Article
Effect of Airflow Distribution on the Performance of NA/LT In-Bin Drying of Corn
Transactions of the ASABE
(2006)
Abstract
The localized concentration of fine material in the core grain mass after loading a bin causes the airflow to distribute non-uniformly. In this research, the fine material distribution in the grain mass and the air velocity at the center and periphery locations in the bin were quantified for 15 on-farm natural air / low temperature (NA/LT) in-bin drying and conditioning tests. The effect of best management practices (BMPs) (i.e., leveling the grain peak after filling the bin and coring the grain mass) on fine material distribution and/or airflow distribution were quantified. When the grain peak was not leveled, the airflow distribution resulted in a non-uniformity factor (NUF) of 89% versus 36% after leveling. The coring operation reduced the concentration of fine material at the center of the grain mass by one percentage point and reduced the NUF to -28%. The effect of BMPs on the performance of NA/LT in-bin drying systems were further investigated using simulation for four representative locations in the Midwestern Corn Belt (North Platte, Nebraska; Des Moines, Iowa; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Evansville, Indiana). The total overall drying cost savings gained from applying these simple BMPs ranged from 39% to 49%. The savings were more significant in the northern and western regions (North Platte and Des Moines) than in the southern and eastern regions (Indianapolis and Evansville).
Keywords
- Airflow distribution,
- Experimental data,
- Fine material,
- Natural air / low temperature drying,
- Simulation
Disciplines
Publication Date
2006
DOI
10.13031/2013.21715
Publisher Statement
Copyright 2006 American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. Used with permission.
Citation Information
Ricardo E. Bartosik and Dirk E. Maier. "Effect of Airflow Distribution on the Performance of NA/LT In-Bin Drying of Corn" Transactions of the ASABE Vol. 49 Iss. 4 (2006) p. 1095 - 1104 ISSN: 2151-0032 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/dirk-maier/10/