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Calcimator

Grain Bin Aeration Calculator

Calculate fan CFM requirements, static pressure, and horsepower for grain bin aeration based on bin size, grain depth, and target airflow rate.

Inputs

ft
ft
CFM/bu
%

Results

Required Fan CFM

1,636 CFM

Estimated Fan HP0.4 HP
Static Pressure0.9 in. WC
Bin Capacity16,358 bushels
CFM per Sq Ft Floor1.61
Est. Annual Electricity$6.91
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter grain type, moisture content, and bin capacity in bushels.
  2. Set fan CFM per bushel and target grain temperature.
  3. Input outside air temperature and relative humidity.
  4. Review aeration runtime hours and estimated cooling time to reach target temperature.
  5. Use these to set aeration fan run-time schedules and prevent storage loss.

How the result changes with Bin Diameter

Bin DiameterRequired Fan CFM
21557 CFM
493,031 CFM
828,487 CFM
10914,996 CFM

What each input means

Bin Diameter
Inside diameter of the grain bin in feet.
Grain Depth
Depth of grain in the bin in feet.
Target Airflow Rate
Desired airflow in CFM per bushel. Cooling/conditioning: 0.1; drying: 0.5-1.0 CFM/bu.
Grain Type
Select grain: 1 = Corn, 2 = Soybean, 3 = Wheat. Affects static pressure resistance.
Fan Efficiency
Fan mechanical efficiency. Centrifugal fans: 55-65%; axial fans: 40-55%.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    4 parameters
    Bin Diameter = 36, Grain Depth = 20, Target Airflow Rate = 0.1, Grain Type = 1 = 5 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Required Fan CFM
    Required Fan CFM
    1636 = 1636
  3. Calculate Estimated Fan HP
    Estimated Fan HP
    0.4 = 0.4
  4. Calculate Static Pressure
    Static Pressure
    0.9 = 0.9

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