Automation of in-store drying systems in China

Abstract

P.R. of China is one of the major grain producers in Asia. Due to the size of the country., the grain industry covers a vast range of climates and grain types. As grain production increases, there is rising demand for efficient and cost-effective drying methods . to reduce quantitative and qualitative losses of harvested grain. Recent research has shown that under prevailing climatic conditions, an in-store drying system using near-ambient air to dry grain from 18% down to 14% moisture content is an attractive option in terms of economy of energy and grain quality maintenance. In-store drying usually takes place in a silo or warehouse where grain will be stored until it is milled or sold.Different levels of automation can be used to control the operation of in-store dryers. They range from timer based systems, enabling the grain to be dried during certain times of the day, up to fully automatic control systems operating continuously. Experiments have been conducted in two regions of China using a relative humidity based control system operating in continuous mode. The results of the experiments show that the drying strategies chosen are capable of reducing the dry ing time and of drying grain to quality standards expected by the market.