Ducted Evaporative Cooling System for Livestock Buildings

A ducted evaporative cooling system draws outdoor air through wetted cooling media and distributes it through a planned network of ducts and outlets. It gives agricultural project teams a way to deliver cooled fresh air to selected areas of a livestock building.

The system can be configured for commercial pig houses, poultry buildings and other livestock facilities where equipment placement, building length or internal layout calls for ducted air delivery. Outlet positions are planned around animal occupancy, service aisles and the existing livestock ventilation system.

For pig farm construction or a steel structure building project, cooler location, duct supports, water supply, electrical connections and exhaust capacity can be coordinated during building design. Retrofit layouts can also be assessed against the available mounting space and structural capacity.

Cooling performance depends on outdoor temperature and humidity, ventilation rate, duct resistance and farm operating conditions. Each system therefore requires project-specific sizing and airflow design.

1. Ducted supply carries cooled fresh air from the cooler to planned delivery points.
2. Outlet layout can be adapted to pen arrangements, animal zones and service aisles.
3. Water-based evaporative cooling supports high-volume fresh-air ventilation.
4. Cooler placement outside or at the building envelope can preserve usable interior space.
5. Fan selection can account for the static pressure of the proposed duct network.
6. Cabinet, duct and support materials can be specified for the farm environment.
7. Accessible media, water components and inspection points support routine servicing.
8. Controls can be coordinated with compatible fans, sensors and farm ventilation equipment.
9. Modular layout options support both new agricultural buildings and suitable retrofits.

• Cooler cabinet: Houses the air intake, cooling and air-moving components.
• Evaporative media: Provides a wetted surface for incoming outdoor air.
• Water circuit: Includes the reservoir or supply connection, pump, distribution pipework and drain provisions as specified.
• Fan and motor: Move air through the cooler and the designed duct resistance.
• Main and branch ducts: Route supply air toward the required livestock zones.
• Outlets or diffusers: Discharge air at positions selected for the building layout.
• Mounting and controls: Include project-specified supports, electrical protection and control interfaces.

Outdoor air passes through evaporative media kept wet by the water distribution system. As some water evaporates, the air loses sensible heat and gains moisture. The achievable cooling effect varies with outdoor conditions, particularly humidity.

The fan pushes this fresh air into a sized main duct and onward through branches and outlets. Duct dimensions, bends and outlet locations affect pressure loss and the amount of air delivered to each zone.

Exhaust fans or other designed relief openings remove indoor air as fresh supply air enters. Supply and exhaust must be coordinated to manage humidity and air quality while avoiding excessive air velocity at animal level.

• System configuration: Customizable.
• Airflow capacity and fan selection: According to project requirements and calculated duct resistance.
• Cooling media and cabinet material: Available upon request.
• Duct material, size and routing: According to project requirements.
• Outlet quantity and arrangement: According to building layout and animal zones.
• Water supply, drainage and controls: According to project requirements.
• Electrical supply and mounting arrangement: Available upon request.
• Climate and ventilation design: Designed according to local climate and farm conditions.

1. Commercial grower and finisher pig houses.
2. Sow and gilt housing with planned ventilation zones.
3. Broiler production buildings.
4. Layer and pullet housing.
5. Calf rearing facilities.
6. Dairy livestock buildings with suitable airflow design.
7. Long-span steel structure livestock buildings.
8. New-build pig farm construction projects.
9. Livestock building retrofits with suitable duct and equipment space.

• Cooler quantity and placement to suit the building footprint.
• Side, top or downward discharge arrangement, subject to equipment selection.
• Main duct, branch duct and outlet layout.
• Corrosion-resistant material and finish options for specified exposure conditions.
• Mounting frames and structural connection details.
• Control interface and ventilation coordination.
• Water treatment, drainage and service-access provisions.

Installation: Confirm building dimensions, livestock layout, local climate, design airflow and exhaust strategy before selecting equipment. Check the supporting structure and provide service clearance around the cooler. Secure the unit and ducts to engineered supports; seal duct joints and position outlets to distribute air without creating excessive drafts at animal level. Connect the specified water supply, drain, electrical protection and controls in accordance with local requirements. Commission the system by checking water distribution, drainage, fan operation and airflow at the outlets.

Maintenance: Inspect and clean intake screens, cooling media, the water circuit and accessible duct sections on a schedule suited to dust levels and water quality. Check for leaks, blocked drains, mineral buildup, loose duct connections and changes in fan performance. Drain and clean standing water as required by the farm’s hygiene procedures. Isolate electrical power before servicing, and replace worn media or water-system parts when needed.

Illustrative pig farm scenario: A long steel structure finisher house places evaporative coolers at accessible exterior positions. Supply ducts run above the service area, with outlets arranged for the pen layout and exhaust fans selected as part of the complete ventilation design.

Illustrative poultry project scenario: An engineering contractor evaluates ducted fresh-air delivery for a poultry building with limited space for direct wall supply. The proposed duct route, supports and outlet positions are coordinated with roof structure, equipment clearances and the house ventilation controls.

1. How is system capacity selected?
Capacity is selected from the building ventilation design, local climate, duct pressure loss and target supply-air distribution.

2. Can the system serve more than one livestock zone?
Yes. Branch ducts and outlets can be designed for multiple zones, subject to airflow balancing.

3. Does the cooler replace exhaust fans?
No. Adequate exhaust or relief airflow remains part of the livestock ventilation system design.

4. Is evaporative cooling suitable for humid climates?
Its cooling effect decreases as outdoor humidity rises. Local weather data should be reviewed before equipment selection.

5. Can ducts be installed in an existing pig house?
Potentially. Available space, structural supports, cleanability and the existing airflow pattern must be assessed.

6. What information is needed for a quotation?
Provide building drawings, location, livestock type, ventilation requirements, available utilities and any preferred duct route.

7. Can the system connect to farm controls?
A compatible control interface can be specified according to project requirements.

8. How are moisture and drafts managed?
Engineers coordinate supply volume, outlet direction and exhaust capacity with animal-level conditions.

9. What routine service is required?
Inspect the media, water distribution, drains, fan and ducts; set cleaning intervals according to farm dust and water quality.