Super-B SQ36 Continuous-Flow Grain Dryer

The Super-B SQ36 is the second-largest model in the SUPER-B Energy Miser SQ Series — engineered for very large commercial drying operations, regional grain elevators, and major pulse processing facilities across Canada. With 734 bushels of holding capacity, a 36-foot 9-inch grain column, and a 50 HP fan motor — a substantial step up from the 40 HP fan on the SQ32 — the SQ36 is built for sustained high-throughput drying that smaller SQ Series units cannot match.

The SQ36 occupies a specific position in the lineup: meaningfully larger than the SQ32 in fan capacity, column length, and loading capability, but stopping just short of the SQ40 flagship’s holding capacity. For commercial drying operations that need consistent 1,700+ BPH throughput on prairie crops without the additional capital and infrastructure cost of the SQ40, the SQ36 frequently delivers the right balance.

For very large prairie operations exceeding 10,000 acres, dedicated commercial drying businesses serving major regional contracts, mid-to-large grain elevators, and major seed plants in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba, the SQ36 is one of the most-installed large commercial dryer choices.

SQ36 Configuration Choice — D, E, A, or M

The SQ36 is offered in four standard configurations defined by the letter suffix after the model number. All four share identical grain column dimensions, holding capacity, and core drying technology — the differences are in drying mode capability and fuel-efficiency features.

SQ36D — Full Heat (Single Zone)

Continuous-flow full-heat operation with one temperature throughout the column. Grain leaves the dryer hot and is cooled in-bin afterward. Lowest capital cost in the SQ36 frame.

Best for: Large single-crop commercial operations with substantial in-bin cooling capacity. Less common at SQ36 commercial scale because mode flexibility typically matters at this size.

SQ36E — Continuous Flow with Louvers

Adds adjustable cooling louvers enabling three drying modes: full heat, pressure heat / pressure cool, and pressure heat / vacuum cool. Considered when the A configuration’s heat-recovery isn’t specifically prioritized.

Best for: Large mixed-crop commercial operations needing flexibility but not committing to the heat-recovery infrastructure.

SQ36A — Continuous Flow with Hot Air Return Duct (Essentially Required)

Adds the hot air return duct for heat recovery — Super-B’s “Energy Miser” feature delivering up to 20% lower fuel consumption during continuous operation. At SQ36 commercial scale, the A configuration is essentially mandatory for any operation planning long-term ownership. Annual fuel consumption at this size is enormous — the 20% savings deliver $25,000–50,000+ per year in operating cost reduction, paying back the configuration premium within 1.5–2 harvest seasons.

Best for: Very large commercial drying operations, major prairie farms, regional grain elevators, and any SQ36 buyer planning multi-year ownership.

SQ36M — Two-Temperature-Zone

Uses two distinct temperature zones for full-heat or pressure-heat / pressure-cool drying. Designed for high-throughput operations needing precise temperature staging across the grain column.

Best for: Major commercial seed-grade producers, large pulse processors handling premium-grade product at very high throughput, large malting barley operations, and specialty grain operations where temperature control directly affects grade-out and crop value at very high volumes.

Key Specifications

Specification	Value
Series	SUPER-B Energy Miser SQ Series
Configuration	Single-module continuous flow
Total Fan HP	50 HP
Auger Load HP	10 HP
Chain Unload HP	2 HP
Column Length	36′ 9″
Overall Length	48′ 7″
Overall Height	14′ 2″
Total Holding Capacity	734 BU
Configurations Available	D (Full Heat), E (Louvers), A (Energy Miser), M (Two-Zone)
Fuel	LP or Natural Gas
Burner	Brock full flame-wall with stainless steel baffles
Blower	Double-width, double-inlet centrifugal (standard)
Grain Column	Variable-width (narrower top, wider bottom)
Outer Skins	18-gauge stainless steel perforated
Unloading	EVENFLO drag-chain conveyor
Standard Controls	QUANTUM or SPECTRUM
Optional Controls	INTUI-DRY 15.6″ touchscreen with remote access
Plenum Door	42″ × 22″ vertical access with safety shutdown switch

Drying Capacity by Crop and Mode

All capacities below are wet bushels per hour. Standard reference (corn 25.5%→15.5%) is published by Brock for cross-model comparison. Prairie crop capacities vary with grain temperature, ambient temperature, fines content, and crop maturity.

Corn Capacity (Manufacturer Standard Reference)

Mode	Moisture Removal	Capacity (BPH)
Full Heat – Single Zone (Model D)	25.5% to 15.5% (10 points)	1,066
Full Heat – Single Zone (Model D)	20.5% to 15.5% (5 points)	1,761
Modified Full Heat – Single Zone (Models M, E, A)	25.5% to 15.5%	1,023
Modified Full Heat – Single Zone (Models M, E, A)	20.5% to 15.5%	1,691
Pressure Heat – Two-Zone (Model M)	25.5% to 15.5%	965
Pressure Heat – Two-Zone (Model M)	20.5% to 15.5%	1,581

Approximate Prairie Crop Capacity (Practical Estimates)

Crop	Moisture Removal	Approximate Capacity (BPH)
Hard Red Spring Wheat	16% → 14.5% (1.5 points)	3,650–4,650
Wheat	18% → 14.5% (3.5 points)	2,100–2,800
Canola (crush grade, 82°C max)	12% → 8% (4 points)	1,600–2,150
Canola (seed grade, 45°C max)	12% → 8% (4 points)	800–1,150
Oats	16% → 14% (2 points)	2,550–3,400
Yellow Peas	18% → 16% (2 points)	1,950–2,550

These prairie-crop estimates are derived from the published corn ratings and typical efficiency factors for each crop. Always confirm capacity for your specific crop, moisture differential, and ambient conditions with your dealer before sizing.

Fan & Heater Configuration

The SQ36 runs a single 50 HP centrifugal blower — a substantial step up from the SQ32’s 40 HP fan and the same fan rating used on the larger SQ40. The double-width, double-inlet centrifugal blower design provides:

• Significantly lower noise than axial fans found on most competitors and earlier Super-B models
• High static pressure capability for consistent airflow through the SQ36’s very long 36′ 9″ column
• Better energy efficiency at the SQ36’s drying capacity than equivalent axial designs

The 50 HP rating is critical at the SQ36’s column length. Long columns require substantial static pressure to maintain consistent airflow, and the SQ36’s fan capacity delivers the airflow needed even when column resistance is elevated by tough crop conditions, fines accumulation, or high moisture loading. Operators report the SQ36 maintains throughput consistency across a wider range of operating conditions than smaller SQ Series units.

The trade-off, common to all centrifugal-blower SQ Series units, is that the fan can ice up in extreme cold (typically below approximately –17°C) and may require a thaw-out cycle. For SQ36 commercial operations running long harvest schedules, building thaw-out intervals into operating plans is standard practice. Many commercial SQ36 installations include supplementary inlet heating to mitigate icing in extreme cold — discuss with your dealer if your operation will run heavily in late-October and November.

The Brock full flame-wall burner with stainless steel baffles distributes heat evenly across the SQ36’s very long grain column. The plenum is engineered to maintain uniform plenum temperatures from front to back — particularly critical on the SQ36 because the very long column has substantial potential for front-to-back temperature variation. Achieving uniform plenum temperatures at this column length is one of the engineering achievements of the SQ Series.

The SQ36 is configured for either liquid propane (LP) or natural gas (NG) at order. For SQ36-class commercial operations drying 150,000+ bushels per season, natural gas is essentially the universal choice if available at the yard. Annual fuel cost differences at this scale frequently exceed $30,000–60,000+ per season — easily justifying very substantial natural gas connection investments that would not be economic at smaller scale.

Grain Column & Holding Capacity

The SQ36 features Super-B’s variable-width grain column in its 36′ 9″ configuration — among the longest in the SQ Series lineup, exceeded only by the SQ40. The geometry follows the same principle as smaller SQ Series models — narrower at the top for efficient moisture removal, wider at the bottom for better dwell time — applied across a column length engineered for very high commercial throughput.

Total holding capacity: 734 bushels — including the perforated wet garner bin at the top, the active grain column, and the discharge zone. The wet garner pre-warms incoming grain using exhaust heat from the lower drying chambers, and at SQ36 throughput the pre-heating contributes very substantially to overall drying efficiency — the heat that would otherwise be exhausted unused at this scale represents real fuel cost.

Stainless steel perforated outer skins (18-gauge) are standard. With proper maintenance, stainless skins typically outlast every other component on the dryer. At commercial SQ36 scale, the skin assemblies represent very significant capital value — proper care directly affects 25–30+ year service life. Annual professional skin inspection is standard practice on commercial SQ36 operations.

For drying canola or other small grains at SQ36 capacity, the small grain screen option is essential. The SQ36’s high throughput means substantial potential for screen plugging from canola fines — active screen management during canola drying campaigns, including mid-shift inspections at peak production, is standard commercial practice on SQ36 installations.

Loading, Unloading & Metering (EVENFLO System)

The SQ36 uses Super-B’s patented EVENFLO drag-chain unloading system scaled for very high commercial throughput operation.

Loading: A 10 HP top auger (versus 7.5 HP on the SQ32) feeds wet grain from your wet bin into the SQ36’s perforated wet garner. The 10 HP rating reflects the SQ36’s higher loading demands — at very high throughput, loading auger capacity becomes critical. Many SQ36 installations include redundant feed systems or dedicated wet bin elevation infrastructure to ensure feed reliability during peak operation.

Unloading via EVENFLO: A slow-moving drag-style chain conveyor at the base of the dryer powered by a 2 HP variable-speed AC motor. On the SQ36’s very long 36′ 9″ column, the EVENFLO advantages over conventional metering-roll systems are operationally critical:

• Even unloading across the very long column length — eliminates flow imbalance that becomes severe on long columns at very high throughput
• Gentler grain handling at high throughput — kernel damage stays low even at 1,700+ BPH where metering-roll systems show very meaningful damage
• Debris-tolerant — commercial SQ36 operations handle massive volumes with variable cleanliness
• Easier between-crop cleaning — removable top cover meaningfully reduces between-crop downtime at commercial scale where downtime is expensive
• Consistent metering — chain speed control delivers reproducible exit moisture even at peak commercial throughput

For commercial drying operations switching between wheat, canola, oats, and pulses on the same machine — common in regional custom drying businesses — the EVENFLO’s clean-out advantage at SQ36 scale represents substantial revenue protection through reduced changeover time.

Operating Modes

The SQ36 supports continuous-flow drying with mode capability dependent on configuration:

Full Heat (D, E, A, M configurations) — Maximum drying intensity. Grain exits the dryer hot and is cooled in-bin. Highest published BPH ratings — 1,761 BPH on corn at 5-point removal. Best for high-throughput drying with substantial in-bin cooling capacity.

Pressure Heat / Pressure Cool (E, A, M configurations) — Cooling air pushed through the lower portion of the column. Grain exits cooled and ready for direct binning. The most-used mode on commercial SQ36 operations because it eliminates in-bin cooling complexity at very high volumes.

Pressure Heat / Vacuum Cool (E, A configurations) — Cooling air pulled through the lower column via vacuum. Different airflow characteristics than pressure cool.

Two-Zone Pressure Heat (M configuration only) — Hotter top zone for moisture removal, cooler bottom zone for finishing and grain protection. Used for sensitive crops at very high commercial throughput.

For most commercial SQ36 buyers, the A configuration with pressure cool mode delivers the best operating economics — fuel savings on a heavy-use SQ36 directly offset the configuration premium in 1.5–2 harvest seasons.

Transport & Installed Dimensions

Dimension	Value
Overall Length	48′ 7″
Overall Height	14′ 2″
Overall Width (varies by config)	Approximately 10′ 8″
Total Fan HP	50
Auger Load HP	10
Chain Unload HP	2

The SQ36 is designed exclusively as a fixed installation. The combination of size (48′ 7″ overall length), weight, and infrastructure requirements means relocation is impractical — SQ36 installations are permanent commercial infrastructure designed for the dryer’s full multi-decade service life.

Concrete pad requirement: The SQ36 requires a heavily reinforced concrete pad designed for the dryer’s operating weight plus full grain load. The 48′ 7″ length means pad engineering must address distributed loading, soil conditions, frost heave protection, and seismic considerations in some regions. Engineered pad design by a structural engineer is standard practice — and often required by provincial building codes — at SQ36 scale.

Three-phase electrical service: Required and typically requires substantial service capacity. The 50 HP fan motor, 10 HP loading auger, and supporting auxiliary loads draw very significant amperage. SQ36 buyers should verify three-phase service amperage capacity well before installation planning. Utility service upgrades costing $25,000–75,000+ are common at SQ36 installation projects in rural locations.

INTUI-DRY Controls and Remote Monitoring

Like all current SQ Series dryers, the SQ36 supports two control system options:

QUANTUM or SPECTRUM Controllers (Standard) — Brock’s standard electronic dryer controllers covering all operating modes, plenum temperature setpoints, moisture targeting, and basic diagnostic logging.

INTUI-DRY Controller (Optional Upgrade — Required at SQ36 Commercial Scale) — A 15.6-inch full-color touchscreen system with intuitive management of all dryer functions and remote smartphone access.

For commercial SQ36 operations, INTUI-DRY upgrade is no longer optional in any practical sense:

1. At SQ36 scale, downtime cost is enormous. A 4-hour fault response time on a 1,700+ BPH unit means tens of thousands of dollars in lost throughput. Remote monitoring catches faults in minutes, not hours.
2. Multi-operator and multi-bin coordination at SQ36 scale absolutely requires INTUI-DRY’s profile management, real-time data, and accessible logging.
3. Season-over-season optimization through INTUI-DRY’s data logging delivers very meaningful efficiency gains at the SQ36’s enormous annual volumes — even 0.5% improvements translate to thousands in fuel savings.
4. Custom drying operations running multiple customer accounts require INTUI-DRY’s ability to track performance and condition history per customer.
5. Fleet management for operations running multiple SQ Series dryers benefits substantially from INTUI-DRY’s networked monitoring capabilities.

Optional Equipment

Beyond the standard configuration, the SQ36 supports several factory and dealer-installed options:

Small Grain Screen — Smaller perforations for canola, mustard, and other small grains. Reduces maximum throughput on standard crops by approximately 20%.

MOISTURE EQUALIZER System — A patented Brock option that moves the hottest and driest grain through the dryer faster, improving drying uniformity. Highly valuable on the SQ36 because the very long column has substantial potential for moisture variation top-to-bottom at high throughput.

INTUI-DRY Touchscreen Upgrade — Required at SQ36 commercial scale.

Heat-Recovery Hot Air Return Duct (A configuration) — Up to 20% fuel savings during continuous operation. On the SQ36, the per-season fuel cost reduction typically pays back the configuration premium in 1.5–2 years for operations drying 150,000+ bushels annually. This is among the fastest paybacks on any equipment investment available.

Reversing Cooling Louvers (E, A, M configurations) — Adjustable cooling louvers for fine-tuning the cooling air volume.

Service Access Catwalks and Platforms — Required for safe operation and maintenance access. The SQ36’s larger size means very substantial catwalk and ladder requirements — catwalk infrastructure on SQ36 installations is significant capital and engineering work in itself, often $15,000–40,000+ depending on configuration.

Pneumatic Discharge System Compatibility — Most Canadian SQ36 installations pair the dryer with a Walinga Ultra-Veyor or similar pneumatic distribution system to move dry grain to multiple bins at high speed.

Supplementary Fan Inlet Heating — Common on commercial SQ36 installations operating in cold prairie conditions. Mitigates centrifugal fan icing in extreme cold and extends late-season operating window.

Redundant Loading Systems — Many SQ36 installations include backup loading capability to protect against single-point failures during peak harvest. Discuss with your dealer if your operation cannot tolerate harvest downtime.

Best Applications for the SQ36

The SQ36 fits a specific operational profile for very large commercial operations.

Best fit for the SQ36:

• Very large prairie operations exceeding 10,000 acres
• Major commercial drying businesses serving regional contracts
• Mid-to-large grain elevators handling regional drying capacity
• Major pulse processing operations
• Large seed plants where temperature staging matters at very high throughput
• Operations replacing aging large-frame commercial dryers from any manufacturer
• Yards with substantial three-phase electrical service, professional engineering support, and committed long-term capital plans

Best fit for the SQ36A (Energy Miser — required):

• Any SQ36-class operation drying 150,000+ bushels per season
• Major commercial drying businesses
• Long-term ownership scenarios where the heat-recovery payback period (typically 1.5–2 years on SQ36-class operations) is among the fastest in any equipment category

Best fit for the SQ36E:

• Operations specifically prioritizing slightly lower capital cost over fuel-recovery
• Buyers planning shorter ownership horizons (very rare at SQ36 scale)

Best fit for the SQ36M:

• Major commercial seed-grade canola producers
• Large pulse processors handling premium-grade product
• Major malting barley operations

Less suitable for:

• Operations where the SQ32 already meets demand — the SQ36’s substantial capital cost premium isn’t justified
• Operations consistently exceeding the SQ36’s capacity — step up to the SQ40 flagship
• Yards without major three-phase service capacity for the 50 HP fan motor
• Smaller commercial operations where SQ36 capital cost cannot be justified by drying volumes

How the SQ36 Compares to Adjacent Models

SQ36 vs SQ32: The SQ32 has a 32′ 8″ column versus the SQ36’s 36′ 9″, with a 40 HP fan versus 50 HP, 7.5 HP loader versus 10 HP, and 654 BU holding versus 734 BU. Drying capacity in corn at 5-point removal increases from 1,601 BPH (SQ32) to 1,761 BPH (SQ36) — about 10% more throughput. The SQ36 is the right step up specifically when an SQ32 has become a bottleneck — for many large commercial operations, the SQ32 is sufficient and the additional SQ36 capacity isn’t justified by the capital cost premium.

SQ36 vs SQ40: The SQ40 has a 40′ 10″ column, the same 50 HP fan as the SQ36, same 10 HP loader, and 815 BU holding. Drying capacity in corn at 5-point removal increases from 1,761 BPH (SQ36) to 1,905 BPH (SQ40) — about 8% more. The SQ40 is the flagship choice for the very largest commercial operations where every available bushel of capacity matters. The SQ36 is the right choice for very large operations where the SQ40’s additional 8% capacity isn’t worth its capital cost premium.

SQ36 vs SQ28: The SQ28 is significantly smaller — 572 BU holding, 30 HP fan, 28′ 7″ column. Corn drying capacity at 5-point removal is 1,371 BPH on the SQ28 versus 1,761 BPH on the SQ36 — about 28% more on the SQ36. The SQ28 fits typical three-combine prairie operations; the SQ36 is appropriate only for very large commercial scale where SQ28 capacity is consistently insufficient.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between the SQ36, SQ36E, SQ36A, and SQ36M? All four are the same SQ36 model with different drying mode capabilities. SQ36D is full heat only, SQ36E adds louvers for pressure cool modes, SQ36A adds the heat-recovery duct for fuel savings (Energy Miser — required at SQ36 commercial scale), SQ36M provides two-temperature-zone operation. The A configuration is essentially mandatory for any operation planning long-term ownership at this scale.

Is the SQ36 a portable or fixed dryer? The SQ36 is exclusively a fixed installation. At 48′ 7″ overall length and the associated infrastructure requirements, relocation is not practical.

What’s the holding capacity of the SQ36? 734 bushels total — including the wet garner bin, active drying column, and discharge zone.

How much grain can an SQ36 dry per hour? Manufacturer-published capacity in corn is 1,761 BPH at 5-point moisture removal (Model D, full heat) and 1,066 BPH at 10-point removal. For prairie crops, capacity varies significantly: wheat at 1.5-point removal can run 3,650-4,650 BPH, while seed-grade canola at 4-point removal at the 45°C temperature limit may run 800-1,150 BPH. Always confirm capacity for your specific scenario with your dealer.

Why is the A (Energy Miser) configuration required at SQ36 scale? At SQ36 commercial scale, annual fuel consumption is enormous — the 20% savings from the heat-recovery hot air return duct translate to $25,000–50,000+ per year in operating cost reduction. The configuration premium typically pays back in 1.5–2 harvest seasons. Skipping the A configuration at SQ36 scale rarely makes economic sense for any operation planning multi-year ownership.

What’s the difference between the SQ36’s 50 HP fan and the SQ32’s 40 HP fan? Beyond the 25% capacity increase, the larger fan delivers materially better static pressure performance under load on the SQ36’s longer column. Operators report the SQ36 maintains throughput consistency across a wider range of operating conditions than the SQ32 — particularly important for commercial operations where consistent performance directly affects revenue.

Does the SQ36 require special electrical infrastructure? Yes — the 50 HP fan motor, 10 HP loading auger, and supporting auxiliary loads require substantial three-phase service capacity. SQ36 buyers should verify three-phase amperage capacity well before installation planning. Utility service upgrades costing $25,000–75,000+ are common at SQ36 installation projects in rural locations.

Does the SQ36 handle canola at very high throughput? Yes — with the small grain screen option and proper temperature management (45°C maximum for seed grade, 82°C maximum for crush grade per Canola Council guidelines). At SQ36 throughput, active screen management during canola drying campaigns is essential — including mid-shift inspections at peak production.

What fuel does the SQ36 use? LP (liquid propane) or natural gas (NG), selected at order. For SQ36 commercial operations drying 150,000+ bushels per season, natural gas is essentially the universal choice if available at the yard. Annual fuel cost differences at this scale frequently exceed $30,000–60,000+ per season — easily justifying very substantial natural gas connection investments.

How long does an SQ36 last? With proper maintenance, current SQ Series units are designed for 25–30+ year service life. At SQ36 commercial scale, professional service contracts and rigorous preventive maintenance practices are standard — the cost of unplanned downtime far exceeds proactive maintenance investment.

What financing is typical for an SQ36 purchase? At SQ36 capital cost levels, structured equipment financing through Farm Credit Canada, ATB Financial, major Canadian banks, or manufacturer-supported financing programs is standard. Lease-to-own and operating lease arrangements are common at this scale, particularly for custom drying businesses where revenue cycles support structured payments. Get multiple quotes from multiple lenders before finalizing equipment pricing.

Should I buy an SQ36 or step up to the SQ40 flagship? Choose the SQ36 if your operation consistently uses 1,500–1,800 BPH capacity but rarely exceeds it. Choose the SQ40 if your operation consistently approaches the SQ36’s capacity ceiling and you need maximum available throughput. The capital cost difference is meaningful — for many large commercial operations, the SQ36 hits the right capacity-to-cost balance and the SQ40’s additional 8% throughput isn’t worth the premium.

Related Models in the SQ Series

• Super-B SQ24 — 490 BU holding, two-combine prairie sweet spot
• Super-B SQ28 — 572 BU holding, three-combine operations
• Super-B SQ32 — 654 BU holding, large commercial entry point
• Super-B SQ40 — 815 BU holding, flagship model

For complete buying guidance — sizing math, crop-specific operation, used vs. new pricing, and how Super-B compares to GSI, Vertec, and Neco — read our Super-B grain dryers buyer’s guide.

Browse all grain dryers on Aglist to compare across manufacturers.

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