Grain Drying

Grain drying helps prevent corn, soybeans and other crops from developing mold while being stored. Mold growth can lead to serious health problems while also damaging grains, making grain drying an important process. Mechanical ventilation with low pressure volume blowers, high velocity fans, and other products can reduce these risks.

Importance of Grain Drying for Product and Air Quality

Grains are vulnerable to mold growth when they have high moisture levels and are stored in environments with warmer temperatures, such as over 50 degrees. When moisture levels are too high, grain drying brings them down to levels that do not promote mold growth. If mold is able to grow on corn and other grains, these products can develop diseases and severe damage. 

Mold growth also affects those who work in grain storage areas. Breathing in mold spores from grains can cause respiratory problems and other symptoms, making work conditions unsafe. Mold can begin to grow on stored grains within a few days, so prevention is key to lowering the risks of damage and disease among grains and health hazards for workers.

Types of Mechanical Ventilation for Grain Drying 

Using mechanical ventilation in storage areas helps ensure proper grain drying. Equipment such as low pressure volume blowers and high velocity fans can remove large amounts of moisture from the air, while mancooler fans can keep workers comfortable and safe from health hazards due to poor air quality. I many cases, explosion proof fans, blowers and other equipment are necessary and even required due to the fact that stored grain can create dust and put off gases that are ignitable and explosive if a spark is introduced to the area. 

Low Pressure Volume Blowers

Low pressure volume blowers are built for moving large amounts of air in areas with low-static pressure. This helps keep targeted areas cooler and lowers moisture levels for optimal grain drying conditions. Industrial Fans Direct offers low pressure volume blowers and explosion proof low pressure volume blowers that move up to 1,550 cubic feet per minute (CFM).

Tube Axial Fans

Tube axial fans are made to create large airflow volumes with low pressure, and they do not require as much power to operate as centrifugal fans. At Industrial Fans Direct, our tube axial fans can move up to 60,750 CFM. We have different types of these fans available, including tube axial belt drive fans and tube axial direct drive fans. Belt drive and direct drive fans are suitable for use in dry environments, while tube axial wet environment fans are designed for use in areas with higher moisture levels. For hazardous environments, we carry explosion proof tube axial inline fans. 

High Velocity Fans

At Industrial Fans Direct, we have high velocity fans that move up to 42,500 CFM and explosion proof high velocity fans that move up to 127,500 CFM. High velocity fans are able to blow streams of air over significant distances to remove moisture and provide cooler temperatures, resulting in better air quality. These fans can be set up in larger grain storage areas as needed.

Cooling Fans

Man cooling fans are designed to maintain a comfortable environment for workers in hot or heated areas. Product cooling fans provide a cooler environment for grains to lower the risk of damage and disease caused by mold growth. Industrial Fans Direct carries a selection of man and product cooling fans, as well as explosion proof mancooler fans for more hazardous environments. Our man and product cooling fans can move between 3,050 and 57,200 CFM, while explosion proof mancooler fans can move between 7,400 and 37,000 CFM.

For more information on grain drying solutions, please contact Industrial Fans Direct at 866-727-1060.