APPARENT FLOW COEFFICIENT OF CARBON-DIOXIDE THROUGH WHEAT BULKS

Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the apparent flow c oefficient, an empirical quantity that quantifies the rate of movement of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas through wheat bulks. Dry ice was used as a source of CO2 gas. The effects of temperature (-10 to 30 degrees C), wheat moisture content (11 to 18.5%), and the mass of introduced dry ice (30 to 120 g) on the apparent flow coefficient of CO2 gas through wheat bulks were determined. The apparent flow coefficient increased w ith an increase in temperature and the amount of introduced dry ice. N o significant variation in apparent flow coefficient was observed with a change in moisture content. At all temperatures, moisture contents, and masses of introduced dry ice, the natural logarithm of apparent f low coefficient and time had a linear relationship.