OPTIMIZATION OF A NEW IN-BIN COUNTERFLOW CORN DRYING SYSTEM

A computer model was validated with experimental data and used to eval uate the performance of a new in-bin counterflow corn drying system. T he recent commercial availability of the new system utilizes a levelin g auger that moreprecisely regulates the bed depth. Drying air tempera ture, initial and final moisture, bed depth, bin diameter, and fan pow er affected drying capacity and specific energy consumption. Optimal b ed depth is critical; given a particular 9.7 kW (13 hp) vane-axial fan , the optimal depth in a 5.5 m (18 ft) diameter bin is 1.5 m (4.9 ft), and the optimal depth in a 9.1 m (30 ft) bin is 0. 8 m (2.6 ft). For the same fan, optimal bed depth corresponded to an airflow of 11.1 m3/ min/t (10 cfm/bu), regardless of bin diameter.