Low Temperature Grain Drying with Solar Heat

ADSTRACT LOW temperature in-storage grain drying tests were conducted to determine the effectiveness of solar energy as supplemental heat for drying. A large part of the heat required for drying is supplied by natural air. Tests were made that compared natural air drying to drying with solar heat from a collector system. Drying rate, final moisture content, electrical energy input and grain deterioration during drying were deter-mined. Efficiency of the solar heat systems ranged from 26 to 62 percent and drying with solar heat resulted in final moisture levels up to 2 percent lower than with natural air alone.