Diffusion of carbon dioxide through grain bulks

Abstract

The diffusion coefficient of carbon dioxide (CO 2) through grain bulks was determined using a transient method with the following variables: (1) grain bulk (wheat, barley, and canola); (2) moisture content (m.c.) (dry, damp, and wet conditions); (3) temperature (5°C, 15°C, 25°C, and 40°C); (4) direction of gas flow (upwards, downwards, and horizontal); (5) porosity (two levels for each grain bulk); (6) grain kernel orientation (vertical and horizontal); (7) initial concentration in the gas chamber (20%, 40%, and 60%); and (8) dockage (0%, 4%, 8%, and 12%). The diffusion coefficients of CO 2 through wheat bulks ranged from 5.9×10 −6 to 7.6×10 −6 m 2 s −1, through barley bulks from 5.1×10 −6 to 8.4×10 −6 m 2 s −1, and through canola bulks from 3.7×10 −6 to 5.3×10 −6 m 2 s −1 for the test conditions studied. Increasing the m.c. decreased diffusion coefficients. An increase in temperature generally increased the diffusion coefficient of CO 2. Diffusion in the downward direction resulted in higher diffusion coefficients. No significant difference in diffusion coefficients was observed between the upward and horizontal directions of flow. An increase in porosity resulted in higher diffusion coefficients. The upward diffusion coefficient of CO 2 was higher for vertical grain kernel orientation than for horizontal kernel orientation for wheat and barley but for canola, the difference between the two kernel orientations was not significant. There was no significant difference in diffusion coefficients for different initial gas concentrations. The diffusion coefficient increased linearly as the dockage was increased. The amount of CO 2 absorbed by barley and canola increased with an increase in m.c. in polynomial fashion. There was no significant difference in the sorption of CO 2 by barley and canola when the temperature of the grain was changed from 15°C to 40°C.