| WO/2011/122935 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DRYING BIOMASS |
| JP2001324176 | BLAST TEMPERATURE CONTROL VESSEL |
| JP2000346556 | GRAIN DRYER |
CLAIMS
1. Device for in-storage drying and quality preserving ventilation of grain crops, which has an air-cooler/water extractor unit, an air-heater unit connected to the air- cooler/water extractor unit, an insufflating ventilator connected to the air-heater unit, a purpose-built electronic computer connected to the air-cooler/water extractor unit, the air-heater unit and to the insufflating ventilator, and an airing platform connected to the insufflating ventilator characterized by the fact that it has an air-cooler/water extractor unit (1) and an air-heater unit (2) controlled by a purpose-built electronic computer (14) for the production of insufflated drying air ensured by the air- cooler/water extractor unit (1) and by the air-heater unit (2), and insufflated by the insufflating ventilator (3) with an air-permeable airing platform (8) that directs the air flow underneath the grain crops.
2. The device described in claim 1. is characterized by the fact that it has a purpose- built straight or branching or angular replaceable adapter (7) connected to the insufflating ventilator (3).
3. The device described in claim 1. or claim 2. is characterized by the fact that it has a purpose-built airing platform (8) connected to the replaceable adapter (7).
4. The device described in claim 1., claim 2. or claim 3. is characterized by the fact that its airing platform (8) is constructed from tables made of purpose-built perforated steel sheet tops (11) and light-weight welded heavy duty frames (12), and which can be assembled and disassembled.
5. The device described in claim 1., claim 2., claim 3. or claim 4. is characterized by the fact that the airing platform (8) is surrounded by purpose-built wooden retaining walls (9), which are fastened to the light-weight welded heavy duty frames (12).
6. The device described in claim 1., claim 2., claim 3., claim 4. or claim 5. is characterized by the fact that the edges of the purpose-built wooden retaining walls (9) that touch each other or the concrete floor are supplied with rubber seals (10).
7. The device described in claim 1. is characterized by the fact that it has a purpose- built electronic computer (14) which has its own keyboard and display monitor.
8. The device described in claim 1. or claim 7. is characterized by the fact that the purpose-built electronic computer (14) has a sensor (13) that measures temperature and humidity levels and which is placed into the suction pipe (4) of the air- cooler/water extractor unit (1), and that it has a sensor (13) that measures temperature and humidity levels and which is placed into the sealed tubulature (5) which is between the air-cooler/water extractor unit (1) and the air-heater unit (2), and that it has a sensor (13) that measures temperature and humidity levels and which is placed into the replaceable adapter (7).
9. The device described in claim 1. or claim 7. is characterized by the fact that the purpose-built electronic computer (14) has sensors (18) that measure temperature and moisture levels and are placed into the dried grain crops.
10. The device described in claim 1. or claim 7. is characterized by the fact that the purpose-built electronic computer (14) has sensors (19) placed into the airing ventilators of the storage facility.
11. The device described in claim 1. or claim 7. is characterized by the fact that the purpose-built electronic computer (14) has control cables (15), which are connected to the air-cooler/water extractor unit (1), the air-heater unit (2) and the insufflating ventilator (3).
12. The device described in claim 1. or claim 7. is characterized by the fact that the purpose-built electronic computer (14) has a data transmission cable (16), which is connected to the communication unit (17).
13. The device described in claim 1. or claim 7. is characterized by the fact that the purpose-built electronic computer (14) has an interface cable (20), which may for instance be connected to a microcomputer network. |
DEVICE FOR DRYING GRAIN CROPS DURING STORAGE AND FOR PRESERVING THEIR QUALITY BY AIRING
The invented device is suitable for drying grain crops while in storage and their quality preservation by airing, especially agricultural grain crops.
It is a well-known fact that the moisture content of agricultural grain crops after harvest is considerably higher (18-28 %) than the moisture content value (13-14 %) with which grain crops can be stored for a longer period of time, consequently it becomes necessary to dry the grain crops prior to putting them in storage. Today's modern technologies carry out this drying process utilizing drying devices that burn organic fuel (diesel oil, natural gas) with heated air. There are several well-known versions of devices using this technology with different layouts and degrees of permeability capacity (output/hour). These drying devices are used before storage in both silos and flat houses with platforms.
The drying technologies described above are dealt with in chapter 4.3 of Dr. Tomay Tibor's "Gabona tarolas" /Grain Storage/ (Gabona Trόszt, Budapest, 1987) titled "Drying Cereals" as well as chapter 2 titled "The Analysis of the Convective Drying Process" of Beke Janos's "A szemes kukorica szaritasi folyamatanak elemzese" /Analyzing the Process of Drying Maize/ (Akademiai kiadό Budapest, 1999).
The described drying technologies have in common the fact that the drying process uses organic fuel (diesel oil, natural gas) to heat air in the drying device. The air is heated to 70-90 ° C , blown through the drying area while the grains are being turned over. The temperature of the grains can reach anything up to 65 ° C, so they lose moisture until their moisture content reaches the desired 13-14%. Following this, the grain crops are put in the storage area.
Based on practical experience deficiencies in all the drying procedures cause the following:
Physical damage to the grains: during the drying process due to the rapid heating mechanical tension develops inside the grains, which leads to hairline fractures and later on the break up of the grain.
Damage to the inner content of the grain: during drying with extensive ingress of heat the inner biological properties of the grains (inner content value, vitality, germinating power) suffer a considerable loss in value, which can greatly limit their usability.
Rehydration of grain crops: during drying due to rapid warming which causes a sudden loss of water, the grains shrink. Then following the cooling period, after being put in storage, due to the contact with air that has a normal amount of moisture in it and a normal temperature, a reversed process starts and the grains absorb moisture from the surrounding air, the crops rehydrate. Rehydration provides favourable conditions for the development of damaging heat centres, and for an increase in fungal and insectoid infections.
The drying technology is undesirably slow: the permeability of common drying devices is limited, so during harvest it is the limited speed of the grain harvest, which affects the length of time needed for the execution of the technological process. The alteration of the optimum permeability considering the grain crops results in a drop in the quality of the dried grain crops.
The technology is expensive and damaging to the environment: the cost of using organic fuel (diesel oil and natural gas) is high and continuously becomes higher. Also the products of fuel combustion severely pollute the environment.
Grain crops have to be regarded as "living" materials, because after being put in storage, they "breathe" , i.e. they absorb oxygen from their environment, and emit carbon dioxide, while producing heat. In agricultural practice it is a well-known fact that grain crops need to be aired, which according to earlier practice was simply
carried out by turning over the heap of grain. The latest, more modern technologies solve the problem of airing stored grains by the so called active airing, namely by blowing over pressurized surrounding air through the heaps of grain in purpose-built storage facilities with airing platforms and in silo tanks.
The active airing method described above is dealt with in in chapter 4.1 of Dr. Tomay Tibor's "Gabona tarolas" /Grain Storage/ (Gabona Trόszt, Budapest, 1987) titled "Airing Grain Crops" as well as on pp. 241-243 of the "Gabonaipari Kezikόnyv" /A Manual to the Grain Industry/ (Mezόgazdasagi Kiadό, Budapest, 1970). Also a similar airing procedure is described in the patent specification, register number 191936, titled "Szellozόpadozat szemestermenytarolόkhoz" /"Airing Platforms for Grain Storage Facilities"/.
The active airing technologies mentioned above all have in common the fact that the airing process is carried out by blowing the over pressurized surrounding air through the heaps of grain crops.
Based on experiences the shortcomings of the known airing methods are the following:
With airing by turning over the heaps of grain crops during the time that elapses between the turnings crustation may develop on the surface of the heap due to the natural transpiration of the heap of grains caused by the complete lack of an artificial exchange of air in the heap of the grains. This crustation blocks transpiration originating in the middle of the heap leading to the heating of the heap of grain, the formation of damaging heat centres and to an increase in fungal and insectoid infection.
Although active airing solves the problem of air-exchange among grains, it uses surrounding air, consequently the prevailing temperature and humidity of the air in the heap of grain crops is that of the surrounding air. As a result, the desired 15-17 ° C grain temperature and 13-14% moisture content during storage cannot be ensured for longer periods of time at all only for short periods of time. In the end this leads to the same problems as described above in the case of the turning over method.
The purpose of the invention is to eliminate the deficiencies described above, namely to create such an economical drying and quality protection airing device which simultaneously carries out the tasks of drying the grains after harvest and the preservation of their quality during storage, which is simple and economical to run and environmentally friendly. According to the set target, the device is to perform the following tasks:
The controllable cooler/heater climate control appliance installed in front of the insufflating ventilator has to be able to extract as much water from the surrounding air as is needed during the drying of the grain crops.
Sensors measuring the temperature and humidity levels of the surrounding air are to be placed in the appliance in such a way that data provided by them facilitate the sufficient control of the drying and quality protection airing process. In order to carry out sufficient control it is necessary to continuously measure the temperature and moisture levels of both the dried and aired heaps of grain crops using suitable sensors.
The electronic control module has to check the existence of ventilation of the storage facility as well as the functioning of the airing appliances of the storage facilities, the operation of which is of vital importance to ensure that the high moisture content air that evaporates from the heap of grain leaves the storage facility environment.
The appliance has to have a communication device that is capable of sending out alerts, which are necessary if an event occurs which definitely requires human intervention such as leakage, cessation of ventilation, failure of the appliance, power outage, etc.
Assembling and disassembling the network of main pipes and permeable perforated branch pipes currently known and described above is a labour intensive and time consuming task. The pipe network hinders the efficient operation of traditional loading machines in storage facilities with raised platforms. Consequently, an air- permeable platform has to be used, which is easy to assemble and does not hinder loading and emptying.
Considering air flow, the pipe network referred to above is inefficient and suffers great aerodynamic loss due to the large number of colliding air flows and the numerous angled connecting sections and pipes. As a result, the utilized platform has to pose a minimal aerodynamic resistance to the insufflated air, and has to transfer the drying or ventilating air into the inside of the heap of grain with minimal loss.
Devices currently available are not capable of controlling the differently demanding tasks of drying and ventilation aimed at providing quality protection. The task of drying demands the device produce air with a relatively high temperature and extremely low moisture content, on the other hand, ventilation aimed at quality protection needs air with a low temperature but relatively high moisture content. Such an electric control module should be used that can satisfy both needs.
The device has to be applicable for traditional flat houses, flat houses with airing platforms and silos with airing platforms.
Tasks described above are carried out by the invention utilising two units that can be controlled separately, equipped with sensors measuring temperatures and humidity levels placed in front of the insufflating ventilator. One of the units is an air cooler/water extractor, while the other is an air-heater device. Separate sensors for measuring temperature and humidity levels are placed at the point where the surrounding air is sucked in, and where the air is insufflated past the ventilator. Thus both units have become controllable separately according to the desired task. Sensors measuring temperature and moisture content are placed in the heap of grain, thus the prevailing condition of the dried or ventilated grain has become measurable. A purpose-built computer with a keyboard, a display monitor and equipped with sensors measuring temperature, humidity levels and moisture content is put in place to control the appliance. The purpose-built sensor which checks whether the ventilators in the storage facility are switched on and are operational is also connected to the purpose-built computer. A sysout communication device connected to the purpose-built computer and capable of sending an alert through both landline and GSM telecommunication network if necessary is also included.
The raised airing platform is connected to the point where the air is insufflated past the ventilator and is purposefully made up of tables that are easy and quick to assemble. These tables are made of perforated steel sheets with light-weight welded heavy duty frames. The grain to be dried is stored on top of these airing platform constructed from the tables. Thus the insufflated air is free to flow under the stored grain. Wooden retaining walls stop the air insufflated under the perforated steel tops from escaping sideways. The retaining walls sufficiently surround the airing platforms extending above it vertically so as to stop the grain from over flowing the sides. The retaining walls are fastened to the sides of the tables which constitute the platforms and to each other, and the edges touching the concrete floors are covered with rubber seals. The tables and retaining walls are sized in such a way to allow for the assembly of tables and retaining walls as needed to store the grain. The airing platforms constructed in this way from smooth perforated steel sheets do not hinder the operation of traditional loading machines.
The device which is the object of the invention may be connected to the insufflating point past the ventilator with the use of suitable adapters not only in the case of constructible airing platforms but also when constructing both flat houses and silos with airing platforms.
The solution as shown in the invention has an air-cooler/water extractor unit controlled by a purpose-built electronic computer, air-heater units with an insufflating ventilator to produce the drying air and a permeable airing platform that allows air flow under the grain crops.
The solution represented by the invention is described in more detail by drawings which show a constructed example of the invention: figure 1. (Fig.1.) shows the scenograph of the device in a traditional flat house with assembled airing platforms and retaining walls. Figure 2. (Fig.2.) shows the construction of an airing platform.
As shown in figure 1. (Fig.1.), the appliance has an air-cooler/water extractor unit (1), and an air-heater units (2), which are connected to each other by a sealed tubulature (5). The air-cooler/water extractor unit (1) sucks in the surrounding air through the suction opening (4). The air-heater unit (2) connects to the ventilator (3) via a sealed
tubulature (6), which is connected to the airing platform (8) with a replaceable adapter (7). The airing platforms (8) are constructed of perforated steel sheets (11), and platform tables (12) made of heavy-duty lightweight welded frames, which are surrounded by retaining walls (9), the touching edges of which are covered with rubber seals.
The purpose-built electronic computer (14) with a keyboard and monitor display measures the temperature and humidity levels of the surrounding air with the help of sensors (13) measuring temperature and humidity levels placed into the suction pipe (4), the temperature and humidity level of the air flowing from the air-cooler/water extractor unit (1) with the help of sensors (13) measuring temperature and humidity levels placed into the sealed tubulature, the temperature and humidity level of the air flowing through the airing platforms (8) with the help of sensors (13) measuring temperature and humidity levels placed into the replaceable adapter (7), the temperature and moisture content of the grain crops stored on the airing platforms (8) with the help of sensors (13) measuring temperature and humidity levels. The purpose-built electronic computer (14) controls the operation of the ventilators of the storage facility with the help of a sensor (19). The purpose-built electronic computer (14) is connected to the air-cooler/water extractor unit (1), the air-heater unit (2) and to the insufflating ventilator (3) with a control cable (15).
The purpose-built electronic computer (14) is connected to the communication device (17) with a data transmission cable (16). This device is capable of sending an alert if necessary via landline or the GSM network. The purpose-built electronic computer (14) is equipped with its own keyboard and display monitor, with the help of which the desired temperature and humidity levels can be set. The purpose-built electronic computer (14) can also be connected to a microcomputer network with an interface cable (20), with the help of which the drying/ventilation/quality preservation process may be controlled completely and followed remotely.
As shown by figure 2. (Fig.2.), the tables constituting the airing platforms (8) are made of perforated steel sheet tops (11 ) with light-weight welded heavy duty frames (12). After being disassembled, they require very little storage room.
By using the suggested device, immediately after harvest dependent on the type of grain, crops with a moisture content of anything up to 22-32 % may be stored in the storage facility foregoing the drying processes used with traditional drying devices, which has economic and environmental advantages. The most important advantage may be that the suggested device performs the drying and also the ventilation procedures as well as the long term quality preservation tasks by changing operational mode. Another advantage of the device is that it may be used in traditional flat houses, flat houses with airing platforms as well as in silos with the help of a replaceable adapter. Further advantages are that the "narrow technological diameter", which is due to the use of traditional drying devices, is eliminated, the value of physical and inner content does not drop even in case of a longer period of storage, the process of ripening post-harvest speeds up, possible heat centres will not form, turning over the heaps of grain becomes unnecessary, and the danger of fungal and insectoid infection is reduced. Utilising a microcomputer network, based on what the grain crops are used for an optimal drying/ventilating strategy may be formed even with simultaneous remote control of several storage facilities.