Silo–dryer–aerator in fixed and thick layer conceptualized for high quality of grains applied in different social scales post-harvest: modeling and validation

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.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Silo-dryer-aerator conceptualized for high quality

• Drying system applied for different social scales of post-harvest

• Segregation of the lots in different characteristics of grains and quality

• Associated application of high and low temperatures in the drying and aeration

• Alternative for drying and storage in large, medium and small production scales

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Glycine max
• mathematical modeling
• optimization post-harvest
• storing of grains
• yield of the drying processes

Author contributions

Methodology, P.C.C., A.F.C.L., D.E.M.

Formal analysis, P.C.C., A.F.C.L., A.M., L.B.A.J.

Investigation, A.F.C.L., A.M., L.B.A.J., I.T.P.D., N.S.B., J.I.S.

Field experiment conduction, P.C.C., A.F.C.L., A.M., L.B.A.J., I.T.P.D., N.S.B., J.I.S., D.M.

Statistical Analysis, P.C.C., A.M., P.E.T., J.I.S.

Writing-original draft preparation, P.C.C., P.E.T., D.E.M.

Writing-review and editing, P.C.C., P.E.T., D.E.M.

Ethical guidelines

Declare that approval of ethics was not necessary for the conduct of the research.

Availability of data

The authors declare that the data obtained in the research are available.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to thank CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel), CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development)-Financial Code 001, FAPERGS-RS (Research Support Foundation of the State of Rio Grande do Sul), FUNDECT (Support Foundation for the Development of Education, Science and Technology of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul), Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Support from the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM)- Research Group at Postharvest Innovation: Technology, Quality and Sustainability, with contributions of financial resources, including laboratories, to carry out the experiments.