
and/or
phase
of
growout
requires
different
fan
speeds
for
maximum
effectiveness.
-
For
a
house
divided
for
different
phases
at
the
same
time,
such
as
brooding
and
growing,
the
fans
in
each
area
of
the
house
would
run
on
a
separate
speed
control(s).
-
For
a
single-purpose
house
one
control
is
used
for
each
8
or
12
AGRIFANS.
All
fans
would
be
run
at
the
same
speed
at
the
same
time.
FAN
SPEED
–
The
fan
speed
is
determined
by
the
age
of
the
birds
and
whether
your
purpose
is
heating
or
cooling.
HEATING
–
For
heating
different
speeds
are
required
for
different
ventilation
modes
and
stages
of
bird
growth:
-
Brooding
-
Chicks
need
temperatures
at
85-90
degrees
and
they
are
very
sensitive
to
drafts.
In
the
down-blowing
mode
(Fig.
1)
AGRIFANS
need
to
be
run
fast
enough
to
push
brooder
heat
back
down,
but
slow
enough
not
to
stress
chicks.
They
can
also
be
run
in
the
up-blowing
mode
(Fig.
2)
during
brooding.
This
way
AGRIFANS
will
pull
air
up
to
the
ceiling,
mixing
warmer
ceiling
air
with
cold
air
from
the
inlets
and
pushing
this
warmed
air
out
to
the
sidewalls,
down
and
across
the
floor.
-
Older
birds
-
Fans
are
run
at
a
slower
speed
because
houses
are
kept
at
lower
temperatures
and
there
is
less
difference
between
the
floor
and
ceiling
temperatures.
The
purpose
of
AGRIFANS
at
this
age
is
to
achieve
enough
air
mixing
to
recycle
heat,
keep
temperatures
even,
and
eliminate
dead
air
pockets
without
creating
excessive
drafts
on
the
birds.
cooling
-
Cooling
is
best
achieved
by
fans
run
at
higher
speeds,
the
velocity
depending
on
the
birds'
age.
-
Younger birds - Young birds are more sensitive to air movement. For cooling, AGRIFANS should be run at as low a speed as possible that will still keep them comfortable and evenly spread out.
-
Older birds - As birds grow older hot weather creates more problems because they are getting larger. They are insulated with more feathers, producing more heat and taking up more space. The benefit of AGRIFAN's vertical air flow increases with their need to rid themselves of excess heat. Fan speed can be increased as long as the birds appear comfortable with the air movement.
HOW
FAST
IS
TOO
FAST?
It
is
important
that
AGRIFANS
be
run
fast
enough
(at
least
1/3
of
full
speed)
in
order
to
be
effective.
But
the
birds'
comfort
is
the
best
indication
of
proper
speed.
If
the
birds
are
crowding
away
from
the
air
movement,
the
speed
needs
to
be
lowered.
If
the
birds
crowd
toward
the
fans,
they
are
trying
to
get
cool
and
speed
should
be
increased.
Ideally
birds
should
be
spread
evenly.
It
is
also
recommended
that,
at
first,
speed
should
be
raised
or
lowered
gradually
to
avoid
frightening
the
birds.
STEP
THREE
:
ACHIEVING
YOUR
SPECIFIC
OBJECTIVES
ENERGY SAVING - AGRIFANS are designed to eliminate heat stratification.
The
energy
savings
from
this
are
substantial.
Without
AGRIFANS
during
brooding,
horizontally-blowing
fans
combined
with
the
natural
rise
of
hot
air
from
the
brooders
cause
heat
to
race
to
the
ceiling
at a
45
degree
angle
at
speeds
up
to
200
feet
per
minute.
However,
the
vertical
air
flow
from
AGRIFANS
in
the
downblowing
mode
mixes
the
hot
ceiling
air
with
the
cold
air
shooting
in
from
the
inlets
and
pushes
it
down
to
bird
level,
helping
to
keep
it
from
rising
and
escaping
through
the
roof.
In
the
upblowing
mode
the
AGRIFANS
mix
the
hot
ceiling
air
with
the
cold
inlet
air
and
it
travels
down
the
side
walls
and
across
the
floor.
In
both
modes
the
heat
is
continuously
re-used
to
warm
birds.
Recycled
heat
also
keeps
thermostats
satisfied
longer.
Heating
equipment
will
run
significantly
less
and
extend
its
life.
The
continually
circulating
warm
air
will
also
pick
up
moisture
from
the
litter
and
reduce
condensation.
The
exhaust
fans
need
to
run
less,
saving
both
heat
and
electricity.
Propane costs can be up to 40% of a grower's expense
for
growing
birds.
AGRIFAN
users
report
fuel
savings
from
20%
-
50%
while
keeping
birds
warmer
at
floor
level.
And
using
only
.7
amps,
an
AGRIFAN
uses
five
times
less
energy
than
a
1/2
hp
circulating
fan.
AGRIFANS
can
be
run
continuously
using
minimal
electricity.
In
order
to
save
energy
it
is
important
that
fans
are
run
on a
speed
high
enough
to
counteract
the
natural
heat
stratification.
Because
of
this
AGRIFANS
have
been
engineered
to
move
air
at
43,500
cfm
with
specially
lubricated
and
sealed
heat
resistant bearings that won't dry out and lose RPM's like
other
ceiling
fans,
even
when
located
over
brooders
or
furnaces.
HEATING:
BROODING
-
Downblowing
vertical
air
flow
from
AGRIFANS
helps
keep
brooder
heat
from
rising
and
escaping
through
the
roof
(fig.
1).
AGRIFANS
can
also
circulate
house
air
by
pulling
cooler
floor
air
up
through
the
fan,
mixing
it
with
the
hot
ceiling
air
and
the
cold
inlet
air,
and
moving
this
warmer
air
down
the
sidewalls
and
across
the
floor.
(fig.
2).
During
brooding
this
not
only
results
in
big
energy
savings,
but
in
continuous
even
temperatures
for
the
chicks
below.
AGRIFANS
can
be
run
in
either
the
upblowing
or
downblowing
modes,
continuously
or
on
an
interval
timer,
depending
on
the
growers
house
set-up
and
conditions.
If
possible
AGRIFANS
should
be
run
on
interval
timers
in
the
ventilation
fan
off-time.
However,
they
should
not
stay
off
too
long
or
stratification
will
occur
and
turn
on
the
furnaces
and
waste
heat.
House
temperature
stays
more
uniform
the
more
the
hot
ceiling
air
and
cold
inlet
air
are
continuously
mixed
and
moved
down
to
chick
level.
This
air
flow
also
warms
the
litter,
helping
to
keep
the
chicks
more
comfortable.
In
the
upblowing
mode
AGRIFANS
can
be
run
for
longer
periods
because
air
velocity
on
the
chicks
is
minimal.
In
both
modes
the
AGRIFAN
thermostat
should
be
located
near
the
ceiling
and
set
about
5
degrees
above
target
temperature.
It
is
important
to
locate
the
brooder
thermostat
(sensor)
only
three
or
four
inches
off
the
floor
where
the
chicks'
environment
is.
Otherwise
the
floor
area
and
litter
could
be
as
much
as
5-10
degrees
colder
than
the
3
foot
height
at
which
thermostats
are
typically
located.
Chilling
baby
chicks
can
result
in
an
irreversible
reduction
in
future
bird
performance.
The
sensor
can
be
raised
to
two
feet
after
a
week
to
ten
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