Modular grain dryers

Energy-efficient grain drying with a capacity from 5 to 93 t/h — for farms, agricultural enterprises, and grain elevators

Industrial grain drying for production of any scale

A modular grain dryer is a modern industrial piece of equipment designed to reduce the moisture content of grain, leguminous, and oilseed crops to standard levels. Aetern offers a full range of configurations, meeting the needs of everything from small farms to the largest grain complexes and elevators.

The model range includes from 2 to 9 fan units, providing a throughput range of 5–93 tons per hour for corn. Each machine is equipped with loading and unloading augers, cylindrical metering devices for uniform discharge, as well as a dual temperature sensor system—in the grain column and in the air flow.

All grain dryers operate from a standard three-phase 380 V power supply and do not require the installation of additional transformer substations. The unified grain sleeve width of 362 mm across the entire range simplifies maintenance and standardizes the spare parts inventory.

The column grain dryer is especially in demand where process continuity, stable quality, and flexible throughput are important. This solution is suitable for post-harvest grain processing with varying initial moisture content.

Principle of operation of the grain dryer

The grain enters the machine through the loading auger in the upper part of the housing and, under the action of gravity, moves downward through the grain columns. Inside the equipment, two functional zones are arranged: a heating chamber and a cooling chamber, ensuring a complete product processing cycle.

In the heating zone, the burner generates a stream of hot air, which mixes with outside clean air and passes through the layers of grain. Moisture from the grain evaporates and is removed beyond the drying chamber. The intensity of the process is regulated by the combustion power and the product feed rate.

After passing through the heating zone, the grain enters the cooling chamber, where the temperature gradually decreases to safe levels. Controlled cooling prevents condensation from forming during subsequent storage and preserves product quality.

The entire process is continuously monitored by temperature sensors installed both within the grain mass and in the airflow. In the lower part of the machine, cylindrical metering devices ensure uniform discharge of the dried grain through the discharge auger.

Who is a modular grain dryer suitable for?

Grain drying equipment is in demand on any farm where harvesting takes place under unstable weather conditions or crops are grown that require mandatory moisture reduction before storage. Small farms with seasonal throughput of up to 5,000 tons can manage with a basic configuration of 2 fan units — compact and easy to connect.

Medium-sized agricultural enterprises working with several crops in crop rotation more often choose 13-section configurations. The discharge speed adjustment makes it possible to quickly switch between corn, wheat, lentils, and sunflowers without any equipment reconfiguration.

Large grain complexes and elevators that receive products from multiple farms meet their needs with models featuring 4–9 fan units and a capacity of 25–93 t/h. For service companies and farms with several remote sites, a mobile version is available for transport without disassembly.

Grain dryers on gas fuel

Gas versions of grain dryers are equipped with burners with a capacity of 1,700,000 kcal/h for each fan unit. Natural gas or liquefied propane-butane (LPG) is used as fuel, ensuring a stable drying-air temperature and high precision of the thermal regime.

Gas fuel is characterized by clean combustion without the formation of soot and tar deposits on working surfaces. This is critically important when drying seed grain and food products, where any contamination is unacceptable.

The automatic burner control system maintains the set temperature without the constant presence of an operator. The output of gas models scales proportionally to the number of sections — from 5.79 t/h in the base configuration to 93 t/h in the maximum.

The gas version of the grain dryer is recommended if there is a connected gas line or reliable supplies of liquefied gas to the site.

Grain dryers on solid fuel

A solid-fuel grain dryer is, above all, independence from gas infrastructure and protection against gas price fluctuations. An indirect-heating heat generator runs on coal, firewood, pellets, sunflower husks, and wood-processing waste, allowing you to burn your own production waste and significantly reduce fuel costs.

Thanks to the heat exchanger in the heat generator, the grain remains free of foreign odors and retains its market value. The design of the heat generator is intended for continuous operation throughout the entire harvest season without a reduction in efficiency.

We offer two configuration options: “full heating” — only the heating zone, the optimal choice for farms that already have an external grain cooler, and the “heating + cooling” version — a complete drying and cooling cycle in one machine for those who want a compact solution without additional equipment.

That is precisely why a modern grain dryer is viewed not only as a stage for removing moisture, but also as a tool for preserving crop quality. A properly organized process directly affects the final value of the product.

Mobile grain dryers for field operations

Mobile models are designed for farms and service companies that need to quickly move drying equipment between sites during the season. The compact transport frame allows the unit to be transported by standard freight vehicles without dismantling the main components.

In terms of functionality, the mobile grain dryer is completely identical to the stationary one: it is equipped with a loading auger, a burner, a set of sensors, and cylindrical dispensers. Deployment at a new location is reduced to placing it on a level surface and connecting it to a 380 V power supply.

Such a solution is especially in demand among farmers managing several remote sites, as well as among companies that provide on-site grain drying services.

When selecting a configuration, the type of crops, initial moisture content, available energy sources, and required operating intensity are taken into account. This makes it possible to choose a solution that will be effective not only today, but also in the long term.

Model lineup and performance

The product line includes a wide range of configurations with increasing power. For gas fuel, the entry-level model is a 7-section unit with 2 fans, a capacity of 5.79 t/h for corn (reducing moisture from 25% to 15%) with a one-time load of 9,500 kg and dimensions of 6,580 × 2,450 × 4,120 mm. For solid fuel, an even more compact configuration is available — 5 sections with cooling and a capacity of 3 t/h, designed for small farms without gas infrastructure.

The 9-section configuration increases performance to 7.44 t/h with comparable dimensions. Models with 13 sections and 2–3 fan units are designed for medium-sized agricultural enterprises and deliver 10.75–16.5 t/h. Machines with multiple modules and a capacity of up to 93 t/h are intended for large elevators.

All models use standardized 20 hp fans at 1400 rpm with an impeller diameter of Ø 1000 mm, as well as burners rated at 1,700,000 kcal/h for each section. Aetern specialists will help select the optimal configuration taking into account the crop being processed, volumes, and initial moisture content.

The choice between formats depends on logistics, crop volumes, and the requirements for organizing post-harvest processing. In both cases, the key remains stable process control and obtaining properly dried grain.

Which crops can be dried

Aetern grain dryers work with a wide range of agricultural crops with different physical characteristics and temperature requirements. Among them are corn, wheat, barley, sunflower, soybeans, rice, lentils, rapeseed, and other grain legumes.

The required performance is achieved not only through the capacity of the machine itself, but also through a proper understanding of grain properties—its initial moisture content, density, and permissible heating temperature. Corn with a moisture content of 25% and wheat with a moisture content of 18% require fundamentally different residence times in the drying zone, and therefore different equipment configurations. Aetern specialists analyze the crop, volume, and harvesting conditions of a specific enterprise in order to select a machine that meets the actual need without overpaying for excess capacity and without the risk of a “bottleneck” on peak receiving days.

Rollers (cylindrical feeders) with adjustable discharge speed make it possible to precisely set the product residence time in the heating zone for each specific crop. The temperature in the grain column is monitored by several sensors—at the level of each fan and burner—which provides a complete picture of the heating throughout the full height of the column. The automation system tracks the sensor readings and adjusts the roller speed depending on when the grain reaches the temperature set by the operator: for seed grain, a gentle mode is set that does not exceed agronomically acceptable limits and preserves germination. For non-standard situations, a manual roller speed control mode is provided, allowing the operator to intervene promptly in the process.

A properly selected system pays for itself not only through reduced logistics costs, but also through preserving crop quality. For a business, this means a more stable result and greater control over the entire process.

Scalability and design advantages

The main advantage of the modular architecture is the ability to increase performance as the farm develops, without replacing the machine as a whole. The standardized 362 mm-wide section is replicated along the body, and adding fan units increases the processing volume while keeping the structure width unchanged at 2,450 mm.

A farm that started with a 7-section configuration at 5.79 t/h, as its sown area expands, moves to a 13-section model with 10–18 t/h, and later to a multi-unit system with 25–93 t/h. At the same time, a unified maintenance logic and spare parts compatibility are preserved.

The housing is made of galvanized steel with anti-corrosion treatment and is designed for round-the-clock operation throughout the entire harvesting season. The dispenser drive via an AC frequency converter ensures smooth and precise adjustment of the grain discharge speed.

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Product Categories

Gas grain dryers

Grain dryers with a gas burner for natural gas and propane-butane

Solid-fuel grain dryers

Solid-fuel grain dryers: saving on fuel and efficient grain drying using alternative fuel.

Mobile Graindryers

Mobile solutions for grain drying

Grain Coolers

Grain cooling systems after drying

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