Grain drying and conditioning apparatus

Abstract

A cross flow grain drying and conditioning apparatus having an improved grain column configuration wherein the thickness is narrower at the top and bottom thereof than at an intermediate portion thereof for optimumly confining the grain to be dried. A single blower operates to force heated drying air through a first zone of the column of grain and to pull cooling air through a second zone or alternatively to push heated air through both the first and second zones by opening or closing a plenum divider which can be closed to define the zones or opened to combine the zones. An exhaust drying and cooling air recycling structure is provided for regulating the volume of exhaust air versus recycled air in an exhaust area and for blending unsaturated exhaust heated air with incoming cooling air drawn from the second zone or secondly for recycling exhausted drying air from the second zone when using both zones for best drying, or thirdly for exhausting all drying and cooling air when using pressure heating and cool drying. A secondary partial plenum divider and an improved burner also provided for supplying hotter air to the cooler, wetter incoming grain than to the partially dried and warmer grain as such grain moves down through the grain column. The secondary partial plenum divider also includes an opening therein for inspection and for allowing fines to drop out into an automatic cleanout apparatus.