Dryin'er Down

[biglentil]

Are those short sheets that don't show the same thermal reading heavier gauge that replaced the door before the bin was put on a cone?

Your right! Nothin gets by farma. My explaination did not make sense in my head being a perfect cold rectangle. I only had it running for a few hours when I took that photo the thicker guage of door replacement sheets had not warmed up yet. Thanks farma

A cooked batch of canoli sounds tasty but I hope thats not the case going to rotate shortly will report back then.

[hobbyfrmr]

Sumdum, I could use some type if stir/ rotate system. I looked over the Kongsklide website and did not see what could work to move grain in a bin
I do a lot of recreational augering.

[biglentil]

For light drying Aeration is ok if weather cooperates. Better with supplemental heat but lots of baby sitting, monitoring and recreational augering lol. I wouldnt go so far as setting up mixers. How do you keep the temp cables from getting tangled up in it? How would you confidently know what the grain moisture is without pulling a load out? Best would be a proper grain dryer on natural gas maybe next year. Dial in the ideal moisture level pow done.

[oneoff]

What I'm suggesting is that simple automatic weight measurements at any desired short time period (eg twice an hour or even every minute if you desired) would settle once and for all how aeration drying is progressing or not.
As it stands we continue to get completely conflicting theories from the aeration experts. If it is conceded that only moisturecan be possibly being added to the bin and/or vented to the atmosphere; ...why not do a test of a bin on load cells and once and for all find out if there is any net loss during the day or night; during rain and high humidity or not, during cold or hot weather or not etc.


Otherwise I suggest that the reams of moisture, humidity, dew points and air temperatures data (both inlet and outlet and don't forget the air leakages from seams etc.)are not able to be related at any time to the dry matter that is in any bin.

Why not simply weigh the whole bin as often as desired or necessary though a simple timer or even pressing a button.

And this has been suggested to a certain expert who didn't even catch on to what was said.

Looks like some farmer is going to have to find out what is going on; and thermal imaging is a nice additional twist.

And without researching it thoroughly; I suspect that we are talking about infrared imagery and a comparison to radiant heater coatings might yield some answers to why those panels appear to be behaving differently.

Are those smaller sheets relatively new and shiny compared to the rest of the bin?

[biglentil]

Yes agreed a bin on scales with data logging could definetely yield some useful answers. The study out of Indianhead that suggested that fans should only be ran at night has lead many astray I do believe. Lowering hot grain a couple points yes perfect strategy. Cold damp grain not so much. Once the grain has cooled the drying effect of night air is gone.

Yes I had a look at those sheets today, definetely more sheen compared to the ole galvinized sheets. I did not measure the guage of metal though. Got to wonder if the sheen is reflecting the radiant heat better. Maybe a more efficient process in a new shiny bin. Craziness!

[oneoff]

The first sections of radiant heaters typically are "anodized" with shiny metal to supposedly increase radiation of the heat from the hottest section closest to the burner. I t would be interesting to see if that section is all showing warmer on thermal imaging than any of what should be cooler sections.

Its also possible that thicker sheets could retain more heat than thin sheets after they have reached an equilibrium temperature; that is if the thin sheets cool the nearby grain columnn.

Just thinking out loud, but maybe its the surface coating and its "reflective" or transmissive properties in the infrared wavelengths which are probably what thermal imaging instruments are sensitive to. But there probably isn't much doubt that on that first test bin all the sheets should be the same thickness and surface finish. Come to think of it; why can you see the "Butler " logo at the top of the bin on a thermal image.

That pretty well proves that even paint on that stencil affects what the thermal image camera reports as temperature. Very interesting? What does the back side of the bin look like on camera.?
Probably need the specs and properties of the sensors in the "camera" before jumping to final conclusions

[oneoff]

Woops

Quote
You are at: Monroe Infrared Technology >> Knowledgebase >> A Guide to Thermal Imaging Cameras >> Are there any limitations to thermal imaging cameras?

Are there any limitations to thermal imaging cameras?
Yes! Thermal energy can be reflected off of shiny surfaces such as polished metal and glass. Thermal imaging cameras cannot see through glass which is an immediate indicator of a low tech device claiming to offer ‘infrared imaging’ to the end user. Some tablets and smart phones today tout IR technology yet are actually presenting a visual image that has been digitally manipulated to look like a thermogram. If you stand in front of a window while looking at a thermal imaging camera, you will see yourself in the window because of the thermal energy reflecting off the glass. Regardless of what Hollywood movies may show, infrared cameras cannot see through walls. It is also important to know that thermal imaging cameras should not be used as the deciding factor that a problem exists. Using other instruments such as a borescope, moisture meter, multimeter or blueprint drawing of the building should always be used to confirm what and if a problem exists.


Unquote

[oneoff]

Sounds like "emissivity" is an important factor in interpreting infrared temperatures of metals

[biglentil]

The flir one that I used has two cameras one thermal imaging the other is standard. It uses the regular camera in daylite to improve image quality by providing outlines. In the dark its all thermal.

I find it very useful for scanning for interferrance on the knife of a straight cut header or swather.