Advanced optimum continuous crossflow grain drying and conditioning

Abstract

A continuous grain drying and conditioning apparatus of a type including a burner and blower, or a multiplicity of burners and blowers, surrounded by a plenum chamber, air pervious grain holding walls positioned outwardly with respect to the plenum chamber is characterized by having a plenum divider which is selectively adjustable in position to divide the grain holding walls into a heating section and a cooling section. A multiplicity of grain turning apparatus of full and partial width of the grain column is disposed in the grain column for separating the grain mass into two or more separate divisions and then turning the cooler-wetter grain inwardly as it moves downwardly and turning the hotter-dryer grain outwardly as it moves downwardly in the grain column. Grain is constantly removed from the bottom of the apparatus at a rate governed by the average temperature of the air exiting the grain at a point adjacent the position of the plenum divider and a point closer to the input of the grain. Grain to be dried and conditioned is constantly introduced into the top of the apparatus at a rate that satisfies the rate of discharge of the dried and conditioned grain as it is delivered out of the bottom of the apparatus. Structure and management is also provided for controlled recycling of unsaturated exhaust air back through the dryer, whereby, the exhaust air is selectively proportioned and controlled based on the degree of saturation of the lower portion of the exhaust air.