Design, Fabrication and Testing of a Platform with Steam Heat Exchangers for Drying of Paddy Rice and Other Agricultural Products

Abstract

A steam heated platform dryer with a capacity of 4 tons per day was designed and fabricated in Desfabeng Company Nigeria limited, Bida, Niger State, Nigeria. The system is made up of the following components; a boiler, pressure relief valve, drain valve, drying bed, furnace and heat exchangers pipes. Evaluation of the system was carried by comparing its performance with the direct sundry method. The results of the testing revealed that the steam heated platform dryer showed a uniform drying rate and a limited drying time of two hours for 335kg of parboiled paddy with a head rice recovery of 90% and a moisture removal rate of 16kg/hr. While for the sundried method a moisture content of 22% (wb), moisture removal rate of 8kg/hr and head rice recovery of 50% was obtained. The dryer was found to be very easy to operate and maintain due to its simple design.