ASSUMPTION, Illinois – Commercial grain operations can increase the efficiency of their tower dryers and lower operating costs by retrofitting them with GSI’s new heat reclaim technology.
The heat reclaim system has been proven to reduce operating costs by up to 30 percent, depending on the grain type and ambient temperature. This first-of-its-kind patented pending technology separates the hot, dry air and returns it into the drying process again, while simultaneously taking the cold, wet air and debris and discarding it through the open bottom.
The system is offered with new tower dryers or can be quickly and cost-effectively retrofitted to existing GSI or Zimmerman tower dryers installed since 2001. The typical installation time is a couple weeks, depending on dryer size.
“If a commercial grain operation is happy with its current tower dryer size and it still has ample service life, then a retrofit represents a good option,” said Jarod Wendt, Engineering Manager, Grain Conditioning for GSI.
Wendt said this retrofit design, exclusive to GSI, offers the same energy savings potential as a new tower dryer equipped with a heat reclaimer, and the heat reclaim system will not affect the life span of the existing dryer. “All of our previous side-by-side testing of the heat reclaimer involved retrofits, and the efficiency numbers were calculated and compared based on those test sites,” he said.
Actual savings and payback time, he added, depend on a number of factors, including location, fuel costs, bushels per year dried and dryer size, to name a few. “GSI and our dealers have access to payback tools to help validate how quickly the investment in a heat reclaim retrofit, or new tower dryer installation, can be recouped,” Wendt said.
GSI’s heat reclaim technology controls and minimizes debris build-up in the dryer and heat reclaim shroud experienced with previous heat reclaiming systems. This not only improves drying efficiency but also results in minimal cleaning required under the reclaim area.
The system does not change drying capacity or affect how the dryer is operated or how cool the grain is when discharged from the dryer. It is being introduced throughout the U.S. and Canada this season in 12-, 18-, 24- and 30-foot diameters. The unit is made from galvanized construction, and stainless steel is available as an upgrade.
For additional information, contact your GSI dealer or visit www.grainsystems.com.
About GSI
GSI (Grain Systems Inc.), a global brand of AGCO (NYSE: AGCO), is a global leader and manufacturer of grain bins and the most technologically advanced grain dryers in the industry. In addition, GSI offers crop nutrient equipment, structures and a large selection of material handling systems, including bucket elevators and conveyors, grain bin sweeps and chain loop systems. GSI is also a full-line manufacturer of protein production systems for swine and poultry operations. With more than 40 years of industry expertise, GSI is your proven and dependable source for forward-thinking grain and protein agribusiness solutions. www.grainsystems.com