Air Speed Distribution in Tunnel-Ventilated Houses – Part 1

To produce the desired level of cooling during hot weather most broiler houses today are being designed to obtain a wind speed of between 500 and 600 ft/min. It is important to realize that a design air speed is an average air speed. Air speed will vary significantly across the cross-section of a house. Air speeds will tend to be higher in the center of the house than along the side walls and higher at the ceiling than near the floor. The reason for the variation is due to the fact that air will... tend to take the path of least resistance. Look at a river. The water will flow faster toward the center of the river than along the banks.