Performance evaluation of an air source heat pump heating system in broiler houses: Experimental measurements, CFD analysis, and cost comparison

Heat pump heating systems have emerged as a sustainable and energy-efficient alternative to conventional fossil-fuel-based heating in various applications. This study investigates the heating performance of a broiler house equipped with an air source heat pump (ASHP) under cold climate conditions. The thermal capacity required to ensure broiler comfort during the rearing period was first determined. Among three identical broiler houses located on the same farm, one house was retrofitted with an ASHP system, while the other two continued operating with coal-fired boilers. Comparative measurements of energy consumption and costs were carried out throughout a full rearing cycle. Results showed that the ASHP achieved up to 48% lower heating costs compared to the coal-based system, with electricity consumption strongly influenced by outdoor air temperature and indoor conditions. In addition, a series of computational fluid dynamics analyses were performed using Ansys Fluent to assess the influence of fan coil unit number and placement on indoor thermal comfort. Five operational scenarios were simulated to evaluate airflow circulation and temperature homogeneity, particularly under cooling conditions with both windows and ventilation fans operating. The CFD simulations were validated against experimental measurements and provided detailed insights into the distributions of air temperature and velocity at multiple heights and locations inside the broiler house. Overall, the findings demonstrate that ASHPs can substantially reduce energy costs while maintaining stable indoor environmental conditions, and that FCU layout optimization plays a critical role in achieving uniform air distribution. These results highlight the potential of heat pumps as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective heating solution for modern poultry farming.