Performance characteristics of a pad evaporative cooling system in a broiler house in a Mediterranean climate

Temperatures in Mediterranean regions frequently exceed 30 °C for long periods during summers. Pad evaporative cooling systems may provide a solution for controlling the high temperatures that can negatively affect poultry houses. This research, aiming to investigate the performance characteristics of evaporative pad cooling systems for the Mediterranean region of Turkey, was carried out in a typical poultry house from18 July to 3 August 2006. Average evaporative cooling efficiency was determined as 69.2% on July 18, 70.1% on July 19, 69.4% on July 25, 70.8% on July 29 and 72.0% on August 3. The temperature decrease in pad exit during the experiment was determined as 6.1 °C, 7.3 °C, 4.4 °C, 5.0 °C and 5.9 °C, respectively.