GEAPS 521: Aeration System Design & Operational Management

Next course offering: June 6-July 8, 2011
Registration deadline: May 27, 2011

Registration is now closed.

Program, Objectives and Syllabus

Course description: This five-week professional-development course focuses on the design and operation of aeration systems for dry grain storage structures with flat, hopper and V-bottoms in corrugated steel bins, concrete silos, large diameter tanks, horizontal storage structures and outdoor piles/bunkers. The relationship between air and grain properties will be reviewed and the selection and sizing of fans and their operational management for conditioning and cooling grains will be thoroughly discussed.

Course goal: The goal of GEAPS 521 is to teach students the basic principles of designing and operating grain aeration systems to successfully maintain grain quality during storage.

Continuing education units:  Students who successfully complete the work are entitled to one continuing education unit from Kansas State University.

Course Syllabus

Lecture 1 — Objectives of Aeration & Aeration System Components
Goal:  To introduce students to the importance of aeration for the purpose of cooling and conditioning stored grains and to review the key system components including fans, transitions, ducts, floors, vents and controls

Topics:

• Cooling of grain to maintain grain quality, and suppress insects, mites & molds
• Fan types
• Supply and transition ducts, manifolds, elbows
• Roof vents
• Perforated flooring
• Fan controllers

Lecture 2 — Relationship between air and grain properties
Goal:  This lecture reviews the relationship between air properties (psychrometrics) and grain properties (equilibrium moisture content).

Topics:

• Basic air properties & psychrometric relationships
• Grain equilibrium moisture content relationships
• Determining safe storage moisture contents
• Using psychrometrics to analyze local and historic weather data

Lecture 3 — Airflow rates, resistance to airflow and air distribution patterns
Goal:  This lecture focuses on the relationship between airflow rates and resistance to airflow through different grain types and grain depths, and reviews distribution of airflow through peaked, leveled, cored and inverted grain held in various storage structure configurations with flat, hopper and V-bottoms.

Topics:

• Airflow rates required for cooling and conditioning
• Direction of airflow
• Concept of frictional resistance
• Estimating static pressure drop through grain
• Estimating pressure drop through aeration system components
• Pressure patterns
• Fine material concentration
• Non-uniform airflow in grain

Lecture 4 — Fan Sizing and Selection
Goal: To discuss the importance of proper fan sizing and selection to achieve desired operational effects

Topics:

• Principles of fan sizing & selection
• Fan performance characteristics

Lecture 5 — Design & layout of aeration systems in flat & hopper bottom round bins, silos and tanks
Goal:  To familiarize students with the engineering calculations and design considerations involved in sizing and laying out the simplest aeration systems.

Lecture 6 — Design & layout of aeration systems in flat and V-bottom horizontal storage structures
Goal: To familiarize students with the engineering calculations and design considerations involved in sizing and laying out more complex aeration systems.

Lecture 7 — Design & layout of aeration systems in outdoor piles and bunkers
Goal: To familiarize students with the engineering calculations and design considerations involved in sizing and laying out the most complex aeration systems.

Lecture 8 — Selecting ambient air for the operation of aeration systemsGoal: To familiarize students with the considerations involved in operating aeration systems under various climatic conditions.

Topics:

• Evaluating local and historic weather conditions
• Effect of weather patterns on aeration effectiveness

Lecture 9 — Operational strategies for fan operation to condition and aerate (cool) grains
Goal: To review the various operational strategies to cool and condition grain.

Topics:

• Operational settings for aeration control systems
• Aeration cooling to prevent mold development and self-heating
• Aeration cooling to prevent insect infestation and development
• Aeration to condition moisture content of stored grain
• Aeration in upright vs horizontal structures
• Aeration of outdoor piles and bunkers

Lecture 10 — Selecting and utilizing aeration control equipment
Goal: To familiarize students with the advantages and disadvantages of various aeration controllers.

Topics:

• Simple mechanical controllers
• Complex electromechanical controllers
• Microprocessor and computer-based controllers
• Selecting aeration controllers
• Predicting aeration system performance