During the course of the drying season, it is important to keep the dryer operating at its peak efficiency by performing periodic maintenance and cleaning of the equipment. When the ducts of a dryer are clean, the air moves freely through the grain walls. As debris builds up inside the dryer, this can result in the combustion of debris which may lead to a fire. As such, cleaning of the grain dryer should be performed on a daily basis. Try to keep the surroundings of the dryer clean at all times to prevent breeding grounds for insects and other pests
The recommended method for cleaning the dryer is air or water, preferably from a compressed-air source or even a vacuum, however, using a non-metallic brush or broom also works. Be aware that if using water to clean the dryer, the combination of water and residue can form a paste, making the surfaces sticky and more difficult to remove.
For screened dryers, the outer screens of the dryer need to be kept as clean as possible for safety and performance reasons. The perforation of the screens allow heated air, saturated with moisture form the grain, to exit to the atmosphere. This process also crates a damp environment on the outside of the screens, creating a buildup of fines and dust which reduces air flow resulting in a decrease of capacity and higher cost of drying.
Cleaning of the outer screens can be done during the drying process, but it may temporarily affect the discharge capacity if water is used. The preferred way to clean is to brush down the screens while grain is being dried as this will help push material out of the perforations in the screens. The discharge rate should increase after cleaning of the dryer because more surface area is now being exposed to the heated air passing through the gain columns.
For screened dryers, the procedure for cleaning the inner screens is similar to that of cleaning the outer screens. When cleaning the inside of the dyer, the use of a protective breathing mask is recommended. Using a non-metallic brush or broom, sweep the inner screens and channel rings going from top to bottom. Check the burner to make sure the wires look good and the burner is clean of debris. Sweep and floors and remove and debris.
For tower dryers, be sure to check and clean the inverted roof by removing the inverted roof panel for access. Cleaning should be done daily and includes vacuuming all debris inside the inverted cone and on top of the shelf where the inverted cone attaches.
The duct openings of mixed flow dryers need to be kept as clean as possible for safety and performance reasons. These openings, facing the outside of the dryer, allow heated air, saturated with moisture from the grain, to exit to the atmosphere. This process also creates a damp environment on the outside of the ducts, creating a buildup of fines and dust which reduces air flow resulting in a decrease of capacity and higher cost of drying.
Cleaning of the outer ducts can be done during the drying process, but it may temporarily affect the discharge capacity if water is used. The inside ducts will need to be done when the dryer is off and locked out.
When cleaning the inside of the dryer, the use of a protective breathing mask is recommended. Using a non-metallic brush or broom, sweep the inner panels. Check the burner to make sure the wires look good and the burner is clean of debris. Sweep the plenum floors and remove any debris.