Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

Upscaling and Adoption of Hybrid Dryer for Quality Grain Seed Production

Dr. Md. Ayub Hossain
Principal Scientific Officer
Farm Machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering Division Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701

Dr. Md. Altab Hossain
Chief Scientific Officer
Agronomy Division Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute Joydebpur, Gazipur

Dr. Md. Shirazul Islam
Director Research
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute Joydebpur, Gazipur

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A hybrid dryer (combination of solar energy and electric energy) was designed and constructed at FMPE Division, Gazipur, for drying of grain seeds. The technical performance of the dryer was tested for drying of different grain seeds and seed quality was evaluated during the period of 2010-2011. The reflected solar radiation was 53% of global solar radiation. The thermal efficiency of the collector was 28.73%. Times required for drying of 250-300 kg of paddy, 250 kg of wheat, 350 kg of maize and 200 kg groundnut seeds were 17, 12, 16 and 20 hours, respectively. The dryer was tested and its field performance was evaluated in Jessore, Rajshshi and Dinajpur during the period of 2010-2011. For the tested grains, seed germinations were above 90%, viabilities were about 85% and vigor indices were above 1.0. Therefore, it is evident from the test results that good quality seeds were produced through drying them in the hybrid dryer. The benefit cost ratios (BCR) for drying of paddy seeds was 1.40. The payback period of the dryer was 0.44 year. Major portion of energy used in hybrid dryer was solar energy and it is environment friendly.

Keywords: Germination, Solar collector, Solar radiation, Viability, Vigour, Dryer

Location: Gazipur, Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Jessore

Start Date: 18-05-2009

End Date: 17-05-2011

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Commodity: Drier

Objectives:

(i) To make modification of the existing hybrid dryer suitable for grain seeds drying (ii)To evaluate the technical performance of the dryer on station and on farm and test the seed quality

Methodology:

Design of the hybrid seed dryer was done based on the energy balance and heat and mass balance equations. The dryer consisted of a concentrating type flat plate collector, reflectors, auxiliary heating unit and drying chamber. The special feature of the dryer was that it could be operated in a sunny day using solar radiation and in a rainy or cloudy day or at night using auxiliary electric heaters. The length, width and height of the hybrid dryer were 3.0 m, 2.0 m and 1.0 m respectively. The dryer was tested without any load to observe the temperatures at different points of the collector and drying chamber. During the test, ambient temperature, ambient relative humidity, temperature at different points in the collector and drying chamber, airflow at the outlet of the drying chamber, inlet and outlet temperatures, airflow in the drying chamber, reflected and global solar radiation were recorded at one hour interval. Then the dryer was tested for drying of paddy, wheat, maize and groundnut seeds. Freshly harvested grains were either purchased or collected from BARI farm. Five full load experimental runs were conducted for paddy and one experiment was conducted for each of wheat, maize and groundnut. During the drying test ambient temperature, ambient relative humidity, solar radiation, temperature at different points in the collector and drying chamber, airflow at the outlet of the drying chamber, moisture content of seeds were recorded at one hour interval. Temperatures were measured at one hour interval by a digital temperature meter. Relative humidity was measured using a digital hygrometer. A digital solar meter was used to measure the solar radiation during the day time. Velocity of drying air was measured with an anemometer. The moisture content of seeds was measured by a grain moisture meter.

Source of Information: Research Report

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.	Budget: 1800821

Total Budget (Tk.) : 1800821

Achievement/Findings:

(i)A hybrid seed dryer of size 3.0 m x 2.0 m x 1.0 m was developed for drying of 200-300 kg grain seeds (ii) The dryer is capable of maintaining desired temperature within the range of 40-50⁰C for grain seed drying (iii) The capacity of the dryer for rice 275 kg in 17 h, wheat 250 kg 12 h, maize 300 kg 16 h and groundnut 200 kg 20 h (iv) After drying, the seed quality was found satisfactory in terms of seed germination and vigour. (v) For year round drying, BCR was 1.40 and payback period 0.44 year.

Knowledge Management: Journal, Report/Proceedings, Booklet/Leaflet