Problems and prospects of grain aeration technologies

The article analyses grain bulk, being man-made ecological system, where biotic components and their abiotic environment interact with each other. The article determines physical properties of grain bulks and air flow underlying grain aeration processes. It summarizes and classifies technological problems of grain safety which can be solved by aeration. It reveals significant problems associated with increasing preservation of freshly harvested grain. The problem is the presence of small and light impurities in grain mass, which are source of harmful microorganism concentration. The study reveals the main problems of grain aeration drying with additional heating of atmospheric air and presents their possible solutions. Aeration rate limit values are given for performing the main technological operations of grain safety. The article demonstrates importance of grain hygroscopic properties for its aeration, and moisture movement balance at different values of water vapor partial pressures in air and grain.