R. Vance Morey

• University of Minnesota

Supply logistics systems for corn (Zea mays L.) stover and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) with two collection methods, round bales and rectangular bales, are developed. A location in the US Midwest is assumed with corn grown on highly productive crop land and switchgrass grown on less productive land. Bales (15 % moisture wet basis) are stored a...

A complex unsteady-state two-phase kinetic model including reaction kinetics and fluid dynamics was developed for corn stover fluidized bed steam gasification process. The gasification model included an unreacted core shrinking model for char–gas reactions, and a pyrolysis model considering the effect of the particle size on the pyrolysis time and...

A life cycle assessment (LCA) study was conducted to understand and assess potential greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction benefits of a biomass torrefaction business integrated with other industrial businesses for the use of the excess heat from the torrefaction off-gas volatiles and biocoal. A torrefaction plant processing 30.3 Mg h−1 of corn...

Throughout the past two decades, numerous studies characterized the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and net energy balance of corn ethanol production in the USA. A wide range of reported values resulted from differences in the vintage of the data used to evaluate the ethanol conversion technology and the agricultural practices of corn production, wh...

A superheated steam drying (SSD) model was developed in Aspen Plus software to determine energy and water recovery for drying the co-products in a corn ethanol plant. The SSD was integrated into a biomass integrated gasification combined cycle (BIGCC) heat and power production model developed for a 190 million litre per year corn ethanol plant. The...

The objective of this study was to investigate roll press compaction of coarsely ground corn stover and native perennial grasses to produce compacted products with a bulk density of at least 240 kg m−3 for effective truck transport. A pilot-scale roll press compaction machine (520.7 mm roll diameter and 127.0 mm roll width) was used to compress cor...

Torrefaction technologies convert assorted biomass feedstocks into energy-concentrated, carbon neutral fuel that is economically transported and easily ground for blending with fossil coals at numerous power plants around the world without needs to retrofit. Utilization of torrefied biomass in conventional electric generating units may be an increa...

The objective of the study was to investigate roll press compaction of coarsely-ground corn stover and corn cobs to produce compacted products with a bulk density of at least 240 kg/m3 (15 lb/ft3) for effective truck transport. A 44.8 kW (60 HP) demonstration-scale roll press compaction machine [520.7 mm (20.5 in.) roll diameter and 330.2 mm (13.0...

Dry-grind ethanol plants have the potential to reduce their operating costs and improve their net energy balances by using biomass as the source of process heat and electricity. We utilized ASPEN PLUS software to model various technology bundles of equipment, fuels and operating activities that are capable of supplying energy and satisfying emissio...

A life-cycle assessment (LCA) of corn ethanol was conducted to determine the reduction in the life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for corn ethanol compared to gasoline by integrating biomass fuels to replace fossil fuels (natural gas and grid electricity) in a U.S. Midwest dry-grind corn ethanol plant producing 0.19 hm3 y−1 of denatured ethan...

The objective of this study was to investigate roll press compaction of coarsely-ground corn stover and native perennial grasses to produce compacted products with a bulk density of at least 240 kg/m3 (15 lb/ft3). A 44.8 kW (60 HP) pilot-scale roll press compaction machine was used to compress corn stover and native perennial grasses (initial moist...

Compaction characteristics of coarsely ground corn stover and native perennial grasses were investigated using a piston-cylinder compaction apparatus. The inner diameter and height of the cylinder used were 88.7 mm (3.5 in.) and 143.8 mm (5.7 in.), respectively. Three compaction pressures of about 15, 30, and 60 MPa were studied. Corn stover and pe...

The objective of this study was to validate roll press design equations given by Johanson (1965) and Blake et al. (1963). The roll press design equations were validated for pilot-scale roll press compaction data collected for corn stover and native perennial grasses (initial moisture contents of < 20% w.b.) ground using three Mighty Giant tub-grind...

Corn cobs are potential feedstocks for producing heat, power, fuels, and chemicals. Densification of corn cobs into briquettes/pellets would improve their bulk handling, transportation, and storage properties. In this study, densification characteristics of corn cobs were studied using a uniaxial piston-cylinder densification apparatus. With a maxi...

We evaluated the economics, energy inputs, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for a proposed "field to facility" corn stover logistics system. The system included collection and transport by round bales to local storages within 3.2 km (2 mile) of the field during the fall harvest period followed by processing at the local storage sites throughout t...

Biomass integrated gasification combined cycle (BIGCC) systems and natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) systems are employed to provide heat and electricity to a 0.19 hm3 y−1 (50 million gallon per year) corn ethanol plant using different fuels (syrup and corn stover, corn stover alone, and natural gas). Aspen Plus simulations of BIGCC/NGCC systems ar...

A life-cycle assessment (LCA) of corn ethanol was conducted to determine the reduction in the life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of corn ethanol compared to gasoline by integrating biomass fuels in a 190 million liter (50 million gallon) per year dry-grind corn ethanol plant to replace fossil fuels (natural gas and grid electricity). The bio...

Superheated steam drying (SHSD) is a process that uses steam heated beyond its boiling point, in lieu of air, in a direct contact dryer to remove moisture from the wet material. Moisture removed in the form of superheated steam is readily condensed to provide heat for other applications and to recover the liquid water. A SHSD model was developed in...

Performances of two commercial grinders [349 and 463 kW (475 and 630 HP)] were studied to produce coarsely ground particles from round-baled, plastic net-wrapped corn stover and native perennial grasses. The effects of grinder screen size [19.1 mm (0.75 in.) to 127.0 mm (5.0 in.)] and feedstock on the particle size, bulk density, throughput, and sp...

A constitutive model (i.e., stress–natural strain and strain rate relationship) was developed for predicting and characterising the compression behaviours of corn stover and switchgrass grinds. The constitutive model characterised the biomass as an elasto-visco-plastic solid through five model parameters: elastic modulus, strength coefficient, stra...

Corn stover and switchgrass are two important feedstocks considered for producing renewable fuels and energy in the US. Densification of these biomass feedstocks into briquettes/pellets would help reduce the problems and costs of bulk transportation, handling, and storage of biomass feedstocks. In this study, the role of the natural binders in corn...

We evaluated a corn stover logistics system that included collection and transport by round bales to local storages within 3.2 km (2 miles) of the field during the fall harvest period. This stage was followed by processing at the local storage sites throughout the year using mobile units which converted the bales to bulk material by tub-grinding an...

Biomass Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (BIGCC) technology can be used to generate process heat and significant amounts of electricity at dry-grind ethanol facilities by utilizing the ethanol process co-products and other biomass sources. These systems can reduce fuel costs for ethanol plants, improve the renewable energy balance of dry-grin...

Dry-grind ethanol plants have the potential to reduce their operating costs and improve their net energy balances by using biomass as the source of process heat and electricity. We modeled various technology bundles of equipment, fuels, and operating activities that are capable of supplying energy and satisfying emissions requirements for dry-grind...

Effectiveness of a densification process to create strong and durable bonding in densified products such as pellets, briquettes, and cubes can be determined by testing the strength (i.e., compressive resistance, impact resistance, and water resistance), and durability (i.e., abrasion resistance) of the densified products. These tests can indicate t...

Corn stover and switchgrass, potential biomass feedstocks for bioenergy and bioproducts industries, are often harvested during a limited harvest season and stored as bales with bulk densities of about 100 to 200 kg m -3. Because of low bulk density, corn stover and switchgrass are difficult to handle, transport, store, and use in their natural form...

Several technology options are available that can help improve the sustainability of ethanol production from corn. Dry-grind ethanol process coproducts and other nearby biomass resources can be used to produce process heat and electricity at ethanol plants. These biomass fuels can reduce process energy costs, provide a consistent source of renewabl...

Transforming biomass into a product with bulk density of 240 kg/m3 (15 lb/ft3) would enhance logistics of truck transport to users throughout the year. We evaluated a system involving tub-grinding followed by roll-press compaction to increase the bulk density of biomass such as corn stover, corn cobs and native perennial grasses. Preliminary experi...

Biomass co-products from the dry-grind ethanol production process and/or corn stover are potential sources for the energy needed to operate the plant. The ethanol plant co-products alone contain sufficient energy to meet the electrical and thermal needs of the plant as well as to produce excess power that can be sold. Fuel characteristics of co-pro...

Densification of switchgrass into briquettes contributes to efficient handling, transportation, storage, and use in bioenergy applications. The effects of fine grinding of switchgrass, adding biomass-based binders (corn stover, corn distillers dried grains with solubles, and starch), and mixing commercial chemical feed binders (lignin-sulfonate, li...

Corn stover and switchgrass are two important feedstocks considered for producing renewable fuels and energy in the U.S. Densification of these biomass materials into briquettes or pellets would help reduce the problems and costs of transportation, handling, and storage. The objective of this study was to investigate the binding mechanisms of corn...

Current large scale biomass energy production systems including cellulosic ethanol, gasification, and pyrolysis facilities face significant technical and economic hurdles. Compared with these large scale systems, small distributed biomass energy production systems (DBEPS) are believed to offer advantages including lower capital costs, lower feedsto...

A model for predicting mortality of Indianmeal moth larvae [Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)] under fluctuating low-temperature conditions was developed. The time and temperature combinations required to achieve 100% mortality of field-collected, cold-acclimated P. interpunctella larvae obtained from laboratory mortality expe...

Aeration management strategies were developed to control cold-acclimated and diapausing Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), larvae in grain bins during winter in north- and east-central regions of the US. The application in this study focuses on corn because it is the dominant crop in these regions, but we believe that the analyses can...

Tilman et al. (Reports, 8 December 2006, p. 1598) argued that low-input high-diversity grasslands can provide a substantial proportion of global energy needs. We contend that their conclusions are not substantiated by their experimental protocol. The authors understated the management inputs required to establish prairies, extrapolated globally fro...

The effects of fine grinding of switchgrass, adding biomass based binders (corn stover, corn Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS), and starch), and mixing commercial chemical feed binders (lignin-sulfonate, lime, and sodium bentonite) on the switchgrass briquette durability were investigated using a uniaxial, piston-cylinder densification a...

Carbon dioxide is one of the most important chemical compounds of human, animal, and plant lives, and environmental health. Because of several desirable characteristics of carbon dioxide in gas, solid, liquid, and supercritical states such as inertness, non-explosiveness, non-corrosiveness, high volatility, cooling ability, and low-cost, carbon dio...

Experiments on briquetting of corn stover and switchgrass were conducted in a pilot-scale roll press briquetting machine. Briquettes were of almond shape with 28.7 to 31.3-mm in length. The effects of briquetting machine variables such as screw feeder and roll speeds, and biomass variables such as particle size, moisture content, and steam conditio...

Densification characteristics of the powders are usually studied in the laboratory using a closed-end, piston-cylinder densification apparatus. During compression of powders in this type of apparatus, some amount of air can be entrapped in the powder mass due to inadequate deaeration, which may result in high expansion of pellets/briquettes after e...

Biomass can provide electricity and process heat at dry-grind ethanol plants to both reduce costs and improve the net energy value of ethanol production. Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), which are coproducts of ethanol production, can potentially be used for energy. Corn stover is another potential biomass energy source for ethanol pla...

Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), has been classified as one of the most cold-tolerant pests of stored grain. In this study, the supercooling point (SCP) of field-collected, cold-acclimated fifth instars was determined as an index of cold hardiness. In addition, mortality of laboratory-reared and field-collec...

Fuel and emission characteristics of co-products of the ethanol dry-grind process (distillers wet grains (DWG), concentrated distillers solubles (referred to as "syrup"), and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS)), and corn stover are evaluated. Biomass co-products from the dry-grind ethanol production process, particularly DDGS, are good so...

A model for predicting mortality of Indianmeal moth larvae [Plodia interpunctella (Hübner)] under changing low-temperature conditions was developed. The time and temperature combinations required to achieve 100% mortality of field-collected, cold-acclimated P. interpunctella larvae obtained from laboratory mortality experiments were used to develop...

Densification characteristics of corn stover and switchgrass were studied under uniaxial compression. The effects of pressure (100 to 150 MPa), moisture content (10 to 15%), particle size (0.56 to 0.80 mm), and preheating temperature (75 to 150oC) on the densification characteristics of corn stover and switchgrass were studied. Under room temperatu...

The objective of the present study was to develop processes for liquefaction of solid biomass and explore the potential of making biopolymers from the liquefied biomass. In this study, corn stover was liquefied under acidic conditions, and several polymer materials were subsequently prepared from the liquefied biomass. Liquefaction was conducted us...

A computer simulation model for predicting temperatures of headspace air and the top meter of grain under both naturally and mechanically ventilated grain bin conditions is presented. Headspace air temperature was estimated using energy balances for the bin roof, exposed wall in the headspace, and headspace air exchange as a result of both natural...

Survivability of Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), larvae fed a standard laboratory diet and whole corn with 0, 5 to 7, and 100% broken corn kernels, was assessed under laboratory conditions at 28°C, 65% relative humidity, and 14:10 h (L:D) photoperiod. A conventional yellow dent corn hybrid (about 3.9% oil...

Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), is classified as a freeze-intolerant organism and one of the most cold-tolerant stored-product pests. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between mortality at low temperatures after minimum exposure and the supercooling point (SCP) for laboratory-reared P. interpunctella at...

Survivability of Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), larvae fed a standard laboratory diet, whole corn with 0% broken kernels, whole corn with 5 to 7% broken kernels, and 100% broken corn kernels were assessed in our laboratory at 28oC, 65% RH, and 14 h light :10 h dark photoperiod cycle. A conventional low-oil yellow dent corn (about...

Densification characteristics of corn stover under single and multiple compression cycles was studied. Under single compression at 100 to 150 MPa pressures, pellets with relaxed densities of 830 to 1000 kg m-3 were produced at 10 to 15% moisture contents. The durability of pellets ranged from 52 to 84%. Moisture content (10 to 15%) and corn stover-...

A simple method to obtain predetermined constant cooling rates for insect supercooling point (SCP) determination is described. A transient heat transfer equation was used to design polystyrene cubes of different sizes to yield constant rates of cooling at their centers when held at a constant surrounding temperature. Cubes of 0.29 x 0.29 x 0.29 m a...

Aeration management strategies were developed to control cold-acclimated and diapausing Indian meal moth larvae in grain bins in north- and east-central regions of the U.S during winter. Contour maps showing hours below –10 oC for the months of December, January, and February were developed to help effective planning and management of aeration to c...

A computer model and 34 years of weather data for five Midwest locations (St. Paul, Minn.; Fargo, N.D.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Des Moines, Iowa; and Indianapolis, Ind.) were used to simulate reconditioning of 10% moisture (wet basis) soybeans to a target final moisture of 13%. A more complete set of conditions was evaluated for St. Paul and a smaller s...

The objectives of this study were to compare the relative storability between five pairs of normal-oil content and high-oil content corn hybrids, and between five pairs of conventional and Bt corn hybrids, stored at 20 o C (68 o F) and at two different moisture values (19, and 22%, wet basis). Hybrids compared in a pair had similar parent genetics....

Following harvest, corn raised for grain is subject to infection and deterioration due to storage fungi. Laboratory storage studies done on yellow dent corn in the 1960s established dry matter loss, as estimated by CO2 evolution during storage, to be a usable indicator of corn deterioration during storage. As a result of these studies, equations we...

The overall objective of this study was to determine whether storage time or storage method for corn (Zea mays) samples had any effect on corn storability test results. Storability tests involved determination of dry matter loss over time by measuring carbon dioxide produced through respiration by grain storage fungi growing on corn kernels and by...

In examining the quality of wheat for pricing purposes, or the scab-resistance of wheat as required for breeding research, it is important to rapidly determine the weight percentage of scabby kernels (WPSK). This study involved development of an automatic system to perform such tasks. This system is based on the color features of scabby kernels cap...

The work reported indicates that there could be a potential of ground water pollution by NO3-N from turkey facilities built on both sandy and clay soils. At four different depths (30.54, 61.08, 91.62, and 122.16 cm), the NO3-N levels for the clay soil were 1572, 497, 66, and 28 ppm, and those for the sandy soil were 293, 425, 324, and 164 ppm, resp...

Measured deterioration rates as indicated by carbon dioxide evolution for shelled corn (Zea mays) stored under changing temperature conditions were compared to those predicted using equations developed by Steele (1967) and Thompson (1972). Treatments included corn moistures of 18, 22, and 26% (wet basis), step-changes in temperature from 15 to 25°C...

This article reports the relationship between dry matter loss (DML) and corn (Zea mays) quality as indicated by total damaged kernels (DKT). The level of DKT for a given level of DML varied with moisture and mechanical damage. For a maximum acceptable DKT level of 5%, it was found that allowing corn to reach 0.5% DML resulted in unacceptable corn q...

The effect of scab (Fusarium head blight) on storability of three varieties of hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) grown in several locations and in two years was studied. Samples of scab-infected hard red spring wheat were collected from west-central and northwest Minnesota after harvest in 1994 and 1995. Half of each sample was passed over...

The fungicide iprodione was applied with two different amounts of water carrier, 3.29 and 5.48 mL/kg wet corn, to study its effect on the allowable storage time (time to lose 0.5% of original dry matter) for shelled corn (Zea mays) at 18 and 22% moisture (wet basis) and 20°C. Allowable storage time was determined by measuring the amount of carbon d...

The effect of mechanical damage on corn (Zea mays) storability as determined by carbon dioxide production and dry matter loss (DML) caused by fungi was quantified. Corn allowable storage time (AST) decreased as percent mechanically damaged kernels increased from 0 to 40%, but AST was relatively constant for damage levels of 40 to 50%. Mechanical da...

The effectiveness of many color image analysis and classification methodologies depends on the constancy of the scene illumination. In reality, scene illumination often changes over time. In this article, we present a simple, but effective method for calibration to improve color image classification with changing illumination. Color changes due to...

Machine vision algorithms were developed for measuring corn (Zea mays) kernel mechanical damage and mold damage. Mechanical damage was determined using both single-kernel and batch analysis by extracting from kernel images the damaged area stained by green dye and by calculating the percentage of total projected kernel surface area that was stained...

Variations in ambient temperatures cause safe moisture contents of stored grain to become unsafe due to migration or redistribution of moisture within storage. This study uses a previously developed generalized numerical model of the moisture migration process, which can be used to predict the temperature, moisture, and natural convection air-flow...

Thermal gradients that develop due to the seasonal variations in ambient temperatures cause natural convection air-flow and migration of moisture within bulk grain. In this article, a mathematical model of moisture migration is developed by reflecting the change in air moisture on the grain moisture through the sorption isotherm. Thus, the effect o...

The effects of hybrid and mechanical damage on equilibrium relative humidity (ERH) and allowable storage time (AST), as determined by CO 2 production and dry matter loss caused by fungi, were measured for shelled corn. The results were used to study the relationship between ERH and AST. Corn with 16% mechanical damage had lower ERH than corn with 2...

Seasonal variations in ambient temperatures can cause safe moisture contents of stored grain to become unsafe due to migration or redistribution of moisture within the storage. Such migration of moisture generally occurs due to thermal gradients in the stored grain and depends on various factors related to the grain quality, bin size, and local cli...

We used an ambient-air grain drying model and 36 years of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, weather data to study possible ways to reduce energy use for corn drying. Management strategies included: using lower airflow and accepting lower probability of success; using mold-resistant corn varieties or mold inhibitors; switching to time-of-day electric...

Self-sustained air gasification of corncobs was conducted using a gasifier-combustor system to provide data for validating a numerical gasifier model. Performance of the gasifier was analyzed with test results obtained at two bed temperatures (920 and 1050 K).

A one-dimensional, steady state, numerical model was developed for a fluidized bed biomass gasifier. The gasifier model consists of a fuel pyrolysis model, an oxidation model, a gasification model and a freeboard model. Given the bed temperature, ambient air flow rate and humidity ratio, fuel moisture content and reactor parameters, the model predi...

Pyrolysis of corncob particles was conducted in nitrogen in an externally heated benchscale fluidized bed reactor. Test results are presented with a demonstration of their application in gasification modeling.

Static pressure and airflow distribution along a corrugated plastic aeration duct under grain were predicted with a computer model for both positive and negative pressure systems. The model included experimentally determined relationships for friction loss, pressure loss through slots in the duct wall, pressure drop through the grain surrounding th...

A low temperature, low airflow corn drying model was used to examine different fan control strategies for finishing ambient air corn drying in the spring. The major objective was to obtain a more uniform final corn moisture content through the bin than is currently possible with continuous fan operation. Twenty three years of weather data for St. P...

Methodology for rapid collection of equilibrium relative humidity (ERH) data for grains and seeds has been developed. It is used to study the effects of variety, year grown, hysteresis and drying treatment on the ERH of yellow dent corn. Variety and year grown have a significant effect on ERH isotherms. Hysteresis occurs over almost all of the RH r...

Four equilibrium moisture content/equilibrium relative humidity (EMC/ERH) equations (Modified-S.M. Henderson, D.S. Chung H.B. Pfost, Modified-G. Halsey and Modified-C.R. Oswin) are evaluated for their ability to fit data for grains and seeds. Thirty-six data sets comprising 18 crops are included. Comparisons are based on mean relative percentage de...

The temperature distribution of non-Newtonian fluids in laminar flow heated in a double tube heat exchanger was compared to predictions by analytical and numerical methods. Temperature-dependent rheological properties were incorporated into the appropriate models and correlations for heat transfer coefficients were developed in dimensionless from f...

Design and development of a mobile forced-air cooler with 35 kw (10 ton) refrigeration capacity is described. Cooling air is moved downward through the product which is packed in boxes with venting in the bottom to allow airflow. Boxes are stacked on special plywood pallets which are moved into and out of the cooler through doors on either side. A...

Experimentally determined thermal properties of a broccoli stalk were supplied to a simplified stalk heat transfer model - an axisymmetric finite element model - to simulate the temperature field of the stalk in a precooling process. Temperature differences between the simulated values and the values measured in a laboratory forced-air cooler were...

A system to collect, transport, process, dry and burn corncobs to provide heat for drying corn is described. Approximately 800 t were dried over three seasons. Exhaust gases were mixed directly with ambient air to provide drying air in the range of 90 to 110 degree C. The mixture did not adversely affect the color or odor of the shelled corn during...

A 15.2 cm (6 in) diameter fluidized bed reactor was evaluated in combustion and gasification modes using hammer milled corncobs with average particle size of 0.2 cm (0.08 in). Combustion tests were run at 10 and 32% w.b. moisture contents and 710 degrees C and 815 degrees C bed temperatures. Heat output rates of 13.4 to 16.2 MJ/h were achieved. Gas...

A new procedure to determine the moisture diffusion coefficient data for corn components was developed. The diffusion coefficient data for corn components were modeled as a function of moisture content. It was found that the diffusion coefficient for the germ is the largest, followed by floury, and horny endosperm, and then by pericarp.

Litter characteristics are presented for samples from four locations including two types of facilities and three locations within each facility. Moisture contents ranged from 25 to 55% w. b. Ash contents ranged from 17 to 25% on a dry matter basis. Energy contents were approximately 20 MJ/kg of ash free dry matter. Phosphorous, potassium, calcium,...

Moisture content predictions from the deep-bed drying model using a thin-layer equation were compared to moisture contents measured in four laboratory experiments. Good agreement was obtained between predicted and measured results. Drying rates predicted with these equations were slower than the measured results. The effect of the thin-layer equati...

Four samples of turkey litter ash residue (produced in fluidized-bed reactor) have been evaluated for phosphorus bioavailability utilizing a turkey growth assay with bone ash as the response criterion. Availabilities obtained were 80.6, 87.5, 77.6, and 72.4% in comparison to availability from calcium phosphate monobasic monohydrate at 100. Although...

A system to collect, transport, process, dry and burn corncobs to dry shelled corn was evaluated. A mixture of shelled corn and cobs was harvested and transported to the drying facility where a continuous, automated system separated, dried and conveyed cobs to the combustor, a two-stage downdraft device with a 400 to 800 kW heat output. Exhaust pro...

Thin-layer drying rates for yellow dent corn were determined as affected by drying air temperature, airflow rate, initial moisture content, and relative humidity. Drying air temperature had the greatest effect on drying rates. Initial moisture content also influenced drying rates. Airflow and relative humidity had smaller effects.

Thin-layer drying rates of sunflower seed were determined experimentally as a function of temperature, relative humidity and initial moisture content. The data were fit to several thin-layer drying models. The drying air temperature had the greatest effect on drying rate. Although the sunflower seed has a shape and dimension different from other gr...

A system to collect, transport, process, dry and burn corncobs to dry shelled corn was evaluated. A mixture of shelled corn and cobs was harvested and transported to the drying facility where a continuous, automated system separated, dried and conveyed cobs to the combustor. Exhaust products were put directly into the drying air without adversely a...

A study of variation in moisture content, air temperature, breakage susceptibility and germination of corn across the column of a crossflow dryer is reported. A farm-size batch dryer was modified for sampling at any time during the drying cycle. Gradients across the column as great as 20 percent for moisture content and 50 percent for breakage susc...

A chemical equilibrium model of combustion is used to calculate equilibrium compositions of corn cob flames. The model is discussed qualitatively. The results of the model are compared to measurements made in a two-stage downdraft combustion process. ref.