Authors: Juliana de Souza Granja Barros Luiz Antonio Rossi Karina Sartor
Publish Date: 2015/12/29
Volume: 60, Issue: 8, Pages: 1271-1277
Abstract
The use of smarter temperature control technologies in heating systems can optimize the use of electric power and performance of piglets Two control technologies of a resistive heating system were assessed in a pig nursery a PID proportional integral and derivative controller and a thermostat The systems were evaluated regarding thermal environment piglet performance and use of electric power for 99 days The heating system with PID controller improved the thermal environment conditions and was significantly P 0001 more efficient in terms of electricity use to produce 1 kg of body weight 288 kWh kg−1 specific cost 075 R kg−1 weight gain 73 kg daily weight gain 021 kg day−1 and feed conversion 171 than the system with thermostat 398 kWh kg−1 103 R kg−1 52 kg 015 kg day−1 and 262 respectively The results indicate that the PIDcontrolled heating system is more efficient in electricity use and provides better conditions for thermal comfort and animal performance than heating with thermostat
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