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Title:
STORAGE SYSTEM FOR GRAIN AND OTHER GRANULAR PRODUCTS MAINTAINING CARBONDIOXIDE AND LOW HUMIDITY LEVELS IN A SILO
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2016/171637
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The invention relates to a silo (A) where the products are maintained such that physical, chemical, biological and technological properties of the products such as grain, legume and oily seeds are protected; it consists of at least one cold centre (3) formed in order to control the humidity content inside said silo (A) and formed in order to keep the carbon dioxide formed by respiration inside the silo (A); and at least one porous air dispenser pipe system (5) which is connected to said cold centre (3) and which feeds the air therefrom with high carbon dioxide content but low humidity and oxygen content back to the silo (A) by dispensing it from the silo wall (12) or bottom through the silo (A).

Inventors:
ERBAS MUSTAFA (TR)
Application Number:
PCT/TR2016/050107
Publication Date:
October 27, 2016
Filing Date:
April 11, 2016
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
ERBAS MUSTAFA (TR)
International Classes:
F26B9/06; F26B21/08
Foreign References:
US4043051A1977-08-23
CN102334544B2013-05-01
GB801585A1958-09-17
Other References:
None
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Claims:
CLAIMS

A silo (A) where the products are maintained therein such that physical, chemical, biological and technological properties of the products such as grain (wheat, barley, corn, paddy etc.), legume (chickpea, bean, lentil etc.) and oily seeds (nut, peanut, sunflower, rapeseed etc.) are protected, characterized by:

- at least one cold centre (3) formed in order to maintain the grain water content of the stored products inside said silo (A) at desired levels by controlling the humidity (relative humidity) inside the silo (A);

- at least one porous air dispenser pipe system (5) which feeds the air from the cold centre (3) from the silo wall (12) back to the centre thereof inside the silo (A) as a closed circuit in order to transport the high humidity air between the grains inside said silo (A) to said cold centre (3) in a faster way and in order to enable the air with low humidity and oxygen content but high carbon dioxide content to dominate the atmosphere of the silo (A) in a faster way.

A silo (A) according to claim 1 , characterized in comprising a metal lattice structure (4) the pores of which can vary according to the sizes of the products to be stored in order to prevent the products around said cold centre (3) from entering into the cold centre (3).

A silo (A) according to claim 1 , characterized in that said porous air dispenser pipe system (5) comprises air discharge pores (5.1 ) which are spiral, horizontal or vertical relative to the silo wall from inside or outside of the silo (A).

A silo (A) according to claim 1 , characterized in comprising at least one ventilator (9) enabling the air between the silo walls (12) to be circulated as a closed circuit via said cold centre (3) and porous air dispenser pipe system (5).

A silo (A) according to claim 1 , characterized in that said cold centre is formed by cold substance (liquid nitrogen or dry ice).

A silo (A) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the air drawn from the silo (A) by creating a cold centre (3) outside thereof is fed back into the silo (A) as a closed circuit after the humidity thereof is reduced by passing through said cold centre (3).

Description:
DESCRIPTION

STORAGE SYSTEM FOR GRAIN AND OTHER GRANULAR PRODUCTS MAINTAINING CARBONDIOXIDE AND LOW HUMIDITY LEVELS IN A SILO

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a silo where the products are stored such that physical, chemical, biological and technological properties of the products such as grain, legume and oily seeds are protected.

Especially the invention is designed in order to maintain the grain water content of the granular products stored in the silo and the humidity content (relative humidity) inside the silo under the desired levels and in order to maintain the carbon dioxide which the grains create by respiration; and relates to a cold centre and a porous air dispenser pipe system which feeds the air from the cold centre with high carbon dioxide content but low humidity and oxygen content back into the silo by dispensing it through the silo wall in the silo.

KNOWN STATE OF ART

Grains and other granular products need to be maintained well without being spoiled as they are harvested in a particular period of the year and used for human and animal nutrition all the year round and stored as seeds. Storage is defined as maintaining a variety of products under conditions which protect their amount and quality at maximum levels. In this content, maintaining the grains under conditions which protect the amount and biological, technological, nutritional and sensorial quality thereof is defined as grain storage. Grain storage aims to maintain the food, feed and seed quality of the grain until the next harvest period or more. When the grains are stored under suitable conditions, they can be stored for a long time without losing their quality by their nature.

Around the world, grain agriculture mostly is done in the regions, the climate of which is not suitable for storing in terms of temperature and humidity values. There are various spoilage types such as moulding and infestation in the grains which are stored under high temperature and humidity conditions. In spite of changes by years, about 35 million tons of grain are harvested yearly in Turkey. Storage spoilage in grains is about 10% in Turkey and world although these figures can vary according to the development levels of the countries. This spoilage poses important risks both on the economic losses in the amount and quality of the grains and also on human health. There are also indirect important health risks on human health as the spoiled grains are used for feeding animals. When the grains are stored under bad storage conditions there are amount and quality losses and also this situation causes health problems on humans. As a result of the spoilage of grains which have an important role in nutrition of population, the emergence risk of disorders in population is increased such as cancer by mycotoxins caused by moulding and allergic disorders (such as asthma) caused by residual body parts of pests. In order to store the grains without spoilage, the water content of the grain should be low and this low water content of the grain should be maintained during storage. For a proper storage and continuity of storage, the grains should be clean, mature enough and stable and the grain water content should be lower than 14%, the silo atmosphere humidity should be lower than 65% and temperature of the bulk should be lower than 15°C. Moreover, an oxygen content lower than 2% and/or carbon dioxide content higher than 12% in silo atmosphere have a substantial contribution on a proper storage.

In our day, grain storage methods may vary from primitive methods such as underground wells used since very old times, over-ground bulks and storage in sacks to the methods such as silos having various technological properties. The silos may be produced from concrete or metal in our day; they are made of metal because of their advantages such as installation, transportation and high technology application ease in spite of their high thermal conductivity disadvantage. Metal silos can have various sizes between 10-30 meters in diameter and height.

Similar to all granular products, cereal grain basically consists of replacement food store called as endosperm, a respiring live plant draft that is called as embryo and a multi-layered husk protecting the others. Storage losses arise from the structure of the respiring live grain and common and complex interactions of the variable environmental conditions. Improper storage conditions both accelerate the respiratory activities of grains and increase microbiological activity and pest activities. The most important factors of the losses occurred during grain storage are grain respiration, microbial activity and pest activities. The magnitude of these losses arising from those factors can be basically controlled with grain water content and silo conditions like relative humidity, temperature and composition of the atmosphere. Similar to all live grains, cereal grains get the energy they need in order to maintain their viability through respiration. Respiration is defined as the mechanism of obtaining energy by lysing the glucose obtained from carbohydrates in its structure with oxygen via the help of grain's enzymes. As it can be seen from the reaction below, while carbohydrate content of the grain is consumed via respiration; carbon dioxide, water vapour and heat energy are formed during this process.

C 6 Hi 2 0 6 + 60 2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + 690 kcal (Respiration reaction)

In respiration of the grain, 6 moles of water vapour and 6 moles of carbon dioxide is produced and sent into the silo while 6 moles oxygen is consumed by using 1 mol of glucose. While 60% of the 690 kcal energy obtained by the respiration reaction is used for viability, the rest 40% is radiated into the silo and causes an increase in the internal temperature of the silo. Internal silo temperature which is a consequence rather than being a reason for grain spoilage is followed as an indicative of an intervention in order to prevent spoilage. The main factor for grain spoilage is the water vapour which increases the water content of the grain instead of the temperature during respiration. Water content of grains is more effective than temperature for spoilage of granular products stored under proper conditions. Water vapour formed by the grains during the respiration activity causes the relative humidity inside the silo to increase and relative humidity inside the silo causes the grain water content to increase by reaching the humidity balance of the grain again which is hygroscopic. Increased grain water content accelerates the respiration activity of the grain. If there is no intervention from outside, this situation continues cyclically at an extent which can be dangerous for the storage. Besides; the condensation of the increased relative humidity of the storage on cold surfaces in droplets causes the formation of a quite appropriate environment for microorganism activities and especially for transformation of the mould spores to the vegetative form and for meeting the water need of the pests.

With a change in the storage atmosphere due to the respiration activity of the grains, the oxygen value tends to decrease while carbon dioxide, water vapour and temperature values tend to increase. New silo atmosphere with low oxygen and high carbon dioxide content because of grain respiration exhibits a preservative feature as it supresses the respiration, microbial activity and pest activity. However, the silo temperature, silo humidity and grain water content which increase during respiration exhibit a spoilage increasing feature as it promotes grain respiration, microbial activity and pest activities. Temperature and humidity values of the silos in which grains are stored always tend to increase. In order to control this situation, the most common method in the state of art is aspiration.

The temperature and humidity values of air to be used for aspiration should be lower than the in-silo temperature and humidity values. For this reason, aspiration is based on atmospheric conditions and aspiration may not be used effectively even when there is a need for intervention of the products under risk.

Under conditions where the atmospheric conditions are suitable for aspiration, natural outside air can be used and also air conditioned by reducing the temperature and humidity by coolers can be used. Aspiration used for removing the in-silo atmosphere with high humidity content promoting respiration and for reducing the temperature of the grains also causes the carbon dioxide supressing respiration by being formed with respiration. Additional oxygen in fresh air from aspiration promotes the respiration again which is the principal source of heat and humidity. Moreover, additional oxygen from the aspiration causes the product to be spoiled chemically by promoting lipid oxidation causing rancidity.

For proper grain storage, respiration, grain water and storage humidity and temperature which interact each other in grain silo should be kept under control. In order to prevent economic losses and health risks in grain storage, sanitation of the grains should be provided by pre-cleaning before storing; and during storage process grain water content should be kept under 14%, bulk temperature under 15°C and in-silo relative humidity under 65%.

Consequently, existing techniques used in silos are not effective and advantageous as they cannot control the in-silo humidity efficiently which is the main promotor for spoilage and as they cannot maintain the carbon dioxide which prevent spoilage by being formed naturally as a result of respiration inside the silo.

The presence of the above mentioned problems and the inefficacy of the existing solutions have made new developments necessary in silos which are grain storage systems. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to providing a mechanism inside or outside the silo which meets the above mentioned requirements for silos, which eliminates the disadvantages and which provides additional advantages.

The main object of the invention is to maintain granular products such as grains, legume and oily seeds without any losses in the amount and quality thereof. The invention achieves this aim by discharging the high humidity (relative humidity) formed by grain respiration in silo atmosphere via condensing it inside a cold centre (or at a cold centre which can be formed outside the silo) which can be placed into a lattice, the pore diameter of which is lower than the grains. Additionally, air with low humidity drawn from the lower zone of the cold centre is dispensed by being fed from the silo wall back to the centre via pipes along the silo height; and it will be achieved that high humidity is reduced in cold centre by accelerating the air with high humidity between the grains to cold centre and that the air with low humidity dominates the silo atmosphere in a shorter time.

Moreover, as this system eliminates the need for aspiration, the atmosphere inside the silo will be poor in terms of oxygen which continuously promotes respiration and oxidation while it will be enriched in carbon dioxide which supresses respiration and oxidation. Therefore, the silo atmosphere enriched in carbon dioxide will contribute to protection of the product inside the silo by limiting the grain, mould and pest activities.

With this technique, spoilage of products will be prevented biologically and technologically as in-silo humidity and therefore the grain water content can be kept between desired limits. A cold centre inside or outside a silo for fulfilling the above mentioned objects, characterized in comprising at least one cold centre formed in order to maintain the grain water content and in-silo humidity of the stored products inside said silo at desired levels and at least one porous air dispenser pipe system which is connected to said cold centre and which conveys the air therefrom to each zone inside the silo.

For an embodiment where the cold centre is inside the silo, the structural and characteristic features and all of the advantages of the invention will be understood more clearly via the drawings below and the description in reference to these drawings. Therefore, it will be advantageous that the assessment is performed by taking these drawings and descriptions into account without any limiting effect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure - 1 ; is the demounted view of the silo of the present invention.

Figure - 2; shows the porous air dispenser pipe system which feeds the air with low oxygen and humidity content and with high carbon dioxide content back into the silo and cold centre of the silo of the present invention.

Figure - 3; is the perspective view of the silo of the present invention Figure - 4; is the general mounted view of the silo of the present invention.

The drawings do not need to be scaled and unnecessary details may be omitted which are not needed for the invention to be understood. Moreover, the elements which are substantially identical or which have at least substantially identical functions are denoted with the same number.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

Silo

1 - Main body

2- Upper lid

3- Cold centre

4- Lattice structure

5- Porous air dispenser pipe system which feeds the air with low oxygen and humidity content but high carbon dioxide content back into the silo

5.1 - Air discharge pores

6- Water discharge pipe

7- Atmospheric valve

8- Systems for measuring the humidity, temperature, oxygen and carbon dioxide inside the silo

9- Electrical fan

10- Supporting stem 1 1 - Water collection container

12- Silo wall

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This detailed description is given for a better understanding of the silo (A) which can control the humidity content of the atmosphere of the silo of the present invention via a cold centre and can feed the silo atmosphere with low humidity content back and should not be considered as limiting the invention.

The present invention consists of a main body (1 ) which accommodates all of the elements of the system thereon and which comprises the grain to be stored therein; a lid (2) which avoids contact with the external environment by covering the system; a cold centre (3) which is formed by being connected to a standard cooling cycle in order to condense the humidity inside silo (A) atmosphere or by adding cold substance (liquid nitrogen or dry ice); a lattice structure (4) providing a sap between said cold centre (3) and the stored product; a porous air dispenser pipe system (5) which feeds the air with low humidity and oxygen content but with high carbon dioxide content from said cold centre (3) back to the cold centre (3) through the silo wall (12) along the height of the silo (A); a water collection container (1 1 ) and water discharge pipe (6) which collect and discharge the water formed inside the system; an atmospheric valve (7); measurement systems (8) for measuring humidity and temperature inside the silo (A); an electrical fan (9) which enables the air circulation to be performed as a closed circuit inside the system; and a silo (A) and supporting stems (10) thereof which secure the system to the floor.

The water vapour formed inside the silo (A) is transferred towards the cold centre (3) having low temperatures inside the silo (A) due to its chemical potential and after collected into the water collection container (1 1 ) by condensing on the cold centre (3) it is discharged out through the water discharge pipe (6) and provides an atmosphere with low humidity inside the silo (A).

The air drawn from the cold centre (3) comprising low humid air via a fan (9) operating as a closed circuit is fed back into the silo (A) by the porous air dispenser pipe system (5) through the silo wall (12) along the silo (A). There are air discharge pores (5.1 ) at certain intervals on said pipe system (5). Therefore, it is provided that the air with high humid between the grains transfers its humid to the cold centre (3) in a faster way and that the air with low humid dominates the silo (A) atmosphere in a faster way. Moreover, a protection with carbon dioxide maintenance and with low humid can be provided via a closed circuit air stream by forming the cold centre (3) outside the silo (A). In this system; the humidity of the silo (A) atmosphere drawn over the silo (A) by a fan (9) as a closed circuit is reduced by being passed through the cold centre (3) outside the silo (A) and the air with low humid is fed back into the silo (A) by being dispensed through the silo (A) bottom or silo side walls (12). Therefore, the composition with low oxygen and high carbon dioxide of the silo (A) atmosphere is maintained, the humidity of which is reduced.