Mathematical Modeling of Airflow Distribution in Grain Bulks – a Review

Uniformity of airflow distribution plays an important role during drying and aeration. Good understanding of airflow process in grain bulk helps design-engineers, farmers or grain store managers to make appropriate decisions for preserving grain quality. Mathematical description of movement of air inside the grain mass is a cost-effective method of studying airflow distribution in grain bulks by reducing the number of field trials and labor requirements. This paper presents an overview of reported mathematical models, comparing and contrasting their strengths and weaknesses. The applications of these mathematical models and the expected advancements in this field are discussed.