Thermal conditions within B-train trailers transporting broiler chickens in Western Canada

Presented at theATA 36th Annual Conference

May 10, 2010Fort Lauderdale, FL

Natasha Burlinguette

Poultry Transport Team

N.A. Burlinguette1, M.L. Strawford1, J.M. Watts1,K.P.C. Hui1, T.G. Crowe1, H.L. Classen2,

P.J. Shand3

1Department of Agricultural & Bioresource Engineering2Department of Animal & Poultry Science

3Department of Food & Bioproduct Sciences

Today’s presentation...

• Western Canadian conditions• B-train trailer • Research objectives• Data collection & analysis methods• Temperature profiles• Conclusions

Western Canada

Saskatchewan Climate*

Winter Lows

-24 to -20˚C

Summer Highs

> 25˚C

Summer Lows

11 to 15˚C*Source: National Resources Canada

www.nrcan.gc.ca

Transport Distances

Module (12 or 15 drawers ea.)Drawer

B-Train

8820 broilers / load

Tailboard

Bungee Strap

Tarp Strap

Travel Direction

+

- Negative Pressure(suction)

Positive Pressure

Research Objective

To characterise temperature distributions in B-train trailers transporting broiler

chickens in Western Canada

Data Collection

• 14 B-trains• 1-minute interval temperature

recordings • Ambient -24˚C to +14˚C (night transport only)

Analysis

• Identified “steady-state” conditions for each B-train

• Calculated ΔT = (Ttrailer – Tambient)

• Grouped the data; calculated mean ΔT• Created 3-D thermal plots • Identified portions of the load experiencing

a specified temperature lift

Data Groupings

Codes Tarps Roof Vents Ambient Ranges

u-u-all all up all open 8 to11˚C

u-d-all 1 side up & 1 side down all open 6 to 14˚C

d-d-all all down all open -10 to 6˚C

d-d-1F,2F, & 5B,6B,7B all down 1F, 2F, & 5B, 6B, 7B

open -19 to 3˚C

d-d-1F all down 1F open -24 to -21˚C

Tarp & Vent Configurations

Travel Direction

Passenger side

Midline

Driver side

d-d-1F

Ambient T (avg) = -22.1˚C(-24 to -21˚C)

1F

Trailer Temp.min = -21˚Cmax = 22˚Cavg = -2 ˚CΔTMAX = 44 ˚CΔTAVG = 20˚C

Passenger side

Midline

Driver side

d-d-all

Ambient T (avg) = -3.5˚C(-10 to 6˚C)

Trailer Temp.min = -1˚Cmax = 24˚Cavg = 10 ˚CΔTMAX = 28˚CΔTAVG = 13˚C

Passenger side

Midline

Driver side

u-u-all

Ambient T (avg) = 9.8˚C(8 to 11˚C)

Trailer Temp.min = 10˚Cmax = 17˚Cavg = 13 ˚CΔTMAX = 7˚CΔTAVG = 3˚C

Rear Trailer ProfilesΔT

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 450%

10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

u-u-all u-d-all d-d-all d-d-1F,2F,&5B,6B,7B d-d-1F(9.8˚C) (9.9˚C) (-3.5˚C) (-9.5˚C)

Degrees Celsius warmer than Ambient

% o

f Lo

ad

(-22.1˚C)

open closed

X

Lead Trailer ProfilesΔT

Degrees Celsius warmer than Ambient

% o

f Lo

ad

(-22.1˚C)

open closed

Conclusions

• ΔT profiles for 5 common B-train configurations• Relative warm and cool zones (tarps down)

Warm: midline – front of LEAD & back of REAR

Cool: exterior – back of LEAD & front of REAR

• Wider temperature gradients & larger ΔT observed when trailer more tightly closedΔTMAX = 44˚C (d-d-1F)

• Near uniform temperatures when trailer openΔTMAX = 7˚C (u-u-all)

Trever Crowe (Ph.D., P.Eng.)

Email: trever.crowe@usask.ca