Studies on the Radiation Drying Method for Grain (Part 1)

Drying in Solar Grain Dryin Plant

Abstract

For the purpose of improving the performance of plants in practical use, drying experiments were conducted and radiation properties such as transmission and reflection factor, net radiation were measured. From the experiments, prediction formulas of the drying rate for rough rice and wheat were expressed by dependent variables such as the agitated number of times, the bed depth of grain and solar radiation. The measured drying rate of rough rice was 0.30%/h in fine weather while 0.10%/h in cloudy days and these values were nearly equal to values estimated from the formula above. Few cracked kernels of rough rice were found in the drying. To increase the drying rate of this method, the tempering drying by warmed air in the house after the radiation drying was investigated. In this modified system the drying rate was raised to 0.50%/h.