Ensuring the best climate on a broiler farm can be a challenge but is essential for animals and people. When installing a heat exchanger like Vencomatic Group’s ECO Unit, preparation and test runs are very important. Read more about how our installers go about installing an ECO Unit.  

Installation of a heat exchanger: the preparations  

To make a success of the ECO Unit heat exchanger on your broiler farm, thorough preparation is half of the work. Before the >span class="NormalTextRun SCXW218377943 BCX9"> everything is in place. >span class="NormalTextRun SCXW218377943 BCX9">Vencomatic Group dealer takes care of the >span class="ContentControl SCXW218377943 BCX9" cceid="{05baed40-2f44-49b1-913d-d53494f59fdd}{117}" cclevel="1" ccappearance="boundingbox" role="group" aria-label="Inhoudsbesturingselement voor tekst met opmaak">and he will also be your point of contact for maintenance or problem-solving services as part of our after care assistance. It will help to take the following aspects into account when preparing for >span class="EOP SCXW218377943 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":220,"335559740":360}"> 

• Concrete slab in place or to be created so the heat exchanges can be placed >span class="NormalTextRun SCXW218377943 BCX9">in the best position.  

• A crane to unload the heat exchanger and put it on the concrete slab. On average you need to think about 2,800 – 4,300 kg of total weight (depending on type of ECO Unit) >span class="EOP SCXW218377943 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":220,"335559740":360}"> 
• Holes, are in the appropriate place in the walls so the connections for >span class="NormalTextRun SCXW218377943 BCX9"> air intake, air outlet, and possibly recirculation (in case of heating) can be installed. 
• Water inlet and outlet are required for the process of heat exchanging and cleaning. 
• Electrical connection, power supply, and connection of the various components and cabling. 
• If heating is selected in the heat exchanger: a boiler for hot water and pipes, valves, and venting, etc.  

• CSA approval on the installation. 
• In case the installation takes place in freezing temperatures a ‘preheater' might be required in order to prevent the unit or even gas pipelines from freezing.  

>span class="NormalTextRun SCXW218377943 BCX9">span class="NormalTextRun SCXW218377943 BCX9"> (as stipulated in the installation manual) is generally done by the local dealer and is therefore usually part of the quotation.  

 Installation of a heat exchanger: after the installation  

When the installation is finished, it is >span class="NormalTextRun SCXW218377943 BCX9"> tested by the >span class="NormalTextRun SCXW218377943 BCX9">customer during the first production round and even beyond. Working with a heat exchanger is not difficult, in fact, climate management is made easier by the heat exchanger.  

>span class="NormalTextRun SCXW218377943 BCX9">span class="NormalTextRun SCXW218377943 BCX9">together with the customer and will be there for the fine-tuning process in the weeks and months to come. The fine-tuning is something that will take time. >span class="NormalTextRun SCXW218377943 BCX9">compared to before. Managing the floc with minimum ventilation is a learning process, but when it is done right the impact on the health and well-being of the broilers can usually be seen immediately within the first flock when comparing it to previous ones.  

>span class="NormalTextRun SCXW218377943 BCX9">train the customer with the help of the extensive manual on how to use the climate system, but it can even offer a service where >span class="NormalTextRun SCXW218377943 BCX9"> computer of the heat exchanger is linked to the Internet, so remote access can be established giving the customer support from a distance. 

Pay back time of a heat exchanger  

Depending on the size of the broiler houses, the required capacity will need to be adjusted by either selecting a unit with a higher capacity or even installing multiple units. This is always done with the aim to create the optimal control of >span class="NormalTextRun SCXW218377943 BCX9">across the houses. More m3 means more units or larger units, which do come with an increased cost. We always advise a minimum capacity of 1.5 m3/h per animal, so that in >span class="NormalTextRun SCXW218377943 BCX9">winter round, direct ventilation is not necessary until the end of the round. 

Depending on the final decision regarding >span class="NormalTextRun SCXW218377943 BCX9">type and quantity of ECO units, and taking into account the higher energy and feed prices, the payback time of ECO Unit is usually less than 5 years. And it is an investment that will also last! The first units we...