Miller Magazine Issue: 139 July 2021

57 COVER STORY MILLER / july 2021 Other systems and practices • The uses of grain ladders and/or spreaders strongly reduce the ratio of kernel breakage and improve the gran- ulometric distribution within the gran pile. A more uniform granulometric distribution results in a more uniform airflow. • Double skinned bins or painted bins, both technolo- gies are capable of improving the thermal insulation of the sidewalls and then become very effective if combined with refrigeration units in extremely warm regions. • Bin coring is another important operation that consists of unloading the center core of grains located over the cen- tral discharge gate. Just 10-15% of the product should be unloaded and reloaded to the top. The benefits include an improved aeration on the bottom layers and a reduced risk of central gate unloading issues. • Circulation of grain in some cases can reduce the over- all grain temperature of about 1-2°C and stop localized in- sect infestations by spreading them around. A SIMPLE EXERCISE…AN INTERESTING RESULT Considering just one single bin with a capacity 5,500 tons of wheat and the following assumptions: 7000 m 3 Volumetric capacity 5500 MTon Capacity based on wheat 200 €/Ton Current wheat price (assumption) The overall investment cost is about 150-200.000 Euro including civils and assembly costs. This cost is sustained once for the time of the investment. With a wheat price assumption of 200 Euro/ton, ev- ery year an amount equivalent to 1.1 million Euro is stored in the bin. Let’s now assume additional money is invested in systems and technologies with the aim of reducing the product losses of an average of 1% per year. 1% reduction product losses / year (assumption) 1.1 M€ * 1% = 11.000 € Assuming a 25 year investment the NPV ≈ 150.000 € ≈ Net present value of the overall investment This provides for an additional cash flow of about 11,000 Euro. Assuming a 25 year investment, the calculated net present value is estimated 150,000 Euro, which is almost equal to the overall invest- ment amount. To learn more about the benefits of aeration and con- ditioning and to find out what method is best for your storage facility contact AGI, EMEA@aggrowth.com or visit www.aggrowth.com