Abstract
An axisymmetric finite element model was developed that takes into account the heat, mass, and momentum transfer that occurs in upright corrugated steel storage structures due to conduction, diffusion, and natural convection. Periods of aeration, dry matter loss distribution, and maize weevil density in corn were estimated. Heat and mass balances were used to calculate the temperature and relative humidity in the headspace and plenum assuming permeable grain surfaces. Two seasons of pilot bin experiments validated the model. The average standard error between the experimental and predicted temperatures was 2.4°C (1.8 to 3.1°C range) and the moisture content was 1.0 percentage point. Non-aerated, automatic ambient aeration, and automatic chilled aeration were evaluated in the replicated pilot bins as alternative methods to control insect development during summer storage. Ambient and chilled aeration reduced development of red flour beetles and maize weevils by 34% and 70% over non-aerated storage, respectively. Two locations were investigated (Indianapolis, IN and Minneapolis, MN) to demonstrate the application of the model to control insects in conventionally sized steel bins that were cooled during the fall and winter. The non-aerated and ambient aerated strategies behaved similarly until late summer when the maize weevil density increased dramatically in the non-aerated bins. Chilled aeration controlled maize weevil density at its initial population, but at an energy consumption of fourteen to sixteen times greater than ambient aeration. The simulation results indicated that automatic aeration increased the average bin temperature relative to non-aerated storage, which negated most of the benefits observed in the pilot bins. An optimal scenario includes ambient aeration during the fall, winter, and early spring with non-aerated storage during the summer. Moisture “migration” in the traditional sense did not occur in a cooled grain mass stored into the summer. Instead a more realistic theory of moisture exchange between the grain mass and headspace and plenum was developed. Permeability had a major influence on the magnitude of moisture accumulation. Moisture accumulation occurred primarily due to natural convection currents that entered and exited the headspace, which can be minimized by proper ventilation.
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Claims 12
Claim · model-written summary
The model predicted temperatures with 2.4°C average standard error.
- Taxon
- corn
Zea mays subsp. mayse1 - Outcome
- average standard error between the experimental and predicted temperaturese0
- Value
- 2.4°Ce0
- Qualifier
- 1.8 to 3.1°C rangee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The average standard error between the experimental and predicted temperatures was 2.4°C (1.8 to 3.1°C range)”
e1“maize weevil density in corn”
Claim · model-written summary
The model predicted moisture content with 1.0 percentage point error.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse1
- Outcome
- moisture contente0
- Value
- 1.0 percentage pointe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the moisture content was 1.0 percentage point”
e1“maize weevil density in corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Ambient aeration reduced red flour beetle development by 34% relative to non-aerated storage.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse1
- Treatment
- Ambiente0
- Interactor
- red flour beetles
Tribolium castaneume0pest - Outcome
- development of red flour beetlese0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- 34%e0
- Comparator
- non-aerated storagee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Ambient and chilled aeration reduced development of red flour beetles and maize weevils by 34% and 70% over non-aerated storage, respectively”
e1“maize weevil density in corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Chilled aeration reduced maize weevil development by 70% relative to non-aerated storage.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse1
- Treatment
- chilled aeratione0
- Interactor
- maize weevils
Sitophilus zeamaise0pest - Outcome
- development of red flour beetles and maize weevilse0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- 70%e0
- Comparator
- non-aerated storagee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Ambient and chilled aeration reduced development of red flour beetles and maize weevils by 34% and 70% over non-aerated storage, respectively”
e1“maize weevil density in corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize weevil density rose sharply in non-aerated bins in late summer.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse1
- Interactor
- maize weevilSitophilus zeamaise0pest
- Outcome
- maize weevil densitye0
- Direction
- increased dramaticallye0
- Qualifier
- non-aerated binse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“late summer when the maize weevil density increased dramatically in the non-aerated bins”
e1“maize weevil density in corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Chilled aeration held maize weevil density at its initial population.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse1
- Treatment
- Chilled aeratione0
- Interactor
- maize weevilSitophilus zeamaise0pest
- Outcome
- maize weevil densitye0
- Direction
- controllede0
- Comparator
- initial populatione0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Chilled aeration controlled maize weevil density at its initial population”
e1“maize weevil density in corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Chilled aeration used fourteen to sixteen times more energy than ambient aeration.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse1
- Treatment
- Chilled aeratione2
- Outcome
- energy consumptione0
- Direction
- greatere0
- Value
- fourteen to sixteen timese0
- Comparator
- ambient aeratione0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“energy consumption of fourteen to sixteen times greater than ambient aeration”
e1“maize weevil density in corn”
e2“Chilled aeration controlled maize weevil density at its initial population”
Claim · model-written summary
Simulation indicated automatic aeration increased average bin temperature versus non-aerated storage.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse1
- Treatment
- automatic aeratione0
- Outcome
- average bin temperaturee0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Comparator
- non-aerated storagee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“automatic aeration increased the average bin temperature relative to non-aerated storage”
e1“maize weevil density in corn”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend ambient aeration in cooler seasons and non-aerated summer storage.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse1
- Outcome
- ambient aeration during the fall, winter, and early spring with non-aerated storage during the summere0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“An optimal scenario includes ambient aeration during the fall, winter, and early spring with non-aerated storage during the summer”
e1“maize weevil density in corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Traditional moisture migration did not occur in a cooled grain mass stored into summer.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse1
- Outcome
- Moisture “migration” in the traditional sensee0
- Direction
- did not occure0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Moisture “migration” in the traditional sense did not occur in a cooled grain mass stored into the summer”
e1“maize weevil density in corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Permeability strongly influenced the amount of moisture accumulation.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse1
- Treatment
- Permeabilitye0
- Outcome
- magnitude of moisture accumulatione0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Permeability had a major influence on the magnitude of moisture accumulation”
e1“maize weevil density in corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Natural convection currents entering and leaving the headspace were the primary cause of moisture accumulation.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse1
- Outcome
- Moisture accumulatione0
- Qualifier
- natural convection currents that entered and exited the headspacee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Moisture accumulation occurred primarily due to natural convection currents that entered and exited the headspace”
e1“maize weevil density in corn”