Omonrice 11: 126-137 (2003)

STUDYING AND FABRICATING SIMPLE SMALL DRYERS

APPLIED IN SMALL FARMS

Le Van Banh - Hoang Bac Quoc

ABSTRACT
The Agricultural Engineering Division (AED) of Cuu Long Delta Rice Research
Institute (CLRRI) has studied, improved, and fabricated some prototypes of simple
small dryer suitable to small farms located in remote areas. During 2000 2002,
three dryer prototypes which have perfectly fabricated are: (1) Tent house using
fans combine, (2) Standing cylinder dryer, and (3) Lying drum dryer. These dryers
prototypes are well adapted to rice production at small holder level, especially in
Cantho province. Their specifications included small dryer (drying capacity from
1.0 to 2.0 tons/batch), simple structure, easy fabrication, low investment, low
drying cost, easy operation, short drying time and good grain quality (low broken
rice percentage).

INTRODUCTION In the other hands, we have to pay more

Preharvest environment and postharvest attention to the current situation of small
handling influence grain quality. Rice holders in which rice field varies from 0.5 to
breeding program has only concentrated 1.0 hectare per farm, and almost farmers are
varietal improvement on productivity, poor so that they have not enough money to
whereas all efforts of agricultural engineering invest modern mechanical dryers. To meet the
has been paid attention to postharvest demand of these small-holders on post-harvest
technology to enhance grain quality, mostly of rice production, studies on paddy dryers
milling quality properties. Major grain quality focussed some key features as low capacity
problems can be listed as yellow and broken (one to two tons per batch), simple structure,
grain, risks in aging and storage, variety easy fabrication, low cost investment, low
mixing and mislabeling, no discriminating energy consumption, short drying time and
different grain sizes for commercial request. good quality of drying product.
Specific grain properties relevant in drying Thus, the three dryers as (1) tent house using
include moisture content (both critical and fans combine, (2) standing cylinder dryer, and
equilibrium moisture content), and hull or (3) lying drum dryer, have been set up to meet
husk tightness. Delayed drying may result in the demand of these small holders.
sackburning of wet grain due to nonenzymic MATERIALS AND METHODS
browning and microbial growth and
A. Tested dryer:
mycotoxin production (in maize and parboiled
rice). Improper and over drying may reduce The Agricultural Engineering Division of
head rice yield and aroma. CLRRI studied and fabricated three small
dryer models are: (i) tent house and blower
In the Mekong delta of Vietnam, drying of
combine type; (ii) standing drum type; (iii)
high moisture content paddy harvested in the
lying drum type, and natural sunshine drying
rainy season has become a major need to
as control treatment.
reduce yield loss due to postharvest and to
increase rice quality. Issues in grain drying Three dryer prototypes were improved with
have been discussed at harvesting time. drying bin structure recalculated blower
Constraints could be identified as (1) lack of (airflow m3/s, static airpress mmH2O column);
compatible technologies including hardware; recalculated furnace (heat supply for air-
(2) lack of understanding of the mechanical drying).
drying process in both design and operation; B. Measuring items
and (3) lack of extension activities.
- Efficiency: time study and moisture content;

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- Uniformity: moisture content (every one Air temperature: continuously measured

hour); by thermos recorder:
- Air temperature and humidity; - Ambient air: temperature and humidity;
- Grain temperature; - Heated air: temperature and humidity was
- Grain quality: broken rice percentage controlled at 1 point / each dryer;

C. Measuring methods - Grain temperature was controlled at 12 sites

for tent house; 2 sites for Lying drum; 2 sites
Fuel and energy consumption: for Standing drum; 2 sites for sunshine
- Start full fuel tank and end of drying full drying;
tank measure quantity of fuel (diesel fuel); - Grain quality: counting broken rice among
- Counting numbers of honeycomb coals, one 200 pieces / each dryer over 48 hours after
unit weight of 2kg; drying.
Grain weight: To compare rice-milling quality of dried
paddy from dryer, pick up some paddy sample
- Initial weight and final weight must be to dry in the sunshine (in shade). At last, to
measure by balance; mill dried paddy samples and compare
Grain moisture content: broken rice percentage among the treatments
to control
- At the beginning everyone hour and later
every two hours; TESTING RESULTS
- Sampling: Tent house at 24 samples and 12 1. Structure of simple small dryers.
samples; Lying drum at 16 samples; Standing A. Drying rice below tent house using fans
drum at 12 samples; and sunshine drying at 5 combine improved
samples.

Drying bin

Burn
Blower

Fig.1. Schematic drawing of tent house using fans combine improved dryer-type (non express
tent house part at here)

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Paddy bed
Paddy layer
(a) stopper

700

Plenum
60o 30o 30o 600

600 1212 1212 600

(b)

Paddy layer

300

Fig. 2. Front Elevation of Paddy Bed of Tent house Drying

(a): Roof shape none stopper; (b): Roof shape with stopper

Fig. 3. Pictures of Tent house drying are operating

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B. Lying drum dryer

Inlet-outlet
Position of Blower

Burner

Frame
Drying bin

Fig. 4: Schematic drawing of Lying drum dryer (Non express mobile frame part with wheels at
here)

Fig. 4: Lying Drum Dryer for Testing

C. Standing cylinder dryer

Plenum hamber
Drying bin

Fig. 5: Schematic drawing of Standing Dryer Frame

Note:

Exhaust air

Burner

Blower Outlet

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130 Le Van Banh et al.

(a) Drying Bin Frame (b) Operating Dryer

Fig. 6. Pictures of Standing Cylinder Dryer

3. Testing, demonstration and transferring to farmers

3.1 Results of Drying Test on June, 13/6/2002

Table 1. Outline of Drying Performance of 3 Dryer types (Variety OM2512)

Parameters Unit Dryer Type Note
Tent house with fan Standing
combination dryer cylinder dryer
Initial rice weight kg 1,959.4 965.6
Initial Moisture content % 21.3 23.4
Final Moisture content % 13.9 14.4
Final Dry rice weight kg 1,542.0 739.6
Drying time h 9.2 14.4
Drying rate %/h 0.80 1.23
Drying capacity kg/h 167.6 101.3
Consumption of fuel liters 12.0 10.0
Consumption of coal unit 29.0 15.0
Consumption of coal kg 58.0 30.0
Drying cost of fuel VND 36,000.0 30,000.0
Drying cost of coal VND 58,000.0 30,000.0
Total cost (drying rice base) VND/Ton 60,979.0 81,145.0
Total cost (15% rice base) VND/Ton 51,830.0 68,969.0
Percentage of broken rice % 2.0 2.5
0
Heated air temperature C 48.8 43.9 at outlet of oven
Heated air humidity %RH 21.8 27.0 at outlet of oven
0
Drying air temperature C 34.4 34.1 in drying bin

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131

Table 1 indicates that value of that day is not clear, and it is

1. Tent house prototype shows drying necessary to check the air
time of 9.2 hours per batch and drying temperature, air humidity and wind
rate of 0.80%/h. Percentage of broken velocity. (Table 1)
rice is 2.0%, and shows no problem. 4. Mixing of 5 hours later after starting
2. Standing cylinder type has drying rate conducted high drying rate and the
of 1.23%/h. The percentage of reduction of moisture deviation as
broken rice is 2.5%. shown in Fig.7.
3. Drying rate of natural sunshine 5. The deviation of moisture content has
becomes very high, and the two kinds. One is between the surface
percentage of broken rice also points and the bottom points, and the
expresses very high value of 22%. other is between the front points and
This event could be explained as i) It the back points. When mixing, it is
was sunny and windy, ii) Dried rice important to understand this matter.
layer was 4-5cm thin , and iii) 6. The trend of the reduction of standing
Temperature in rice got over 45 0C drum type and sunshine drying is
(very high). But the meteorological shown in Fig.9 and Fig.10

26
Average
Moisture Content (%w.b.)

24
22 Max
20
Min
18
16
14 Mixing
12
0 2 4 6 8 10
drying time (hour)

Fig.7 Drying Curve of Tent House Type

24 24
Content (%w.b.)
Moisture Content (%w.b.)

22
Surface 22
Front
20 Bottom 20
Back
18 18
Moisture

16 16
M ixing
14 14
M ixing

12 12
0 2 4 6 8 10 0 2 4 6 8 10
D rying Tim e (hour) D rying Tim e (hour)

Fig.8. Difference of Drying Curve of Tent House Type among Sampling Points (13 June 2002)

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132 Le Van Banh et al.

26
24
Moisture Content (%w.b.)
22
20
18
16
14
12
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Drying Time (hour)
Fig.9 Drying Curve of Standing Type Dryer (13 June 2002)

26
Moisture Content (%w.b.)

Surface
24 Bottom
Average
22

20

18

16 M ixing

14
0 2 4 6 8
Drying Tim e (hour)

Fig.10 Drying Curve of Standing type Dryer (13 June 2002)

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3.2 Results of Drying Test on 19 June 2002

Table 2: Outline of Drying Performance of tested 3 types (Variety OM1490)
Dryer Type Note
Parameters Unit Tent house with Standing Sunshine
fan combination cylinder
dryer dryer
Initial rice weight kg 2,063.0 1,731.0 118,4
Initial Moisture content % 24.7 28.8 27.5
Final Moisture content % 14.8 14.6 13.2
Final Dry rice weight kg 1,553.4 1,239.4 85.8
Drying time h 13.5 10.5 11.1
Drying rate %/h 0,73 1.31 1.29
Drying capacity kg/h 115.1 118.0 -
Drying capacity (15% rice) kg/h 135.4 138.9 -
Consumption of fuel liters 13.6 12.1
Consumption of coal unit 47.0 43.0 3kg/unit
Consumption of coal kg 141.0 126.0
Drying cost of fuel VND 40,800.0 36,300.0
Drying cost of coal VND 94,047.0 84,042.0
Total cost (drying rice base) VND/T 86,808.0 97,097.0
Total cost (15% rice base) VND/T 73,785.0 82,533.0
Percentage of broken rice % 3.5 2.0 3.5
0
Heated air temperature C 37.1 38.2 31.2 at outlet of oven
Heated air Humidity %RH 46.7 44.7 65,9 at outlet of oven
0
Drying air temperature C 31.4 33.7 35.8 in drying bin
0
Environmental temperature C 31.2 31.2 31.4
Environmental humidity %RH 65.9 65.9 71.2

Table 2 indicates that mixing method is recommended as shown

in Fig.11, for reduction of two kinds of
(1) Drying rate of tent house type is lower moisture deviation. The ratio of broken
than that on 13 June as shown in Table 2. rice is small of 3.5%.
The reason is that (i) In the latter half of
drying period, the burner of honeycomb (2) Lying drum type has good drying
coal had bad condition, and (ii) Sudden performance of drying rate 1.31%/h. The
and strong rain fell at about 6 PM, and ratio of broken rice is small of 2.0%
conducted high air relative humidity. The

28
Moisture Content (%w.b.)

26 M ax
24
M in
22
20 A verage
18
16
M ixing
14 M ixing
12
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
D rying Tim e (hours)

Fig.11 Drying Curve of Tent House Type Dryer

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134 Le Van
Omonrice 11: Banh(2003)
126-137 et al.

(3) In the test of tent house type, the mixing small. But the effect of the second mixing is
process has two times. The first mixing not clear. (Fig.12) So, it take need only one
indicates that the drying rate increases so mixing has an enough effect in the case of this
much, and the moisture deviation becomes so moisture content.

30
28 Fr ont Dr um
Moisture Content (%w.b.)

26
24 Ba ck Dru m
22
20
18
16
14
12
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
D r yi ng Ti me (h ou r )

30
Position 1
Moisture Content (%w.b.)

28
Position 2
26
24 Position 3
22 Position 4
20 Average
18
16
14
12 Mixin
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Drying Time (hour)

Fig.12 Drying Curve on Some Sampling Points of Lying Type Dryer

35
A v e r a ge
Max
Moisture Content (%w.b.)

30
Min
20/0 21/0
25 6 6

20

15
1 9 /0
6
10
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Drying Time (hour)

Fig 13: Drying Curve of sunshine drying during 19 21 June, 2002

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4. Running cost
Table 3: Outline of Drying Performance of tested 3 type
Date of Tested 2002/6/13 2002/6/19 2002/6/14
Rice variety OM2512 OM1490 OMCS2000
Type of Dryer Tent Standing Sunshine Tent Lying Sunshine Tent Lying
Initial rice weight kg 1,959.4 965.8 129.4 2,063.0 1,731.0 118.4 1,880.0 385.0
Final dry rice weight kg 1,542.0 739.6 99.4 1,553.4 1,239.4 85.8 1,331.0 320.0
Initial moisture % 21.3 23.4 23.2 24.7 28.4 27.5 29.2 29.2
content
Final moisture % 13.9 14.4 14.6 14.8 .14.6 13.2 15.4 14.5
content
Removed moisture kg 168.4 101.5 13.0 239.7 .279.7 19.5 306.7 66.2
Drying time h 9.2 7.3 5.0 13.5 10.5 11.1 12.98 5.12
Drying rate %/h 0.80 1.23 1.72 0.73 1.31 1.29 1.06 2.87
Drying capacity kg/h 167.6 101.3 19.9 115.1 118.0 7.7 102.5 62.5
Drying capacity kg/g 197.2 119.2 23.4 135.4 138.9 9.1 120.8 62.6
(15% rice)
Consumption of fuel liters 12.0 10.0 - 13.6 12.1 - 9.0 3.0
Consumption of coal unit 29.0 14,5 - 47.0 42.0 - 21.0 8.4
Drying cost of fuel VND 36,000 30,000 - 40,800 36,300 - 27,000 9,000
Drying cost of coal VND 58,000 29,000 - 94,000 84,000 - 42,000 16,800
Total cost (dry rice VND 60,960 79,773 - 86,777 97,063 - 51,841 80,625
base) /T
Total cost (15% rice VND 51,814 67,802 - 73,759 82,504 - 44,063 80,453
base) /T
Cost of removing VND 588.0 581.0 - 562.0 430.0 - 225.0 390.0
moisture 01kg
Percentage broken % 2.0 2.5 22.0 3.5 2.0 3.5 8.0 19.5
rice
0
Ambient air C - - - 31.2 31.2 31.4 33.2 36.1
temperature
Ambient air humidity %RH - - - 65.9 65.9 71.2 71.6 58.5
0
Heated air C 48.8 43.9 - 37.1 38.2 - 38.7 41.4
temperature
Heated air humidity %RH 21.8 27.0 - 46.7 44.7 - - -
0
Rice temperature C 34.4 34.4 45.5 31.4 33.7 35.8 - -
during drying
Cost of Removing 1kg Moisture (VND)

700
13/06/2002 19/06/2002
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
1 2 3 4 5
Type of Dryer
Fig.14: Running Total Cost of Removing 1kg Moisture of Tested Dryer
1: Tent House 1 13/06/2002 - 2: Standing 13/06/2002
4: Tent House 2 19/06/2002 - 5: Lying 19/06/2002

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136 Omonrice 11:
Le 126-137
Van Banh(2003)
et al.

Table 3 indicates that: final moisture deviation was down less

than 1%.
(1) Capacity of tent house type is higher than
that of the others, and so the total running Table 4 shows the results of time study. It
cost is lower (shown to be kept in Table 1). took 1.3 - 1.8 hrs for each dryer to work. On
But, capacity and total running cost do not 5th work, lying drum and standing cylinder
count the initial moisture content. It should dryer expressed without problems, tent house
be the calculation of running cost of dryer however must be adjusted its drying air
removing 1kg moisture is more accurate, duct, it took 0.2 hour to do.
as shown in Fig.15, reveals that lying type CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTION
has the smallest cost performance.
(1) Lying dryer prototype offerred good
(2) In tent house type, the air leak and the drying performance and mixing was easy,
unbalance of the position of bottom is drying rate of 1.31%/h was possibly
found. The air leak makes the static suitable to paddy drying. The broken rice
pressure lower, and the fluctuation of the percentage was small of 2.0%; drying cost
rice layer depth according to the unbalance was 82.53 VND/kg. But, this created
of the bottom level causes the drying speed some problems e.g.: (i) Drying bin must
not to keep constant among points. It is be always full before operating start, (ii)
thought that these matters make drying Investment cost was more expensive than
performance of tent house prototype lower two other dryer types in the test.
than that of lying drum prototype because (2) Tent house dryer prototype offerred lower
lying drum did not create these problems. drying performance in this experiment.
So, after these mistakes were adjusted, it But, in terms of farmer practice
has been operating well. improvement, its performance became
(3) Sunshine drying of over 27% high higher. It was thought that this type can
moisture rice could not be finished for a be commonly used because of (i)
day. After all, it took 3 days to dry the high flexibility of the volume of input wet
moisture rice sample because the second rice, (ii) multi use, (iii) cheapness, and
day became rainy. Thus, sunshine drying (iv) easiness of taking apart; (v) low
was affected by the climate so much that broken rice percentage (3.5%), relatively
finishing time could not be expected and low drying rate (0.8%/h), the lowest
the quality did not keep constant. That drying cost (51.83 VND / kg).
was considered as a serious problem of (3) Standing dryer prototype addressed a
sunshine drying. feature investment cost of cheapness:
drying rate of 1.23%/h, broken rice
(4) Fig.8 shows the trend of the moisture
percentage of 2.5%, drying cost of 68,96
reduction each sampling point. The mixing
VND / kg. Mentioning to drying rice in
was so effective that the moisture content
terms of smallholders, this type could be
became lower and moisture deviation
useful.
between the surface and the bottom
(4) Three dryer prototypes offerred a good
became smaller. The moisture deviation
feature, suitable to small holders with
between front position and back position
low income. They need to be developed
did not create serious problem because
through training, demonstration,
transferring to farmers.

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REFERENCES
Cham RR, E Highley, and G. Johnson. 1996.
Baker CGJ. 1988. The design of flights in Grain Drying In ASIA, ACIAR
cascade rotary dryers, Drying PROCEEDINGS, No. 71. Australian
Technology, p. 631-653 Centre for International Agricultural
Research, Canberra.
Brooker DB, W Fred Bakker-Arkema, W
Carl.Hall. 1974. Drying Cereal Champ BR, E Highley, and GJ Johnson.
Grains, Westport, Connecticut, The 1996. Grain Drying in Asian, ACIAR
AVI publishing company, Inc. Proceedings, N0 71. Australia Centre
for Internatinal Adricultural Research,
Brooker DB, W Fred Bakker-Arkema, W
Canberra.
Carl.Hall. 1992. Drying and Storage
of Grains. An AVi Book published by
Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York

SUMMARY IN VIETNAMESE

Nghin cu v ch to my sy la
phc v nng h c qui m trang tri nh

B mn C in ca Vin La ng bng Sng Cu Long nghin cu ci tin

v ch to mt vi m hnh mu ca my sy nh phc v cho nn dn cho din
tch rung t, vng su. T 2000 n 2002, my m hnh my sy theo yu cu
nh vy c nghin cu v ch to. l lu sy s dng qut thng gi, my
sy trc ng, my sy v ngang. Nhng cng c ny p ng c yu cu ca
sn xut la trong v h thu, c bit ti tnh Cn Th. c im ca chng l my
sy nh (kh nng 1 n 2 tn la / m), cu trc n gin, d ch to, u t vn
thp, gi sy thc r, d vn hnh, thi gian sy nhanh v phm cht la sy tt (t
l go gy thp)

OMONRICE 11: (2003)