Farmer from Ivano-Frankivsk Region Implements Parallel Drying of Grain Using Gas and Wood Chips
In the Ivano-Frankivsk region, the farm “Tyblevych” has implemented an innovative technology for parallel drying of grain, combining gas and wood chips. Initially, the U13-SS-50 grain dryer from a Ukrainian manufacturer operated exclusively on gas, but later a solid fuel boiler was installed at the elevator to utilize alternative fuel.
This is reported by AgroReview
Features of the Implemented Drying Technology
To determine the most effective type of fuel, a series of laboratory analyses were conducted. As a result, the farm opted for a combined use of gas and wood chips. The owner of the “Tyblevych” farm, Ostap Tyblevych, notes that from the very moment of designing the elevator, it was decided to use both gas and alternative fuel – wood chips, as there are many forested areas in the locality that require clearing, and there is plenty of wood available.
“From the beginning of the elevator’s construction, we knew we would be working with gas and alternative fuel. We decided that it would be wood chips, as we have enough of this material, and there are many forested areas in our locality that need to be cleared. The unique aspect of using the dryer in our farm is its non-typical operation — the parallel application of chips and gas. Of course, the manufacturer of the drying equipment does not recommend working this way, but it happened spontaneously for us, and this technology works perfectly,” said the farm owner.
Advantages of Combined Grain Drying
According to Ostap Tyblevych, for drying grain, the farm uses wood chips 95% of the time and only 5% gas. The solid fuel boiler system is set to maintain a specific temperature range: the fuel supply is automatically regulated depending on the required temperature.
Pure gas is rarely used. If rapeseed or wheat comes from the field practically dry, the grain may not need any drying at all. For corn and soybeans, which are harvested under favorable weather conditions, gas is usually applied. However, if the grain arrives with increased moisture, the farm switches to a combination of chips and gas to achieve optimal results.