Tunnel Ventilation

Tunnel ventilation moves air longitudinally through a poultry house at 2.5–3.5 m/s to deliver wind-chill cooling on hot days. It is the dominant ventilation strategy for broilers in hot climates above 25 °C ambient.

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Role within the project

Tunnel ventilation combined with evaporative cooling determines summer heat-stress mortality. Under-sized systems lose 3–8% of the flock in extreme heat events.

Typical applications

Broiler houses in hot climates
Breeder houses in hot climates
Turkey grow-out (with adjusted velocities)

Selection criteria

Guaranteed CFM at static pressure — not free-air rating
Fan efficiency (CFM/W) and blade design
Compatibility with evaporative pads and controller
Belt vs direct-drive maintenance profile

Engineering considerations

Cross-section sized for target tunnel velocity
Pad area sized for target wet-bulb approach
Fan static pressure at design condition
Emergency drop-curtain override on power failure

Commercial considerations

Fan cost dominated by efficient designs at high CFM/W
OPEX savings on efficient fans measurable over 12–24 months
Warranty on motor and bearing life

Procurement considerations

Independent airflow test at commissioning
AMCA-certified fan rating required in RFQ
Standby power sized for full tunnel ventilation load

Common mistakes

Sizing on free-air CFM instead of static-pressure CFM
Fan spacing that leaves dead zones
Pad system sized for average not design wet-bulb
No emergency drop-curtain

Ask suppliers

Ask for AMCA-certified static-pressure CFM at your design operating point, with fan wattage measured.

Related resources

Ventilation systems Cooling pads Cooling calculator Climate control

Frequently asked

What tunnel velocity should I target?

For broilers in hot climates, 2.5–3.0 m/s is standard; 3.0–3.5 m/s for extreme heat events. Above 3.5 m/s the wind-chill gain flattens and dust becomes a problem.

Do I need evaporative cooling with tunnel ventilation?

Above ambient design temperatures around 32 °C, yes — tunnel alone runs out of wind-chill capacity. See the cooling pads page for pad sizing.

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Next steps

Equipment: capacity, installation & OPEX Additives: lot quality & logistics Prepare a managed RFQ External financing review Calculators

Frequently asked

What tunnel velocity should I target?

For broilers in hot climates, 2.5–3.0 m/s is standard; 3.0–3.5 m/s for extreme heat events. Above 3.5 m/s the wind-chill gain flattens and dust becomes a problem.

Do I need evaporative cooling with tunnel ventilation?

Above ambient design temperatures around 32 °C, yes — tunnel alone runs out of wind-chill capacity. See the cooling pads page for pad sizing.