Ammonia Emissions from Poultry Houses and Its Fate - A Modeling Study

In a previous study, the authors determined ammonia (NH₃) emission rates varied from 200–300 g/d/AU (AU-animal unit). In this study, the fate of the released ammonia from the poultry houses was evaluated. The poultry house NH₃ emission rate at 0.001 g/sec is significant. The study included NH₃ emission rates of 0.001 to 1.0 g/sec at a typical Delaware poultry house operation. The poultry house' forced ventilation system air velocity of 2.0 m/sec and air exchange requirements were reviewed. The USEPA approved and promulgated SCREEN3 air model was set-up and run on the estimated NH₃ emissions from a typical poultry house. The maximum downwind concentration(s) (MDC) of NH₃ did not meet the Delaware air quality criteria of MDC to be equal to or less than 1/100^th TLV. SCREEN3 model results indicated the requirement of proper NH₃ emission control of poultry house operations and an advanced review of the poultry house air emissions.