MAXON Global Solutions Improve Seed Dryer Performance
In agricultural seed drying, disastrous loss can result from poorly dried product. Poorly dried seed in storage promotes mold growth and spoilage, reduces germination percentages and attracts insect infestation. To ensure proper drying, manufacturers of seed dryers monitor retained seed moisture, which depends on drying temperature uniformity.
In late 2004, an Iowa-based dryer manufacturer needed a solution to provide better temperature uniformity when the world's largest seed corn processor wanted dryers for Svarvas, Hungary. Knowing their vendor's old premix burners produced poor duct temperature uniformity with low turndown and often backfired, the Iowa company contacted MAXON to provide a better burner.
The longstanding MAXON NP AIRFLO® burner provided a solid foundation for a complete solution with the convenience of a raw gas line burner. In addition to being a very affordable solution, the NP also spread the heat across the dryer duct with a modular, cast iron design in four 14 MMBTU/hr (4100 kW) zones. The complete solution, including a fuel skid and burner management panel, was engineered by MAXON to meet local codes and operate the burners flawlessly.
To deliver the complete solution, the entire system was commissioned by local MAXON service engineers in Hungary. On startup, the setpoint temperature variation disappeared, holding temperature with less than 1% error. Duct temperature uniformity improved to +/- 2°F ( 1.1 °C).
