The Vortex forage dryer uses a hair dryer to dry forage samples quickly and accurately. The tester is made using a standard home hair dryer with the blower end of the dryer entering a CPVC pipe attached to a funnel- or vortex-shaped container made from two round duct reducers. A 200 gram hay or silage sample is put into the dryer. A cover made from wood and window screen is secured on top. It takes 20-60 minutes to dry a sample.

While the sample is blown about within the dryer, you can finish some chores and not worry about burned samples. With the vortex, you don’t have to stand there and watch it like you would a microwave. The dryer also provides very uniform drying because the sample has air moving through and around it unlike in a microwave.

To learn more about the Dryer click the link.

See the write-up in Hay & Forage Grower.

Three student organizations within the Department of Agriculture and Biological Engineering are building and distributing the Vortex Dryers as a fundraiser. For more info on these organizations click the appropriate link. Contact the treasurers if you have any questions about the Vortex Dryers.