17.12.2018
During running sugar beets campaign in Tschortkiv premises of Radechiv Sugar Company, we are having test run of mid-term beets storage. On 70m to 100m field two heaps were formed, roughly 7’000 tons are stored in heap with forced venting, another 3’000 were in heap without venting.
Heap without venting was formed starting at 2nd of November, beet roots temperature was 8-9°C, air temperature 10-14°C, heap was formed using RopaMaus3 machine. Heap size were - 56m width, 14m length, 5.8m height.
After first 4 days of storage in heap without forced temperature started to rise up to 17-20°C. After another 4 days beets showed clear signs of decomposition, beets got soft with characteristic smell and signs of leaking juice.
Heap with active venting had perforated tubes (standard PVC sewer tubes total length _m, dia 630, perforation by drilled holes of 12mm dia) laid underneath beets after each 4m of heap length. Each tube is fitted with fan (20’000 m3/h, output pressure 610Pa). Heap was formed starting at October 29th, beet roots temperature 14°C. Heap was formed using RopaMaus3 machine. Heap size - 56m width, 40m length, 5.0m height.
Within two weeks while heap was formed roots temperature lowered to 4°C . Until November 16th active venting let us to lower roots temperature to 1-2°C. For now, beets are stored in heap with active venting for 46days, no visible signs of beets decomposition, now temperature rise so far.