A combined energy–saving heat supply system was proposed that included a combined ETS unit and a ceiling fan, and provided the normative air parameters in a livestock room, with an air temperature of −17 °C and air relative humidity (ARH) of −75%. A heat supply system of a preventive maintenance premises for calves was chosen as the subject of the study. Comparative analysis of the temperature and ARH distribution with height in the preventive maintenance premises, was carried out, with and without a ceiling fan. The study showed that, during the heating period, application of the ceiling fans helped to raise the air temperature and to reduce ARH, in the areas where young stock is located, in accordance with the normative indicators. The energy-saving effect was achieved by supplying warmer ventilation air, which accumulated in the upper zone of the premises from the ceiling fan to the locations of the animals. At the same time, there was a decrease in the consumption of electric energy for the heat supply system of up to 14%.

Drying food stuffs and other materials belongs to one of the most commonly used feedstock processing techniques, featuring rather high energy consumption. The major disadvantage of conventional electric convective-type household dryers is substantial thermal energy emission into the environment with a wet exhaust, worked-out drying agent. Among other principal disadvantages common to all dryers of this type, the following have to be mentioned: spatial inhomogeneity of heating a product under processing and that of drying agent distribution due to its temperature reduction and relative humidity growth as it moves upwards. A block diagram and a breadboard model of a convective-type thermoelectric dryer employing a thermoelectric heat pump have been designed. In our approach, a product is treated with the help of a drying agent (normally, heated air) with partial exhaust-air recirculation and heat recovery. Laboratory studies of the drying process have been carried out using apple fruits as a test material in order to evaluate the power consumed for evaporation of 1 kg of water in the newly developed convective-type thermoelectric drying unit. Physical parameters of apple fruits before and after drying both in the thermoelectric drying unit and in a conventional series-produced convective-type domestic dryer have been reported. The energy efficiency of the newly designed drying unit has been compared with that of some series-produced samples. It has been found out that, unlike conventional convective-type dryers, the breadboard model of the developed thermoelectric drying unit features a smoother product drying process owing to the presence of side air channels and more effective drying agent path organization in the processing chamber. This conclusion was supported by the results of the carried out tests. Application of thermoelectric heat pumps with the function of the exhaust drying agent heat recovery will make it possible to reduce the drying agent heater installed capacity and the power consumed by the newly designed convective-type thermoelectric drying unit by up to 20% in the course of the drying process, compared to series-produced household convective-type dryers.

Mathematical formulation of the animal thermal status has been developed, with the account of two convenience conditions and heat balance, for the floor-mounted heating panel for prenursery pigs. The borders of the heat flux variation range for the floor-mounted heating panel have been determined corresponding to the animal-friendly conditions for prenursery pigs of various age groups. The block diagram of the energy-saving floor-mounted heating panel, comprising the thermoelectric assembly operating in the heat pump mode, has been designed. The method has been described and the corresponding calculations have been made for the basic thermal parameters of the floor-mounted local heating installation, for prenursery pigs, with the application of a thermoelectric heat pump. The experimental installation sample of 116 W thermal capacity (for the heat transfer coefficient from 0.9 W·m⁻²·K⁻¹ to 1.0 W·m⁻²·K⁻¹ and floor temperature in the range of 5 °C to 6 °C) has been developed and manufactured for local heating for prenursery pigs managed in gestation crates. Laboratory tests of the experimental sample of the floor-mounted heating panel have demonstrated high energy efficiency of the heating installation under development. The energy-saving effect (approx. 15% compared to the series-produced equipment designed for local heating of young stock) of the developed installation was achieved owing to the partial heat recuperation of the exhaust ventilating air.

Based on the results of the performed experimental studies of thermal operation conditions and dynamic characteristics of electro-thermal storages (ETS), data on the behavior of the following thermal parameters of heat storage units made of magnesite and chamotte has been obtained: temperature change of heated air in channels of heat storage units and that in the outlet from ETS, temperature change in the bulk of thermal insulation and that on the surface of housing, for one cycle of heat charging and heat emission of ETS. Information obtained in the course of experiments has been analyzed. The suggestion has been made to compensate relatively low heating rate of chamotte storage units by application of metal plates installed between adjacent storage units which made it possible to improve the dynamics of ETS heat charging. Growth of wall temperature of air channels of chamotte heat storage units, in the end of ETS charging cycle, amounted to, approx. 10 % (50 °C) compared to the design option without metal plates. It has to be noted that, in the heat emission mode of ETS, cooling rate of chamotte heat storage units is substantially higher than that of magnesite units.

Recommendations on the selection of air curtains and the calculation of their parameters for livestock premises in cattle management farms are made. The air curtain functioning principle is analyzed from the air jet theory point of view. The block diagram and modular design of air curtains with a variable air jet direction vector and with controlled slit width are designed. Laboratory tests of the newly designed air curtain structure are performed in accordance with the microclimate requirements for the cattle management farm premises. Based on the experimental results, the major air curtain parameters are calculated for the range from 10° to 60° of angle α between the direction of the air jet outward from the air curtain slit and aperture plane, and for the air curtain slit width b₀ in the range from 0.05 m to 0.15 m with the account of the wind speed V_w variations. Calculated values for amounts of energy that have to be consumed to ensure the required air jet velocity, in the output from the air curtain, and those for the quantity of thermal energy required to heat the air supplied to the air curtain, depending on the angle α and on the slit width b₀, can be helpful for selecting the power capacity of both the air curtain fan and electric heater. A block diagram of the air curtain control for cattle management farm premises is designed, enabling automatic control of the airflow rate, the angle of the air jet output from the air curtain slit, and the temperature of the heated air supplied to the air curtain, considering particular climate conditions. According to the preliminary estimate, applications of the newly designed air curtain will make it possible to reduce the energy consumed to maintain the required microclimate conditions in cattle management premises by 10% to 15% in the cold period.

An analysis of scientific studies has been carried out, which presents thermoelectric technologies based on solar energy that can satisfy not only the need for electricity generation, but also contribute to energy saving and environmental protection. The results of theoretical and experimental studies on the development of power supply systems based on thermoelectric generators in combination with photovoltaic panels, solar concentrators and heat pipes are also presented, allowing us to conclude that the creation of solar thermoelectric generators is relevant. The authors have developed a design and presented a description of the power supply installation operation with a solar thermoelectric generator and heat pipes transmitting thermal energy from a solar concentrator through a solid-state thermal storage to a thermoelectric generator. Expressions are given for calculating the main thermal characteristics of the elements of the proposed installation with a solar thermoelectric generator (solar concentrator and solid-state thermal storage), as well as the efficiency factor and output electric power of the thermoelectric generator.