Bridge reducing mixed-flow grain dryer with cross-flow vacuum cool heat recovery system

A grain dryer system, comprising:

• a loading system;
• the loading system positioned on top of the grain dryer system;
• the loading system operatively connected to a pair of grain columns;
• the loading system configured to load wet grain into the pair of grain columns;
• the pair of grain columns each having a heating section;
• the pair of grain columns each having a cooling section;
• wherein the heating section is a mixed-flow heating section;
• wherein the cooling section is a cross-flow cooling section;
• wherein the heating section of the grain columns is positioned above the cooling section of the grain columns;
• an unloading system;
• the unloading system operatively connected to the pair of grain columns;
• the unloading system configured to receive dry grain from the cooling section of the pair of grain columns;
• the unloading system configured to unload the dry grain from the grain dryer system.

A grain dryer system, comprising:

• a pair of grain columns;
• the pair of grain columns having an interior wall and an exterior wall;
• the pair of grain columns separated by a plenum;
• the pair of grain columns having a heating section;
• wherein the heating section is a mixed-flow heating section;
• wherein the heating section has a plurality of inlet ducts and a plurality of exhaust ducts;
• the pair of grain columns having a cooling section;
• wherein the cooling section is a cross-flow cooling section;
• wherein the cooling section has a perforated interior wall and a perforated exterior wall;
• a fan and a heater operatively connected to the plenum;
• wherein the fan pulls air into the plenum of the cooling section;
• wherein the fan blows air into the plenum of the heating section.

A method of drying grain, the steps comprising:

• providing a grain dryer having a pair of grain columns separated by a plenum, and the grain columns having a mixed-flow heating section positioned above a cross-flow cooling section;
• passing grain vertically through the grain columns;
• drying the grain using the mixed-flow heating section by moving higher temperature air outward through a plurality of inlet ducts that connect to the plenum of the mixed-flow heating section, through the grain within the grain columns of the mixed-flow heating section, and through a plurality of exhaust ducts of the mixed-flow heating section;
• passing the grain through the cross-flow cooling section;
• cooling the grain using the cross-flow cooling section by moving lower temperature air inward through a perforated exterior wall of the cross-flow cooling section, through the grain held within the grain columns of the cross-flow cooling section, through a perforated interior wall of the cross-flow cooling section and into the plenum of the cross-flow cooling section.

A grain dryer system, comprising:

• a loading system;
• at least one grain column;
• the loading system configured to load wet grain into the at least one grain column;
• the at least one grain column having a heating section;
• the at least one grain column having a cooling section;
• wherein the heating section is a mixed-flow heating section;
• wherein the cooling section is a cross-flow cooling section;
• an unloading system;
• the unloading system configured to receive dry grain from the cooling section of the at least one grain column and unload the dry grain from the grain dryer system.