Q&A

Q&A
1.Why do we need a grain dryer?
With a grain dryer, you can dry your grains when they are still fresh and prevent grain mold. Your harvest will no longer be at the mercy of the weather. Also, the paddy dried at low temperature is alive and suitable to make high value small-package rice, increasing your income.
 
2.How to choose the right dryer model?
This depends on your grain type, kernel sizes, shapes and quantity. SUNCUE has various models available. Please check our website for the list of products that can be dried.
 
3.Can a single re-circulating type grain dryer dry various grains?
You can maximize your return of investment by using the same dryer to dry various grains and seeds.
 
4.I am not sure if my product can be dried by SUNCUE's dryers.
SUNCUE has more than 50 years of experience in drying. If you aren't sure, please provide detailed information of your product, SUNCUE can make assessment for you.
 
5.Can a dryer be installed outdoors?
According to the experiences in Europe and North America, using a dryer outdoors has the following disadvantages.
1. Malfunction, degradation, rust and reduced lifespan easily occur as the dryer is exposed to all sort of weather.
2. Rain water invades the dryer, causing damage and grain mold. Grains can also get wet during loading and unloading.
3. Low ambient temperature at night or in winter makes the dryer more fuel-consumptive.
4. By placing SUNCUE dryers indoors with proper maintenance, the life span can be as long as 20, or even 30 years.
 
6.Can an SKS series ventilating-type dryer be installed indoors?
A ventilating-type dryer is more efficient when placed in a well-ventilated place or a shed with all sides opened.
Open all windows if you use a ventilating-type dryer in a room, allowing moisture to go outside. Failure to do so will lead to inefficient drying.
 
7.How many tons can a SUNCUE grain dryer dry per hour? Is high-capacity model available?
SUNCUE has ventilating-type dryers as small as a few hundred kilograms per batch and re-circulating type grain dryers up to 138 tons per batch. Multiple dryers in a drying facility can process hundreds of tons or even thousands of tons per day. SUNCUE will give you a proposal of the most advanced, automated and easy-to-use drying facility according to your requirement.
 
8.Most SUNCUE grain dryers are large and for heavy-duty. Is there anything for drying just a small amount of products?
SUNCUE has mini-sized dryers such as SKS-480DM, SKS-480C+M and FV-54. These are suitable for drying a small amount of products.
 
9.How to choose the right heat source for a grain dryer?
To minimize drying cost, biomass fuels such as rice husk, corn cob, wood pieces, coconut shell and coffee hulls can be SUNCUE dryers' heat source.
 
10.Some ventilating-type grain dryers come with indirect(clean) hot air or direct hot air. What is the difference?
Indirect(clean) hot air: dry products that require ideal cleanliness for direct human consumption. Such as Goji berry, white rice, dried spring onion, peanut without shell and dried fruits, etc.
 
11.Are SUNCUE dryers difficult to operate? Is professional knowledge required?
SUNCUE dryers are simple to operate and easy to use. One-touch control panel, operation indicators and foolproof designs make it possible for a regular person to operate. One operator is enough for a drying facility, processing thousands of tons of grains per day.
 
12.How to do maintenance for SUNCUE grain dryers?
The maintenance of SUNCUE grain dryers is easy enough for most electric workers to do. You don't have to hire any professionals. You can also change dryer parts by yourself. Please conduct cleaning and maintenance by following our manual or contact a SUNCUE distributor if support is needed.
 
13.What is a biomass furnace?
A biomass furnace uses agricultural waste to produce clean hot air for grain dryers. A rice husk furnace can use the free husk from your own rice mill as fuel to minimize drying cost. The resulting ash, rich in potassium, phosphorous and calcium, is the best organic fertilizer. Using a biomass furnace makes you eco-friendly by saving energy and reducing CO2 emission.

14.Why is a precleaner needed?
1. Prevents impurity from causing bridging, uneven drying.
2. Reduces the chance of dryer malfunction.
3. Saves fuel and electricty from drying impurity.
4. Increases drying speed and saves time.
5. Helps loading more grains in a dryer.
 
15.What are the advantages of a SUNCUE pre-cleaner?
1. A SUNCUE pre-cleaner comes with two main functions: winnowing and sifting. See Q&A no. 14 for the benefits.
2. The sift screen can be changed according to grain type and kernel size to maximize the usage.
 
16.Will I be eligible for any subsidy if I bought a grain dryer?
Please consult with a SUNCUE distributor or your local government.
 
17.Is grain dryer eligible for a loan?
Please consult with a SUNCUE distributor or your local government.
 
18.How to use a dryer safely?
SUNCUE grain dryers are equipped with multiple safety devices to ensure safety. For your own safety, DO NOT leave the dryers running unattended to troubleshoot instantly in the event of an error.
 
19.What cares should be taken when using diesel/kerosene as fuel?
Low-quality diesel will cause carbon to build up on the burner and in the combustion chamber, resulting in fire accidents. Please use high-quality premium diesel or kerosene.
 
20.What are the differences between sun-drying and mechanical drying?
1. Sun-drying is labor-intensive and it is difficult to dry a lot of grains quickly and evenly. Drying is not possible at night or on rainy days, leading to the loss of grain freshness.
2. With one single operator, a dryer can dry a lot of grains evenly in a much shorter time. For each batch, the drying result will be consistent.
Please check Q&A No. 26 for the problems of sun-drying.
 
21.Does sun-dried rice taste better?
Sun-dried paddy kernels are very inconsistent in moisture and quality, reducing the taste compared to mechanical drying.
Please check Q&A No. 26 for the problems of sun-drying.
 
22.Is sun-dried rice more natural?
Because of the high grain temperature and low evenness, sun-dried paddy is less consistent in quality. Also, contamination is very likely.
Please check Q&A No. 26 for the problems of sun-drying.
 
23.How to maintain original product color after drying?
By using the best drying equipment to dry freshly, evenly, quickly at low temperature, you could possibly maintain the natural shape, color and taste.
 
24.Can drying cost be higher with a dryer?
Compared to sun-drying, mechanical drying reduces labor cost, saves space, and free the user from the mercy of weather. A good grain dryer is efficient, durable, stable, reliable, making your product more valuable and leading to higher income for farmers. This is truly the reduction of drying cost.
 
25.Mechanical drying can damage grains with high temperature?
A good grain dryer can dry grains evenly, quickly at low temperature to produce valuable rice. SUNCUE grain dryer is designed to dry the most expensive paddy seed variety, resulting in seeds high in germination rate and wheat high in protein.
 
26.Sun-drying and mechanical drying, which method leads to higher germination rate?
1. In the case of sun-drying, higher grain temperature, inconsistency in the thickness of grain layer and stirring lead to great differences in moisture. Thus, the quality of each batch would be very unstable.
2. Mechanical drying can dry seeds evenly at low temperature with re-circulation. This leads to consistency in quality and high germination rate.
 
27.Why not wait for the paddy to ripen a little more and harvest later to reduce drying cost?
Over-ripe paddy kernels fall off easily during harvest and the husk easily come off. These are the major causes of broken rice kernels. The germination rate will be low and the taste will be poor.