1.

Function

:

Drying grains, chillies, copra.

2.

Specification

:

i. Type and Model

:

Forced convection

ii. Area of the flat plate

:

8m2

iii. Diameter of the bin   

:

178 cm

iv. Depth 

:

45 cm

3.

General Information

:

The drier has three main components viz. flat plate collector, blower and drying bin.  The area of the collector is 8 m2 and is divided into 4 bays each having 2 m x 1 m absorber area.  The absorber is made of 20 gauge corrugated GI sheet and is painted with black colour.  A plain G.I.sheet placed 5 cm below the absorber plate creates air space for heating.  This sheet is insulated at the bottom with glass wool.  The absorber is covered at the top with two layers of 3 mm thick plain glass.  The unit is placed at 10°C to the horizontal, facing south.  The air space is open at the bottom to suck atmospheric air and at the top it is connected to a duct leading to the suction side of the blower.  The blower is of     8 m3/min capacity and run by 3 hp electric motor.  The delivery side of the blower is connected to the plenum chamber of a circular grain holding bin.

4.

Cost of the unit

:

Rs.25000/-

5.

Cost of operation (approx)

:

Rs.7.00/h

6.

Salient features

:

Time taken for drying 500 kg paddy from 25% to 12% m.c (w.b.) is 8 h.