Ventilation · Cooling

Evaporative Cooling Pads: Sizing, Water Management and Fogging Alternatives

Evaporative cooling can drop incoming air 4–10°C at design conditions — the difference between a productive flock and a mortality event. This guide covers pad sizing, water management and the fogging alternative.

Face velocity 1.2–1.7 m/s
Wet-bulb depression
Water quality
Fogging vs pads

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Visual scope of ventilation · cooling

How pads cool incoming air

Cellulose pads soaked with recirculating water cool the air passing through them by evaporation. Cooling potential equals the wet-bulb depression at design conditions: ambient 40°C at 25% RH has wet-bulb ~24°C, so pads can cool to ~26–28°C in practice (85–90% saturation efficiency).

Pad face velocity — the sizing variable

Pad face velocity 1.2–1.7 m/s optimises cooling efficiency without excessive pressure drop. Sizing: pad face area = total tunnel airflow (m³/h) / (face velocity m/s × 3,600). For 500,000 m³/h at 1.5 m/s: 92.6 m² pad area. Split across both side walls typically.

Water flow and quality

Water flow: 15–20 L/min per m of pad length. Total water use in a 500,000 m³/h system in hot weather: 400–800 L/hour, mostly evaporated (top-up water). Water quality matters: hardness > 400 ppm CaCO₃ scales pads within one season. Softeners or acid dosing extend pad life from 3–5 years to 8–10 years.

Fogging as alternative or complement

High-pressure fogging (70–140 bar) sprays micro-droplets in front of tunnel inlets — cools by evaporation in the air stream, no pad. Advantages: no wall real estate, quick response, can be zoned. Trade-offs: cooling capacity limited by droplet evaporation before reaching birds, higher wet-litter risk in humid climates. Often used as supplemental cooling with pads.

Wet-bulb depression by region

Arid climates (Saudi Arabia, Egypt, US Southwest) have 12–18°C wet-bulb depression — pads highly effective. Humid tropical (SE Asia coast, West Africa coast) have 3–6°C depression — pads help modestly. Coastal Mediterranean varies seasonally. Confirm psychrometric design point before ordering pads.

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FAQ

Common questions

Do pads work in humid climates?

Reduced effect. 3°C cooling in a very humid coastal region is still valuable, but pad economics need site-specific analysis.

How long do cellulose pads last?

3–8 years depending on water quality and cleaning. Replace when saturation efficiency drops below 75%.

Can I use municipal water?

Sometimes — test hardness and chlorine. Chlorine damages cellulose above 1 ppm; hardness above 300 ppm needs softener.

Fogging or pads?

Both if budget allows and climate is very hot. If choosing one, pads for arid climates, fogging as supplement for humid or when wall space is tight.

Does FeedMatch source cooling systems?

Yes — pads, fogging systems, controllers all covered in the RFQ.

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