Grain Dryer with Column Grain Diverters

A grain dryer comprising:

• a receiving area having an inlet port to receive grain entering the dryer;
• a heated drying section comprising a pair of heating columns with an upper plenum in communication with the pair of heating columns, each heating column having an inner boundary and an outer boundary, the inner boundary and outer boundary of each heating column being formed with a plurality of angled containment baffles configured to funnel grain down the heating column while allowing heated air to be drawn from the upper plenum through the grain, wherein each heating column comprises a plurality of horizontal levels arranged from a lowest horizontal level at a lowest portion of the heating column and an uppermost horizontal level at an uppermost portion of the heating column adjacent the receiving area;
• a heater, wherein air is heated by the heater as the air is being pulled into the upper plenum;
• and
• a ductwork connected to the outer boundary of each heating column, wherein the ductwork adjacent each heating column comprises a plurality of vertical sections arranged along a length of the grain dryer from a forward end to a rearward end of the grain dryer,
• at least one fan that takes a suction from the ductwork to draw heated air from the upper plenum through the heating column such that grain entering the grain dryer through inlet port flows from the receiving area into the heating columns where the grain is exposed to heated air being pulled from the upper plenum through the heating column and into the ductwork;
• and
• a plurality of grain diverters mounted between the containment baffles forming the inner boundary and the containment baffles forming the outer boundary, wherein each grain diverter of the plurality of grain diverters is shaped to form a downward facing nook that forms a void in the grain as the grain flows down the heating column.