Monitoring gases in a silo offer significant advantages to early spoilage detection, since gases, like CO2, are associated with grain respiration, mold, and insect development. Furthermore, sensors can detect variations in gas concentrations 100 times faster than variations in temperature and relative humidity. Centaur’s platform compares sensor data with model predictions (figure 1) and alerts the user if large deviations exist (figure 2).
If high CO2 values are detected, it could be a sign of grain spoilage or insect activity. The user is advised to take grain samples and/or follow one of the remediation actions proposed here.
Figure 1. Time evolution of CO2 concentration for a silo. Sensor data (black line) vs. Model simulation (red line). The area colored with orange represents a significant deviation of sensor data with the CO2 concentration prediction for grain in good condition.
Figure 2. How a user will receive a notification about unusual Carbon Dioxide activity.