Investigations in intensification of grain drying by active ventilation applying ozone

Abstract

The article presents an analysis of the previous research on the use of ozone for intensified active ventilation of grain and develops a methodology for experiments to evaluate the usefulness of ozone utilisation in ventilation in farm conditions. The essence of the experiments: two identical tanks are loaded with the same amount of grain of the same humidity and are ventilated with the same intensity of air flow by adding to the ventilation air of one tank ozone, produced by the generator. The sensor systems installed in the tanks record the drying process parameters. The sensor systems, developed and installed in the tanks, worked without fail, providing a possibility to follow the ventilation modes in the computer, both on the farm, and remotely. During the experiments a small reduction in the moisture content of the grain in the ozone tank was consistently observed in several aspects, as compared to the tank without the ozone admixture to the ventilation air, yet the advantages of the method have not been convincingly proved. Therefore, experiments should be continued in 2020 during grain harvesting by ventilation in both tanks for grain, 3.0-3.5 m high. It has been proved during the experiments that, using active ventilation, we can prepare extra quality food grain for sale, reducing the humidity by 7.0-8.0 %.

Investigations in ozone application for active ventilation of grain

“…1). The methodology of the experiments is laid out in publication [12]; there is a significant difference in the initial height of the grain layer to be treatedin 2019 it was 5.1 m but in 2020 it was 3.2 m (shaded in the figure). At the grain layer height of 5.1 m it was not possible to achieve the required air flow rate in the grain; therefore, in the upper layers drying of the grain was insufficient, while in the lower layers the grain was overdried to 11% moisture.…”

“…On the other hand, the conclusions of experiments, performed both under laboratory conditions and in large-volume tanks, indicate that the drying speed increases up to two times, yet the process parameters are not indicated [7]. In 2019 the experiments with active ventilation of grain in two 20 m 3 tanks, adding ozone to the air in one tank with a concentration of 28 mg•m -3 , with the initial height of the grain layer of 5.1 m were performed by [12]. The authors conclude that there is a slight decrease in the grain moisture in the ozone tank in contrast to the tank without ozone additive to ventilation air; yet the advantages of the method have not been convincingly proved.…”

“…The aim of the research is to continue the experiments started in 2019 [12] to find out the possibilities and efficiency of the ozone application under the farm conditions, ventilating during the grain harvesting a 3.0-3.5 m high grain layer in two identical 20 m 3 tanks, by adding ozone to one tank, the other without the ozone addition.…”

Studies of the Possibilities to Use Ozone for the Grain Storage

“…The transceiver module E-32 is used for data transfer between the controller and the computer. The E-32 series modules are UART wireless modules, based on the SEMTECH SX1276 / SX1278 RF chip, using a LoRa transmission technology for the data exchange [12].…”

“…During the harvesting season, the sensor system was used to control the active ventilation and ozone treatment process of the grain [12], but during long-term storageto periodically control the temperature and humidity of the stored grain in the inter-grain space.…”