Method and apparatus for providing clean air to animal enclosures

摘要

A method and apparatus for economically filtering air into swine farms and other animal enclosures are provided. Advantageously, the invention substantially reduces the risk to airborne transfer of disease into animal enclosures. In one embodiment, a method for providing clean air to an animal enclosure includes providing an animal enclosure having an animal containing volume for containing a plurality of animals, removing air from the internal volume via at least one exhaust fan, and filtering air being pulled into the enclosure by the at least one exhaust fan using a fully sealed filter, the fully sealed filter having a particle separation sufficiently efficient to prevent detection of live (PRRS-) virus downstream of the filter, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of samples collected with a cyclonic aerosol collector.

主权项

1. A method for providing clean air to an animal enclosure, comprising:
removing air from an animal containing volume via at least one low pressure exhaust fan, wherein the air within the animal containing volume is maintained at a pressure of 0.05 to about 0.50 inches water gage less than that of an environment surrounding the animal containing volume, the animal containing volume defined within an animal enclosure having a ceiling, sidewalls, and a floor, the animal containing volume for containing a plurality of animals, the animal enclosure additionally having a pit located below the floor for receiving waste from the animals through the floor; and filtering air being pulled into the enclosure by the at least one exhaust low pressure fan using at least one fully sealed filter, the at least one fully sealed filter having particle separation sufficiently efficient to prevent detection of live (PRRS-) virus downstream of the filter, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of samples collected with a cyclonic aerosol collector, the at least one fully sealed filter having an efficiency rating of about 60 to 99 percent at 0.4 micron particles at 2000 CFM flow rates and providing equal or better particle capture at air velocities at 200-600 CFM flow rates, and wherein the efficiency rating of the at least one fully sealed filter is selected from MERV 13-16 and ASHRAE 52; wherein the at least one fully sealed filter includes a v-bank filter having a housing and a plurality of filter elements, wherein all edges of each filter element are sealed to the housing to prevent air from by-passing each filter element when in use.