Method and apparatus for optimizing energy and water used for cooling livestock

An apparatus for controlling water cooling of livestock, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) at least one fan with a fan speed producing an airflow;
• (b) at least one water sprayer with a flow rate;
• (c) one or more input sensors selected from the group of sensors consisting of a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a wind speed sensor, and a surrounding surface temperature sensor;
• (d) a controller with a processor configured to receive input from one or more of said input sensors and produce output control signals to said fan and said sprayer;
• and
• (e) a non-transitory memory storing instructions executable by the processor;
• (f) wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor, perform one or more steps comprising:
• (i) acquiring sensor data from said one or more input sensors;
• (ii) predicting a heat transfer rate and drying time of a subject from said sensor data;
• (iii) controlling sprayer actuation and sprayer duration to wet the subject;
• and
• (iv) controlling fan speed and airflow over a subject to transfer heat from the subject.

A method for controlling heat stress in livestock, the method comprising:

• (a) providing outdoor air temperature, air speed, humidity, and mean radiant temperature sensor data;
• (b) predicting a heat rejection rate and drying time for a wet livestock from the sensor input;
• (c) calculating a cooling load threshold from the rejection rate and drying time;
• and
• (d) determining fan speed and sprinkler operation frequency needed to meet the cooling load threshold given the outdoor sensor data.