NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
October 7, 1999
An updated reference on the art and science of designing systems to aerate dry grain is available from North Dakota State University.
Aeration is a management process that forces air through dry grain to control grain temperatures in storage. Aeration helps maintain grain quality and limits the potential for mold production and insect activity.
The "Dry Grain Aeration Systems Design Handbook," MWPS-29, provides guidelines for selection, sizing, locating, and evaluating grain aeration systems. It also presents design examples of commonly used systems. Ken Hellevang, an extension agricultural engineer at NDSU, is the lead author of the book, which is published by the Midwest Plan Service, a consortium of land-grant universities in the north central United States.
The cost of Dry Grain Aeration Systems Design Handbook, MWPS-29, is $22.00. To purchase the book, contact Extension Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, PO Box 5626, NDSU, Fargo, ND, 58105, (701)231-7236.
The publication discusses basic aeration considerations, system design principles, and system components. It contains approximately 50 figures and drawings, 20 tables, and more than a dozen extensive design examples. Among the examples are designs for aeration pads, systems for cylindrical bins, and designs for rectangular flat storage facilities. One useful reference feature in the book is a cross-indexed list of all the design equations used in the examples
The book focuses on the latest design considerations and construction methods for dry grain aeration systems. With its ready reference features and extensive design examples, this publication will be a handy guidebook for grain producers, grain storage managers, and grain bin construction and aeration industries.
The book does not include design information for moving air through wet grain to hold it safely until it is dried, for cooling hot grain coming from a dryer, or natural air drying.
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Source: Ken Hellevang (701) 231-7243
Editor: Tom Jirik (701) 231-9629