Dryer Takes Moisture Out Of Big Bales Fast

Dryer Takes Moisture Out Of Big Bales Fast BALE HANDLING The Chinook Bale Dryer drops moisture in big square bales from 20 percent to 12 percent in as little as 10 min The modular system injects heat into the bales using a 7 500 cfm fan and one of two heating systems “The heat is pushed through 2 banks of perforated metal needles inserted hydraulically in the bale ” says Chris Martin Chinook co-developer “One bank is inserted from the bottom and the other from the top for a total of 350 needles feeding hot air into the bale The controls are automated so only one person is needed to operate it ” One heating system uses heat generated by the high-pressure fan about 50 degrees F and radiant heat from the diesel engine It can dry around 5 tons per hour The second system is equipped with a 250 kW genset to power both the fan and a supplemental electric heater It can dry 7 to 8 tons per hour thanks to a total heat output of 220 to 240 degrees F It also captures radiant heat Martin says the genset system is the most popular choice The genset and a 21-bale cool down zone are priced at $200 000 Actual operating costs fuel are about a quarter cent per pound of hay Martin estimates costs with labor and capital of about $15 to $20 per ton of hay “We put 3 large bales on at a time and the apron with a pusher bar moves them through as each bale is dried ” explains Martin “Once all 3 have moved through the apron and pusher bar automatically return to the starting point ” Bales move out of the dryer into the cool down zone where they continue drying “They lose a couple of additional points of moisture during cool down ” says Martin The dryer is separate from the heating systems which are installed in a shipping container The heating system can be set up in an adjacent building and takes up an area about 30 ft long and 12 ft wide “The genset system also provides the operation with a back-up generator when not being used to dry hay ” notes Martin The dryer is available in 2 models The base unit is designed for 3 by 3-ft square bales and has 20-in long tubes A second model is available with 30-in tubes to penetrate 3 by 4-ft bales set on edge and is priced at an additional $10 000 It can also accommodate bundles of small square bales made by the Bale Baron Chinook Bale Dryers currently are all built to order with a 6-month delay between order and delivery “We have a new manufacturer so we will pre-build some units ” says Martin “This has been a work in progress We started developing it in the winter of 2015 We now have 7 in use in Ontario and 4 in the U S ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Chinook Hay Dryer 7715 Wellington Rd 8 Alma Ont Canada N0B 1A0 ph 519 580-6710; chris@chinookhay ca; www chinookhay ca

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