SUKUP MIXED FLOW DRYER
The Sukup Mixed-Flow Dryer (U.S. Patent #10,378,820) is the only one on the market that combines the excellent grain quality of a mixed-flow dryer with the vacuum-cooling efficiency of a tower dryer. The result is high test-weight grain while burning less fuel per bushel dried. Maintenance is also reduced with mixed flow dryers because there are no screens that need to be cleaned on cool, damp days to maintain capacity and efficiency.
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Mixed-Flow Drying Chamber
- Drying is done in 2’ tall tiers with a row of triangular exhaust ducts exposed to the outside of the dryer in each tier, and a row of intake ducts exposed to the center plenum of the dryer in each tier
- The intake and exhaust ducts are tee-pee shaped, not triangular, so hot drying air coming through the intake duct enters into the grain all the way along the column allowing all the grain to be exposed to the same drying temperature, eliminating the over-dried and under-dried areas that are common in cross-flow (screen) dryers
- The mixed-flow chamber holds approximately twice as much grain vertically as a cross-flow (screen) dryer. This means there is only about ½ the airflow per bushel in mixed-flow vs. cross-flow dryers. Longer grain drying and retention time results in improved grain quality and test weight.
- Less airflow per bushel means less static pressure for the fans to work against and therefore less HP needed. Slower air speed through the grain allows it to become more saturated with moisture, making more efficient use of the warm air.
Vacuum-Cooling (U.S. Patent #10,378,820)
- Drying occurs in the top tiers of Sukup Mixed-Flow Dryers; Vacuum-cooling is accomplished in the bottom screened sections which recovers heat during the cooling process, so Sukup Mixed-Flow Dryers are more fuel-efficient than traditional pressure cool dryers
- Sukup is the only company in the industry using this method in Mixed-Flow Dryers
Single Conveyor Unloading System (SUKUP EXCLUSIVE)
- The patented design of Sukup Mixed-Flow Dryers allows both columns to discharge into a single conveyor unloading system; competing units require two or three conveyors, making the Sukup unloading system much simpler
- Auger or drag-chain conveyors available
- Drag-chain conveyors use our Static Moisture Sampler that catches a sample of discharged grain, tests the moisture, and releases it, making it more accurate than testing moving grain
SCREEN CLEANING (A THING OF THE PAST)
- With the large, triangle ducts along the sides of the Mixed-Flow Dryers, saturated air flows through with ease without plugging up with fines and bee wings; this nearly eliminates any losses in capacity or efficiency due to debris build-up on conventional screen dryers
Compare Apples to Apples
- Because tiers are used for drying and screens are used for cooling, compare only the number of mixed-flow tiers drying grain in a competitive dryer to the Sukup Mixed-Flow; for example, capacity of a 6-tier Mixed-Flow Dryer is comparable to competitors’ 8-tier models if 2 of those tiers are used for cooling
Expandable
- Some models of Sukup Mixed-Flow dryers may be ordered as EXPANDABLE, meaning that a 4-tier module with a fan/heater can be added to the top of the dryer at a later date. Some can be ordered as DOUBLE EXPANDABLE, meaning that two 4-tier modules each with fan/heater can be added to the top of the dryer at a later date. EXPANDABLE dryers have taller cooling screens, heavier mixed-flow tiers at the bottom, and possibly larger load/unload motors if needed.
- Louvers on intake of the bottom fan allow you to adjust the temperature of the grain discharging from the dryer