Stirring Cuts Low Temperature Drying Costs
- Stirring Speeds Drying!
- You get 33% more aiflow when a Sukup Fastir™ Stirring Machine is used in wet grain
with a powered grain spreader, according to tests conducted by Iowa State University.*
- Stirring loosens the grain, allowing the fan to move more air through the grain more
efficiently.
- More airflow means faster drying!
- Stirring Reduces The Chance of Spoilage!
- Drying without stirring can be a race to get the top layer of grain in the bin dried
before it spoils. In favorable weather it can be risky. If the weather is bad, it can be
impossible.
- Stirring helps prevent top layers from spoiling by blending the entire bin of grain -
all the grain dries evenly, safely.
- Stirring Stops Overdrying!
- Without stirring, the bottom of the bin becomes overdried before the top layers reach
safe storage levels.
- Overdrying to 11% average moisture content will cost you $0.20/bu! This is a common
occurrence when drying without a stirring machine.
- With a stirring machine, the grain is thoroughly mixed to less than 1% moisture
variation throughout the bin until all the grain is evenly dried to the moisture content
desired. No overdrying!
Overdrying Costs*
(When Marketing Shelled Corn Below 15.5%)
| Moisture Content |
Extra Drying Costs |
Extra Shrinkage Costs |
Total Overdrying Costs |
|
Cents / Bushel |
| 14% |
2.2 |
4.4 |
6.6 |
| 13% |
3.7 |
7.2 |
10.9 |
| 12% |
5.3 |
9.9 |
15.2 |
| 11% |
7.1 |
12.6 |
19.7 |
Drying Cost Comparison
| Drying Data |
No Stirring |
With Stirring |
| Bushels |
10,000 |
10,000 |
| Bin Diameter |
30' |
30' |
| Temperature Rise |
10° F |
10° F |
| Fan Size |
10 hp |
10 hp |
| Moisture Removed |
23% - 15% |
23% - 15% |
| Time to Dry* |
600 hours |
312 hours |
| Total Drying Costs* (gas and electricity) |
$949.98 |
$628.94 |
| Cost of Overdrying Bottom Layers* |
$2060.00 |
---- |
| Total Cost |
$3009.09 |
$628.94 |
| Annual Savings with Stirring
Machine |
|
$2380.15 |
|
|
|
*Based on the following references. For copies contact Sukup Manufacturing Company.
"Auger-Stirring of Wet and Dry Corn" by Bern, Wilcke and Hurburgh of Iowa
State University.
Paper No. 79-3523 American Society of Agricultural Engineers.
"Saving Energy in Corn Drying" M-161---1980, Ag Extension Service, University
of Minnesota.
AGNET Agricultural Computer Network Drying Program from University of Nebraska. Cost
based on $.05/kw-hr. and $.60/gal. LP.
