Design and Development of a Solar-Powered Egg Hatchery System.

Student: Favour Osemegbe Eromosele (Thesis, 2025)
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta State

Abstract

Nigeria’s poultry industry faces challenges due to unreliable electricity supply, leading to reduced hatchability and increased production costs. To address this, a solar-powered egg hatchery system was designed and developed using reverse engineering principles. The system comprises an incubation chamber, control unit, and solar-powered system, designed to accommodate 30 eggs with a 30° egg-turning mechanism and optimized ventilation. The solar setup was sized based on calculated energy requirements and daily usage duration. Experimental evaluation showed minimal heat loss (69.45 W conduction, 13.087 W convection, and 0.0000922 W ventilation) and maintained temperatures between 36°C and 38°C, within the optimal range for hatchability. Results indicate that the system performs effectively, providing a reliable, energy-efficient, and sustainable solution for poultry incubation in off-grid or rural areas.

Keywords
solar energy egg hatchery poultry incubation renewable energy temperature control sustainable agriculture solar-powered system energy efficiency hatchability rural farming
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