COMPUTER AID FOR EVALUATION OF ON-FARM STIR DRYING SYSTEMS.

A computer model was developed to provide management information concerning the use of stirring devices in individual layer and batch-in-bin corn drying systems. The model uses specified drying fan and bin information as well as drying temperatures and ambient air conditions to compare stirred and non-stirred drying strategies. The model can be used as a decision making tool to aid the producer in determining the benefits (if any) that a stirring device will provide the individual drying system. The model was also used to compare average daily rates with and without stirring for several fan and bin combinations in a layer drying situation. For the conditions studied the addition of a stirring device did increase drying capacity over that in the non-stirred situation.