Silo–dryer–aerator in fixed and thick layer conceptualized for high quality of grains applied in different social scales post-harvest: modeling and validation
Paulo Carteri Coradi, Ângelo Francisco Calegare Lemes, Amanda Müller, Lanes Beatriz Acosta Jaques, Ítala Thaísa Padilha Dubal, Nairiane dos Santos Bilhalva, Paulo Eduardo Teodoro, Jonatas Ibagé Steinhaus, Dirk E. Maier
Abstract
Several studies have been conducted for developing new dryers and improving existing ones to obtain a higher yield and maintain the quality of agricultural products. Thus, the objective of this study was to model and validate a new concept of a silo–dryer–aerator with a drying chamber and four storage compartmented cells in a fixed and thick layer with the application of high and low air-drying temperatures. To fit the experimental data to a mathematical model, nonlinear regression analysis was performed. To assess the fluid from the heated and cooling air in the silo–dryer–aerator, computational fluid dynamics was used. The experimental prototype of the fixed-bed dryer enabled a uniform distribution of the heated air in the drying cells. There was a uniform distribution of the air in the drying cells of the silo–dryer–aerator. The drying system achieved high operational performance and quality for soybeans. The different mathematical models could predict and adjust to the drying conditions in a fixed and thick layer. It was concluded that the drying model developed and validated is suitable for the new concept of a silo–dryer–aerator with a drying chamber and segregated storage to be applied to soybean drying.HIGHLIGHTSSilo-dryer-aerator conceptualized for high qualityDrying system applied for different social scales of post-harvestSegregation of the lots in different characteristics of grains and qualityAssociated application of high and low temperatures in the drying and aerationAlternative for drying and storage in large, medium and small production scales