THERMOCHEMICAL BATTERY FOR POULTRY EGG INCUBATION

Abstract

The current research aims to identify the possibilities of adopting stored solar energy in thermochemical batteries (TCM batteries) to accommodate optimum thermotolerance of chick embryo development during incubation. A twenty-five-egg capacity TCM incubator was constructed to test the performance of three rechargeable and changeable (self-indicating silica gel, white-silica gel, and natural zeolite) thermochemical batteries in modifying the ambient temperature of the incubated eggs through TCM humidification. And an electrical heating backup unit was used as an emergency thermal compensation unit. The incubated eggs were turned horizontally every hour by an automatic turning mechanism. The overall performance of the TCM incubator was compared with that of a traditional -locally manufactured- electrical incubator. Results showed that the TCM incubator consumed 11.2𝑘𝑊, while the electrical incubator consumed 19250𝑊 during the 21 days-cycle of incubation and hatchery. The total heat loss from incubator walls and ventilation was 1.5 W, 9.8 W respectively. The twenty-five incubated eggs released 3.65𝑊 of metabolic energy. The calculated overall energy efficiency of the TCM self-indicating silica gel - incubator was 53.9% and decreased to 44.4% for natural zeolite cells, while white silica gel cells reached 37.3%. The TCM incubator was more efficient in energy consumption by 41.8% compared to the traditional electrical incubator at the same operating conditions. The hatchability ratio for the TCM incubator was 71.4% and 80.9% for the electrical incubator regarding egg fertility ratios were 56% and 84% respectively. Using a TCM incubator can significantly reduce power consumption and production costs in the poultry industry.