Abstract
An experimental study was performed to measure static pressure drop across columns of barley grain. It was designed to determine the effect of grain moisture content, grain depth, flow rate, and bin diameter on resistance to airflow. Airflow rates ranged from 0.1 to 0.7 m(3) s(-1) m(-2), moisture content levels were 8.0, 15.0, 17.0 and 21.7% (wet basis), bed depths were 310, 620, 930, and 1240 mm, and bin diameters were 152.4, 203.2 and 254.0 mm. Airflow resistance was accurately described by the well known Shedd's equation. Resistance to airflow decreased with increased grain moisture content and decreased airflow rate and bed depths. The airflow resistance increased as the bin diameter decreased when the moisture content was relatively high.