MATHEMATICAL MODELING AND NUMERICAL SIMULATION FOR PREDICTING THE AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY INSIDE RABBIT HOUSES

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Cairo University, Faculty of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering Dept., Giza, Egypt.

2 Cairo University, Faculty of Agriculture, Animal Production Dept. Giza, Egypt.

Abstract

The recent research work was carried out at the Rabbit Research Unit (RRU), Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt, during summer months, 2008 and 2009. It aimed to develop and validate a mathematical model for predicting the inside ambient air temperature (Ta) and relative humidity (RH) inside the rabbit housing systems. There are different factors are used in this analysis included the environmental parameters (air temperature, relative humidity and air velocity), structure thermal parameters [structure surfaces temperature for (walls – doors – windows – roofs – batteries)] physiological parameters and thermal-reactions (rectal, fur, skin and ear temperatures).
Visual studio express C # (C sharp) was used to develop the computer software to predict the ambient air temperature. The model has been validated through a comparison between measured air temperature and predicted air temperature, measured relative humidity and predicted relative humidity inside the rabbit houses. Model validation results conducted that the model is a useful tool to decide when and how much to adjust the internal environment conditions inside rabbit housing system. Also it becomes more critical when the weather conditions change rapidly or not as predicted especially in hot months.

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