Fan technology and energy requirements

Drying, ventilation and cooling are a ‘must’ when it comes to storing your high-value crops. Although the grain is stored in dry and stable conditions, it should still be maintained to avoid a build-up of heat and toxins. At the same time, farmers are bound by EU regulations on energy efficiency, which can be hard to comply with if facilities do not run regularly. A vital component of this is the blower, which is connected to the facilities. Fan technology allows you to make a long list of small adjustments which can make a big difference - and be the key to meeting those statutory energy requirements.

The challenge of periodic operation and energy saving

The EU regulations on regular operation mean that all facilities for storing grains must meet a number of energy saving requirements. But facilities for drying, ventilation and cooling are normally in operation for several weeks or months, and then left idle again. This makes it difficult to keep their operation energy-efficient because, for example, the fans only run periodically and at maximum performance.

That’s why the blower is the key to the solution

It’s also why the fans on both large and small grain facilities are a vital part of the solution to the challenge of making the necessary energy savings. Fan technology enables you to make a long list of small adjustments that can make a big difference. Energy consumption is reduced significantly with the right back-pressure and correct capacity in relation to the type of facility.

At SØBY we have spent a great deal of time making fine adjustments to the fans’ design and durability. This ensures a very high degree of operational safety and long product life span. Altogether, an assurance of the necessary savings and top quality, of both facilities and crops.

We recommend: fan types for high, low or wet grain layers

When choosing the optimal fan, it’s important to look at the conditions in which the facility will be working. Ventilation is affected by the grain layer’s size, thickness, height, water column pressure, and types of crops. For example, the fan can switch off if the capacity has been miscalculated in relation to the size of the grain layer - or the crops can develop toxins if the build-up of heat is too high. Finally, an important piece of the puzzle is whether the blower is able to tolerate outdoor mounting.

We usually recommend two fan types, which are suitable for different crop stores and conditions: high-pressure fans and low-pressure fans for different pressures and air volumes - and can be combined if the crops have to be dehumidified at the same time.

• In tall steel silos for ventilation, we recommend fans with a high pressure. The fan must have the capacity to ventilate a high grain layer, which may otherwise make quality assurance difficult. There may be a need to mount several fans, or combine them with other types - for example, if the grain is wet.
• If the grain is wet, and needs to be dried in a dry silo or on-floor storage, we recommend a low-pressure fan, which uses a larger volume of air. If heat is added, the grain is dried very efficiently in this way.
• For ventilation and cooling in on-floor storage, both high and low-pressure fans can be used, depending on the size of the storage.

If you would like to research the subject a little more, visit the product page for SØBY's fan technologies, or watch the animation of a grain pump loop.