Previous studies suggested that pigs prefer lower environmental temperatures during nighttime compared to daytime. So reducing nocturnal temperature in nursery barns may not jeopardize performance or welfare of pigs, ...Previous studies suggested that pigs prefer lower environmental temperatures during nighttime compared to daytime. So reducing nocturnal temperature in nursery barns may not jeopardize performance or welfare of pigs, but can save energy for heating the barn. A study was conducted to investigate growth performance and behavioral response of nursery pigs to reduced nocturnal temperature. This study was conducted in four replicates, each utilizing 270 newly weaned pigs and lasting for 5 wk. Temperature setpoint in the control room （CON） was started at 30℃ and decreased by 2℃ per week. In the treatment room （RNT）, temperature setpoint was maintained same as in CON between 7：00 h and 19：00 h, and reduced by 8~C between 19：00 h and 7：00 h starting from d 5. Growth performance （15 pens/room, 9 pigs/pen, BW=（6.3±0.61） kg） was monitored for 5 wk, and behaviors in 6 pens in each room were video-recorded for 24 h 3 d after being exposed to the experimental temperature. Instantaneous scan sampling was performed to determine time budgets for standing, sitting, eating, drinking, belly nosing, three postures of lying, and huddling. Two focal pigs were continuously viewed to record duration and occurrence of eating and drinking. Reduced nocturnal temperature did not affect the growth performance of the pigs, time spent standing, sitting, total lying and eating or duration and frequencies of eating and drinking （all P〉0.10）. However, RNT increased time spent lying sternal （83 vs. 72%, P〈0.001） and number of pigs that were huddling （70 vs. 50% of lying pigs, P〈0.001）, and decreased time spent lying laterally （0.8 vs. 4.6%, P〈0.001）, lying half laterally （5.3 vs. 11.0%, P〈0.001）, and belly nosing （0.9 vs. 1.7%, P=0.01） during nighttime. These results indicate that nursery pigs adopted the posture of lying sternal and huddled together to reduce heat loss from their body surface to maintain thermal balance and growth performance in RNT. Such mild reduction in nocturnal temperature in the nursery barn can save energy for heating the barn without negative effects on performance and behavior of nursery pigs.展开更多
In this paper, a new pressure reducing valve （PRV） with an orifice plate is proposed. The main objective is to explain the mechanisms of pressure reduction and energy conversion in the new PRV. A numerical simulatio...In this paper, a new pressure reducing valve （PRV） with an orifice plate is proposed. The main objective is to explain the mechanisms of pressure reduction and energy conversion in the new PRV. A numerical simulation method was used to investigate the PRV internal flow field and to analyze the throttling effects of the orifice plate and the transform of thermal parameters as outlet pressure, outlet temperature, velocity, and superheat. A structure improvement method for the valve body and orifice plate is put forward to reduce energy loss. The governing equations for internal flow numerical simulation are composed of the continuity, momentum, energy and k-e transport equations, based on isotropic eddy viscosity theory. Different valve plug displacement models were built to describe the double throttling process. Our analysis shows that the steam pressure drops twice and the degree of superheat increases. There are also lots of eddies which clog the flow channel and disturb the steam flow in the valve cavity after the valve plug and the outlet cavity. After modifying the structure, the numerical results show a better performance of steam flow.展开更多
基金the National Pork Board and the Pork Checkoff, USA, for partial financial support of the project
文摘Previous studies suggested that pigs prefer lower environmental temperatures during nighttime compared to daytime. So reducing nocturnal temperature in nursery barns may not jeopardize performance or welfare of pigs, but can save energy for heating the barn. A study was conducted to investigate growth performance and behavioral response of nursery pigs to reduced nocturnal temperature. This study was conducted in four replicates, each utilizing 270 newly weaned pigs and lasting for 5 wk. Temperature setpoint in the control room （CON） was started at 30℃ and decreased by 2℃ per week. In the treatment room （RNT）, temperature setpoint was maintained same as in CON between 7：00 h and 19：00 h, and reduced by 8~C between 19：00 h and 7：00 h starting from d 5. Growth performance （15 pens/room, 9 pigs/pen, BW=（6.3±0.61） kg） was monitored for 5 wk, and behaviors in 6 pens in each room were video-recorded for 24 h 3 d after being exposed to the experimental temperature. Instantaneous scan sampling was performed to determine time budgets for standing, sitting, eating, drinking, belly nosing, three postures of lying, and huddling. Two focal pigs were continuously viewed to record duration and occurrence of eating and drinking. Reduced nocturnal temperature did not affect the growth performance of the pigs, time spent standing, sitting, total lying and eating or duration and frequencies of eating and drinking （all P〉0.10）. However, RNT increased time spent lying sternal （83 vs. 72%, P〈0.001） and number of pigs that were huddling （70 vs. 50% of lying pigs, P〈0.001）, and decreased time spent lying laterally （0.8 vs. 4.6%, P〈0.001）, lying half laterally （5.3 vs. 11.0%, P〈0.001）, and belly nosing （0.9 vs. 1.7%, P=0.01） during nighttime. These results indicate that nursery pigs adopted the posture of lying sternal and huddled together to reduce heat loss from their body surface to maintain thermal balance and growth performance in RNT. Such mild reduction in nocturnal temperature in the nursery barn can save energy for heating the barn without negative effects on performance and behavior of nursery pigs.
基金Project (No. 2012C11018-1) supported by the Science and Technology Department of Zhejiang Province,China
文摘In this paper, a new pressure reducing valve （PRV） with an orifice plate is proposed. The main objective is to explain the mechanisms of pressure reduction and energy conversion in the new PRV. A numerical simulation method was used to investigate the PRV internal flow field and to analyze the throttling effects of the orifice plate and the transform of thermal parameters as outlet pressure, outlet temperature, velocity, and superheat. A structure improvement method for the valve body and orifice plate is put forward to reduce energy loss. The governing equations for internal flow numerical simulation are composed of the continuity, momentum, energy and k-e transport equations, based on isotropic eddy viscosity theory. Different valve plug displacement models were built to describe the double throttling process. Our analysis shows that the steam pressure drops twice and the degree of superheat increases. There are also lots of eddies which clog the flow channel and disturb the steam flow in the valve cavity after the valve plug and the outlet cavity. After modifying the structure, the numerical results show a better performance of steam flow.
