BIOMASS-FUELED GRAIN DRYER WITH

RECIRCULATION OF HEATED AIR

Axcel Sarili De Leon, Jammel Ann Pama, Kenneth Cordero,

Ivan Cedrick Lalis, Ricson Magpantay, Karl Angelo Santos

ABSTRACT

The general purpose of the study is to create a machine that can operate
during any weather condition without deterioration in terms of quality. One specific
objective of the study is to prevent over and unfinished drying by using moisture
content meter instead of relying on mere senses as basis. The use of the
conventional way of drying grains introduces a problem to the farmers. Delayed
drying of palay caused by unfavorable weather condition will force the farmers to sell
their hard-earned palay to traders lower than the standard price instead of just letting
it go to waste.

The machine uses biomass as a fuel, low price rice hulls are good in terms of
generating heat and that is exactly what the furnace needed to achieve. A higher
temperature on the drying chamber is proven to shorten the duration of process. The
result of the study states that a lesser amount of time is needed compare to the
traditional method. It also proves that the process is unaffected by outside conditions
such as weather and drying time schedule.

KEYWORDS: Grain Drying, Mechanical Palay Dryer, Artificial Grain Drying

INTRODUCTION

Since then, grains are traditionally sun-dried to remove its high moisture
content and make it suitable for storage throughout a longer period. Proper drying
expands the opportunities to different kinds of agricultural commodities stored
temporarily and serves as a big factor that will help seek better markets without
quality deterioration [1].

Figure 1: Average Amount of Rainfall in Bataan Monthly

Source: Climate-Data.org

1
 This table presents the average amount of rainfall in Bataan per month. This
clearly states that there are times that sun drying is not an option in grain drying.

The main problem that the study wanted to show is the negative effects of
delayed grain drying process due to farmers and traders depending on sun drying as
means of reaching the safe level of moisture content for storage. To design and
fabricate a machine that can be reliable in any season in terms of drying grains
without having to consider the weather condition and a machine that will not degrade
the quality of the grains is the main objective of this research.

This prototype only dry grain. It uses two fans for diverting heated air from the
furnace to the drying cabinet. Machine’s capacity is 14.5kg of wet grains. Farmers
will be the primary beneficiary of this research study since their product will be used
in testing.

METHODOLOGY

Conceptual Framework

The conceptual framework below is the flow of the study from data gathering to
finalization of design and documentation. This serves as the researchers guide and
pattern to successfully create an efficient and effective study.

Figure 2: Conceptual Framework

This diagram shows the flow of the testing from gathering of data to evaluation
of refined prototype. With respect to the existing design and concept, a certain design
is about to performed specified testing procedure that subjected for assessment.

2
Design Options and Evaluation

The conceptual designs of “Development of Biomass-fueled Grain Dryer with

Recirculation of Heated Air” considered by the researchers are shown and briefly
explained in figures 5.1 and 5.2.

Figure 3: First Design Option

Figure 4: Second and Recommended Design Considered

Table 1: Comparison of Two Designs

CONCEPTUAL DESIGN ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Cheaper Can’t divert the heated air

Retractable Has smaller furnace

Immovable
FIRST DESIGN
Lacks in rice husk
container

Lacks in chimney

3
CONCEPTUAL DESIGN ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
Can divert the heated air Expensive

Has a larger furnace Intact

SECOND DESIGN Movable Heavy

Has rice husk hopper

Has chimney

Materials and Fabrication Procedures

The fabrication of the prototype will be by assembling different section required

for a dryer. It will have basic sections like furnace and container of the grain. Some
sections will have detectors and gauges installed to monitor losses due to
simultaneously opening the container. The detector/gauges will be a great help in
monitoring the changes in temperature or the decrease in moisture content by
serving as a reminder or a basis to the standard values that must be met during the
process.

Experimental Design and Procedures

Testing Area Control Area

↓ ↓

Machine Sun drying

↓ ↓

Drying time Drying time

(y) (x)

𝑇𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡 = |(𝑦) − (𝑥)|

The dependent variable in this design is the drying time of each area after
going through two different treatments. The dependent variable will only be taken
when both processes reach the suited storage moisture content level (14%). To be
able to determine the treatment effect, the values obtained in both areas will be
subtracted and the difference between them will be taken as the impact assessed.

4
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Final Equipment Design

Figure 5: Isometric Views of the Final Design

5
Tabulated Results

Table. Testing Results

Std Run Block Factor 1 Factor 2 Factor 3 Response Response

Condition Temperature Dryness 1 2
Time Quality
4 1 Pioneer 77 Stored 60 Dry 120 10

7 2 Pioneer 77 Newly 60 Wet 225 10

Harvested
6 3 Pioneer 77 Stored 50 Wet 360 8

1 4 Pioneer 77 Newly 50 Dry 150 10

Harvested
2 5 R218 Stored 50 Dry 80 9

3 6 R218 Newly 60 Dry 70 10

Harvested
5 7 R218 Newly 50 Wet 233 8
Harvested
8 8 R218 Stored 60 Wet 240 9

All data gathered during testing is all summarized in this table.

Interpretation of Results

Figure 6: Quality x Dryness Figure 7: Time x Dryness

Figure 6 and Figure 7 shows the relation of responses to significant factor

(dryness). These graphs show that drying time of palay having less moisture content
is lower than the higher one. And the quality of dried dry palay is higher than palay
with high moisture content.

6
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

After all the testing was conducted, expected outcomes and other unforeseen
aftereffects are all recorded together. All the conclusions made are all based on the
test results that are produced by the testing and acquired using different measuring
instruments.

Dried palay processed using the newly introduced method is not affected by
any outside situations like weather conditions, outside temperature and outdoor
humidity. The conventional method drying time consumes about more than double of
the duration of the recirculating heated air practice to fully consider the palay dried.

Since the dryer is efficient in drying grains, it is highly recommended to

fabricate machine with this kind of process that can hold large capacity.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our advisor Engr. Dan
William Martinez for non-stop guiding us from the very beginning of this project study.
To our technical adviser, Engr. Gerald Robles, who also gave us ideas and
techniques on how to perform the testing, we would also like to thank you.

Besides our advisers, we would also like to give thanks to the Department of
Agriculture – Bataan for giving us all the information about palay and palay dryer that
helps us to come up in fabricating an efficient machine.

REFERRENCES

[1] Dizon, Engr. R. (2018, November 05). (K. C. Cordero, A. S. De Leon, & K. D.
Santos, Interviewers)