IMPROVING THE PROCESS OF WATERING IN FARMS WITH TIE-STALL HOUSING OF COWS
The objective of research was to control the level of water required for watering the cows through individual and group drinkers. The object of study was water level controller. The authors have analytically substantiated the time of water flow cut-out, which is dependent on the duration of one cycle of regulation, regulating volume of water, and average water flow rate per one cycle. In order to control the water level, as well as reduce its wastage and improve the indoor climate, the authors have proposed the design of water level controller without using various types of sealing. During the full-scale experiment to determine the parameters of the controller required to ensure the necessary flow rate of water through individual and group drinker the authors worked in the laboratory of VSAU and used a laboratory installation comprising an air-water boiler with the regulating volume of water in its lower part and compressed air at the top, which exerted pressure on water providing the necessary water power in the main pipeline connected to the controller of the group automatic drinker. The necessary pressure in the valve mechanism of level controller was determined according to the readings of the air-water boiler gauge glass. The range of changes in pressure by pressure gauge based on gauge glass readings was defined with the account of free hydraulic head in the water supply system of the barn (20-160 kPa). For each pressure reading the authors determined the water flow rate through the controller valve. The authors have identified the dependence of water flow through two side openings of the valve stem and the force of opening the controller valve from water pressure in the system. Basing on the analysis of experimental data it was revealed that under normal free pressure in the water supply system the water flow rate through the controller with two lateral openings in the valve stem (d = 0.004 m) will be 12-14 L/min, which would supply the cows with enough water through the drinking bowls, and the effort to open the controller valve would be 20-24 N.