Abstract
The conditions of temperature and airflow distribution in the mass of stored grains are highly influenced by the configuration of the aeration ducts. However, silos are large structures, and the physical experiments on them become expensive and slow. Thus, this study aimed model and evaluate the temperature and airflow distribution in a maize mass, stored in a metal silo with different geometries of aeration ducts, using CFD (computational fluid dynamic). CFD was used to model and evaluate aeration ducts of square, ring, double bar and single bar shape. The proposed model was validated from experimental data. The airflow distribution and temperature in the grain mass were analyzed at different points. The ducts of a square and a ring shape showed better distributions of airflow in the grain mass, with averages of 0.00236 m s-1 and 0.00275 m s-1, respectively. The square shape aeration duct, presented better temperature values in the middle layer of the grain mass during aeration, with average 25.09 °C. CFD can be used in decision making for the best design of a silo, saving financial resources and time, as long as the parameters used in the simulation are reliable and represent the reality.
Highlights
The successive increase in world grain production, and continuous demand for product throughout the year, make storage an indispensable operation (Oladunde et al, 2016; Lopes et al, 2015)
The average air velocity found on the surface of the grain mass was 0.0023 m s-1, with values ranging from 0.0020 m s-1 to 0.0026 m s-1
The values found in the simulation are within the usual range found inside the grain mass during aeration
Summary
The successive increase in world grain production, and continuous demand for product throughout the year, make storage an indispensable operation (Oladunde et al, 2016; Lopes et al, 2015). Bulk grain storage is commonly performed in elevated cylindrical silos equipped with aeration ducts (Khatchatourian & Oliveira, 2006). The aeration ducts can have different shapes, being the circular duct the most used (Khatchatourian et al, 2017). The temperature conditions and the airflow distribution in grain mass, depend primarily of aeration ducts shape, ambient temperature, grain temperature in neighboring layers and the aeration period (Navarro & Noyes, 2001). The way airflow and temperature are distributed in the grain mass, will result in the homogeneity of the aerated product (Amanlou & Zomorodian, 2010). According to Lopes et al (2008), the positioning and the format of the aeration ducts, can result in an irregularity of temperature inside the silo, both along its longitudinal axis and its cross section
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