Brief History of Grain Aeration ... 

Grain aeration consists of blowing or drawing ambient air through the grain mass, by means of fans attached to perforated ducts. Its main function
is to establish and maintain a moderately low and uniform
temperature throughout the grain mass.

Aeration greatly reduces the moisture migration and the risk of damage
from insects and fungi. Thus, grain aeration is essential to maintain an adequate year around supply of high-quality grain.

The first use of grain aeration was published by du Monceau of France in 1753. He described a ventilated bin with a capacity of 90 tons that was aerated by a pair of bellows operated by a windmill. It was not until
1930-1931, however, that the mechanical ventilation of wheat
was first tested in the United States by Frederick L. Fenton and
Orval C. French, Department of Agricultural Engineering in
cooperation with C.O. Swanson, Department of
Milling Industry, at Kansas State University.

Mechanical aeration was further developed in the 1940's by USDA agricultural engineers, G.W. French and W.V. Hukill cooperating with Iowa State University. G. H. Foster and R.M. Robinson, USDA Agricultural Engineers cooperating with Purdue University, demonstrated the effectiveness of aeration in a large commercial flat storage in 1949.
Gerald L. Kline and Harry H. Converse, USDA agricultural engineers, cooperating with Kansas State University, demonstrated the
effectiveness of aeration of wheat in a large commercial
concrete upright storage in 1956. Currently, grain aeration is the
most widely used method for maintaining the quality of stored grains.

Purdue University's Agricultural and Biological Engineering Building. For directions to this building, look for a campus map under the visitor information section of www.purdue.edu

Purdue's Grain Aeration plaque, mounted in the east entrance of the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Building on the West Lafayette campus.

Three Images from Indiana

An Image from Iowa

An Image from Arkansas

Six Images from Kansas

Visitors should enter the Kansas State Univ. campus at Seventeenth Street off of Anderson Avenue. Parking information is available from the visitors booth a block north of Anderson. Enter Seaton Hall at the College Heights Road entrance on the west side of the building. The Grain Aeration plaque is located on the first floor in the foyer at this entrance.