Choosing the right dryer
The post-harvest stage of grain processing is impossible without the use of grain dryers. Naturally, when choosing these devices, agrarians are guided either by their personal experience or study the market offers. It should be noted that the equipment is not cheap, and in order for a particular model to not entail future financial costs, it is necessary to make the right decision when choosing.
What type of dryer is most preferable?
The main criteria for selection are considered to be:
- Type of crop and specifics of cultivation
- expected machine performance
- availability of an automatic moisture check system
- fuel economy
- type of mechanism insulation, which allows to reduce fuel costs and use the energy of the heat carrier with greater efficiency
- easy and accessible cleaning of the equipment
The main function of grain dryers is to reduce the moisture content of various crops to values suitable for long-term storage. With a professionally selected drying mode, the grain is ripened, which improves its quality.
What are the different types of grain dryers?
The preferred equipment is one that is more suited to the greatest needs of the elevator, uncomplicated operation and, of course, economical.
Mine flow dryers are the most suitable for these requirements.
Among the virtues:
- high performance
- economy
- moisture uniformity
- heat recovery function for the heat generated during the cooling of the already dried grain, which reduces fuel costs and increases efficiency
This type requires a significant capital investment.
Horizontal dryers are the most demanded on the offer market. Such arrangement of the mechanism provides accessibility of visual observation, which ensures timely control and the possibility of constant mixing. Multifunctionality of the equipment allows to work equally with grain, feed and, if necessary, with other types of components.
Vertical modular (column) dryers are no less in demand among farmers. The basis of their operation is the transverse passage of air through the entire grain layer between the perforated sheet walls.
The performance is due to the volume of the columns, which represent the basic structure of the equipment. Relatively fast installation is considered an undoubted advantage of this type of equipment. Despite its initial cheapness, characterized by a fairly significant gas consumption, which should be taken into account when buying. Also the presence of screw conveyors and paddle feeders in the design increases the risk of grain injury.
What else do we focus on?
Undoubtedly, we also focus on the following factors:
- level control, which is a buffer tank with crop level sensors and mounted in the upper part of the equipment
- fire safety, inadequate design forms stagnant zones, which often contributes to fire occurrence
- burner type, for regular temperature support of the heating agent modeling burners with auto-mode are more preferable
- Carefulness, the entire dryer design must be designed to handle crops with extreme care.
- safety – it is necessary to guarantee access, and quick access, to all points of the grain complex and, especially, to the emergency unloading system.
Product contamination is considered separately. Today, grain dryers are available with a specially designed aspiration system as standard. Also the performance of the equipment as a whole depends on the capacity of the feed auger and the center auger.
To summarize, it is important to use only high quality materials in the manufacture of dryers, with fully automated processes, with a capacity that meets the needs of the farm. Excess capacity that is not utilized during operation will lead to unnecessary costs. The dryer should function either on gas or some other fuel. Gas is by far the most affordable, but to save money it is necessary to equip the dryer with a recovery system.
It is important to professionally design the construction of the grain drying complex, form the routes of crops, the location of grain cleaning machines, storage silos, dryers and elevators. It is preferable to install the dryers on the leeward side to remove the wet air exhaust from the elevator.
Buy in Ukraine grain dryers can be at the factory “Vityaz” of any type and size, fully satisfying the stated requirements of the customer.