Journal : COMPUTERS AND ELECTRONICS IN AGRICULTURE, vol. 215, 108435-108448
Author : Lak-yeong Choi, Se-yeon Lee, Jinseon Park, Se-woon Hong, Kehinde Favour Daniel, Hyo-hyeog Jeong, In-bok Lee*
Abstract
Effective vehicle disinfection systems (VDSs) are crucial in livestock-related industries to prevent the spread of diseases. This study aimed to improve the nozzle arrangement and operation of VDSs using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The CFD simulations were conducted for two types of systems (simple and tunnel) which are commonly installed at farm entrances, and five vehicle types, including sedans, SUVs, cargo trucks, box trucks, and feed trucks. The results demonstrated significant improvements in the disinfection coverage and uniformity. For the simple-type VDS, the existing system exhibited low disinfection coverage on the wheels, top, and rear sections of vehicles; however, the modification of the nozzle positions and angles improved the coverage and uniformity. Additionally, increasing the number of nozzles and spray volume resulted in a 36-48 % increase in coverage across the vehicle entire surface. The tunnel-type VDS exhibited excessive disinfectant spray, leading to surface runoff and uneven coverage at the wheels and rear sections. This excessive disinfectant usage was reduced by 17 % by adjusting the nozzle arrangements and reducing spraying time by 5 s, while maintaining comparable coverage and uniformity. These findings highlight the importance of enhanced nozzle design and spray volume for effective vehicle disinfection. Livestock-related industries can enhance biosecurity measures and mitigate disease transmission risks by implementing the proposed improvements.
Keywords : CFD, Disinfection efficiency, Distribution uniformity, Nozzle arrangement, Surface coverage, Vehicle disinfection
Download Link : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2023.108435