Abstract: The invention is a drying system and a method for its use, the drying system having a container containing a product to be dried and a dryer. The dryer includes an inlet for providing the drying air, a drying air pathway, and a furnace for heating the drying air. The drying air flows through a supply route to the container, where the drying air dries the product and is converted into a return air. The return air flows through a return route back to the dryer. The return air flows through a return air pathway and a heat exchanger which intersects the return air pathway and the drying air pathway. The heat exchanger transfers heat from the return air to the drying air. The return air is exhausted through an outlet. In a preferred embodiment, the container is a tobacco barn and the product is tobacco.

Abstract: The invention is a drying system and a method for its use, the drying system having a container containing a product to be dried and a dryer. The dryer includes an inlet for providing the drying air, a drying air pathway, and a furnace for heating the drying air. The drying air flows through a supply route to the container, where the drying air dries the product and is converted into a return air. The return air flows through a return route back to the dryer. The return air flows through a return air pathway and a heat exchanger which intersects the return air pathway and the drying air pathway. The heat exchanger transfers heat from the return air to the drying air. The return air is exhausted through an outlet. In a preferred embodiment, the container is a tobacco barn and the product is tobacco.

Abstract: This invention is a new, energy efficient, environmentally clean grain drying system which consists of two main parts: a hot drying air generator and a modular, portable drying bin. One novel aspect of the air generator is the introduction of a heat pipe design which enhances the efficiency of a dehumidifier heat pump, making its use economically feasible, especially for humid climates. Another novel aspect is the use of advanced burners incorporating antipollution devices. The hot air generator can operate on many sources of energy such as electricity; gasoline; diesel; biomass such as wood, charcoal, or rice husks; or even solar energy. The modular bin is made of several modules which can be disassembled, transported, and reassembled with great ease. The bin design also creates a very low air pressure drop, allowing substantial savings on blower energy. The complete system will offer great benefits for developing countries that are producers of rice, especially for those with humid climates.

Abstract: A dryer is designed as a closed system in which heated air used to dry the materials is continuously recycled within the drying compartment of the dryer without being discharged to the atmosphere, thus increasing the efficiency of the system while preventing the discharge of contaminated vapors to the atmosphere and also conserving energy which would otherwise be required to heat or air-condition the air drawn into the dryer from the building in which the dryer is located. A regenerative heat exchanger and an atmospheric cooler/condenser are provided in the dryer and condense and remove moisture from the saturated air and transfer the heat of condensation back into the air before the air is reheated and recycled back to the materials to be dried. The drying compartment may comprise an enclosed tunnel through which a rack of superposed trays are conveyed or may comprise some other conveying mechanism.