COMPETENCY BASED LEARNING MATERIAL

Unit of Competency: OPERATE DRYING MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT

Module Title : OPERATING DRYING MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT

 HOW TO USE THIS COMPETENCY BASED LEARNING MATERIAL

Welcome to the module OPERATING DRYING MACHINERY AND

EQUIPMENT one of the competency of RICE MACHINERY OPERATION
NCII QUALIFICATION. This module contains training materials and activities
for you to complete.

The unit of competency “OPERATE DRYING MACHINERY AND

EQUIPMENT” contains knowledge, skills and attitude required for TRAINEES.

You are required to go through, a series of learning activities in order to

complete each learning outcome of the module. In each learning outcome are
Information Sheet, Self-Checks, Task Sheets and Job Sheets. The follow
these activities on your own. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask your
facilitator for assistance.

The goal of this course is the development of practical skills in

supervising work-based training. Tools in planning, monitoring and evaluation
of work-based training shall be prepared during the workshop to support in the
implementation of the training program.

This module is prepared to help you achieve the required competency,

in “RICE MACHINERY OPERATION NCII”.

This will be the source of information for you to acquire knowledge and
skills in this particular competency independently and at your own pace, with
minimum supervision or help from your facilitator.

Remember to:
 Work through all the information and complete the activities in each
section.
 Read information sheets and complete the self-check. Answer keys are
included in this package to allow immediate feedback. Answering the
self-check will help you acquire the knowledge content of this
competency.
 Perform the task sheets and job sheets until you are confident that your
output conforms to the performance criteria checklist that follows the
sheets.
 Submit outputs of the task sheets and job sheets to your facilitator for
evaluation and recording in the Accomplishment Chart. Outputs shall
serve as your portfolio during the institutional competency evaluation.

A certificate of achievement will be awarded to you after passing the

evaluation. You must pass the institutional competency evaluation for this
competency before moving to another competency
 LIST OF COMPETENCIES

CODE Unit of Competency Module Title

AGR611361 Operate rice land preparation Operating rice land preparation
machinery and equipment machinery and equipment
AGR611362 Operate rice crop establishment Operating rice crop establishment
machinery and equipment machinery and equipment
AGR611363 Operate rice crop care machinery Operating rice crop care
and equipment machinery and equipment
AGR611364 Operate rice harvesting and Operating rice harvesting and
threshing machinery and threshing machinery and
equipment equipment
AGR611365 Operate rice drying machinery Operating rice drying
and equipment machinery and equipment
AGR611366 Operate rice mill machinery and Operating rice mill machinery and
equipment equipment
 MODULE CONTENT

Unit of Competency: Operate rice drying machinery and equipment

Module Descriptor

This unit covers the knowledge, skills and attitudes required

in operating rice drying machinery and equipment.

List of Learning Outcomes

1. Prepare rice drying machiner

2. Operate machines and monitor performance
3. Perform postoperation activities

Assessment Criteria

 Machines are checked/adjusted in accordance with established

standards and manufacturer’s manual
 Accessories are prepared and checked as per work requirement and
established standards and manufacturer’s manual
 Tools and materials are prepared as per work requirements
 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)are selected and worn as per
work requirement
 Machine is operated according to established standards and
manufacturer’s manual
 Abnormal conditions are identified and corrected in accordance with the
standard operating procedures
 Performances are assessed according to set standards and clients’
specifications
 Malfunctions are recorded for appropriate adjustment by proper
personnel 2.6 Machine is shutdown according to established standards
and manufacturer’s manual
 Wastes are managed according to environmental regulations
 Machine and engine are cleaned and stored as per established
standards and manufacturer’s manual
 Work area is cleaned and maintained according to OHS and enterprise
requirements
 Records of information are prepared in appropriate format
 Basic preventive maintenance is performed according to manufacturer’s
instructions and/or standard practices
Learning Activities Specific Instructions

Read information sheet 5.1-1 Read and understand the information

sheet and answer self. Once finish ,
refer your answer into the Answer
key.

You may proceed to the next

information if you answer all question
correctly

INFORMATION SHEET 4.1-1

 MECHANICAL DRYING MACHINE

In this system, mechanical dryers are used to remove water from wet grains
by forcing either ambient air or heated air through the grain bulk. This is done
through:

 Heated air drying - employs high temperatures for rapid drying. The

drying process is terminated when the desired final moisture content is
reached. It uses the following types of dryer:
o Batch dryer - can be used by farmers, contractors, and small rice
mills
o Re-circulating batch dryer - can be used by commercial rice
mills and cooperatives
o Continuous flow dryer - not very common, but used by some
larger billing enterprises that handle large volumes of wet paddy
 Low-temperature drying or in-store drying - controls the relative humidity
rather than the temperature of the drying air so that all grain layers in the deep
bed reach equilibrium moisture content. This can be done using the 
o In/store dryer - produces very high quality grains but requires
long drying time, i.e., four days to two weeks
 Solar drying - latest drying technology that is able to simulate sun drying
even during rainy conditions. This is done through:
o Solar bubble dryer - can be locally-built and used by smallholder
farmers
 Grain cooling - cools the grain to safe storage conditions instead of
drying it, allowing grains to be conserved for longer periods

A dryer typically consists of three main components and often has some
additional accessories.

The main components are:

 The drying bin for holding the grain;

 The fan for moving the air through the dryer and the grain;
 The air distribution system; and
 The heating system for pre-heating the drying air.

In addition, dryers can have various accessories for automatization and

monitoring the drying process.
Mechanical Dryers

1. Introduction: There are three generic forms of mechanical dryer commonly

found in use today. The vertical dryer, the horizontal dryer and the silo or
stationarybed dryer. These are batch dryers which naturally fit the batch
pattern dictated by coffee processing, following, as it does, daily (or less
frequent) harvesting. The first two stir the coffee during drying whereas silo
dryers tend not to.

Generally, one can say there is no consensus as to which of these designs

produces the best or most efficient drying. The following remarks apply to all
three types of dryer: ƒ

 Pre-drying is required because the handling and drying requirements of

fully wet coffee and substantially dry coffee (to 11- 13% mc), whether
cherry or parchment, cannot be accommodated in one piece of
equipment; ƒ

 Control of the drying operation is exerted through controlling the

moisture content of the entry coffee, the loading rate, inlet air
temperature and the duration of the run; ƒ

 Drying at excessive temperatures generates black beans and reduces

cup test quality. A grain temperature of about 45OC is generally taken
as the safe upper limit; and ƒ

 Evaporative cooling can be quite marked, and the temperature of the

grain increases toward that of the drying air as it becomes dryer.

2. Main Features of Dryer Design: ƒ

 Capacity ƒ
 Airflow – rate of flow, counter/co- current ƒ
 Furnace type – temperatures, fuel source ƒ
 Type of fans ƒ
 Coffee mixing – not just rate – but also whether continuous or
intermittent, maybe method (dead zones possible?) ƒ
 Gauges
4. Main ‘Performance Criteria’: ƒ

 Energy efficiency; ƒ
 Time to dryness; and ƒ
 Uniformity of drying.
Examples of mechanical dryers

Many mechanical dryers have been developed for rice but only very few did
get commercialized successfully. This page provides some information about
some dryers that became popular in Southeast Asia. It does not constitute a
comprehensive overview of all possible drying technologies. The dryers
featured here are not necessarily the best technical solution but, because the
users accept them, they seem to offer a good compromise between drying
cost and benefits in terms of higher quality and weather risk avoidance in their
specific settings.

Description

Low Cost Dryer (SRR and STR dryers)

Country: Vietnam
Source: Nong Lam University (NLU), Ho
Chi Minh City
Capacity: 1t
Drying time: 2 days

The Solar Bubble Dryer

The Solar Bubble Dryer (SBD) is the latest low-cost drying technology
developed by IRRI, Hohenheim University and GrainPro. The SBD is mobile
and is completely independent from fuel or the power grid, and therefore has
very low operating cost. It comes in different sizes, with current models having
0.5 and 1t batch capacity.

How does it compare to other dryers?

The SBD improves the traditional sun drying process, in which farmers spread
the paddy in the open under the sun, by protecting it from animals, insects,
contamination and rain. The drying tunnel also provides a buffer for the
temperature and protects the grains from overheating, as it is common during
sun drying at noon.

Rapid FIRE dryer 

Rapid decrease in moisture content (MC) without affecting grain quality is

among the advantages of using the Rapid FIRE dryer that is now underway
for public testing.
The study “Development of far infrared ray emitter rapid paddy dryer (Rapid
FIRE)” led by PhilRice Scientist Engr. Manuel Jose C. Regalado has shown
promising results in drying fresh paddy, which is seen to benefit traders,
processors, and farmers during wet season.
This mechanical dryer targets a more cost-effective technology that uses
lesser electricity, promises better sun-drying simulation, and produces quality
dried paddy and milled rice outputs.
Initial results have shown that infrared ray or radiation transfer provides a
rapid means for heating and drying a thin layer of the rice paddy. In 2.5 min of
exposure time to infrared,  grain MC could be reduced by 2.3 percentage
points, i.e., from 16.4% to 14.1%. The ideal grain MC for rice paddy is 14% for
milling, and 12% for seed production.

Classification of mechanical dryers

Mechanical Dryers • The mechanical dryers are classified as :
1. Sack dryers ( Batch or Bin dryer).
2. Rotary dryers ( Batch or continuous).
3. Continuous flow dryers ( mixing type or non mixing type).
4. Tray type dryers.
5. Spray type dryers.
6. Freeze dryers.
7. Vacuum dryers.
8. Dielectric dryers.
9. Electrical dryers.
10. Infrared dryers.
11. Solar dryers.
12. Fluidised bed dryer.

Rice Dryer Accesories:

Pre-cleaner • Fines in rice create dust during the loading and drying
process and reduce airflow through the rice airflow through the rice grain. •
Pre-cleaners usually consist of – scalper that lets through the grain but
retains straw – a smaller second screen that removes small stones and
other im purities – air aspirator for sucking out dust and light empty grains

Elevators and Conveyors •

For horizontal and vertical vertical transport of transport of grains: –

Loading – Circulation – Discharge • Need to be matched to Need to be
matched to the capacity of the dryer. – A properly designed - circulating
batch dryer can easily reach capacities of 10t/h.

Moisture meter

Monitoring grain to avoid – over drying – incomplete drying drying –

Unnecessary weight loss – Reduced milling yields Incomple te drying
causes qualitative and quantitative losses from – fungal growth fungal
growth – insect activity – respiration

Dust collection system

Grain handling will create dust, making working around a working around a
grain drying hazardous. • Need for dust collection systems – Cyclone –
Need to be properly sized depending dryer specifications.
Self Check

 1. What are the classifications of mechanical dryers?

Answer Key
1. Sack dryers ( Batch or Bin dryer).
2. Rotary dryers ( Batch or continuous).
3. Continuous flow dryers ( mixing type or non mixing type).
4. Tray type dryers.
5. Spray type dryers.
6. Freeze dryers.
7. Vacuum dryers.
8. Dielectric dryers.
9. Electrical dryers.
10. Infrared dryers.
11. Solar dryers.
12. Fluidised bed dryer.
Learning Activities Specific Instructions

Read information sheet 5.2-1 Read and understand the information

sheet and answer self. Once finish ,
refer your answer into the Answer
key.

You may proceed to the next

information if you answer all question
correctly
 INFORMATION SHEET 5.2-1
Operate Drying Machine

Why is proper usage of a dryer important?

Any delay in drying of wet paddy leads to rapid deterioration of quality. A dryer
that does not perform well or is not operated properly can cause several
problems:

 Extended drying time due to inefficient air delivery or low temperature

 Uneven drying of grains due to uneven airflow or very high temperature
(batch dryers)
 High fuel consumption due to ineffective air distribution or very high
airflow rate
 Low germination rate due to very high drying air temperatures
 High number of broken grains due to mixing of dry with wet grains or
due to moisture gradient
 Fire hazard and danger of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning of
operators from using unsafe burners

What is the proper way of drying?

For optimum drying, apply proper pre-drying management and operate the
dryer according to the manual.

Before drying

 Prevent any delay in drying after harvest. If you cannot dry the paddy to
the desired moisture content, at least pre-dry it to 18%, which is safe for
temporary storage for up to two weeks.
 Clean the grains before drying to avoid uneven drying and wet spots.
 Do not mix grains with different moisture contents to avoid cracking.
 Read the operator’s manual and familiarize yourself with the dryer
operation.

Using the dryer

 Load the dryer with wet paddy, considering the minimum load. Do not
overload.
 With very wet paddy or when paddy lots with different moisture contents
are mixed, aerate or circulate the grains for 15−30 min before turning the
heater on to reduce broken grains.
 In a batch dryer with more than 30 cm grain depth, mix the grains at
least once for more even drying.
 Monitor grain temperature and moisture content to prevent excess
temperature and over drying.
 Dry paddy after harvest to 18% moisture content for storage up to two
weeks.
 Dry paddy for milling to 14% moisture content. Drying below 14%
reduces weight and milling yield.
 For 8−12-month storage, dry to 13% or less; for long-term storage
exceeding 1 year, dry to 9%.

Safety precautions

 Always operate the dryer following the steps given in the manual.
 Check burners or furnaces regularly to prevent fire hazards and excess
CO production. Always have a fire extinguisher at hand.
 Make sure that fuel cut-off valves that disconnect the fuel supply in case
of power cuts are functioning.
 Ensure proper ventilation in the working area to prevent CO poisoning.
Self Check

1. What are the safety precautions for Mechanical Dryer?

 Answer Key

 Always operate the dryer following the steps given in the manual.
 Check burners or furnaces regularly to prevent fire hazards and excess
CO production. Always have a fire extinguisher at hand.
 Make sure that fuel cut-off valves that disconnect the fuel supply in case
of power cuts are functioning.
 Ensure proper ventilation in the working area to prevent CO poisoning.
Learning Activities Specific Instructions

Read information sheet 5.3-1 Read and understand the information

sheet and answer self. Once finish ,
refer your answer into the Answer
key.

You may proceed to the next

information if you answer all question
correctly
 INFORMATION SHEET 5.3-1

Troubleshooting mechanical dryers

A drying system can only maintain quality but it cannot improve the quality of
paddy. When a dryer produces poor quality paddy it is therefore important to
compare the paddy from the dryer with a reference sample from the same
batch that was dried under controlled conditions, e.g. in an air-conditioned
room, or in the shade by spreading a thin layer and frequently mixing.
Otherwise it is difficult to tell whether the low quality is caused by quality
reduction that occurred before drying, e.g. during field drying, or in the drying
system. Underneath some problems with mechanical dryers, their potential
causes and possible solutions are explained.

Problem Potential cause Possible Solutions

Long drying time Ineffective fan Fan testing, replace fan

Reduced airflow from Clean perforated sheets, bigger

turbulences or high plenum chamber and air ducts,
resistance of air
distribution system

Low temperatures Increase temperature within acceptable

limits

Uneven drying Too high air Reduce air temperature, Mixing after
temperature in fixed initial drying
bed dryers
Improve temperature control

High fuel Ineffective fan or air- Improve air distribution system, use fan
consumption distribution system with higher efficiency

Air-flow rates too high Reduce air flow rate to normal levels
(smaller fan)
Low germination Too high drying air Reduce air temperature
rate temperatures

Low germination Dry 1kg of the same crop in the shade,

potential of paddy make germination test and compare
with machine dried sample

High number of Moisture gradient, re- Reduce delays in drying, don't do field
broken grains wetting after drying drying, dry immediately after harvesting

  Feeding of grain with Mix grain during drying in batch dryers

different MC, re-
wetting of dryer grain
fractions
Rice drying process
Self Check
Fill in the potential cause and possible solution.

Problem Potential cause Possible Solutions

Long drying time

Answer Key

Problem Potential cause Possible Solutions

Long drying time Ineffective fan Fan testing, replace fan

Reduced airflow from Clean perforated sheets, bigger

turbulences or high plenum chamber and air ducts,
resistance of air
distribution system

Low temperatures Increase temperature within acceptable

limits
 Task sheet 5.3-1

OBJECTIVE

Given the tools and materials needed, you are required to Operate Rice
Drying machine
Tools & equipment

Farm tools
Rice drying Machine
PPE
Maintenance Tools
Workplace area
Maintenance Material
Storage area
Working Table
Cleaning tools

Instructions

 Prepare all materials needed

 Perform Operate Rice drying machine
 Perform Maintenance of Threshing machine
 Clean Workplace and Rice drying equipment
 Store Rice drying Machine
 Once you are done please refer to the performance criteria checklist on
the next page
 PERFORMANCE CRITERIA CHECKLIST 5.3-1 YES NO
DID YOU….
Prepare all materials needed
Perform Operate Rice drying machine
Perform Maintenance of Threshing machine
Clean Workplace and Rice drying equipment
Store Rice drying Machine