Grain drying by utilizing grain-released biological heat

Abstract

In Lithuania relative moisture content of grain at harvesting is 22 to 23%. However, when the weather conditions are unfavourable, the grain moisture content can be as high as 28% and more. Such grain is apt to overheating and deterioration. Therefore practically all the grain has to be dried. Active ventilation is most often used for this purpose. It is a fairly straightforward method, which requires less energy for evaporation of the same content of moisture. Due to high energy prices, drying costs account for the highest share in the total grain handling costs. Therefore it is vital to reduce energy consumption for grain drying. One of the ways to reduce energy consumption is the use of heat released by the grain for moisture evaporation in the drying process. With this aim in view grain is allowed to heat. The released heat the air blown through the grain and intensifies moisture evaporation.