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When it comes to bulk grain storage in silos, discussions often revolve around aeration, fumigation, and structural integrity. Yet, the most underrated—but crucial—element is the Temperature Monitoring (TM) system. Many silo operators invest in TM systems, but unfortunately, that’s where the precision often ends. Improper installation, insufficient number of sensors, or poorly placed cables—especially across the height and diameter of the stored material—render the system ineffective. A TM system is only as good as its installation and configuration. Why Temperature Monitoring is Essential: Temperature Monitoring is the most reliable non-invasive method for assessing the health of stored grains. More than just a display of numbers, it acts as an early warning system—providing real-time data that helps detect potential issues before they escalate. A temperature rise in any section of the grain mass is usually the first sign of trouble. It can signal: Development of hotspots Onset of insect infestation Moisture accumulation due to condensation, uneven grain moisture, or even leaky silo sheets When correctly installed and monitored, your TM system doesn’t just alert you to issues—it guides you in applying targeted corrective actions. Common Mistakes in TM System Implementation: Despite its importance, TM systems are often misunderstood or underutilized. The most frequent issues include: Inadequate number of sensors based on silo size Incorrect sensor placement, ignoring depth and diameter coverage Improper cable anchoring, causing them to shift or collapse under grain pressure Software misconfiguration, leading to missed alarms and data misinterpretation Proper installation ensures the sensors maintain their position despite grain pressure and continue to deliver accurate readings. This is the foundation of a trustworthy TM system TM System: More Than Just Monitoring: Think of your TM system as your grain storage’s command center. With the right setup: It offers real-time visibility into the condition of stored grains Prevents over-aeration or poorly timed aeration Reduces reliance on guesswork or frequent manual inspections Helps maintain grain quality, reduce losses, and improve ROI Half the Job is Installation, Half is Configuration: Even the best hardware fails if the software doesn’t alert you when something’s wrong. Custom-configured alarms for temperature thresholds and rising trends are essential. Your TM system should: Highlight abnormal patterns Alert you when conditions cross safe limits Log historical data for audits and analysis Corrective action begins with detection, and that starts with a well-designed TM setup. Visual Guidance: Below is a recommended cable placement diagram that shows optimal sensor distribution across silo height and diameter.   In silo management, what you don’t see can hurt you. Temperature Monitoring is not an optional feature—it’s a necessity. When done right, it becomes your first line of defense against spoilage, infestation, and moisture-related losses. Let’s stop treating TM systems as an accessory. It’s time we make it central to our bulk storage strategy.

Introduction: Paddy is unique among food grains due to its post-harvest behavior, especially its moisture sensitivity. Efficient handling and drying play a crucial role in ensuring high-quality rice production and energy-efficient processing. All the food grains except paddy are lesser complex. Paddy needs some extra care to make best out of it commercially as well as technically. The toughest part of handling the paddy is moisture management. Be it from the field after harvesting or receiving the high levels of moisture at the mill. Paddy above 20% needs a careful handling. The moisture we measure e.g. 12% is always a weighted average where the range of moisture may be between 11 to 14%. Single grain moisture meter measuring the moisture of 100 grains give much better idea about the range. The regions where the paddy moisture during harvest season is more than 20% as an average and 25% as maximum need to be carefully handled. The diagram as a layout is suggestively recommending how to sort the moisture ranges of 2% each and dried separately. The mixture of 12 to 20% will consume more energy for drying and would have moisture of grains below 12% and still undried kernels above 13% as well. The layout is simple with minimum level of automation; one can fully automate it as well having single chain conveyor with single elevator. Key Benefits of Moisture Sorting: Reduces energy consumption during drying Prevents over-drying (which leads to cracks and quality loss) Improves mill efficiency and final grain quality Helps avoid mold formation and spoilage during storage Tips for Moisture Sorting: 🌾 Tip: Always sort paddy by 2% moisture ranges (e.g., 12–14%, 14–16%, etc.) before drying to optimize energy use and preserve grain integrity. Conclusion: Reinforce the takeaway and suggest potential next steps or tools. With simple layout modifications and strategic sorting based on moisture ranges, both small and large mills can improve the technical and commercial value of paddy. Automation can be introduced gradually to scale operations.  

As per the last week blog: https://lotusharvestec.com/storage-technicalities/ Three datas like EMC, Warehousing duration and Weight loss upon drying burst myths of aerating the silos. By aeration of the silos we expose our stored food grains to atmospheric reactions which is as good as open stack storage. Scientific storage has its fundamentals which needs to be followed religiously. Doing partial aeration is the worst sin as a storage technician we can commit. If we have to do the aeration it needs to be done fully as the moisture zone is formed which shall escape from the top with a full aeration cycle. Moisture zone about six inches with about 18% spoils the grains because of obvious reasons. Aeration does cost money, so please be sensible. Aeration as per my experience is a firefighting system which we pray not to use.

Three essential technicalities are required to be considered for a sensible storage which are: 1.Equilibrium Moisture content 2.Shelf life of grain as per its moisture content 3.Dry matter loss as per moisture removal Moisture content for a long term shelf life of a grain beyond 90 days is 12% or below which can only happen in a bulk storage either under normal ambient conditions or chilling conditions EMC Equilibrium Moisture Content (%wb*) at 25°C Grain 30% RH 40% RH 50% RH 60% RH 70% RH 80% RH 90% RH 100% RH Barley 8.5 9.7 10.8 12.1 13.5 15.8 19.5 26.8 Shelled Maize 8.3 9.8 11.2 12.9 14.0 15.6 19.6 23.8 Paddy 7.9 9.4 10.8 12.2 13.4 14.8 16.7 – Milled Rice 9.0 10.3 11.5 12.6 12.8 15.4 18.1 23.6 Sorghum 8.6 9.8 11.0 12.0 13.8 15.8 18.8 21.9 Wheat 8.6 9.7 10.9 11.9 13.6 15.7 19.7 25.6   Shelf Life at Various Moisture Levels DURATION OF WAREHOUSING (in days) Source: FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin no 93 TEMPERATURE MOISTURE 5°C 10°C 15°C 20°C 25°C 30°C 13% 180 115 90 14% 160 100 50 30 15% 100 50 30 15 16% 130 50 30 20 8 17% 65 35 22 12 5 18% 130 40 25 17 8 2 19% 70 30 17 12 5 0 20% 45 22 15 8 21% 30 17 11 7 22% 23 3 8 6 23% 17 10 7 5 24% 13 8 4 4 25% 10 8 6 3 Dry Matter Loss As Per Moisture Removal Moisture Loss (kg/tonne) Initial Moisture Content % (wb) 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 30 136 146 157 167 176 186 195 205 213 29 125 134 145 155 165 174 184 193 203 28 111 122 133 143 153 163 172 182 191 27 99 110 120 131 141 151 161 170 179 26 86 98 108 119 129 140 149 159 169 25 74 85 96 107 116 128 138 148 157 24 62 73 84 95 105 115 125 135 145 23 49 61 72 83 94 105 115 125 134 22 37 49 60 71 82 93 103 113 124 21 25 37 48 60 70 81 91 102 112 20 12 24 36 48 58 69 80 90 100 19 – 12 24 36 47 58 69 79 90 18 – – 12 24 35 47 57 68 78 17 – – – 12 23 35 45 56 66 16 – – – – 12 23 34 45 55 15 – – – – – 12 23 34 45