I.

TITLE: Automated Corn Dryer

II. PROPONENTS: Gonzales, Albert John G.

Sosa, John Anthony D.

III. ADVISER: Engr. Nemelyn A. Fadchar

TECHNICAL CRITIC: Engr. Bryan Owen S. Santos

IV. RATIONALE

In corn postproduction operation, drying was the most important and has the

highest loss recorded Based on a study of PHilMech and PhilRice (2010) an average

of 7.8 percent was lost in the corn postharvest system, of which 4.54 percent was due

to drying loss. In Isabela, the losses amounted to around 7.15 percent where 4.01

percent was measured in drying. In Bukidnon, postharvest losses obtained were 7.35

percent, 4.99 percent was also due to drying loss. While in South Cotabato, 5.98

percent was the total postharvest losses from which 4.63 percent was incurred during

the drying operation. Bingabing(2012) observed that many corn farmers are left with

harvests that they cannot sell and these will deteriorate if not processed into value-

added products like flour.

Ideally, corn grains must be dried down to 15-16% moisture content to

maintain grain quality. The moisture content can be calculated by:

𝐹𝑊−𝐷𝑊
MC = x 100
𝐹𝑊

where:

MC is the percent moisture content

FW is the weight just after harvest

DW is the weight after drying

 The researchers intend to make a circuit that would determine if the moisture

content of the corn was in a range where it is reasonably safe for storage and make a

device that automatically store the dried shelled corn and start to dry the next batch of

corn.

With the help of this device, local farmers would have an easier time in

drying corn and the drying process would be monitored, this would result to a

decrease in the total grain loss and would produce a better quality of corn.

V. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The primary objective of the study is to design and develop an automatic corn

dryer

Specifically, it aims to:

1. design and construct the circuit for automated corn dryer;

2. develop a program for the system using Arduino;

3. to monitor the drying process;

4. for the drying process to be fully automated; and

5. test and evaluate the system.

VI. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY

Materials

 Microcontroller Unit

 Nichrome Wire

 Electric Stirrer

 Servo Motor
  Temperature Sensor

 Load Cell

 LCD Display

 Buttons

 Battery

Methodology

1. design and construct the circuit for automated corn dryer;

2. develop a program for the system using Arduino;

3. to monitor the drying process;

4. for the drying process to be fully automated; and

5. test and evaluate the system.

VII. EXPECTED OUTPUT

The following figures illustrate the expected output of the system. The machine consists

of a storage, which stores the wet corns, a dryer, which will drain every kernel down to its

expected moisture content, a stirrer, which will mix the kernels inside the dryer, an LCD

display and buttons to monitor the parameters of the grains inside the dryer.

Figure 1. Automated Corn Dryer

Figure 2. Dispenser Chute when Open (left) and Closed (right)

Figure 3. Dryer (Interior)

Figure 4. Dryer (Exterior)

VIII. SYSTEM DIAGRAM

Figure 6 shows the flow of the system. The process starts with the electric stirrer to spin

when the machine is turned on. The hatch between the storage and the dryer will open

allowing the wet kernels with the volume of 0.0137mm3 to fill up the dryer. The load cell

will determine the initial weight inside the dryer. Then the nichrome wire will start to heat up

the dryer. The load cell will again weigh the kernels to determine the final weight. The load

cell and the moisture content sensor will check if the kernel’s moisture content is at 15.5%. If

it is down at 15.5%, the hatch at the base of the cylinder will open to dispense the dried

shelled corn down for storage but if it is still not, the machine will keep on mixing the corns.

Figure 5. Microcontroller Interface

Figure 6. Block Diagram of the System
 IX. BUDGETARY ESTIMATE

Table 1 shows the list of estimated price that will be used in the study.

Quantity Description Unit Cost Total Cost

(Php) (Php)
1 Arduino MEGA Microcontroller 1000.00 1000.00

1 Electric Stirrer 4000.00 4000.00

1 Nichrome Wire 110.00 110.00

2 Servo Motor 273.92 547.84

1 Temperature Sensor 300.00 300.00

1 LCD Display 520.00 520.00

1 Miscellaneous 5000.00 5000.00

TOTAL COST 11477.00

Table 1. Estimated Cost

The estimated cost for the construction of the equipment is approximately 12,477 and

may increase prior to the addition of unexpected expenses.