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Quinn, Andrew (1996) The ventilation of a chick transport vehicle. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.

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Abstract

The increasing size and complexity of road vehicles used for the transport of day-old chicks has raised concerns about the thermal envirorunent achieved within the load space of such transporters. Current designs have not been based on scientific infonnation or evaluation, making new development difficult for the industry. To address this lack of information, given the high cost of these vehicles, modelling of this situation would seem a viable option.

The work presented in this thesis illustrates the effectiveness of experimental and numerical modelling. Results collected using an ultrasonic anemometer from a full-scale isothennal model of a particular load space and ventilation system are presented for different load configurations of empty chick boxes. These cases were also sinmlated using commercially available computational fluid dynamics software [PHOENICS with high-Re k-e turbulence model and hybrid convective differencing]. These numerical model results were then validated against the experimental data using a novel statistical method based on the repeatability of the experimental data. In further numerical sinmlations a heat load model representing the presence of the chicks, was also incorporated and the likely thermal environment assessed. These numerical results were used to assess the ventilation delivered to each chick box based on the predicted mean air velocities.

These results indicated that experimental modelling was a time consmning process with difficulties of accessibility for instrumentation within a loaded vehicle. Numerical sinmlation gave a good approximation of the experimental data but required a nwnber of significant assumptions and simplifications to be made. The main area of disagreement with the experimental data was in the predicted turbu1ence levels. Ventilation rates and thermal conditions within the load space studied suggested an adequate environment is achieved for normal journeys but that the potential for heat stress exists. Further field work to validate these findings is suggested.

Item Type:	Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (PhD)
Supervisors:	Baker, C.J.
Subjects:	H Social sciences > HE Transportation and communications T Technology > TL Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics
Faculties/Schools:	UK Campuses > Faculty of Engineering > Department of Civil Engineering
Item ID:	52203
Depositing User:	Eprints, Support
Date Deposited:	01 Jun 2018 14:04
Last Modified:	06 May 2020 14:16
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/52203

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