Significant Energy Savings and Improved Livestock Health – Farm Application Analysis

The health and productivity of livestock and poultry in the agricultural industry can be significantly influenced by the quality of ventilation, whether good or bad, in the buildings where they are housed. Poor ventilation can increase the risk of animals contracting bacteria and viruses, which can have a major impact on their welfare and financially affect the farming business. Furthermore, inefficient ventilation systems can consume large amounts of energy and incur significant costs.

Invertek Drives, a pioneer and manufacturer of variable frequency drives used to control electric motors and fans, is leading the way in applying variable frequency drive technology to improve ventilation in livestock and crop storage facilities. The Optidrive E3, P2, and Eco variable frequency drive range is manufactured in IP66 / NEMA 4X rated enclosures, enabling them to operate in the harshest conditions, such as barns and agricultural buildings, where there may be high levels of dust, water, and moisture.

“Fans used in ventilation systems are typically controlled by AC electric motors. In many cases, they operate without any motion control. This means they constantly run at full speed and consume large amounts of energy,” said Invertek Drives Technical Manager Kes Beech (Kes Beech).