Mobile Grain Drier Open Day

[Steevo]

Edit. Based on your edit about @Fergieman. The auger is split in half and I assume one the outer "half" can be stopped whereas the inner half runs constantly.

 

[Ryetecman]

So how do you stop it filling when full?

Edit. I see form the photos above it does have 2 seperate augers.

Not sure if we're at cross purposes here? Filling stops by switching off the hopper intake auger, either manually or automatically on SMART system, the horizontal auger runs continuously (may not be the case on a centre auger machine?), and once hopper intake auger has stopped and internal slide opens the horizontal auger becomes a recirculating auger thanks to having the opposite spirals from either end to the vertical auger. (i.e same turning direction moves grain in opposite directions), hopefully the diagram below makes more sense than my explanation?

 

[Ryetecman]

Edit. Based on your edit about @Fergieman. The auger is split in half and I assume one the outer "half" can be stopped whereas the inner half runs constantly.

One auger running constantly with flights in opposite directions to centre or more like 1/5 intake - 4/5 recurculate (C on diagram)

 

[Steevo]

Toaster analogy works for me, might use it in future !

If the flow of grain is too slow the grain reaches max temp quicker and burner then cuts in and out automatically as it reached max temp, if the grain moves faster then a more constant flow grain temp doesn't cause burner to trip in and out, more heat input, quicker drying time for batch, and avoids hotspots in grain, if that makes sense?

Surely the grain temp is only used as the final cut off temp to turn off the burner at the end of the cycle. That's how it is on my Mecmar.

The theory as I was sold it is that grain can't get above a certain temp if it is a certain moisture content or lower, so to get to 40deg for example, it must have shed enough moisture to be max 15% moisture.

The burner tripping in and out is only ever the "boost" burner to top up the plenum temp. Or is this what you are referring to? You keep the plenum temp more consistent? I wouldn't think this would have significant effect on drying time.

It all sounds like someone has thought through the drawbacks with current dryers though and tried to solve them. All innovation is good.

 

[Ryetecman]

Stop putting grain in the hopper?

Downside I can see though is the filling part of the auger would be running constantly empty during drying, which would surely wear it out quicker?

Intake auger has own drive motor so can be turned on and off, horizontal auger is ridged and supported by bearings at either end so no real wear unless grain traveling through

 

[Steevo]

One auger running constantly with flights in opposite directions to centre or more like 1/5 intake - 4/5 recurculate (C on diagram)

Sounds like two augers to me then surely? One running from hopper to main auger, the other running from dryer tub to main auger. Neither run by same motor, or having a connected screw. But, both turn the same direction but are flighted opposite ways.

Esp from your other explanation and diagram above. On a centre auger machine the centre auger runs constantly, but the whole other auger (single length) from hopper to bottom of vertical auger is put out of gear when not filling.

 

[Ryetecman]

Sounds like two augers to me then surely? One running from hopper to main auger, the other running from dryer tub to main auger. Neither run by same motor, or having a connected screw. But, both turn the same direction but are flighted opposite ways.

Esp from your other explanation and diagram above. On a centre auger machine the centre auger runs constantly, but the whole other auger (single length) from hopper to bottom of vertical auger is put out of gear when not filling.

Sounds about right, I expected that most driers have an angled hopper/intake auger into a fixed auger running from side of machine to centre, sounds like I'm wrong, no change there then! Just to clarify, the Agrex system is 3 augers, 1st; intake/hopper auger (with on/off), into 2nd; continuously running horizontal auger (intake to vertical for filling and hopper to vertical for drying) with split right & left hand spiral, and finally 3rd; Vertical auger. Can I go to bed now, it's been a long day?!

 

[Fergieman]

Is there an extra auger to move the grain from bottom of drier to bottom of auger?

No, the loading auger on a normal drier brings grain in to the centre auger, on the Agrex the same auger has a left hand and right hand screw, the auger turns continuously, taking grain from the centre to the recirculating auger or fresh grain from the intake hopper. Other difference is when filling there is no recirculation so vertical auger is only filling and not also recirculating = faster filling.

So yes there is an extra auger after all. Mecmar, Master, Opico etc have 2 augers, one central and one loading auger which as say does take the grain to the centre of the machine.

 

[2wheels]

My Mecmar drier has no internal slides to adjust for wet/dry grain, it uses vari pitch augers flights to prevent blockage with very wet stuff, we never had it blocked and it's done some high 20% wheat ok, does your slide adjuster mean the agrex will dry faster (cheaper) than my current drier ?

20% is wet? try stuff at 28%.

 

[Iben]

20% is wet? try stuff at 28%.

I presume that's what he meant by 'high 20%'.

 

[2wheels]

I presume that's what he meant by 'high 20%'.

sorry ,missed the" high" bit.

 

[islefarmer]

all the other manufacturers seem to quote almost identical drying times, 5 % reduction in moisture in an hour on feed wheat, burner time, what time will the agrex do it in then, ? do you have galvanised version like the others offer ?

 

[islefarmer]

I think i'll stick with my current machine, the thought of no grain recirculating while loading worries me, 28 tonne of wet wheat sat in the silo while the drier fills then opening a slide when full and asking it to start to flow, !!!! i'd rather have the wet grain constantly moving in the silo than load a couple of minutes quicker, also we start our burner as soon as the grain is over the center drying chamber, about half full, if that grain wasn't moving you can't start the burner till the drier is full, what you may gain with your adjustable flow you have lost by starting the heat latter.

 

[Drillman]

I think i'll stick with my current machine, the thought of no grain recirculating while loading worries me, 28 tonne of wet wheat sat in the silo while the drier fills then opening a slide when full and asking it to start to flow, !!!! i'd rather have the wet grain constantly moving in the silo than load a couple of minutes quicker, also we start our burner as soon as the grain is over the center drying chamber, about half full, if that grain wasn't moving you can't start the burner till the drier is full, what you may gain with your adjustable flow you have lost by starting the heat latter.

I'm thinking the same.

 

[v8willy]

I think i'll stick with my current machine, the thought of no grain recirculating while loading worries me, 28 tonne of wet wheat sat in the silo while the drier fills then opening a slide when full and asking it to start to flow, !!!! i'd rather have the wet grain constantly moving in the silo than load a couple of minutes quicker, also we start our burner as soon as the grain is over the center drying chamber, about half full, if that grain wasn't moving you can't start the burner till the drier is full, what you may gain with your adjustable flow you have lost by starting the heat latter.

Ah yes, loaded wet wheat one saturday morning & 10 minutes later ran out of gas, stopped tractor.
Monday morning gas arrived, started drier & nothing...opened inspection hatch & still nothing, had to poke it with a stick....9 tons of wheat to be shovelled up by hand, you only do that once .

Then there was the time a neighbours drier went on fire. Fire brigade came & put it out, soaked the grain in the pit too ( it was a bin type drier where the grain dosen't move ) he brought the grain round for me to dry, it was full of black, fist sized burnt lumps & was off the scale in moisture, the insurance paid for the grain so it was only costing the drying.
Put it in the drier & the place turned black, put it on & went to bed, early next morning it was down to 28%

 

[joe soapy]

Ah yes, loaded wet wheat one saturday morning & 10 minutes later ran out of gas, stopped tractor.
Monday morning gas arrived, started drier & nothing...opened inspection hatch & still nothing, had to poke it with a stick....9 tons of wheat to be shovelled up by hand, you only do that once .

Then there was the time a neighbours drier went on fire. Fire brigade came & put it out, soaked the grain in the pit too ( it was a bin type drier where the grain dosen't move ) he brought the grain round for me to dry, it was full of black, fist sized burnt lumps & was off the scale in moisture, the insurance paid for the grain so it was only costing the drying.
Put it in the drier & the place turned black, put it on & went to bed, early next morning it was down to 28%

Be carefull doing that in a master drier, the drive to the stirring paddles can get grief.
Having all drives serviceable from outside can be a benifit

 

[Ryetecman]

So yes there is an extra auger after all. Mecmar, Master, Opico etc have 2 augers, one central and one loading auger which as say does take the grain to the centre of the machine.

Sorry fergieman, hope you didn't hit your head to hard against the wall! Slight misunderstanding on my part but hopefully all clear now?

 

[Ryetecman]

I think i'll stick with my current machine, the thought of no grain recirculating while loading worries me, 28 tonne of wet wheat sat in the silo while the drier fills then opening a slide when full and asking it to start to flow, !!!! i'd rather have the wet grain constantly moving in the silo than load a couple of minutes quicker, also we start our burner as soon as the grain is over the center drying chamber, about half full, if that grain wasn't moving you can't start the burner till the drier is full, what you may gain with your adjustable flow you have lost by starting the heat latter.

You can recirculate if you wish, operator can choose but there is a full width stirrer across the bottom of the bin as well.

 

[Iben]

You can recirculate if you wish, operator can choose but there is a full width stirrer across the bottom of the bin as well.

What do you have for support/service/maintenance/break downs?

 

[Ryetecman]

What do you have for support/service/maintenance/break downs?

3 trained mobile engineers, and happy to train local engineers or farm staff to carry out work.