Justification of Energy Costs for the Most Energy-intensive Milk Production Process
Milk production requires a significant amount of energy. More than 50 percent of the total energy consumption on the farm uses for the work of heat sources. The relevance of the question to determine the need for energy for heat is explained by their value, which is more than 50 percent of the total energy costs on the farm. The demand for energy resources for cowsheds is calculated on the basis of the equation of heat and humidity balance taking into account the requirements of technological design standards to ensure the necessary microclimate parameters that have a significant impact on the productivity of animals. The possibility of converting various energy carriers into heat predetermines its production in boilers from coal, liquid fuel, electric heaters and gas boilers. (Research purpose) The research purpose is to rationale the energy costs, ensuring the requirements of standards for indoor temperature for animals and humans, as well as for water heating. (Materials and methods) On the basis of studying the technologies of milk production and solving the equations of heat and humidity balance for the premises, approximated expressions of energy costs and energy costs are obtained, allowing to objectively assess the most acceptable solutions for the heat supply of dairy farms and complexes. (Results and discussion) It was found that small dairy farms have higher specific energy consumption compared to large ones. Thus, the specific energy consumption for farms per 100 heads is 0.352 tons of equivalent fuel, and for farms per 600 heads of 0.162 tons of equivalent fuel per head. (Conclusion) The most efficient energy carrier due to the specifics of the transformation is the electric energy from 0.24 tons of equivalent fuel for farms for 50 heads to 0.101 tons of equivalent fuel for farms for 600 heads. The monetary cost of energy depends on their type. The most expensive is liquid fuel, followed by electrical energy. The use of gas gives the lowest unit costs from 1.28 to 0.54 thousand rubles per head per year.