Near-ambient drying of canola

ABSTRACT Abiotic and biotic changes in stored canola during near-ambient drying were simulated using a coupled drying and deterioration model which simulated grain temperature and moisture content first, then predicted the grain deterioration based on the simulated grain temperature and moisture content. Simulated grain temperatures and moisture contents compared favourably with experimental data collected in two 0.6 m diameter x 3.6 m high bins that were ventilated with ambient air at a flow rate of 5 (L/s)/m3. The maximum discrepancies between simulated and measured grain temperatures and moisture contents occurred in the top layer of the grain bed where the mean absolute differences in temperature and moisture content were 1.5° C and 1.52% wet basis (w.b.), respectively. Comparisons of the simulated deterioration index with quality variables measured in both ventilated and non-ventilated bins showed that the simulation model predicted trends of spoilage of the stored canola.