Specifications of PAU Portable Maize Dryer PAU PORTABLE MAIZE DRYER

(Designed as per international norms)

Capacity of Dryer (TPD) 3.0
Height of Dryer (m) 4.5
Power (35 hp Tractor / Electricity, kW) 15
Indirect multiple pass heating system (for food safety) Yes
Waste heat recovery for fuel efficiency Yes
VFD Air flow provided, m3/min with pressure 4” water 141
Loading & Unloading Time (hr) 1.0
Drying Air Temperature (0C) 60-75
Drying Time – variable with initial moisture (h) 6-9
Rate of drying (%/h) 1.25-2.66
Diesel Consumption (L/h) 3
Operating Cost of drying (Rs/qtls) 50
Manpower 2
Seed Grain Germination (meets ISCS) Yes

Commercialization Status:

This machine/technology has been approved by The Punjab Agricultural

University, Ludhiana for commercialization. PAN: 201711032893 Dr Mahesh Kumar and Dr Satish Kumar
Our collaborator: Nu Tech dairy Engineers, Ambala

For further details contact:

Head
Department of Processing and Food Engineering
College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology
Punjab Agricultural University Department of Processing and Food Engineering
Ludhiana -141 004 (Punjab) College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology
Phone: 0161-2412355E-mail: hodpfe@pau.edu Punjab Agricultural University
M 9478640539 Ludhiana -141 004 (Punjab)
Since Rice-wheat cropping system has started affecting the soil health and put
pressure on the important natural resources especially water, so a need has been felt
for diversification of agriculture. Maize is next to Rice, Wheat and Jowar in respect
of area and production that can be cultivated in the state. It is used both as food for
human and feed for animals. The starch is also converted into glucose and fructose
for use as food sweetness. Glucose can be fermented into ethanol for fuel or
beverages or into many other chemicals. Drying of grains to safe moisture levels is
important to avoid quality losses and deterioration. Sun drying of maize is common
practice; but it is very slow process that exposes the grains to infestations, insects,
rodents and birds. Hence the portable maize dryer to dry 3 ton of maize batch in a
day has been developed.

Description of the Maize Dryer:

A 3 ton capacity, portable, cross flow, recirculation type, diesel fired indirect type
maize dryer has been designed. The dryer consists of two concentric perforated
cylinders of 5 ft and 2.67 ft diameter fixed in vertical orientation. The outer
cylinder is grain bin while inner cylinder acts as plenum chamber. The grains to be
dried are held between the annular space of the two cylinders with effective 14 inch
thick grain wall. It has 3 sections namely grain holding / storage section, drying
section and feeding /discharge section. The dryer has feeding auger and a central
auger to lift the grains to top for re-circulation. The drying unit is provided with
indirect, three pass air heating system with automated diesel fired single nozzle
furnace. The burning of diesel is controlled by flame based optical sensor that
accurately controls the heated air temperature to the set value. A 5 hp blower with
variable frequency drive provide an air flow of upto 5000 cfm of with minimum
static pressure of 4“ of water. For efficient and economical operation a waste heat
recovery exchanger is provided to preheat the air going to the furnace. For the
flexibility and control of operation, gadgets like variability frequency drive (VFD)
have been used. The dryer has a 15 kW alternator that operate with tractor PTO. A
LT switch has also been provided to operate the dryer on electric power without use
of tractor. Other components of dryer include dust collection system and a 100 ltr
diesel fuel tank. The dryer has been designed using the well accepted international
norms. The threshold value of various vital parameters like moisture reduction from
25 to 15% (wb), drying rate (1.0 -1.5 %), heating air temperature (60 - 75o C), grain
temperature (40-450C), air flow and fuel consumption has been taken as the guiding
points.
Fig: Drawing of the maize dryer
The volume of dryer and thickness of the screen slots have been calculated. The
indirect type air heating unit has been designed and fabricated in collaboration with
M/s Hi-Tech Combustions, Ahmadabad (Gujarat). The fabrication work of
complete dryer has been carried out by NU-Tech Dairy Engineers, Ambala as per
MOU signed for this purpose. The dryer has been tested at PAU Ludhiana.
The maize grains were unloaded on to the feeding augur for taking it into
the dryer column from where central auger lifted it to top and spread down
uniformly into 14” thick annular space. The temperature and moisture content of
the grain before and after drying was recorded. The germination report of dried
grains by Director Seeds PAU, Ludhiana, indicated that it meets Indian Seed
Certification Standards. Consumption of diesel is very important for the economy
of operation. The economy in the use of diesel is achieved with the installation of
heat recovery unit for incoming air which heated up the inlet air.
Acknowledgement: This Department acknowledges the services rendered by Nu Tech
dairy Engineers Ambala in fabrication of the machine and Deptt of Farm Machinery and Power
Engineering PAU, Ludhiana in the testing of the dryer.