Showing papers on "Vehicle engineering published in 1997"

Wind tunnel testing of odor transportation from swine production facilities

Abstract: The state of Iowa has appropriated a large amount of money to have research conducted in an attempt to reduce hog odor levels in the air. Communities located nearby swine production facilities experience the unpleasant effects of grouping a large number of animals in a concentrated area requiring heavy ventilation. Several methods are being studied at Iowa State University of which wind tunnel testing of odor transportation is one. Wind tunnel testing is a relatively inexpensive and easy tool for studying the problem. Many experiments may be conducted in a short time. In the case of studying the effect of using bushes as a mean of preventing the odor particles from reaching nearby communities the wind tunnel becomes indispensable. A sufficient number of tests required to make any conclusions would not be possible to conduct in a non laboratory environment. By studying the mass of particles leaving a wind mnnel model for various configurations where the number of bushes, their height and thickness, wind direction and wind speed are varied, it is possible to detect the importance the number of bushes used as well as their height plays when trying to minimize the amount of odor particles that escape the vicinity of the facility. A method relating a surface's brightness to the mass of particles located on that surface using digital imaging was also successfully investigated. By adding bushes to an existing facility it is not only possible to decrease odor levels down wind of a structure by as much as 50%. Rows of bushes would also enhance the appearance of the facility in the surrounding environment. CHAPTER