The Role of Air Preparation Units Dear colleagues, In this article, I would like to explain how the main air intake is organized in buildings equipped with air preparation units as part of the Exatop® ventilation system. As mentioned earlier, I am not a supporter of direct air intake into livestock buildings. During winter, cold outside air entering a warm room creates condensation, leading to excessive moisture accumulation inside the building. Moisture is one of the main enemies of animal health. Direct air intake may appear inexpensive initially because it does not require air preparation equipment or dedicated technical rooms. However, after heating the entire volume of incoming air for 25 years of operation, the initial savings of a few thousand euros can easily turn into hundreds of thousands of euros in additional operating costs. I-TEK developed the Exatop® ventilation system and has successfully implemented it on five continents. The system makes extensive use of air preparation units to ensure optimal climate control, animal health, and energy efficiency under a wide range of production and climatic conditions. Let us take a closer look at the different functions of the system. Figure 1. Main Air Intake into the Building

The main air intake is provided through automatic main inlets (1). Depending on the ventilation demand in the rooms, the inlets open or close automatically. In other words, the fans regulate the incoming airflow according to the required ventilation rate. The louvers are controlled by a static pressure sensor. After air treatment (pre-heating or cooling), the air enters the underground corridor (2) and is distributed to the rooms. Figure 2. Air Pre-Heating

During winter, the average ventilation level is typically between 15% and 20%, meaning that the fans operate at minimum speed. The main air intake remain closed, and the entire airflow passes through the heating unit (1). This means that only 15-20% of the total airflow needs to be heated rather than the entire air volume of the room. In this case, it is sufficient to raise the air temperature to approximately +5°C to +10°C. The air is then ready to be supplied to the livestock rooms. Pre-heated air has a greater capacity to absorb moisture and acts like a sponge, helping to remove excess humidity...

During summer, the air preparation units can cool incoming air using pad cooling systems (1). One of the main advantages of installing pad cooling inside the air preparation unit is that no opening is required in the external wall, eliminating the need for seasonal closing and insulation during winter. With the inlets fully open, all incoming air passes through the cooling pads before being distributed to the rooms. By supplying air through underground air ducts, we also benefit from the “cellar effect”, which naturally preheats the air by approximately 3–5°C during winter and cools it by 3–5°C...

2 * Ctomio noflann BoaAyxa Stoaran 3 • OTBepcTMe aha ctomkm noflasu Boaayxa (14x42) The conditioned air reaches the livestock rooms through the underground air duct (1) and is distributed via Exatop® ventilation columns (2), ensuring uniform airflow throughout the entire room. This system allows air to be effectively distributed over distances of up to 30 meters from a single air intake point, enabling room depths of up to 30 meters.

Oxna>K,qeHne (TyMaH) 2 - Ctomk3 noflann Boaayxa SiaaTon The Exatop® ventilation system can also use a fogging system as an alternative to pad cooling.

Maintaining a high sanitary status increasingly requires effective air filtration, especially on breeding and genetic farms. The diagram illustrates how Exatop® air preparation units can be combined with air filtration systems. In this configuration, supply fans force air through the filter media before delivering it to the livestock rooms, while exhaust fans remove the air from the building. Important: When installing such a system in existing buildings, there is generally no need to modify the main airflow routes. Air is extracted from beneath the slatted floor. Large volumes of air passing...

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The Exatop® system can also be used for exhaust air treatment and odor reduction through the installation of a wet scrubber (hydrofilter). This requires centralized extraction and the installation of a scrubber unit, as shown in the diagram. Such a solution is particularly valuable for farms located close to residential areas where odor control is a priority. PeKynepaqkm tenna I BenTMnnuMOHHMri *opoC BuBoaa eoiayxa 2 - BeHTMnnuMOHHan uiaxTa ore qeHTpasiMJceaHHoro BbtxoAa aosflyxfl 4 Typoaow'MM naMrarenb one* smboob BoaiQraa 5 - Ocmobmoh nanan pe«ynef>au»»H Teona 7 flonorxrtteribHbtt) pe«ynepau»«M...