Abstract

The article confirms the hypothesis that appropriate utilization of heat capacity of ground beneath a broiler house and in its vicinity may support the management of indoor thermal conditions.

The research was conducted in a broiler house situated in the south of Poland. The broiler house, with a production hall of 1,000 m², was bred with Ross chickens.

A detailed analysis was conducted for selected 2 production cycles: a summer and a winter one, including technological breaks. Air and ground temperature distribution was presented in a graphic form. Also, temperature fields in the ground and heat flux directions were established.

In the summer periods, the ground beneath the building acts as the main, and sometimes the sole, receiver of heat surplus from the litter.

The established directions of heat flux in the ground in winter suggest that it is possible to limit heat losses from the ground beneath the broiler house to the outside zone. Heat losses in winter may be decreased by insulating foundations. This will not interfere with the outflow of heat surplus from the broiler living area.

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