State and development of grain storage engineering and technologies in Ukraine

Topicality. These researches are due to the grain storage problem, the features of maize grain storage in metal silos under the various environmental factors, as well as more efficient using the material and technical facilities, including the grain storages of new generation. Purpose. To establish the types of grain storage facilities that are most appropriate for storing the yield of different crops, to improve metal silos and maize grain storage technologies. Materials and Methods. During experiments on maize grain storage, we used the metal silo equipped with a system of sensors to measure the temperature in different places of grain heap. We studied two models of grain storages, such as a standard construction (control) and an experimental one thermal isolated with a polyurethane layer. During the storage experiment, grain quality was monitored on grain moisture content, dockage, damage and germination. Results. Different types of grain storage facilities storing main volume of grain harvest were characterized; the technical, economic and technological advantages and disadvantages of grain storage were highlighted; directions for further development are outlined. The features of maize grain storage in the metal silos under influence of external meteorological conditions for 60 day were established. Temperature fluctuations were 7.1–13 °С in grain storage with thermal insulation, 4.5–25.9 °С – without insulation. As a result of significant temperature fluctuations, the grain was moistened by 2.2 %, its acidity increased by 1 degree, germination decreased by 7 %. At the stage of preparation for storage, maize grain should be cleaned to purity of 93–97 % by removing grain impurities. An effective method for this is fractional separation of grain. Conclusions. Thermal insulation of metal silos significantly reduces the negative impact of fluctuations in ambient air temperature, stabilizes the storage mode, and ensures high quality maize grain. The stability of grain during storage increases in the case of selection from it a fraction of grain of small, unfilled, with a low 1000 grain weight. Key words: types of grain storage facilities, metal silo, thermal insulation, maize, quality, cleaning grain before storage