Applicability of Ammonia Sensors for Controlling Environmental Parameters in Accommodations for Lamb Fattening

Garcia-Ramos, F.J. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Aguirre, A.J. ; Barreiro, P. ; Horcas, E. ; Bone, A. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Vidal, M. (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Electrochemical ammonia sensors were used to analyse the existing relationship between the ammonia concentration and ambient levels of both temperature and relative humidity in commercial lamb fattening housing equipped with mechanical ventilation and straw-bedded pens. In the first stage of the experiment, sensors were placed over straw beds covered in lamb urine and analysed under laboratory conditions in order to determine ammonia emission evolution over time; three control temperatures (25, 35, and 50 degrees C) were used. A HOBO H8 temperature and relative humidity logger and a Drager NH3LC-6809680 electrochemical ammonia sensor placed in a Drager Polytron 7000 gas detector were utilized as sensors. A positive correlation was established between both ammonia emission time and emitted amount with temperature. Additionally, tests were performed in a commercial lamb housing to determine ammonia concentration variation with respect to height from the ground; three ammonia sensors placed at 50, 90, and 135 cm above the ground were used simultaneously. The ammonia concentration significantly decreased as height increased. A 90 cm height was selected, and three ammonia probes were placed in three different pens inside the livestock housing, along with temperature and relative humidity sensors; four different housing ventilation rates were then tested under real conditions over a time period of 4 months. An adjustment polynomial equation between the housing ambient temperature and the ammonia concentration was obtained with R-2 = 0.632. In conclusion, a relationship can be established between temperature and ammonia concentration in commercial lamb housing under certain handling conditions, which in turn allows for estimating the ammonia concentration adequately based on the ambient internal temperature.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1155/2018/4032043

Año: 2018

Publicado en: Journal of Sensors 2018, 4032043 (2018), [8 pp]
ISSN: 1687-725X

Factor impacto JCR: 2.024 (2018)

Categ. JCR: INSTRUMENTS & INSTRUMENTATION rank: 30 / 61 = 0.492 (2018) - Q2 - T2
Categ. JCR: ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC rank: 140 / 265 = 0.528 (2018) - Q3 - T2

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.34 - Control and Systems Engineering (Q2) - Instrumentation (Q2) - Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Q2)

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Area Ingeniería Agroforestal (Dpto. CC.Agrar.y Medio Natural)
Área (Departamento): Área Ingeniería Mecánica (Dpto. Ingeniería Mecánica)
Área (Departamento): Área Expresión Gráfica en Ing. (Dpto. Ingeniería Diseño Fabri.)