January/February 2006 Grain Journal

Efficiency, quiet internal vacuum fans, and compact size are three of the reasons why Eric Larson, AGP Grain Ltd, Shelly, MN, likes his new Delux grain dryer.

“It dries more bushels at five points of moisture removal than it’s rated,” says Larson. “It’s works very well and it is quiet and efficient.”

According to Larson, the Delux dryer, which replaced a competitive brand dryer the company had used since 1995, is able to dry 2,700 to 2,800 bph, which is three times as much as the previous
dryer and significantly more than its 2,160-bph rating.

Installed on Oct. 1 just in time for harvest, the Model DPX12T dryer, manufactured by Delux Mfg., Kearney, NE (800-658-3240), was also able to fit into the limited space available. Its low-fill height of only 40 feet and outside catwalks are also advantageous, says Larson.

In picking a new dryer, Larson wanted to improve dryer efficiency. He says the elevator gained 40% drying efficiency on fuel when they made the switch to the Delux dryer.

When asked to rate it on a scale of one to 10, Larson gives it strong marks. “Well, I don’t believe in giving a 10, but I will give it an 8.5,” he says.

“When it came time to make the decision, we had heard only good things about Delux,” he adds.

Advantages
One of the key advantages of the Delux dryer, according to Larson, is that the vacuum cooling fans are located inside the dryer, which pulls fresh air through the cooling grain, resulting in natural heat recovery and very quiet operation.

Larson also liked that the dryer has an internal, indirect vaporizer, so it doesn’t require an external vaporizer.

Another benefit of the Model DPX12T is the dryer’s user-friendly control panel, with automatic moisture control, says Larson.