Validation of a Simulation Model for Wheat Aeration in Argentina

DIEGO DE LA TORRE; RICARDO BARTOSIK; DANIEL PIÑEIRO

Rosario, Argentina

Simposio; CIGR Section V International Symposium; 2009

Sección V de la CIGR

The Post-Harvest Aeration and Storage Simulation Tool - Finite Difference Method (PHAST - FDM) is a mathematical model developed by Purdue University to simulate in-bin aerations or drying processes. This model was previously validated for in bin drying of different grains under the typical storage conditions of USA. The objective of this study was to validate this model for simulating the cooling process of wheat under typical storage conditions of the South-West of the Argentinean pampas. For this validation, 80 tons of wheat were stored and cooled with aeration in a bin at INTA EEA Balcarce. This bin was equipped with an automatic aeration controller operated based on ambient temperature (AT) and relative humidity (RH) limits. The controller was connected to a web server by the cell phone net. The main program of the controller could be monitored or changed on-line, and all critical information was recorded (i.e.: ambient temperature and RH, electricity consumption and the activity of the fan). During the aeration period the grain temperature was monitored every day. The measured and predicted grain temperature during the aeration had a good correlation with a standard error of 3,3°C, maximum and an average of the absolute value of the residuals of 2,8°C.