Technical and economic analysis of corn drying in rotary dryers / Análise técnica e econômica da secagem de milho em secadores rotativos

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2006

RESUMO

The objective of this work was to analyze the feasibility of rotary dryers with radial air distribution, which is used in coffee processing, for corn drying. Energy consumption, drying cost and final quality of the product were evaluated. The drying air temperature was maintained at 80 and 100 C. The drying systems consisted of a commercial rotary dryer and a modified rotary dryer. LPG was used for complementing heating of the drying air. Corn grains (Zea mays L.) with initial moisture content of approximately 19.5% b.u. were used in the experiment. The specific energy consumption and consumption of fuel and electric energy were determined for the evaluation of the energy efficiency of the drying systems. The results showed lower specific energy consumption for the modified rotary dryer. The technical modifications carried out in the gas heat generator provided mean reduction in the fuel consumption of approximately 50%. The breakage susceptibility of corn grains was below 5%. The mean percentage of total corn cracking in the commercial dryer (SC 80 and SC 100) was 17.6% higher than the obtained with the modified dryer (SM 80 and SM 100). The drying cost in the modified dryer was 2.2% lower than in the commercial dryer.

ASSUNTO(S)

energy consumption queimador a gás milho energizacao rural secador rotativo rotary dryers secagem consumo de energia corn drying

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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