The predicted performance of a mixed-flow grain drier

A computer simulation was used to examine the effects of drying air temperature, air flow rate and drier size on the predicted performance of a mixed-flow grain drier. Performance was analysed in terms of grain throughput, specific energy consumption, and maximum and output grain temperatures. Increasing the energy input to a given size of drier, by increasing either air temperature or air flow rate, increased grain throughput. The use of higher temperatures gave lower specific energy consumptions, whereas higher air flows increased specific energy consumption. For a constant energy input, increasing either the drier size or number of grain beds in the drier improved performance.