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By
Joel A. Ramos
Vinh Q. Le
Maribel Peneyra
Carolyn Grace G. Somera
Jean C. Balicha
Sherwin Valdez
March 2010
Small Scale Biomass-based Paddy Drying System
Introduction
Primarily, handling of damp grain during the rainy season is a major problem in the
grain industry. If not properly addressed, the grains deteriorate and lose its quality.
Mechanical drying on one hand offers the best alternative during the wet season, however its
adoption becomes unpopular primarily because of high drying cost incurred by the user
partially due to high cost of fuel. On the other hand, cutting down that cost by way of
introducing alternative source of fuel like rice hull can saved about 50% of drying expenses.
Most farmers individually can’t afford mechanical dryers. Non profitability and lack
of technical knowledge in operating dryers underlie the expressed constraints in their usage.
(Cardiño 1986) The need for immediate drying of high moisture grain at the farmer’s level
during the wet season can certainly addressed by a small scale mechanical dryer, which
complements and compares favorably with sun drying. It must include features found in sun
drying such as simplicity or ease of operation, minimum operating expenses and low capital
costs which are the usual requirements made by farmers and grain processors who intend to
invest in dryers. (De Padua et al. 1984)
Objective
The project aims to design, construct and test a small-scale paddy dryer with rice hull
fueled furnace.
Methodology
Results
Assumptions:
Capacity: 500 kgs
Initial grain moisture (wet grain): ~ 28%
Final grain moisture (dried grain): 13 - 14%
Relative humidity: 80%
Bulk density of paddy: 550 - 570 kg/m3
1) Holding bin:
Capacity is 500 kgs per batch. We need a chamber volume of around 1.0 m3 (provide
impurities for impurities in grain).
Researches show that for flatbed dryer, depth of grain should be around 0.3 to 0.4 m
Using 0.3m, then we will obtain a floor area:
1.0
S Floor 3.33 m2.
0.3
Length would be 1.83 (m); Width would be 1.83 (m)
Height of drying chamber (H) is; includes height of plenum (below grain mass) +
depth of grain mass + 0.065 (from surface of grain mass to top)
H = 0.25 + 0.30 + 0.065 = 0.615 (m)
2) Fan:
Total pressure drop is around 30 mmH2O (include: pressure drop per unit depth of
grain, pressure drop for screen, pressure drop for pipe, partial pressure drop).
From several references, for flatbed dryer, the superficial air velocity is best from 0.15
to 0.25 m/s (or 9 to 15 m/minute).
Therefore, fan’s airflow is;
VFan = 0.15 [m/s] * 3.33 [m2] = 0.5 [m3/s]
3) Drying process:
Using Psychrometric chart, determine the state points for drying process.
- Point 1: Ambient air state (at Patm = 101,325 Pa; suppose Tdb = 27 oC, RH1 =
80%) => Twb = 24.3 oC, d1 = 0.018 (kg H2O/kg dry air), Enthalpy I1 = 73.11 kJ/kg
dry air, v1 = 0.875 m3/kg (or air density = 1.143 kg/m3).
- Point 2: Air state after heating. During the sensible heating process, d2 = d1 =
0.018 kg H2O/kg; P2 = Patm + 250.00 Pa = 101,575 Pa). We need to be achieved
Tdb.drying = 45 oC => hence, RH2 = 29.74%, Twb = 28.61 oC, I2 = 91.84 (kJ/kg dry
air), v2 = 0.93 m3/kg (or air density = 1.075 kg/m3)
- Point 3: Exit air state, after drying process. This is adiabatic process: I3 = I2 =
constant = 91.84 kJ/kg; P3 = Patm = 101,325 Pa, and suppose Tdb.exit = 31 oC =>
RH3 = 84.0%, Twb = 28.65 oC, d3 = 0.024 (kg H2O/kg dry air), v3 = 0.89 m3/kg (or
air density = 1.124 kg/m3)
I = I2 – I1 = 91.84 - 73.11 = 18.73 (kJ/kg dry air) => this heat difference is to be
supplied by furnace
4) Biomass Furnace:
- Airflow of fan, GFan
GFan = VFan / v2 = 0.5 [m3/s] / 0.93 [m3/kg] = 0.59 kg/s.
- Furnace Power, PFurnace
PFurnace = GFan * I = 0.59 [kg/s] * 18.73 [kJ/kg] = 11.05 kJ/s = 11.05 kW
= 11.05 * 3.6 = 39.78 MJ/hr
- Fuel Consumption (rice-husk)
Calorific value of ricehusk (10%MC); q 11.3 MJ/kg (lower heating value)
Suppose the furnace can obtained a common heat efficiency = 70%, then the
fuel consumption is;
PFurnace 39.78
GFuel = 5.03 (kgs/hr)
q* 11.3*0.70
5) Drying time:
M1 M 2 M1 M 2
GH 2O Gi * or GH 2 O Gf *
100 M 2 100 M 1
where:
Gi: initial grain weight (wet grain)
Gf: final grain weight (dried grain, after drying)
M1 : initial grain moisture (wet grain), %
M2 : final grain moisture (dried grain), %
Here:
Gi = 500 kgs; M1 = 28%; M2 = 14%
M1 M 2 28 14
GH 2O Gi * 500* 81.40 kgs
100 M 2 100 14
Note:
Weight of water evaporated is different between inside and surface of grain.
At the end stage of drying process, the air exit on the surface (point No. 3) is
rather dry, so weight of water evaporated is less (proof: RH is rather low).
Therefore, the practical drying time will be longer than the theoretical drying time.
I2 = I3
3 d3
I1
1 2 d1 = d2
a) side view
b) top view
c) front view
Figure 2. Autocad drawing of the paddy drying
system showing its different view.
It is a rice hull fueled batch-type flatbed dryer with 0.5 ton capacity per batch of
operation. It is composed of 3 main components, namely: 1) holding bin; 2) fan assembly;
and 3) heating unit (furnace). The holding bin is made from G.I. sheets stiffened by flat bar.
Perforated sheet with 2.4mm hole was used to hold the grains while drying, heated air is
blown from beneath the plenum chamber. The blower is a tube axial fan also made from G.I.
sheets secured by pillow blocks which are bolted on the frame on both ends. The furnace is
made from locally source bricks piled layer by layer about a fabricated guide frame which is
made from angle bars. Aside from primary air sucked beneath the grate, secondary air is
introduced to the combustion area which was tapped from the air blown by fan thus
improving combustion efficiency.
As shown in Figure 3 is the installation of the drying unit. Holding bin was made
from angle bar as its frame where the G.I. sheet is riveted. Then G.I. sheet panels (sidings)
were bolted to form the holding bin, thus this may allow dismantling of bin whenever
necessary.
Construction of furnace was done using locally home-made bricks. It was piled layer
by layer through a guide frame and using mixture of heavy clay soil, sand and cement as
binding material.
Figure 3. Installation of components of the drying unit (holding bin, furnace, and
blower, CLSU, Munoz, Nueva Ecija, March 2010.
D. Evaluation of the Drying System
(To follow once samples become available)
Summary
A small scale paddy drying system with rice hull fueled furnace was designed,
fabricated and installed. It has a capacity of 0.5 ton per batch of operation with 3 main
components; holding bin which is made of G.I. sheets, a tube axial type fan, and furnace
which is made from home-made bricks.
References
CARDIÑO , A.G. 1986. Case studies of mechanical dryers in the Philippines: Lessons
learned. In: Small Farm Equipment for Developing Countries. IRRI, Los Baños,
Laguna, Philippines. pp. 431-437.
DE PADUA, D.B., A.A. MANILAY and A.S. FRIO. 1984. Drying and handling of wet
paddy. In: Proceedings of the FAO/UNDP Regional Workshop of Rice Post-harvest
Technology, 17-22 July 1984, NFA, Quezon City, Philippines.
HENDERSON S.M., R.L. PERRY, 1976. Agricultural Process Engineering. 3rd Edition:
Henderson & Perry. 442 p.