Fabrication and Performance Evaluation of a Self-powered Grain Dryer System by Engr. Dr. T.D Ipilakya and student.

Preamble

Grains deteriorate due to heavy rains at the time of harvesting. If there are facilities like dryers in every village during this season, these heavy losses may be eliminated. Normally the problem faced by farmers is that during rainy season grains which are harvested spoil and result in bad quality as they decolorize. Due to this reason, the grain is reduced. This loss can be recovered if dryers are used at this stage. After drying, farmers can store the grains for a long period which will give them good grains. Drying and storing grains on the farm or off the farm can be an excellent marketing strategy. The way that grains are handled during the drying and storage processes will determine its quality at the point of sale, thereby influencing its value. Grains should be quickly dried down to a moisture level of about 12 percent for storage, especially if it is going to be stored for several months. The reduction of grain moisture is done by passing relatively large quantities of dry air over the grains after it is placed in the bin. The quality and quantity of this air determine the final moisture content of the grains.

Objectives of the Study
The main aim of this project is to design, fabricate and evaluate the performance of a safe powered continuous grain dryer using locally available materials
1. To design and fabricate a continuous flow grain dryer;
2. To evaluate thje performance of the dryer;
3. To provide a better control over the temperature and moisture content of grains during drying;
4. To ensure 24 hours grain drying (day or night) while reducing drudgery involved in agro