New Economical Approach to Climate Control in the Hatchery

BELGIUM - Fresh air, conditioned to the correct temperature and humidity, is a key element in the performance of your hatchery, says Petersime. Moreover, your air handling system should safeguard bio-security at all times. At the same time, you want to reduce your energy bill and your ecological footprint.
calendar icon 20 December 2013
clock icon 4 minute read

Petersime has developed a new concept for hatchery climate control: Eco-VAC™. The idea is to bring in and process only the exact amount of air needed at a particular point in time, while recovering energy wherever possible.

In a hatchery, adequate climate control is crucial for good hatchability, chick quality and bio-security. Embryos and chicks need sufficient fresh air, the right environmental temperature and an adjusted humidity level. In addition, processes such as fumigation and drying of washed trays and trolleys have their own air conditioning requirements.

However, every m3 of processed air costs money, and energy prices are expected to rise in the coming years. The challenge is to make sure that the correct volumes of conditioned air are delivered to each of the hatchery rooms at all times, while minimizing the hatchery’s energy consumption. The unique Eco-VAC™ system is Petersime’s answer to this challenge. It is the result of a long series of improvements to climate control in the hatchery, and it is based on many years of experience from the Project department.

Optimum climate conditions in two steps

Petersime’s Eco-VAC™ is unique in its advanced design and engineering: the optimum climate in every hatchery room is created in two steps.

In the first step a precise volume of outside air is taken in and pre-conditioned using one dedicated, “primary” air handling unit (AHU). This preconditioned or “basic” air is then transported via a central air supply tunnel above the ceiling to the various rooms.

In a second, equally important step this basic air is fine-tuned by individual “satellite” air handling units that are located just above each specific room. Each satellite AHU creates the precise quality of air required by each individual room: with the right temperature and the right humidity level.

A central control and communication system constantly monitors and orchestrates the demand and the activity level of the primary and satellite AHUs to optimise the overall operating efficiency of the system.

Features and benefits

Eco-VAC™ consumes minimal energy while guaranteeing optimal air conditioning in every hatchery room, in all seasons and in all parts of the world. Thanks to a pressure control system, only the necessary amount of fresh air is taken in and processed to the optimal temperature and humidity levels for that specific room. Moreover, air recovery systems make sure that as much energy as possible is recovered. This results in an important reduction of your energy bill and your carbon footprint.

For maximum efficiency, Eco-VAC™ is fully integrated: the built-in intelligence constantly takes into account the number of incubators that are in operation, the stage of embryonic development of the eggs, and the number of eggs or chicks that are being processed or held. Eco-VAC™ is compatible with Eagle Eye™: the HVAC conditions in every room can be controlled from the Eagle Eye™ interface.

By means of the pressure control system, high air pressures are created in the cleanest rooms whereas gradually lower air pressures are maintained in for instance washing areas. This way the air always travels from the clean areas to the dirty areas, safeguarding bio-security in the hatchery. Additionally, the system is designed to ensure that the air supply pressure is not affected when opening and closing incubator doors in the setter room.

With the Eco-VAC™ system, the investment cost is lower than with traditional hatchery air handling systems. High-performance, long lasting air handling units are used. The number of AHUs and components and the length of the ductwork are reduced for limited costs and maintenance. Only standardized, top-quality materials from world-reputed manufacturers are applied. The woven textile air socks are removable and washable. The air supply tunnel is 1.2 m high and easy to clean.

Eco-VAC™ is custom-designed according to the hatchery's scope and design and to the local climate conditions.


The air supply tunnel above the corridor in the setter room is 1.2 m high and easy to clean.
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