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TopDry makes double use of heat

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Published: January 5, 2023

The concept of drying a thin layer of grain certainly fits the quest for smaller carbon footprints.   Heated air is channeled up and through the 32 inch layer of grain, which offers very little resistance.  The hot moisture laden air escapes through vents all around the roof line.   Once this heated small batch is down to the pre-determined moisture level, it’s automatically released to the cooling pile at the bottom of the bin.  The heated is re-cycled by blowing cool outside air and forcing it up through the floor.  This pressurized hot air rises to help the thin layer dry quicker.   Vertical baffles maintain the thin layer at a constant 32 inch depth. | GSI illustration

The GSI TopDry is simply a dryer located just inside the roof of a grain bin. This layer of grain in the overhead drying chamber is dried by a heater and fan. Hot dry air is channelled up to the roof through a ductwork on the side of the bin.

The layer of grain at the top of the bin is held in place by baffles located in the bin. The layer is less only 32 inches deep, so resistance to airflow is very low, allowing a higher volume of air with a lower energy requirement.

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Autoflow kicks in when the grain layer has dried to a predetermined temperature. The actuator opens the dump chutes which automatically lets hot dried grain drop into the storage and cooling bin below. A smaller aeration fan at ground level captures heat from this previously dried grain and pushes it upward to help dry the next load. Heat recycling boosts efficiency and lowers drying costs.

In the case of a 36-foot dryer, 25 percent of the grain is dropped. In the case of a 24-foot or 30-foot dryer,33 percent of the grain is dropped. The drying chamber at the top of the bin is then automatically refilled and the process continues without interruption until the entire wet grain supply is empty.

About the author

Ron Lyseng

Ron Lyseng

Western Producer

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