Propane or diesel grain dryer

septimus

Member
Location
Kingdom of Fife
Hi there

Currently is Propane or diesel the most cost effective for grain drying? The propane would be delivered bulk into a 1t tank.
Anyone know the calorific difference between the two fuels?
 

Cider

Member
Location
Devon
Hi there

Currently is Propane or diesel the most cost effective for grain drying? The propane would be delivered bulk into a 1t tank.
Anyone know the calorific difference between the two fuels?

Speak to the lads at Mecmar they have all the details and cost breakdown of all fuels and will send you the relevant info.

I would also recommend their product and service.

I went from gas to diesel and find it not only more efficient but easier to maintain, no tank hire and more reliable deliveries during peak use.

Cheers

Cider
 

Steevo

Member
Location
Gloucestershire
+1 for diesel, if only for the simplicity, ability of having plenty of it on the farm 24/7, and the fact no external engineers needed to carry out plumbing, safety inspections etc.
 

David.

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
J11 M40
Only downside to diesel is potential theft.
At some considerable inconvenience, I run our 13 tonner from 205litre barrels. Not as bad as it sounds, one will usually take the damp off 5 loads. Just cannot face leaving some thieving scrote 600litres of red out in the yard..
 

septimus

Member
Location
Kingdom of Fife
Anyone know roughly what the price of propane is and what it costs to rent the tank? Cider and Happy's link is really useful but it is from back in 2010, the price of gas oil isn't that far out tho.
Already got a tank for gas oil on the farm but would probably upgrade it anyway.
 

Happy

Member
Location
Scotland
Anyone know roughly what the price of propane is and what it costs to rent the tank? Cider and Happy's link is really useful but it is from back in 2010, the price of gas oil isn't that far out tho.
Already got a tank for gas oil on the farm but would probably upgrade it anyway.

I was paying 29ppl for Propane this harvest.
£75 annual charge for tank.
 

chaffcutter

Moderator
Arable Farmer
Location
S. Staffs
We were on gas for years, but got fed up with rip off pricing when suppliers owned the tank, bought our own and by shopping around saved the price of the tank in the first year (which happened to be a wet harvest iirc) Moved to kero on the new drier now and not had any fuel related problems and the price has been pretty keen so far.
 

David.

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
J11 M40
How do you plumb the barrels into the diesel tank feed?
Probe with a non-return valve and inline filter to feed line through 2" hole; flow return hose into 3/4" breather hole. Wrap both loosely with piece of rag to keep dust out and allow barrel to vent. Two barrels on the go for quick changeover, stand full barrel on floor below burner unit, if afore-mentioned thieving scrotes want barrel dregs, there is no need to break anything in the process(y)
 

septimus

Member
Location
Kingdom of Fife
I was paying 29ppl for Propane this harvest.
£75 annual charge for tank.

Using your 29p figure I work out that it costs 4.8ppkwh. Of the top of my head i thought that we were paying about 45ppl at harvest which also works out at 4.8ppkwh. Looking back we had a load at 42.95ppl and 43.68ppl which come in at 4.59ppkwh and 4.67ppkwh.
So there isn't that much in it certainly not the 2.5 to 1 ratio of the Mecmar link but depending on where you take your heat output from can skew the figures one way or another.
http://www.nottenergy.com/energy_cost_comparison/ is one of the sites i used
 

DrWazzock

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
I agree diesel is easier than gas, but can see the day coming when diesel or kero isn't permitted for food safety reasons, particulates and aromatics in the grain, etc.
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

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