An inclined belt conveyor capable of mixing particulate material, such as agricultural seed or fertilizer. Inserting a plurality of mixing baffles into the stream of the particulate material induces a backflow of the particulate material. In the case of wet, freshly treated plant seed, this backflow causes a mixing, polishing, and drying of the plant seed. The mixing distributes the seed treatment into an even coat by rubbing the individual seeds of the seed flow stream together. The inclined belt conveyor may also be used to blend multiple varieties or types of particulate material. The mixing baffles are oriented to induce backflow and sideways lateral movement and may incorporate a passage to allow increase particulate material flow rate. The mixing baffles can selectively deploy between an angle of 20 degrees to 70 degrees to enable the mixing inclined belt conveyor to have a transfer-speed-maximizing mode and a mixing mode.

The present invention refers to an automatic grain processing apparatus comprising, in an integrated manner, that is, in a single apparatus, the following units: a cleaning unit (2); a drying unit comprising a dryer (18), a grain weighing and classification unit; and a grain packaging and labelling unit. The present invention also refers to a grain integrity monitoring and tracking system, comprising one or a plurality of sensors arranged in a package and configured to measure the properties, such as temperature and/or moisture and/or pressure and/or vacuum of the packaged grains, together with the location of the load; and at least one communication module configured to receive the data from one or a plurality of sensors and configured to transmit and store the information from said one or a plurality of sensors in a cloud or any high-performance repository. Said sensors arranged in the package (34) can identify exactly how, when and where the load, that is, the packaged grains, is stored, the temperature, vacuum and pressure conditions of the grains, and also provide agile location responses for monitoring by the end client.

A stream of seed may be maintained at a metered flow rate through multiple stages of a treatment process. These multiple stages include dispensing, first application of fluid, second application of fluid, and seed transport. Seed transport may be accomplished through a conveyor configured to maintain the metered flow rate while providing static mixing, drying, and conditioning of the treated seed. The metered stream of seed may be treated within a first treatment applicator where a first wet treatment is applied, transferred through the incline conveyor, and treated again within a second treatment applicator where a second wet treatment is applied. Overtreating in multiple stages may layer consecutive seed treatments around the treated seed. A predetermined amount of seed treatment may be applied to the coated seed based on the metered flow rate established. Maintaining the metered flow rate through multiple stages eliminates the need for multiple metering steps.

A post-harvest crop management platform is provided for regulating conditions of an agricultural crop being dried and/or stored. The platform utilizes data collected from sensors positioned proximate to, or embedded within, an agricultural crop, and analyzes selected crop characteristics affecting the stored crop in multiple sections thereof. The platform identifies parameters relative to achieving a desired crop characteristic level in the agricultural crop, generates a profile of the selected crop characteristic across the multiple sections of the stored crop, and models an application of a fluid flow pattern to achieve the desired crop characteristic level in each section. The crop storage monitoring and management platform also actuates a multi-stack assembly, configured within the stored crop, to automatically apply the fluid flow pattern in one or more cycles that are adjustable to changing conditions within the stored crop in real time. The crop storage monitoring and management platform further integrates with, and connects to and communicates with, other systems within an autonomous field activity ecosystem.

A grain aeration system facilitates thorough and efficient aeration of grain within a grain bin. The system includes a grain bin having a top vent and a bottom vent. A stand is positioned within the grain bin. A duct includes a loop section supported on the stand and an extension extending from the loop section out through the bottom vent in the grain bin. The duct has a duct wall and a plurality of perforations extending through the duct wall. A blower drives air flow out of the bottom vent creating air flow into the grain bin through the top vent and into the duct wherein the blower is configured to aerate grain positioned within the grain bin.

Disclosed herein are devices systems and methods for removing moisture from a material via radio frequency electromagnetic wave exposure. A moisture-removal system can include having spaced apart a first and a second electrical conductor extending along a same first direction, each of the first and second electrical conductor comprising opposing broad top and bottom sides, the broad bottom side of the first electrical conductor facing the broad top side of the second electrical conductor. The system includes a material containing moisture at least partially filling the space between the first and the second electrical conductor. The system further includes at least one first wire attached to a first radio frequency generator and to the first end of the first electrical conductor. The system also includes at least one second wire attached to the electrical ground of the first radio frequency generator to the first end of the second electrical conductor.

The invention relates to a process and apparatus for ultrasonic assisted drying of materials, in particular, but not exclusively, for the low temperature drying of materials that are heat sensitive. In particular, there is provided an apparatus for dehydration of water containing material comprising: an ultrasound emitter; an ultrasound transmission platform that directly or indirectly supports said material; a fluid retained between said emitter and said platform, through which ultrasound energy is transferred; and a gas stream device that directs drying gas to said material. There is also provided a method of dehydration of water containing material comprising locating the material either directly or indirectly on an ultrasound transmission platform of a dehydration apparatus that comprises: an ultrasound emitter; a fluid retained between said emitter and said platform, through which ultrasound energy is transferred; and a gas stream device that directs drying gas to said material; and exposing said material to ultrasound energy and drying gas flow for a time and under conditions suitable to achieve desired extent of dehydration of said material. In another aspect there is provided a material that has been dehydrated using the method or apparatus described above.

A hopper bottom for supporting a cylindrical side wall of a grain bin includes a hopper wall having an inverted cone shape supported on upright support legs. A manifold duct is supported above the hopper wall to define a manifold passage therein extending circumferentially adjacent to the peripheral edge of the hopper wall. A plurality of outlet openings formed in the manifold duct in communication from the manifold passage to an interior of the hopper wall for open communication with the grain bin thereabove. An inlet opening extending through the hopper wall in alignment with the manifold duct receives ventilation air from a blower to direct the flow through the manifold duct and into the grain bin through the outlet openings of the manifold duct.

Systems and methods in accordance with the present invention provide for the efficient distillation of ethanol in an ethanol plant including a beer column. Heat is captured in the distillation process and utilized to drive operations in the ethanol plant.

A grain dryer has a heated drying section with an upper plenum and a cooling section. A heater is positioned between the lower plenum and the upper plenum, wherein air is heated by the heater as air in the lower plenum is pulled through the heater and into the upper plenum. A fan takes a suction from a ductwork on the heated drying section to draw a vacuum in the upper and lower plenums. Grain enters the dryer and flows into the drying section where the grain is exposed to heated air being pulled from the upper plenum into the ductwork. Grain flows from the drying section into the cooling section where the grain is exposed to cooling air being pulled through outer walls of the cooling section into the lower plenum. Grain flows from the cooling section into the unloading section.