Airflow matters
A better understanding of your aeration needs can result in cost and energy savings on your farm and help ensure that you have the right equipment for your specific storage scenario to meet your aeration objectives. There are many variables that can impact the static pressure and airflow in your grain bin.
AGI aeration expert Chris Chartier shows examples in the charts below and shares his insights.
In the above example, we see the effects on airflow of denser crops such as canola versus a medium density crop such as wheat. The higher the crop density, the higher the static pressure generated, resulting in lower overall airflow and longer aeration cycle times. *
In some cases, denser crops may need to be stored at lower depths to reduce the static pressure enough to achieve the desired airflow requirements. Different fan types and horsepower can also have an effect on airflow. For example, you may want to consider high speed fans when static pressure exceeds 7” as low speed fan performance starts to diminish at higher static pressures.
* Aeration cycle time: The time it takes for the cooling or warming zone to pass completely through the grain.
Key Takeaway
Aim for a lower aeration cycle time to increase your cost and energy savings. Aeration cycle times can be significantly improved by reducing the factors that can increase resistance to airflow in your bin.
In the chart above, we see much better airflow and aeration cycle time in the shorter/wider bin, despite having the same commodity, the same fan, and a comparable number of stored bushels.
When planning a new bin installation, it is important to consider your future airflow requirements for grain conditioning or drying, and how variables such as different commodities, bin dimensions, aeration ducts and fan types can affect your ability to meet those requirements.
Key Takeaway
Airflow results can vary considerably based on the specifics of your storage setup. AGI aeration experts can help you determine the best aeration equipment to help achieve your aeration objectives.
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AGI Aeration
If you’re in the market for new fans to protect your grain, consider AGI aeration equipment. AGI fans and heaters are designed to efficiently deliver airflow inside the bin to maintain your grain quality. Our complete lineup of fans includes high speed centrifugal (3 to 40 HP), low speed centrifugal (5 to 50 HP), in-line centrifugal (3 to 15 HP) and Axial fans (3 to 15 HP).