Measurement and Modeling of Airflow Resistance in Two Potato Varieties Pile

The rate of static pressure drop of air passing through the mass of agricultural products is one of the basic data for selecting the fan used in aeration or dryer systems. In this study, the amount of static air pressure drop through the masses of Agria and Marfona cultivars was measured using a simulator device consisting of an air compressor, a rotameter, a cylindrical bin, and a U-shaped barometer and their regression relationship with some parameters such as depth of mass, moisture content and percentage of unwanted materials (soli &, etc.) were defined by using of Shedd’s model. According to these tests: As the air velocity increases from 0.085 to 0.53 (m/s), the static air pressure drop increases too. By each 25 cm increase in the depth of Agria and Morfona potatoe piles, the static pressure will be dropped by 1.49 and 1.53 times respectively. With each 2% increase of soil and other impurities in the potato pile, the rate of air pressure drop in the potato mass of Agria and Marfona increases 1.36 and 1.33, respectively. At similar airflow rates, potatoes with higher moisture content showed fewer static pressure drops. The airflow resistance of the Agria potato piles measured 4 to 6% more than the Marfona cultivar, at the same condition.