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What’s HOT in Grain Drying? Ideas you can use! James Dyck, P.Eng. Engineering Specialist, Crop Systems & Environment OMAFRA Vineland January 19, 2019 – Farm$mart – Guelph, ON
What’s HOT in Grain Drying?Ideas you can use!
James Dyck, P.Eng.
Engineering Specialist, Crop Systems & Environment
OMAFRA Vineland
January 19, 2019 – Farm$mart – Guelph, ON
Agenda
• Why dry?
• How dry?
• How to dry?
• How to improve?
http://www.poskliznove-linky.eu/en/drying/gsi-tower-dryers
Why Dry?
Adapted from
United Grain Growers
Winnipeg
How Dry?
Market Moisture ≠ Safe Storage Moisture
Moulds grow > 70% relative humidity (RH)
Grain moisture tries to equalize with the air
around it
• “Equilibrium Moisture Content” (EMC)
• wet grain increases air RH
How Dry?
CropMarket
moisture
Corn 15.5%
Soybeans 13%
Wheat 14%
Market Moisture ≠ Safe Storage Moisture
How Dry?
CropMarket
moisture
Storage
moisture*
Corn 15.5% 13%
Soybeans 13% 11%
Wheat 14% 13%
Market Moisture ≠ Safe Storage Moisture
* Based on air at 15°C and 60-65% relative humidity
How To Dry?
• Field
• High Temperature
–Batch
–Continuous
• Low Temperature / Natural Air
How To Improve?
• Dryers are big-ticket items
• 20+ year life span
• Can you improve your
existing system?
Peter Archer
Maizeing Acres Ltd.
Campbellford, ON
@maizeingpete
Pete Archer @maizeingpete
Pete Archer @maizeingpete
Comments?
Questions?
Experiences?
Grain Drying Energy Use
Gallons of
diesel fuel
energy
equivalent
per acre
Assumptions:
• Fertilizer:
125 lb/ac
commercial N
fertilizer (corn)
• Drying:
5% moisture
removal from
175 bu/ac
(corn)
• Field
operations:
full-width
tillage (both)
Iowa State University – Energy Consumption for Row Crop Production
https://store.extension.iastate.edu/Product/Energy-consumption-for-row-crop-production-Farm-Energy-PDF
32%
Energy Use
ELECTRICITY: (3) x 125 HP fan motors
– Running: ~375 amps, 330 kW power draw
• 330 kWh / h @ $0.10 = $33 / hr
– Starting: ~750 amps, 660 kW startup power
• Demand: 660 kW @ $18.70 = $12,342 / mo
FUEL: 55,000,000 BTU/h (10°C outside air)
– 1528 m3 natural gas @ $0.30 / m3 = $458 / hr
PER BUSHEL: 7000 bu/hr
– $0.07 / bu OPERATING energy cost
– Demand cost/bu… depends on bu…
Suction Cooling
Save 10%+ in fuel use
Heat Recovery
Source: Brock Grain Systems. Used by permission.
Heat Recirculation Duct
Save 20%+ in fuel use
Reduce Demand
• Staged Startup
• VFD / Soft-Start
• Capacitors
– Reduce startup
current
– Improve power
factor
• Load Shifting
• Generation
Electric-only generation
22
Waste Heat!
Total efficiency: 30%(electric only)
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) generation
23
Recapture
some of the
waste heat
Total efficiency: 80%- Electric: 30%
- Heat: 50%
CHP in Action
Hugh Dietrich
Dietrich Commodities Ltd.
Lucan, ON
@hughdietrich
Hugh Dietrich @hughdietrich
Hugh Dietrich @hughdietrich
Comments?
Questions?
Experiences?
Tweaking Drying Temperature
• Measure harvest test weight
• Set plenum temperature, begin drying
Measure dried test weight
• If test weight increasing reduce 10°F
Measure dried test weight
• When dried test weight doesn’t change
increase plenum temp 10°F
GOAL: Slower drying = HIGHER QUALITY
#TestWeightDebate
Jeff Barlow
Barlow Farms
Binbrook, ON
@BarlowFarms1843
Jeff Barlow @barlowfarms1834
Jeff Barlow @barlowfarms1834
Comments?
Questions?
Experiences?
Monitoring
https://www.dryermaster.com/Dryer-Master-510-Controller.htm
The Future of Grain Monitoring
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168169915003294
The Future of Grain Monitoring
Video property of GrainViz
The Future of Grain Sampling
Image source: http://www.gametmfg.com/
The Future of Grain Sampling
Image source: https://www.wi-ltd.com/product/wg-truck-cargo-x-ray-scanning-portal/
• Moisture
• Fines/dockage
• DON
• Protein
• etc….
Geoff Strang
Strang Farms
Exeter, ON
@OneQuantum
Geoff Strang @onequantum
Geoff Strang @onequantum
Comments?
Questions?
Experiences?
DIY Automation
Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)
Raspberry PI
https://shop.intelitek.com/SkillsUSA-Robotics-and-
Automation-Technology-PLC-Kit_p_139.html
https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/
raspberry-pi-3-model-b/
Low Temperature / Natural Air Drying
Steps for Natural Air Success
• Harvest at moderate moisture
Beans <18%, Corn <22%
• Min. 2 CFM / bu airflow
• Min. 1 sq.ft. of vents per 1000 CFM
• Grain depth <12 ft
• Core and level bin
• Run fans in 60-70% RH weather
• Heat the air to offset high humidity
10,000 BTU/h per 1000 CFM
5°C rise = ~20% RH drop
Level the Bin!
The Importance of Relative Humidity
Air
Temp
(°C)
Relative Humidity (%)
50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
Equilibrium Moisture (% wet basis)
0 10.0 11.8 13.7 16.2 19.8
5 9.8 11.5 13.5 15.9 19.6
10 9.5 11.2 13.2 15.7 19.4
15 9.2 11.0 13.0 15.5 19.2
20 9.0 10.7 12.8 15.2 19.0
25 8.7 10.5 12.5 15.0 18.8
30 8.5 10.3 12.3 14.8 18.6
Soybeans
Patience!
Heating Efficiency
Fuel heater:
~75-95% combustion
efficiency
Heat Pump:
~4-6 COP
= 400-600% efficiency
Heat Pump
https://www.calsignsolutions.com/todo_energy_diagram_heat_pump.php
Greg Dineen
APS Dineen Farms
Kenilworth, ON
@gsdineen
Greg Dineen @gsdineen
Greg Dineen @gsdineen
Comments?
Questions?
Experiences?
Drying is only the beginning!
• Dry to < 15% moisture (Corn)
• Cool to < 10°C
• Store high DON corn separately
• Core bins after filling to remove
fines
• Aerate frequently
• Maintain grain temperature < 5°C
• Monitor every 2-3 weeks
• Store into summer? Dry to < 13 %
What’s in YOUR storage?
https://twitter.com/Ben_Farmin/status/767169774166106112
Thank you
Special Thank You to:
Peter Archer, Maizeing Acres @maizeingpete
Hugh Dietrich, Dietrich Commodities @hughdietrich
Geoff Strang, Strang Farms @onequantum
Jeff Barlow, Barlow Farms @barlowfarms1843
Greg Dineen, APS Dineen Farms @gsdineen
James Dyck
OMAFRA Engineering Specialist, Crop Systems & Environment
289-407-0966
