A MODIFIED HEAT RECOVERY VENTILATION SYSTEM FOR RABBIT HOUSES IN COLD CLIMATES IN NORTHEAST CHINA

The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of using a modified heat recovery ventilation (HRV) system in a rabbit house as a means of preheating fresh air to improve the indoor environment and reduce heat loss in a cold region. An air-to-air HRV system was tested in a rabbit house in Jilin Province (northeast China). The system was operated to provide the minimum ventilation in the treatment house. When compared with the control house, the average temperature of the treatment house had no significantly decline when the minimum ventilation rate was applied (p > 0.05). The relative humidity and the concentrations of ammonia and carbon dioxide were significantly lower than those in the control house (p < 0.05). The HRV system had a moderate performance in sensible heat recovery effectiveness, and no significant difference was observed when the outdoor temperature varied from -15 degrees C to 5 degrees C. Sensible heat recovery effectiveness could be significantly affected by motor heat generation. The HRV system was proven to better resist freezing than the traditional system in cold working conditions. It could operate in conditions when the maximum difference between inside and outside temperature reached 26.55 degrees C and when the lowest outdoor temperature was -15.06 degrees C.