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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSaluting Huron County's Agricultural Industry, 1987-03-25, Page 28I PAGE A28. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 1987. Plan early to save money in grain drying BY DONALD HILBORN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING SERVICE RIDGETOWN COLLEGE Fuel costs are a significant portion of the operating costs of an on-farm grain dryer. Fuel usage canbereducedbyaddingaheat recirculation system or installing a heatexchanger. However, farmers must be careful that the benefits exceed the potential problems or costs associated with a system. Recirculation System A recirculation device works by recapturing some of the air exhausted from a dryer and putting it back through the dryer. To improve the efficiency of the dryer, the recirculated air must not be completely saturated. A continuous flow dryer is better for recirculation since air can be recirculated continuously from particular zones (usually the last drying zone and the first cooling zone). A batch-type dryer will not adapt to a recirculation device as effec­ tively because the saturation level of the emitted air will be constantly changing through the cycle. Problems with Recirculation 1) If improperly designed, the recirculated air may become fully saturated. This will cause a reduction in dryer capacity along with a probable decrease in energy efficiency. 2) The recycling of red-dog may cause a potential fire problem at the burner or a plugging problem on the inside screen. 3) The cost of the recirculation device may exceed the benefits. This depends on the initial cost expected, on the efficiency im­ provement anticipated, the a- Quality matters in roughage Roughage quality can vary a great deal over the course of a winter feeding program. As a rule not all feed is harvested at the same quality, so it is important to make the necessary adjustments to your ration when required. The key to maintaining good production is “knowing your roughage quality" and balancing the animals roughage diet with an adequate grain mix containing all essential nutrients. Anyone wishing to have feed samples analyzed will be required topayasmallfee. The following services are available through the Agri-Food Laboratories in Guelph. TYPES OF ANALYSIS AVAILABLE •I Dry Matter, Crude Protein $10 •II Dry Matter, Crude Protein, Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnes­ ium, Potassium $17. •Ill Dry Matter, Crude Protein, Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnes­ ium, Potassium, Maganese, Cop­ per, Zinc $19. •IV (Roughages): Dry Matter, Crude Protein, Calcium, Phos­ phorus, Magnesium, Potassium, Acid Detergent Fibre, Estimated Total Digestible Nutrients, Net Energy of Lactation $23. •V Dry Matter, Crude Protein, Calcium, Phosphorus $14. WITH ONE OF THE ABO VE Digestible Protein - (Measures heat damage in hay and haylage only) $8.00 Neutral Detergent Fibre $8.00 Acid Detergent Fibre $6.00 Input forms, information sheets and feed bags are available through the local Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food office in Clinton. If this program is of interest to you, feel free to call. mount of corn to be dried and the price of fuel used. Benefits with Recirculation 1) The potential payback period will be good if conditions are right. For example.anOMAF Energy Centre report on a Behlen model 380 grain dryer shows a fuel savings of 40 per cent using a heat recirculator. One farmer in the report dried 18,000 bushels per year using fuel costing $0,216 per litre. In this case, the $3,400 recirculator unit saved $2,137 worth of fuel per year giving a simple payback period of 1.6 years. Heat Exchanger A heat exchanger allows the transfer of heat from the heated exhaust air to the incoming air. This transfer occurs through a medium such as metal sheets or plastic tubing. The exhaust air will not be mixed with the intake air. Due to economics and complica­ tions of design, the heat exchanger should only be considered when recirculation of air is impractical or impossible. Th is occurs in most batch-type dryers or with continu­ ous-flow dryers where drying and cooling exhaust airs are mixed. Problems with Heat Exchangers 1) The first concern is econom­ ics. Most batch-type dryers are used in smaller operations where volume of corn doesn’tjustify a large expenditure in a heat ex­ changer system. A report by the Energy Centre showed inonecaseonly $130 worth of fuel was saved annually using a heat exchanger which cost $2,800 to construct. 2) Problems with condensation and dust may cause failure of the unit if the exchanger is not properly designed. All the heat exchanger plates must allow condensation to run off continuously. Also, there will be a continuous, wet discharge from the exchanger which, if not properly handled, will make poor working conditions. 3) The fan (s) on the dryer must pull and/or push air through the exchanger. This will reduce the capacity and increase the power requirements of the fan. If the exchanger system is properly designed, the effects will be insignificant. However, the oppo­ site can be true. Benefits of a Heat Exchanger 1) On a properly designed and sized system, there is potential of a positive payback. For example, an OMAF Energy Centre report on the plate-type heat exchanger on an M & W model 250 dryer (a continuous flow dryer which has mixed drying and cooling exhaust airs) shows a fuel saving of 24 per cent. The farmer dried 17,000 bushels per year using propane that cost $0,233 per litre. An annual saving of $518 was received from an initial cost of $1,500 (materials cost only). The simple payback period was three years. 2) The exchanger will reduce the noise level around the dryer and eliminate the dusty, moist air discharged horizontally. This may make the system more comfortable to work around. There is evidence that a properly designed recirculation device should be considered on a continu- ous flow dryer provided that the . annual quantity of crop dried is large enough to give a good payback period. The case is not so definite for the heat exchanger system since costs will often exceed the potential payback. Thisexchangershouldbe considered on a continuous flow dryer which has mixed drying and cooling exhausts and on large volume batch dryers. Copies of the OMAF Energy Centre research reports on these systems are available from Don Hilborn at the Cayuga OMAF office (416) 772-3381. Pannell Kerr MacGillivray Chartered Accountants Goderich 40 The Square 524-2677 Listowel 380 Wallace Ave. N. 291-1251 R.E. Takalo, C.A. M.J. Hoyles, C.A. N. MacDonald Exel, C.A. K. Lentz, C.A. L. Gagnon, C.A. R. McLeod, C.A. G. Knowlton, C.A. Beat The Spring Rush! Bring your medium and heavy duty trucks into RADFORD REPAIR SHOP in Blyth • Tune-up and repairs • Reasonable Rates • Licenced Mechanics • We repair air brake systems Call Bob for an appointment RADFORD TRUCK REPAIR (A division of George Radford Construction Ltd.) BLYTH 523-9681 Coming Soon The All New Honda RT5000 Utility Tractor HONDA Power Equipment Come & see us, now your full line Honda Power Product Dealer 4 Wheel Drive 4 Wheel Steering Front & Rear PTO 8 Forward & 4 Reverse Gears Full Front, Middle & Rear Hydraulic Lift Roll Bar Full Range of Attachments Lynn Hoy Enterprises Hwy. 86 East Wingham, Ontario 357-3435