The Design, Fabrication and Performance Evaluation of Solar Sustained Batch Type Maize Dryer for Value Addition

Year 2018, Volume: 2 Issue: 2, 50 - 56, 10.04.2018

Fraz Ahmad Khan

https://doi.org/10.31015/jaefs.18008

Cited By: 2

Abstract

Drying is the taking away of water
from agricultural product thus at the same time provide extended period of
shelf life. In this study, an innovative solar sustained maize dryer along with
screw conveyor for unloading the grain and central air perforated duct
(throughout aeration chamber length) has been developed. High drying rate was
achieved due to central air distribution model of the dryer during the drying
process. Using 758-kg of freshly harvested maize at moisture content 24% (wet basis),
dryer was evaluated. The average aeration rate of the solar sustained maize
dryer was 3.67 kilogram per hour. 60% saving in drying time was also achieved by
using the solar sustained maize dryer. From 24% to 13% moisture content for
drying the whole maize, solar sustained maize dryer took 27 hours. It is
economical and environment friendly drying method. Cost analysis was also done
and it was found by using this drying method, at very low cost we can
dehydrated better quality maize. At community level, marketable size of the
solar sustained maize dryer can be better and formed for revolution of
agriculture in the country-side areas. 

Keywords

Moistness, Aeration rate, even drying

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