COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF TRADITIONAL AND MODERN METHODS OF GRAIN DRYING: CLASSIFICATION AND DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS

Abstract

This paper discusses the main methods of grain drying, their features, advantages and disadvantages. The feasibility of applying various combined drying techniques depending on the state of the grain layer is substantiated. The use of combined drying methods significantly increases process efficiency, reduces energy consumption, and enables flexible drying control. This not only preserves all the valuable qualities of the dried material but, in some cases, enhances them.In industrial dryers, grain typically exists in a dense gravity-flowing, fluidized, or suspended layer. The state of the layer determines the active surface area of the grain in contact with the drying agent, thereby influencing drying intensity.The study explores key technological approaches that enhance grain drying efficiency and outlines the requirements for modern grain dryers. The design of a grain dryer must ensure uniform heating and drying of the grain, with reliable temperature and humidity control throughout the drying process. Modern grain dryers should be versatile, meaning they must be suitable for drying various crop types. The study identifies solutions to reduce the energy intensity of drying and highlights priority directions for improving its efficiency. Factors that enhance grain drying efficiency include increasing the active surface area involved in heat and moisture exchange, preheating the grain before drying, and cooling it afterward.This is achieved through preliminary heating in the stages preceding the drying process. Priority directions for improving grain drying efficiency involve the rational integration of dehydration techniques, intensification of moisture evaporation, and reduction of energy expenditures required for the process. The classification and analysis of existing technological and structural grain dryer designs with cross-flow ventilation have made it possible to identify their limitations. This, in turn, allows for the development of strategies to address these shortcomings and improve the grain drying process.