Study on The Qptimization of Operating Conditions of batch-type Grain Dryer

평면식 건조기의 적정작업조건 설정에 관한 연구

Experimental work of batch-type dryer was conducted to develop its optimurm operating conditions by analyzing the major factors which affect the drying performance. A laboratory batch-type dryer was constructed and tested for various levels of heated-air rates, and depths of grain deposit. Tong-il rice variety having the initial moisture content of approximaely 23 per cent in wet basis was used for the experiment. The criteria selected for establishing the optimum operating condition were the drying performance rate, the thermal efficiency, and the operational cost of the dryer. The results of the study are summarized as follows: 1. The performance rate of dryer for a specific operating condition was defined as total amount of material dried per hour when the moisture content of grains in the upperlayer reaches to 16 per cent in wet basis. The optimum operating conditions as viewed in the rate of drying performance could be justified by functional realtionship between the depth of grain deposit and air flow rate. In other words, there was a definite depth of grain deposit for a given air-rate which make the dryer performance maximum. The optimum grain depth for the batch-type dryer with 3.3㎡ loading area and with the attached axial fan was about 35cm. 2. The thermal efficiency for the dryer was evaluated by the ratio of the latent heat required to evaporate the grain moisture to the heat input required to raise the ambient air-temperature to 40 degree centigrade. The optimum operating condition as viewed in term of thermal efficiency analyzed was that grater depth and lower air flow-rate may be desirable. This condition is contracted with the optimum condition as viewed by the dryer performance rate. 3. The annual operating cost of batch-type dryer was analyzed for different annual hour of use and for different operation condition. The optimum condition as viewed in terms of operating cost was almost identical to one as viewed in terms of dryer performance rate. Therefore, the most economical use of batch-type dryer for the same annual operating hours can be obtained when the dryer operated in the condition of maximum dryer performance rate. Increasing the annual operating hour may be desirable to cut down the dryer operation cost, since the annual hour of dryer use is much sensitive to the operating cost than any peractical conditions of dryer operation. 4. The most desirable operational condition as justified by combining all the criteria, dryer performance rate, thermal efficiency and annual operating cost, could be concluded to operate the dryer in the condition of maximum performance rate. The condition in general is identical to the lowest operation cost for a given annual operating hour.