Upside Down Concept Cuts Costs: New Way To Dry Grain

Upside Down Concept Cuts Costs: New Way To Dry Grain GRAIN DRYERS Grain Dryers (29E) 1-3-18 If you'd tike to equip new or existing grain bins for high-capacity instorage drying without spending a lot of money, or update an existing system, Harold Dougherty's new "roof dryer" may be the answer. This Nebraska farmer-manufacturer has literally turned instorage grain drying "upside down" with a first-of-its kind dryer that you install in the roof opening. It's in-storage drying in reverse and, according to Dougherty, is "at least 50% more efficient than conventional drying in cold, humid weather." Here's how his Drie Down system works. Incoming air is heated (gas or electric) and pulled into the bin by your present dryer fan, if you already own one, which is operated in the exhaust position. "The hottest heat is applied to the wettest grain," explains Dougherty, who notes that his idea of hot air falling isn't as contradictory as it appears: "When hot air hits the cold grain, it becomes increasingly cooler. As it passes down through the grain, the air gets colder and heavier and falls, as anyone in bare feet who has opened a refrigerator door can testify." A key feature of the new concept in grain drying is its price tag. Individual units cost from between $500 to $700, depending on size. Its low cost design, coupled with the fact that the system can utilize solar heat, makes it one of the most efficient and economical dryers on the market, says Dougherty. When installing it, he recommends brushing a coat of black paint on the roof and the top half of the top ring. "Utilizing solar heat collected by the roof can mean as much as a 5? rise in temperature, and up to a 50% savings in fuel consumption," he points out. Grain can be dried layer by layer as it's loaded into the bin. Or, a full bin of wet grain can be dried, except it takes more time than layering. Dougherty also advises using the Drie Down in conjunction with a perforated floor, and a fan with a capacity of 1 to 2 cu. ft. of air per minute per bu. of grain. Instead of blowing air into the bin, as with conventional in-storage drying, the fan is reversed to pull air out of the bin. Dougherty is selling his new dryer both direct to farmers, and through assigned distributors in some selected areas. Dealer inquiries welcome. For more details, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dougherty Products, Route 2, Burchard, Neb. 68323 (ph. 402 865-5231).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.