Abstract

SOUZA, Cristiano Márcio Alves de; QUEIROZ, Daniel Marçal de  and  LACERDA FILHO, Adílio Flauzino de. Simulation of the corn seed drying process in fixed bed. Sci. agric. (Piracicaba, Braz.) [online]. 2002, vol.59, n.4, pp. 653-660. ISSN 0103-9016.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-90162002000400005.

Artificial drying is one of the main problems of seed production, hence it affects quality of grains, and can decrease considerably their market value. This work aimed to develop a mathematical model to simulate a corn seed drying process. Simulation results were validated by comparison to experimental results. The drying method consisted of a fixed-bed, pre-drying of corn (Zea mays L.) ears, which were then kept on rest for 12 hours. After that the product was threshed and kernels were submitted to a final drying process on a fixed bed dryer: bins with radial air distribution. Air temperature was 42°C; specific air rate of the ear corn dryer was 44.8 m³ min^-1 m^-2 and of the drying bin 5.9 m³ min^-1 m^-2. The error of the average simulation model was 10.88%, which was considered satisfactory.

Keywords : ear corn; dryer; mathematical model.