ANÁLISES TÉCNICA E FUNCIONAL DE UM SISTEMA DE BENEFICIAMENTO DE CEREAIS OPERANDO COM MILHO SAFRINHA

Abstract

The aim of this work was analyze technical and operationally an unit of processing and storage ofagricultural products, aiming to identify problems and causes of quantitative and economic losses in the system,and evaluate equipment’s and procedures adopted by the unit. The study includes all the post-harvest stages, withemphasis on cleaning, drying and storage of maize (Zea mays L.) grains from the second crop in northern Paraná. Theprocedure of the tests was based on the quantification of the initial, intermediate and final characteristics of productsand processing operations in order to determine the operability and efficiency of the equipment. The main observationswere poor operating capacity and efficiency of equipments, which, together with not recommended operating practices,caused losses by excessive drying 0.52% and breakage 0.80%.

Keywords

• Operating capacity
• efficiency of the system
• grain drying
• moisture
• Zea mays L.