Hybrid solar powered poultry egg incubator with PCM as storage medium

The book is intended to solve the most challenging problem of energy supply especially in the developing nations by using phase change material (PCM) for the storage of solar energy for heat supply for poultry egg incubation. The use of solar energy in poultry egg incubation is expected to reduce much reliance on the national grid electric supply and bring down cost of poultry products. Solar energy is a cost free, and sustainable source that is inexhaustible. The design, construction and performance evaluation of a hybrid solar powered poultry egg incubator with PCM is presented in this book. The system, consists of a double-glazed flat plate solar collector integrated with a paraffin type PCM energy storage subsystem. The incubator is incorporated with a PV subsystem made of PV module, a deep cycle battery, a charge controller, an electronic temperature regulator, DC bulbs and a DC motor with air inlet door connected to it. The performance evaluation showed an average egg hatchability of 62.37%. The incubator is economically feasible with a payback period of 2 years and 4 months. This book is specifically designed for researchers and poultry farmers.