How much heat would i need?

[Neddy flanders]

To dry 30t of wheat from 20% to 15%

In a square batch, vented floor, 25hp fan, stirrers, 1.5m deep

what size heat exchanger and what size Biomass boiler to do this in 6hrs or 24hrs.

@Atomic SL ?

 

[Atomic SL]

Don't know but in my continuous flow drier I could dry 30 tonnes of 20% wheat in 3 hrs using under 2MW of biomass heat. So a 199kw boiler with a matching heat exchanger with a 18kW fan and stirrers should easily do that in a day including cooling.
This is of course a guess. I'm sure there are many others on here who floor dry grain who have first hand experience!

 

[rollestonpark]

To dry 30t of wheat from 20% to 15%

In a square batch, vented floor, 25hp fan, stirrers, 1.5m deep

what size heat exchanger and what size Biomass boiler to do this in 6hrs or 24hrs.

@Atomic SL ?

Is this in summer? when harvesting? or in winter.
Only reason I ask is cos the air going into the heat exchanger in winter is way colder and wetter.
Meaning a bigger boiler would be needed.
My woodtek drier (which dries woodchip) needs about 110kw in summer to run it, but in winter maybe 220kw. (although the chip coming in in winter is wetter)

 

[Neddy flanders]

Bit of a numpty question, do all biomass boilers rely on heating water and then transferring it to a heat exchanger? can see the logic in houses etc, but for a grain or woodchip drier can you not have a furnace of biomass burning connected to a air-air exchanger whith a fan to blow the hot air straight into drying fan intake?

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Bit of a numpty question, do all biomass boilers rely on heating water and then transferring it to a heat exchanger? can see the logic in houses etc, but for a grain or woodchip drier can you not have a furnace of biomass burning connected to a air-air exchanger whith a fan to blow the hot air straight into drying fan intake?

I don’t think you can get RHI on that. I have seen oil used as a medium though.

 

[555]

That’s how it works , just place a large finned radiator coil behind the fan , duct it all in. Run your biomass at 120deg C , if you can, giving approx 110deg hot air. We have also found as the air is dry compared to flame heat you get a 20deg hot air benifit as your not blowing in moisture.

 

[555]

That’s how it works , just place a large finned radiator coil behind the fan , duct it all in. Run your biomass at 120deg C , if you can, giving approx 110deg hot air. We have also found as the air is dry compared to flame heat you get a 20deg hot air benifit as your not blowing in moisture.

 

[555]

RHI ok for grain drying

 

[Neddy flanders]

That’s how it works , just place a large finned radiator coil behind the fan , duct it all in. Run your biomass at 120deg C , if you can, giving approx 110deg hot air. We have also found as the air is dry compared to flame heat you get a 20deg hot air benifit as your not blowing in moisture.

sorry @555 im a bit confused. Are you still talking about heating water and then transferring it to an exchanger? I was wondering if you removed all water, blew air around a furnace with a large surface area and carry on this flow of air into the drier fan.
Which boiler will give 110 deg hot air?

 

[555]

Misunderstood what you were saying. We have looked at capturing heat out of the flue, but still air, (flue gas), to water. Air to Air may be possible, but inefficient. Our Linka boilers can run upto 138deg hot water.

 

[Neddy flanders]

Misunderstood what you were saying. We have looked at capturing heat out of the flue, but still air, (flue gas), to water. Air to Air may be possible, but inefficient. Our Linka boilers can run upto 138deg hot water.

Thanks. gotcha now.