ENERGY REQUIREMENTS FOR DRYING LARGE ROUND BALES

Uniform density and softcore large round forage bales were dried under a variety of airflow and temperature regimes. The energy required to operate the fans and heaters was measured as the bales dried to an average final moisture content of 18 percent, wet basis. The energy requirement for drying both types of bales was found to be 33 kWh/tonne dry matter/moisture point reduction.

The soft-core bales tended to dry at a faster rate than the uniform density bales. Also, the final moisture content variation within the softcore bales was less than that within uniform density bales.