SIMULATION OF TEl\WERATURE IN GRAIN sao (A CASE STUDY OF THE STRACTEGIC GRAIN RESERVE - MINNA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Weather conditions, which are dependent on geographical location, are the most important factors affecting grain storage temperature. The measurement of temperature in bins is used as a method of detecting deterioration of stored grain since temperature is one of the most crucial factors limiting the distribution and abundance of arthropods and fungi that contaminate stored grain. A mathematical model based on explicit finite-difference method of calculating heat transfer was used to simulate the temperature movement in a cylindrical bin of maize located in Minna with the ambient maximum temperature of 34.2D C for a typical month of January 1995. Simulation results show that temperature of stored maize increases steadily after each time-step of 3500 seconds from an initial temperature of 12.2D C. After about 24 time-steps, the temperature at the centre of the bin was 13.31D C while the exterior boundary rose to 27.55D C. 1.11D C and 15.3~C respectively. This shows an increase of The simulation results could not be validated with actual results for lack of temperature monitors at the complex and maize for storage. However, this work would form a good spring-board for predicting the temperatures in stored grain bins.