Computerized dryer monitoring and drying rate effects on seed corn quality
Baker, Kevin Dean
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Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/19468
Description
Title
Computerized dryer monitoring and drying rate effects on seed corn quality
Author(s)
Baker, Kevin Dean
Issue Date
1990
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Paulsen, Marvin R.
Department of Study
Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Discipline
Agricultural Engineering
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Biology, Botany
Engineering, Agricultural
Language
eng
Abstract
A production seed corn dryer was instrumented and software was developed that enabled a personal computer to collect and record data. Alarms were signaled if the data exceeded pre-established limits. Airflow rate and average moisture content for the ear corn in the bins were estimated from the data. Use of this monitoring system in a production seed dryer should enhance dryer performance and result in higher quality seed by reducing the number and magnitude of operator errors.
F1-hybrid seed corn was harvested and dried in thin layer laboratory dryers. Ears of some samples were broken in half before drying. Some samples were shelled before drying the kernels only. The average rate of drying over the first 24 hours of each test was 25 percent faster for one hybrid than for two other hybrids. Shelled corn dried three times faster, and ears broken in half dried 15 percent faster than corresponding whole ears. The slowest drying hybrid was more susceptible to dryer damage at a temperature of 48$\sp\circ$C than were the two other hybrids. For each hybrid, the rate of germination loss over time was faster for shelled corn than for whole ears. Since faster drying causes greater stress on cell membranes, the data support the hypothesis that membrane damage causes loss of germination when drying temperatures are too high. Since faster drying reduces the duration of seed exposure to damaging temperature and moisture content combinations, the data do not support the hypothesis that loss of germination is entirely due to the cumulative effects of seed exposure to damaging temperature and moisture content combinations.
F1-hybrid seed corn was harvested and dried in laboratory dryers using an airflow reversal procedure. Moisture contents of five layers of ear corn in each dryer were determined throughout the drying period. Greater differences in moisture content among the layers were found at the time of airflow reversal when drying temperatures were highest. The timing of air flow direction reversal through the bed of corn should have been delayed to achieve acceptable uniformity of moisture content when drying air temperature was increased. No differences in germination were found with a maximum drying temperature of 46$\sp\circ$C. Increasing drying air temperature and/or hastening the time of airflow reversal shortened overall drying time and caused no significant difference in overall energy requirements.
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