Finite element simulation of temperature variation in grain metal silo

Abstract

This research was conducted to study temperature variation in grain metal silo using Finite Element Method (FEM). A mathematical model was developed, based on conductive heat transfer expressed in Poisson and Laplace Differential models, by discretising the actual temperature variation at 8 hours storage interval for 153 days (May to September). The temperature variations were measured from specified radii (0, 3.25 m and 8.25 m) and at depth of 1.2 m from the base of the grain silo. The results of the simulation were compared with the ambient and measured values, and this agreed with each other. The pattern of temperature at the depth of 1.2 m from the radii of the metal silo did not differ from each other. This may imply that the silo will need aeration at an interval of 8 hours to curtail excessive heat build-up that may lead to deterioration of stored grains and possible structural failure.

Keywords

• finite element
• simulation
• modelling
• temperature variation
• grain metal silo