Assessing response surface methodology for modelling air distribution in an experimental pig room to improve air inlet design based on computational fluid dynamics

The thermal comfort of pigs is strongly correlated with the air motion around the pigs. In a pig production building, it is the ventilation system that influences the indoor air distribution significantly. In the ventilation system design, air inlet is considered to be important on the air motion in room. In this study, the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was evaluated to develop the prediction model of the air speed in animal occupied zone (AOZ). Three dimensional numerical simulations for an experimental pig room were conducted to estimate the air speeds within the AOZ with the inlet supplying air in different angles and airflow rates on three installation heights of inlets. The results showed the RSM was capable to model the air speed in AOZ. Based on sensitivity analysis, the initial air speed and angle significantly influenced the air speed at the AOZ level, while the installation height was a less significant parameter. The RSM models could be used for design and control of an optimal ventilation system to achieve a better environment for pigs.