Modeling of heat and mass transfer within the grain storage ecosystem using numerical methods: A review

Abstract

Modeling stored-grain ecosystem has become an indispensable part of the grain sector when developing the best management strategy for abating spoilage risks associated with grain temperature and moisture content. Thus, a suitable model to predict the heat, mass and momentum transfer within the grain bulk is the simple and cost-effective solution to predict the variations in these physical parameters to assess the spoilage risk. This review aims at providing information regarding relevant numerical methods (finite difference, finite element, finite volume and discrete element) used for developing the proposed model and discusses the necessary future research that is still in need to make the model a comprehensive decision support tool for the growers and grain handlers.

Keywords:

• Grain storage
• grain temperature
• grain moisture
• modeling
• numerical methods