| Author | Kesari, Janardan Prasad |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.AE-79-23 |
| Subject(s) | Solar energy research
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | An experimental solar rice dryer of one tonne capacity with a 11.5 m2 rice bed area and 34.5 m2 collector area was tested at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, during December 1978 and January 1979. The dryer uses the combined heat of solar radiation incident directly on the material,
and air passing by natural convection from a solar heater up through the bed. The temperature and moisture profiles were determined across the layers of rice in beds 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm and 20 cm deep. They showed that rice with initial moisture content 16% w.b (as typically obtained in the dry season) was overdried to 8% w.b in the bottom layer but r eached 12% w.b in the middle layer after two days in beds 15 cm deep.
The presence of a chimney 2.0 m tall having equisingular crossection area 0.5 m2 was found to double the air flow rate and give faster drying in the beds 15 cm and 20 cm deep.
It was concluded that (1) satisfactory drying is obtainable in beds up to 15 cm deep, (2) the chimney should be used to increase airflow and (3) the bed should be stirred to give uniform drying. |
| Year | 1979 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural and Food Engineering (AE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Exell, Robert H.B.
|
| Examination Committee(s) | Singh, Gajendra ;Jindal, Vinod Kumar
|
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of Canada |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1979 |