Grain drying system and method
OwnerPierre Bourgaultinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A in-bin grain drying system is the subject of the present invention. A boiler having a variable capacity Btu output heats an ethylene glycol/water heating fluid which is circulated through hydronic coils. Fans move ambient air through the hydronic coils and the dry heated air is circulated to the plenum of the grain bin. The air which enters the bin is less moisture laden than in other drying systems, particularly those which are heated by propane flame. The temperature of the returning fluid is sensed and a fuel supply controller adjusts the amount of fuel supplied to the boiler and thus the Btu output. Accordingly the desired temperature of the air entering the plenum chamber is constant regardless of ambient outside temperature or relative humidity.
Claims16
A system for drying grain comprising:
- a supply of fuel;
- a variable heat output boiler;
- at least one enclosed supply line and at least one enclosed return line, filled with a liquid heating-medium;
- a heating-medium circulation means;
- at least one fan heat-exchanger coil assembly;
- said assembly including a blower fan mounted therein and a hydronic heat-exchanger coil;
- said assembly being in open communication on one side with ambient air and on the other with an air duct;
- said duct being in open communication with an air plenum located in a grain drying bin;
- said system further comprising:
- a temperature sensor, and a fuel supply modulator;
- wherein, in operation, when said temperature sensor signals that a temperature at a predetermined location falls below a predetermined level, said fuel supply modulator supplies more fuel to said variable boiler thereby increasing Btu output;
- and when said temperature rises above said predetermined level less fuel is supplied to said boiler thereby decreasing Btu output.
A system for drying grain comprising:
- a supply of fuel;
- a variable heat output boiler;
- an enclosed supply line and an enclosed return line filled with a liquid heating-medium;
- a heating-medium circulation means;
- at least one fan/heat-exchanger coil assembly;
- said assembly including a blower fan mounted therein and a hydronic heat-exchanger coil;
- said assembly being in open communication on one side with ambient air and on the other with an air duct;
- said duct being in open communication with an air plenum located in a grain drying bin;
- said system further comprising a heating-medium temperature sensor, and a fuel supply modulator;
- wherein, in operation, when said heating-medium in said return line falls below a predetermined temperature, said fuel supply modulator supplies more fuel to said variable boiler, thereby increasing Btu output, and when said heating-medium in said return line rises above said predetermined temperature less fuel is supplied to said boiler, thereby decreasing Btu output.
A method of drying grain in a bin comprising the steps of:
- (1) heating an enclosed fluid heating-medium in a variable output boiler;
- (2) circulating said medium through a supply tube to a hydronic heat-exchanger coil;
- (3) drawing ambient air from outside through said coil by a fan;
- (4) heating said ambient air by means of said coil, and transferring it, under pressure, to an air plenum in a grain bin;
- (5) exhausting said air out of the top of said grain bin;
- (6) returning said fluid heating-medium through an enclosed line to said boiler;
- (7) sensing the temperature of said returning fluid medium and adjusting the Btu output of said boiler accordingly;
- (8) repeating said steps 1 through 7 continuously until said grain reaches a desired moisture level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.