JP2012107780A - Grain drying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a grain drying apparatus that uniformly heats grain and suppresses cost for heating.SOLUTION: A drying chamber 16 of the grain drying apparatus 10 includes: an air inlet 18 for taking outside air into the chamber; and an exhaust port 20 exhausting inner air. A conveyance base 14 for grain is laid in the drying chamber 16. A gas fuel supply passage 24 supplies gas fuel. A catalyst body 34 is placed in the drying chamber 16 and catalytically combusts the gas fuel supplied from the gas fuel supply passage 24. An IR radiator 32 is integrally formed with the catalyst body 34 and is heated by catalytic combustion to radiate far infrared rays to the conveyance base 14. An aeration route discharges the heating air heated by the catalytic combustion to the drying chamber 16.

Description

  The present invention relates to a grain drying apparatus that generates heat by catalytic combustion to dry grain.

  In order to dry the grain regardless of the weather, a grain drying apparatus for drying the grain indoors is used. Some grain drying apparatuses include a far-infrared radiator, and the grain is dried by heating the far-infrared radiator and radiating far-infrared rays to the grain.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a grain far-infrared drying apparatus including a far-infrared radiator that accommodates a combustion cylinder of a burner therein. The far-infrared radiator is formed by bending a cylinder into a U-shape, and a burner combustion cylinder is provided at one end of the U-shape. The far-infrared radiator is heated by combustion in the burner.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-281645

  In a grain drying apparatus, if the grain is heated too much, its components may be altered, so it is necessary to dry it over time. In order to heat grains for a long time, a large amount of fuel is consumed, so an apparatus capable of drying efficiently at low cost is desired.

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, the far-infrared radiator is heated from the end of the far-infrared radiator by a burner. Since the far-infrared radiator is heated from the end, unevenness occurs in the heating of the far-infrared radiator and cannot be efficiently heated. Kerosene is mainly used as the fuel for the burner. However, it is expensive to burn kerosene for a long time.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a grain drying apparatus that efficiently heats an infrared emitter and reduces the cost of heating.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a grain drying apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes an intake port for taking in outside air, a drying chamber having an exhaust port for discharging internal air, and a grain passage disposed in the drying chamber. A gas fuel supply path for supplying the gaseous fuel; a catalyst body disposed in the drying chamber for catalytic combustion of the gaseous fuel supplied from the gas fuel supply path; and formed integrally with the catalyst body and heated by catalytic combustion. An infrared radiator that radiates far infrared rays into the passage, and a ventilation path that discharges heated air heated by catalytic combustion to the drying chamber.

  According to this aspect, the infrared radiator is formed integrally with the catalyst body, and the infrared radiator can be efficiently heated by the catalyst body without unevenness, thereby reducing the heating cost. Further, by heating the infrared radiator uniformly, far infrared rays can be uniformly emitted, and the grain can be dried without unevenness. Moreover, by using gaseous fuel, cost can be suppressed compared with liquid fuels, such as kerosene. Moreover, by discharging heated air into the drying chamber, the grain can be heated using exhaust heat.

  According to the present invention, grains can be efficiently heated in a grain drying apparatus without unevenness, and the cost for heating can be suppressed.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the grain drying apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. (a) And (b) is a perspective view of the infrared rays radiator and catalyst body which concern on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the modification of the infrared rays radiator and catalyst body which concern on 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing seen from the front of the grain drying apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing seen from the side of the grain drying apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows some internal structures of the grain drying apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a grain drying apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment. It should be noted that the same or equivalent components and members shown in the following drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted as appropriate.

  The grain drying apparatus 10 includes a drying chamber 16, a conveying device 22, a gaseous fuel supply path 24, an electric heater 30, an infrared radiator 32, a catalyst body 34, a first circulation path 26a, and a second circulation. A path 26b and a heat exchanger 28 are provided.

  The grain 12 is dried in the drying chamber 16. The drying chamber 16 is provided with an intake port 18 and an exhaust port 20. A ventilation fan is attached to the exhaust port 20. Air outside the drying chamber 16 enters through the intake port 18, and air inside the drying chamber 16 exits through the exhaust port 20. As a result, the drying chamber 16 can be ventilated and the steam accumulated in the chamber can be exhausted. In the drying chamber 16, at least the transport device 22, the infrared radiator 32, and the catalyst body 34 are disposed.

  The conveyance device 22 is a belt conveyor and conveys the grain 12 so as to pass through a heating area in front of the infrared radiator 32. In addition, the conveyance stand 14 for conveying grains may be formed in a net shape. When the transport table 14 is formed in a net shape, air also escapes to the back side of the transport table 14 and drying of the grain 12 can be accelerated. The conveyance device 22 may repeatedly convey the grain 12 and pass the heating area below the infrared radiator 32 a plurality of times.

  The conveyance platform 14 may be formed in a circumferential shape with the vertical direction as an axis, and the grain on the conveyance platform 14 may be moved in the circumferential direction by the conveyance device 22. The carriage 14 passes through a heating area below the infrared radiator 32. Thereby, since it can dry with a grain mounted on the conveyance stand 14, not only a granular grain but a comparatively big agricultural product can be dried.

  The gaseous fuel supply path 24 supplies gaseous fuel to the catalyst body 34. The gaseous fuel is, for example, a mixed gas of propane and the atmosphere. In addition to propane, hydrocarbons such as butane may be used. Propane or the like is supplied to the gaseous fuel supply path 24 from an external fuel reservoir (not shown). The cost of gaseous fuel can be reduced compared to liquid fuel such as kerosene.

  The electric heater 30 is provided in the gaseous fuel supply path 24 and heats the gaseous fuel and the catalyst body 34 when energized. Energization of the electric heater 30 is controlled by the user by operating a switch. The electric heater 30 heats the gaseous fuel and the catalyst body 34 only at the beginning of combustion, and when the catalyst body 34 reaches a predetermined activation temperature, the heating is stopped by turning off the switch. Alternatively, the heating by the electric heater 30 may be automatically stopped by detecting that the catalyst body 34 has reached a predetermined activation temperature by the temperature detecting means.

  The catalyst body 34 is provided in the gaseous fuel supply path 24, is fixed to the infrared radiator 32, and is formed integrally with the infrared radiator 32. For example, the catalyst body 34 is formed of a noble metal such as platinum. When the temperature of the catalyst body 34 is equal to or higher than a predetermined activation temperature, the catalyst body 34 undergoes a catalytic reaction with the gaseous fuel and catalytically burns the gaseous fuel on and near the surface of the catalyst body 34. In catalytic combustion, gaseous fuel is oxidized to generate thermal energy, and the gaseous fuel burns without flame. Therefore, the grain can be dried safely. In the embodiment, since catalytic combustion is performed using the catalyst body 34, it also serves to purify the exhaust gas, and the amount of SOx and NOx contained in the exhaust gas as compared with the case where the flame is burned and combusted. Can be reduced.

  The infrared radiator 32 is heated by catalytic combustion of gaseous fuel, and strongly emits far infrared rays. Further, the infrared radiator 32 can be heated not only by the catalyst body 34 but also by heated air. The infrared radiator 32 is located closer to the conveying device 22 than the catalyst body 34. By heating the infrared radiator 32 by catalytic combustion, the infrared radiator 32 can be efficiently heated as compared with the case of heating the infrared radiator by combustion that emits a flame, and the cost for heating can be suppressed. it can.

  The infrared radiator 32 heated by catalytic combustion strongly radiates far infrared rays to the grain 12 on the carriage 14 and heats the grain 12 to dry it. Further, the catalyst body 34 is heated together with the infrared radiator 32, and the grain 12 is also heated by the heat generated from the catalyst body 34. Here, the infrared radiator 32 and the catalyst body 34 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are perspective views of the infrared radiator 32 and the catalyst body 34 according to the first embodiment, each showing an example. In FIG. 2A, the infrared radiator 32 and the catalyst body 34, both of which are formed in a plate shape, are integrally formed so as to be bonded together. The catalyst body 34 extends uniformly on one surface of the infrared radiator 32. Thereby, the infrared radiation body 32 can be heated uniformly from the surface of the catalyst body 34 extended uniformly, and the grain 12 can be dried uniformly.

  In FIG. 2B, a plurality of catalyst bodies 34 formed in a tile shape smaller than the infrared radiator 32 are uniformly arranged on one surface of the infrared radiator 32 formed in a plate shape. The catalyst body 34 is integrally formed. The catalyst body 34 is uniformly arranged from one end to the other end so as to be uniformly scattered on one surface of the infrared radiator 32. Thereby, the amount of the catalyst body 34 can be reduced and the cost can be suppressed while heating the infrared radiator 32 evenly.

  The lower surface of the plate-shaped infrared radiator 32 and the upper surface of the carrier 14 may be arranged substantially parallel to face each other. The upper surface of the carriage 14 is a portion on which the grain 12 is placed. Thus, by arranging the moving path of the grain 12 and the infrared radiator 32 so as to face each other substantially in parallel, the grain 12 on the carrier 14 can be efficiently heated by the one surface of the infrared radiator 32 without unevenness.

  Returning to FIG. The first circulation path 26 a is connected to the gaseous fuel supply path 24, and supplies the air heated in the gaseous fuel supply path 24, that is, exhaust gas, to the heat exchanger 28. The heat exchanger 28 is provided on the outer periphery of the gaseous fuel supply path 24 and applies the heat of the heated air to the gaseous fuel in the gaseous fuel supply path 24 to heat the gaseous fuel before catalytic combustion. Thereby, when catalytic combustion starts, catalytic combustion can be continued without heating by the electric heater 30, and the exhaust gas is circulated so that gaseous fuel can be efficiently catalytically burned. Although FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which the heat exchanger 28 is provided outside the drying chamber 16, the heat exchanger 28 may be disposed in the drying chamber 16.

  The second circulation path 26 b discharges the heated air sent from the heat exchanger 28 to the flow path 40 of new air sucked from the intake port 18. The flow path 40 is located between the air inlet 18 and the conveying device 22, and new air entering from the air inlet 18 is mixed with heated air before reaching the grain. Thereby, the heated air can be circulated to heat the cold air taken in from the outside air, and the grain 12 can be prevented from being cooled by the outside air. The first circulation path 26 a and the second circulation path 26 b function as a ventilation path for discharging heated air heated by catalytic combustion to a predetermined position in the drying chamber 16.

  FIG. 3 shows a modification of the infrared radiator and the catalyst body according to the first embodiment. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the infrared radiator 42 and the catalyst body 44, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the infrared radiator 42 and the catalyst body 44.

  The infrared radiator 42 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The first catalyst body 44a, the second catalyst body 44b, and the third catalyst body 44c (referred to as "catalyst body 44" unless otherwise distinguished) are formed in a rod shape, and the like on the inner peripheral surface of the infrared radiator 42. They are arranged at intervals and are formed integrally with the infrared radiator 42. Further, the catalyst body 44 extends in the axial direction from one end of the infrared radiator 42 to the other end. The number of catalyst bodies 44 need not be limited to three, and may be two or four or more.

  The internal space of the infrared radiator 42 is connected to the gaseous fuel supply path 24 to supply gaseous fuel. That is, the internal space of the infrared radiator 42 also functions as a gaseous fuel supply path 24 that supplies gaseous fuel to the catalyst body 44. The internal space of the infrared radiator 42 is also connected to the first circulation path 26a.

  The infrared radiator 42 is provided with a rotation mechanism for rotating the infrared radiator 42 about its axis. The rotation mechanism is connected to both ends of the infrared radiator 42 and rotates around the central axis of the infrared radiator 42 as a rotation axis. By catalytic combustion of gaseous fuel while rotating the infrared radiator 42 and the catalyst body 44, the heat generated on the surface of the catalyst body 44 can be diffused in the circumferential direction, and the infrared radiator 42 is heated evenly. Can do. Further, the amount of the catalyst body 44 can be reduced as compared with the case where the catalyst body 44 is provided on the entire inner peripheral surface of the infrared radiator 42, and the cost can be reduced.

  The catalyst body 44 fixed inside the infrared radiator 42 is not limited to a rod shape, and for example, a plurality of tile-shaped catalyst bodies may be arranged as shown in FIG. Even in this case, the infrared radiator 42 can be heated evenly by disposing the catalyst body from one end to the other end in the axial direction.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view seen from the front of the grain drying apparatus 50 according to the second embodiment. Moreover, FIG. 5 is sectional drawing seen from the side surface of the grain drying apparatus 50 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a partial internal configuration of the grain drying apparatus 50 according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 6, in the grain drying apparatus 50, the structure which conveys the grain storage chamber 96 and a grain is abbreviate | omitted.

  The grain drying device 50 of the second embodiment dries while circulating the grains. The grain drying apparatus 50 has a box-shaped drying chamber 52, and a grain storage chamber 96 is provided above the drying chamber 52. The drying chamber 52 is provided with an intake port 54 and an exhaust port 56. A ventilation fan is attached to the exhaust port 56 to exhaust the steam. Grains are stored in the grain storage chamber 96.

  Under the grain storage chamber 96, the first exhaust air passage wall 82, the first hot air passage wall 84, the second exhaust air passage wall 86, the second hot air passage wall 88 and the third in order from the right of the drawing. A wind exhaust path wall portion 90 is provided, and a first wind exhaust path 102, a first hot air path 104, a second air exhaust path 106, a second hot air path 108, and a third air exhaust path 110 are provided in each internal space. .

  As shown in FIG. 6, the first air exhaust passage wall portion 82, the first hot air passage wall portion 84, the second air exhaust passage wall portion 86, the second hot air passage wall portion 88, and the third air exhaust passage wall portion 90 (these parts) The upper part is formed in a conical shape, and four inter-wall passages are formed between the wall parts. Each wall is formed of a member having air permeability.

  Roll pipes 94 are respectively provided below the four inter-wall passages. The roll pipe 94 can be rotated. By providing the roll pipe 94 immediately below the inter-wall passage, the lower openings in the four inter-wall passages are partially blocked to reduce the opening area. Thereby, even if it does not completely stop the grain, the falling speed of the grain can be reduced. Further below, two slopes 80 having a V-shaped cross section when viewed from the front are formed on the entire bottom, and a first transport path 58 is provided at the lowest intersection of the slopes 80. As shown in FIG. 6, the 1st conveyance path 58 is a screw conveyor. Grains in the grain storage chamber 96 fall from the grain storage chamber 96 through the four inter-wall passages due to gravity, fall to the slope 80, slide down on the slope 80, and are collected in the first conveyance path 58.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the first transport path 58 is connected to the second transport path 60, and the grain transported by the first transport path 58 is transported to the top in the drying chamber 52 by the second transport path 60. The second transport path 60 is connected to the third transport path 62, and the grain transported by the second transport path 60 is transported by the third transport path 62 to a spraying device 64 provided at the center of the top of the drying chamber 52. The

  The spreading device 64 has a saucer on which the grain is placed, and the grain is scattered in the radial direction by centrifugal force by rotating the saucer. Thereby, the grains can be dispersed in the grain storage chamber 96. Grains in the grain storage chamber 96 fall again by gravity and are circulated along the same path. By drying the grain while circulating in this way, the grain can be dried evenly.

  Next, the heating means will be described. An infrared radiator 70 and a catalyst body 74 are disposed in the gaseous fuel supply path 72. The infrared radiator 70 may be a part of the wall portion of the gaseous fuel supply path 72. The gaseous fuel supply path 72 is provided with an electric heater (not shown) as in the first embodiment.

  The infrared radiator 70 and the catalyst body 74 are formed by connecting two infrared radiators 32 and catalyst bodies 34 shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B so that the cross section is V-shaped. It may be. The lower surface of the V-shaped infrared radiator 70 is disposed substantially in parallel so as to face the V-shaped inclined surface 80. Thus, by arranging the grain passage and the infrared radiator 70 so as to face each other, far infrared rays can be radiated on the surface of the grain sliding down on the slope 80, and the grain can be efficiently heated. Further, as the infrared radiator and the catalyst body, the infrared radiator 42 and the catalyst bodies 44a, 44b and 44c shown in FIG. 3 can be used. Similar effects can be obtained by using the infrared radiator 32 and the catalyst body 34 shown in FIGS.

  An umbrella portion 92 that covers the upper surface of the gaseous fuel supply path 72 is disposed above the gaseous fuel supply path 72. The umbrella part 92 prevents the falling grain from hitting the wall of the gaseous fuel supply path 72. The umbrella part 92 is formed in an inverted V-shaped cross section, and the grains falling on the upper surface of the umbrella part 92 are configured to slide down the upper surface of the umbrella part 92 and fall onto the slope 80.

  The third circulation path 78 a communicates the gaseous fuel supply path 72 and the first hot air path 104, and the fourth circulation path 78 b communicates the gaseous fuel supply path 72 and the second hot air path 108. Air heated in the gaseous fuel supply path 72 by the third circulation path 78 a and the fourth circulation path 78 b is supplied to the first hot air path 104 and the second hot air path 108. The third circulation path 78a and the fourth circulation path 78b may be connected to a position that is largely separated from the gaseous fuel supply path 72, for example, an end of the gaseous fuel supply path 72 on the exhaust port 56 side.

  The first exhaust path 102, the second exhaust path 106, and the third exhaust path 110 (referred to as “exhaust path” unless otherwise distinguished) communicate with the exhaust port 56 and exhaust. Since each wall portion has air permeability, heated air is supplied to the exhaust air passage from the first hot air passage 104 and the second hot air passage 108 through the inter-wall passage.

  The operation of the grain drying apparatus 50 will be described. The gaseous fuel is supplied to the catalyst body 74 through the gaseous fuel supply path 72, and the gaseous fuel and the catalyst body 74 are heated by the electric heater. When the catalyst body 74 reaches a predetermined activation temperature, the gaseous fuel undergoes catalytic combustion. The catalytic body 74 and the infrared radiator 70 are heated by catalytic combustion, and the grain moving on the slope 80 is heated. The heated grain slides down the slope 80 and is collected in the first conveyance path 58. The grain is sent again to the grain storage chamber 96 by the first transport path 58, the second transport path 60, the third transport path 62, and the spraying device 64. By circulating in this way, the grains can be dried evenly.

  The heated air in the gaseous fuel supply path 72 is sent to the first hot air path 104 and the second hot air path 108 through the third circulation path 78a and the fourth circulation path 78b. The air heated by catalytic combustion in the gaseous fuel supply path 72 is supplied to the first hot air path 104 and the second hot air path 108. Grains are accumulated in the four inter-wall passages by the roll pipe 94, and the grains in the inter-wall passages are heated by the heated air from the first hot air passage 104 and the second hot air passage 108. The air moves to the exhaust path and is exhausted from the exhaust port 56, and the air containing a large amount of moisture is exhausted. The grain is dried as described above.

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. This embodiment is an exemplification, and it is understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the combination of the respective components, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Grain drying apparatus, 12 Grains, 14 Transport stand, 16 Drying chamber, 18 Inlet, 20 Exhaust, 22 Conveyor, 24 Gaseous fuel supply path, 26a 1st circulation path, 26b 2nd circulation path, 28 Heat exchanger , 30 Electric heater, 32 Infrared radiator, 34 Catalytic body, 42 Infrared radiator, 44 Catalytic body, 50 Grain drying device, 52 Drying chamber, 54 Intake port, 56 Exhaust port, 58 First transport path, 60 Second Conveyance path, 62 3rd conveyance path, 64 Spreading device, 70 Infrared radiator, 72 Gas fuel supply path, 74 Catalyst body, 78a 3rd circulation path, 78b 4th circulation path, 80 Slope, 82 1st exhaust path wall 84, first hot air passage wall portion, 86 second air exhaust passage wall portion, 88 second hot air passage wall portion, 90 third air exhaust passage wall portion, 92 umbrella portion, 94 roll Type, 96 grain storage chamber, 102 a first exhaust path, 104 first Neppuro, 106 second exhaust path, 108 second Neppuro, 110 third exhaust path.

Claims (6)

A drying chamber having an intake port for taking in outside air and an exhaust port for discharging the internal air;
A grain passage disposed in the drying chamber;
A gaseous fuel supply path for supplying gaseous fuel;
A catalyst body disposed in the drying chamber and catalytically combusting the gaseous fuel supplied from the gaseous fuel supply path;
An infrared radiator that is integrally formed with the catalyst body and that is heated by catalytic combustion to radiate far infrared rays into the passage;
A grain drying apparatus comprising: a ventilation path for discharging heated air heated by catalytic combustion to the drying chamber. The infrared radiator is formed in a plate shape,
The grain drying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst body is uniformly arranged on one surface of the infrared radiator. The infrared radiator is formed in a cylindrical shape,
The grain drying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst body is disposed on an inner peripheral surface of the infrared radiator.   The grain drying apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a rotation mechanism that rotates the infrared radiator.   The said ventilation path has the 1st circulation path for circulating the heating air heated by the catalyst combustion, and heating the gaseous fuel before performing catalyst combustion. The grain drying device described in.   The ventilation path includes a second circulation path that circulates heated air heated by the catalyst body and the infrared radiator and discharges the heated air to a flow path of air sucked from the intake port. The grain drying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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