What is a flat bed dryer?
A dryer is a machine that removes the water from wet grains by forcing heated air through the grain bulk. In a flat bed dryer, the same quantity of grain is kept stationary in a holding bin until drying is completed. A flat bed dryer consists of a drying bin, an air distribution system with a plenum chamber, a fan, and a furnace or burner for heating the drying air.
Some problems in drying operation: causes and remedies
Symptoms |
Causes |
Remedies |
Grain breakage upon milling |
- Too high drying temperature
- Immediate milling after drying
|
- Adjust drying temperature to below 45oC.
- Wait 1day before milling.
|
Loss of germination due to drying
|
- Too high drying temperature
|
- Adjust drying temperature to below 42oC.
|
Non-uniformity of final MC (more than 2.5 %)
|
- Packed bed due to excessive stepping over
- Non-uniform material (mixed wet and dry, clean and dirty grain)
- Non-uniform grain depth Perforated floor is partially stuck (holes are filled with dust)
|
- Avoid stepping on the grain mass (use a woodboard if necessary).
- Pre-clean the grain to remove gross impurities.
- Adjust depth at local spot after 2/3 of the drying time is spent.
- Clean the floor after three batches.
|
Too much ash in the plenum (under the bin)
|
- Ash precipitation chamber full of ash
- Exit spout of the furnace too close to the fan inlet
|
- Clean ash from the precipitation chamber
- Move the spout farther from the fan inlet
|
Smoky combustion
|
- Excessive husk feeding rate
- Lack of secondary air for combustion
- Wet rice husk
|
- Reduce feeding rate.
- Check the air inlet supply.
- Use dry rice husk.
|
Prolonged drying time
|
- Not enough airflow
- Leakage of drying air
- Very wet intake paddy
- Close shed, not suited for ventilation
|
- Increase engine speed (diesel engine) or change pulley size (electric motor).
- Close leak points.
- Reduce grain layer depth.
- Clear obstruction around the shed.
|
Compiled by:
Postharvest Unit, Crop and Environmental Sciences Division
DAPO Box 7777, Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel.: (63-2) 580-5600, Fax: (63-2) 580-5699
With information from:
Center for Agricultural Energy and Machinery, Nong Lam University, NLU
Thu-Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Email: phhien@hcm.vnn.vn
For more information:
Visit the Rice Knowledge Bank Web Site (http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org), email postharvest@irri.org; or call +63 2 580 5600
Prepared by M. Gummert with inputs from JF Rickman (2004); updated by M Gummert (2010)