Bin Systems
• Safety equipment• Loaders/augers• Power sweep• Perforated Floor• Fans• Dryers & heat recyclers• Aerators• Ventilators
Storage Goals
• Avoid crop loss at harvest
• Prolong crop storage life
• Maintain crop quality
• Increase value of crop
• National/international availability
Storage Principles
• Proper crop condition going into storage
• Control moisture
• Control temperature
• Control insects
Grain Conditioning Technology
• We dry a crop because we choose to harvest a slightly “wet” crop to avoid harvest losses
Management
• Moisture content for crops:– Shelled corn at 13% to 15.5%– Wheat, barley, oats at 13%– Sunflowers at 8% to 10%
• No advantage to frozen grain• Clean grain has uniform air spaces• Distribute/eliminate fines in bin
Bin Sanitation
• Clean and sanitize aeration ducts, augers, floors
• Remove weeds, trash, moldy crop
• Spray insecticides while bin is empty
• Clean/inspect/replace aeration equipment and dryers
Loading
• Optimize handling & storage operations
• Operate augers at capacity, slow speed
• Use a spreader to fill bin
• Core the fines from center of grain
• level peaked grain ASAP
• Record grain moistures going into storage
• Screen for mycotoxins
Aeration Goals
• To cool dried grain uniformly to 30-35oF.
• Move cooling front completely through and out of grain mass
• Avoid condensation on inside walls/roof
• Maintain low grain temps as long as possible
Aeration
• Aeration rates depend upon 4 factors.– Bin type– Air distribution system– Desired grain moisture content– Management practices
Fall
Spring
Aeration
• Air flow either positive pressure (flow up) or negative (flow down)
• Ventilation required during fan operation• Fan operation times depend upon airflow rate
Monitoring
• Check for insects while grain temperature is above 50 F. If found then fumigate. Fumigation will not be effective below 50 F.
• Temperatures below 50 F will control insects
• Inspect grain surface at least every other week
• Walk on grain, poke into it, check for hot spots or insect infestations.
Drying
• Warms the kernel – water leaves kernel through osmosis
• Evaporates water from the kernel surface
• For grain, to remove 1 lb water takes 1300 BTU’s at 60oF.
Drying Methods
• Equilibrium– Natural air and fans– Relative vapor pressure– Charts– Drying front moves through grain
Drying
• Calculations to get the amount of grain stored• You can calculate the size of the job• You can relate it all to the speed of harvest for
bin management
Safety
• Safety equipment• Loaders/augers• Power sweep• Perforated Floor• Fans• Dryers & heat recyclers• Aerators• Ventilators
Bin Safety
• Enter a bin only if you know its history and if you are not alone
• If grain has not been removed you should see a cone in the middle of the bin.
• If grain has been removed you should see a flat area or inverted cone, and a shiny surface on the side of the bin. If you do not see these signs, surface may be crusted and unsafe to enter.
Bin Safety
• Label bins to warn of entrapment hazard• Lock entrances• Install ladders inside bins• Do not enter while loading/unloading
Bin Safety
• Shut off and lock out power when entering
• Wear NIOSH-approved dust filter respirators
• Be cautious of grain that is out of condition
• Do not work alone in bins
Bin Safety
• 3 kinds of entrapment– Flowing grain: auger creates funnel effect– Grain bridge over hollow cavity– Avalanche of vertical grain wall
Bin Safety
• Prevention– Lock out power sources before entering– Work from the top down– Wear body harness, have inside ladder
Precaution !
• The maximum temperature for drying barley is 100 F. Higher temperatures will kill the embryo in the barley kernel.
• A dead embryo
will NOT make beer!