GB569710A - Improvements in or relating to the drying of grain and apparatus therefore - Google Patents

Abstract

569,710. Drying systems. MORAN, T., and JONES, C. R. Sept. 13, 1943, No. 14993. [Class 34 (ii)] [Also in Group I] A process for drying grain consists in mixing therewith relatively small quantities ' of adsorbent materials such as silica gel or activated alumina, the adsorbent being '-removed from the grain after a relatively short time, then regenerated and again added to the grain, and so on in succession. The expression relatively small quantity" means a quantity which is small in comparison with that required to reduce the moisture content of the grain to any predetermined value in a given time, and " a relatively short time " means a period of time which is short in comparison with that required to reduce the moisture of a given quantity of the grain to any predetermined value. In one construction, shown diagrammatically in Fig 1, a grain drying plant comprises three bins a<1>, a2, a3, to which grain is fed by bucket or screw elevators b<1>, b<2>, b3, and to which adsorbent material is fed at d from a regenerator e. The contents of each bin passes over a series of sieves c<1>, c<2>, c<3>, which permit the adsorbent material to pass through them, such material being conveyed to the regenerator. The grain passes over the sieves to be fed to the next bin, the last sieve c<3> discharging into a bag h or like receptacle. The grain, before reaching the first bin a<1>,passes over a further sieve c which effects a preliminary cleaning. In a modification, Figs. 3 and 4, the grain is fed at t to a rotating drum u fitted with scoops v which carry the grain and adsorbent material up to drop them on to an inclined sieve w. The adsorbent material passes into the drum from regenerator 13 at 14 and is distributed over the grain by a screw conveyor x working in an apertured trough y. Sieve w permits the passage therethrough of the adsorbent mixture which is conveyed back to the regenerator by a screw conveyor 11. The grain falls back into the drum and eventually discharging into a bag 15. In a further modification, Fig. 2 (not shown), the grain and adsorbent material are fed to an inclined vibrating sieve arranged over a hopper, the latter serving to receive the adsorbent material which passes through the sieve and to deliver it to the regenerator. The grain passes down the sieve and is eventually discharged into bags or like receptacle. In the above processes any fine dust caused by the break-up of the adsorbent material, and which may adhere to the grain prior to its cleaning before milling, acts as an inhibitor to insect nests.