Book Description

At least 70% of the total corn production in Michigan was estimated to be dried in automatic batch or in-bin batch-type systems. At an initial moisture content of 26% and an after-drying value of 15.5%, approximately 3.6x10 12 KJ or 14.4x10 8 liters of liquid propane were required to dry the 1979 Michigan corn crop. Previous research in other U.S. Corn states had shown that in-bin counterflow, in-bin dryeration, natural-air, and low-temperature combination drying procedure high-quality corn and can substantially reduce the drying energy requirement under favorable weather conditions. The objectives of this thesis were to study the feasibility of applying and economically comparing the above techniques with conventional bath drying under Michigan conditions.Five steel bins of 85 m3 capacity were erected at a farm in Bellaire. Michigan. The system was designed to test each technique and adequately handle the farm's corn production. Four storage bins were arranged in a rectangular pattern, so that each could be filled with an auger from a central point, with an automatic cross-flow bath dryer discharging from that position. Two of the storage bins were used to dry corn as a combination system. The first had a centrifugal fan with a 3.7 kw motor delivering 2m3/min/m3 of natural air through a 3.7 m bed. A fan delivering 1.6m3/min/m3 with a 2.2. kw motor and a 10 kw electrial heater were connected to the low-tempearture system. The third bin was fitted with a fan delivering 0.8m3/min/m3 for the in-bin dryeration(...).