New 1500t grain store

[Longneck]

We are just going through planning for a new 1500t on floor grain store with drying.

Looking for any advice/tips from anyone who has done similar.

It is on a green field site on a new block of land that we have taken on.

Planning is in for a 40x24m shed which will be split in two by a tunnel and then probably wooden drying floors.

Just getting quote in for electric connection, 150m to a pole. [emoji33]

Thinking of one big electric fan with a propane burner, I like the idea of stirrers but never used them, any good??

It's been a while since we've done anything like this so interested if there are any new ideas for similar stores?

 

[Brisel]

1500t will need more than one fan. 2 will reduce your startup power so you should get away with a smaller transformer too. I would think that 60 - 80 hp would be enough.

Modulated gas burners fed by LPG are the best - if you want to future proof it by fitting infrastructure for stirrers then now is the time to do it. Depending on fan capacity you can dry down from 20% moisture in wheat without stirrers. Add a humidity controller for non heat drying and a differential controller for cooling.

Harvest Installations, Welvent, Robydome etc are all worth talking to. Where are you based? There are a few whole project firms around here that can advise on the job so you get it right first time. BK Grain, BDC, Dorset Grain and TH White are the main ones in the South.

 

[Longneck]

Thanks Brisel

We are in Northants.

Was thinking we'll probably only need to dry one half of the shed at a time so thought one fan would do?

 

[Badshot]

Make sure you look closely at the cost of just having the electrical connection, it could work out cheaper to use either engine powered fans, or a generator if you can limit the length of time it runs for.
I've two 40 hp fans for a 60 x 100 foot, ten foot deep, one fan wouldn't dry to that depth. Not quickly anyway. Stirrers would probably make it possible.

 

[Derky]

Why don't you build the laterals into the concrete floor ?

 

[Beef farmer]

What are you expecting for the electric connection? I'm about to enquire about something similar,

 

[Clive]

if you want any help on monitoring or fan control I can help

www.monitorandmanage.com

we also supply ducts, fans, metal and plastic pedestals and lower cost analogue fan control solutions

 

[Longneck]

Make sure you look closely at the cost of just having the electrical connection, it could work out cheaper to use either engine powered fans, or a generator if you can limit the length of time it runs for.
I've two 40 hp fans for a 60 x 100 foot, ten foot deep, one fan wouldn't dry to that depth. Not quickly anyway. Stirrers would probably make it possible.

Yes, just waiting for the quote for electric connection.

Have heard of a system that uses engine powered fan and a heat recovery system to dry?

 

[Longneck]

Why don't you build the laterals into the concrete floor ?

I remember seeing a few stores done like this years ago, haven't seen it for a while tho, do you have one?

 

[Longneck]

What are you expecting for the electric connection? I'm about to enquire about something similar,

Honestly, I don't know! It's 150m approx and a transformer.

 

[debe]

Yes, just waiting for the quote for electric connection.

Have heard of a system that uses engine powered fan and a heat recovery system to dry?

Called a ventacrop fan, technology of yesteryear that still works well.

Get stirrers, they're fantastic. Running of a generator can be a pain, more so when the fuel gets nicked or it breaks down.

How are you going to manage it? For minimal effort or minimal expense?

 

[Longneck]

Called a ventacrop fan, technology of yesteryear that still works well.

Get stirrers, they're fantastic. Running of a generator can be a pain, more so when the fuel gets nicked or it breaks down.

How are you going to manage it? For minimal effort or minimal expense?

Ah, I've seen an old ventacrop before.

 

[Neddy flanders]

Why don't you build the laterals into the concrete floor ?

@Derky thinking of doing this. have some concrete floors like this.
if its a 9" deep trench for the lateral, how much concrete do you need under the base of the lateral? 4" with mesh"

 

[Derky]

You can get laterals that are 4inchs. So you can either have formwork that forms the trench or you can get some laterals with their own metal trough. These tend to get caught over time with buckets. So we prefer to form channels and set the laterals down a few mm off top level of concrete. With this you would use two layers of 252 mesh and 8 inchs of concrete.

 

[mo!]

Have you considered a silo? No loader needed and you can start drying right from the beginning. Have a look at Dan corn. We thought about it a few years ago and it didn't suit but would be great in your situation.

 

[Longneck]

I've got nothing against silos but it would limit its uses when empty and we already have a loader that I would never want to be without!

I think they are a good option if you need additional storage to complement an existing shed with elevators.

 

[Brisel]

I agree. I have 3 x 950 tonne silos that will be scrap when they are 30 years old. A good barm will outlast that many times over, plus you can replace the components like floor or roof easily enough. Push button loading is great but I know the 25 year old shed opposite with its [2nd hand] Challow hardwood drying floor will outlast it.

Silos have a slightly lower capital cost and are useful where space is limited. @Woldgrain Storage would have a good view on these I think.

 

[Woldgrain Storage]

We use silos because:

• It is a better use of space (smaller footprint per mt).
• It is easier to segregate different grades of different varieties of different crops (we currently have 58 silos).
• Silos make precise blending of different bulks very simple.
• Silos make it easier to keep TASCC happy.
• Silos fit with our system of CF drying and computerised vehicle loading

Our oldest silos are 34 years old. Look after the roof and the base, then the rest will look after itself (unless you're at the seaside).

 

[Neddy flanders]

You can get laterals that are 4inchs. So you can either have formwork that forms the trench or you can get some laterals with their own metal trough. These tend to get caught over time with buckets. So we prefer to form channels and set the laterals down a few mm off top level of concrete. With this you would use two layers of 252 mesh and 8 inchs of concrete.

Yes I understand the 8" of concrete and the mesh, but how thick is the concrete at the bottom of each channel?

 

[Flat 10]

Yes I understand the 8" of concrete and the mesh, but how thick is the concrete at the bottom of each channel?

I read it as lay 4inches, put laterals in and lay another 4inches so 8 inches deep between laterals and 4 inches deep underneath them IFYSWIM?