SOLAR DRYER v1
SOLAR DRYER v1
SOLAR DRYER v1
TRANSPARENT SHEETS
A Research Study
by
Babas, Davy Jones C.
Pareja, Jaffet A.
Reyes, Karl Reynald S.
Talandron, Loida Mae D.
Turico, Renalyn Y.
In partial fulfillment of
The requirements for the degree
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
The Philippines is gifted with abundant natural resources and is considered as one of the
world’s “mega biodiversity” countries, rich in both fauna and flora. It is a country with a land
area of 30 million hectares where 47% of the area belongs to the agricultural sector. Thus,
Rice production is one of the most important agricultural aspect when it comes to
farming. Rice remains the agricultural commodity with foremost political and economic
significance in the Philippines. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, rice is a
major staple of the country as it accounts for 35 percent of average calorie intake of the
population and as much as 60-65 percent of the households in the lowest income quartile (David
and Balisacan, 1995). Rice farming is the source of income and employment of 11.5 million
farmers and family members. Rice contributes 13 percent to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), 16
percent to the Gross Value Added (GVA) of agriculture, and 3.5 percent to the Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) (Gonzales, 1999).But then, as of 2017, the country’s food security is at risk as
millions of farmers are getting too old for what is back- breaking work and their children are not
keen on taking over for lack of incentive to do so. And as weather conditions become more
intense, typhoons do damage, there might come a time when the country will not have enough
In present times when rice supply in the Philippines is less than enough to feed the
country, it is no secret that Filipino farmers spend a lot of effort to produce the rice we buy and
consume. Part of rice production is the drying process, which takes days or even weeks, during
when farmers have toendure the heat of the noon sun. Aside from possible dehydration, the
Thus, the researchers thought of a way on how they could help lessen the heavy burden
carried by the local farmers, hence this machine. It will not only eliminate the health hazards
brought about by the drying process but also increase production rate.
1.3 Objective
The study aims to design and fabricate an alternative solar grain dryer using transparent
sheets for the farmers in the agricultural areas in the Philippines. The study also aims to utilize
indigenous materials from the local community and reduce fabrication cost whilst maintaining
high efficiency
To design and fabricate a prototype that can dry 1 cavan of paddy faster than the
conventional method
The alternative solar grain dryer using transparent sheets will be designed to help in
drying the grains, mostly but not limited to palay, harvested by the farmers in the agricultural
areas of the Philippines. The machine will focus on grains like rice, corn, etc. and will not cover
The mechanism will not be fully automated as human interaction is needed to lay down
the grains before they are subjected to the drying process. Any other processes done to grains
Grains contain moisture not adequate for storage when gathered from farms. Thus, grain
drying is one of the essential process to prevent spoilage during storage. As the Philippines rely
on a great tonnage of grains such as rice, corns, sorghum, and the like for consumption and
Authority, there is a steep drop in production of grains of 48.4 and 47.7 % respectively because
of the large-volume imports. Therefore, the proposed machine can yield additional production
and income in the sector where there would be time saving capability in performing the drying
process. As it saves time, more grains can be stored and farmers would also be able to save labor
work. The availability of a machine would be essential to have more efficient and convenient
farming.
In comparison with grain dryers available in the market, the proposed equipment shall
have high efficiency to make more products and shall only be used for small and medium-scaled
community. This will create more job opportunities in both urban and rural communities in the
country. As it is always stated that necessity is the mother of inventions, developments and
innovation of simple to complicated machineries in providing answers in what the world needs
give opportunity to make a living in the community all around the globe.
Natural drying
Test
Software
Requirements:
Arduino IDE
FigurePerformance
1. Research Design
Evaluation
The traditional methods used by farmers for drying grain rely on natural air movement to
reduce moisture content to a safe level for storage. In addition, they may utilize the extra drying
• Drying in shallow layers and exposing to sun and wind on a surface that prevents
• Drying in, or on, a structure that has open sides to permit air movement through the
mass.
Field drying
The method of leaving the crop standing in the field for drying is popular in areas where
maturity of the crop coincides with the beginning of a dry season. However, a crop left
unharvested is exposed to attack by insects, birds, rodents, wild animals, strong winds and
occasional rain showers, which can damage and reduce the crop considerably. These factors are
particularly important with the new, improved high-yielding crop varieties, which are often more
trays. As the crop is exposed to the sun, it will dry fairly quickly depending on the humidity of
the ambient air. The produce should be stirred frequently to ensure even drying. The
disadvantage of this method is that the crop has to be brought in or covered every evening or
before rain. The labor requirements may be reduced considerably by placing the harvest on a
plastic or tarpaulin sheet for easy handling or on a platform/tray covered by transparent plastic.
Very small producers may suspend bundles of the crop from trees or poles so they are
freely exposed to the air. With larger quantities, the harvested crop may be heaped on platforms
or racks and topped by a layer of straw for rain protection. This method is commonly used for
sheaves of paddy and cereals, as well as for cob-maize and groundnut plants. Drying is
dependent on the free flow of air through the crop, so the heap should be made as open as
possible. The next step is to have a more permanent ventilated structure in which the crop may
This chapter presents the related literature and studies after the thorough and in-depth
search done by the researchers. This will also present the synthesis of the art, theoretical and
conceptual framework to fully understand the research to be done and lastly the definition
Related Literature
In our common society as of today, the use of traditional drying system is still done in
many places across the country’s agricultural area, for the reason that it is more convenient, less
expensive and easy to manage. The different methods of drying are as follows:
A. Sun drying -It is a method where the grains where spread under the sun, where grains is
Mat drying - used in small to medium-scale drying where threshed grain are placed on
Pavement drying - often used in large-scale drying for grain collectors and millers,
B. Field drying and stacking – It is a strategy for pre-drying hand-reaped trims before sifting
where agriculturists cut rice panicles in the field and stacked them in little heaps over the
harvest stubble
C. Mechanical Drying System
The Moisture from the wet grains are forcefully remove by means of forcing whether the
ambient air or heated air into the grain bulk, such systems are called mechanical drying
A. Heated air drying – For the rapid drying of grains, the heated air drying utilizes heated air
for drying. The process of drying is stopped when the appropriate moisture is attained.
Batch dryer - It can be used by farmers, contractors, and small rice mills
Continuous flow dryer - not very common, but used by some larger billing enterprises
temperature of the dry air on which all grain layers in the deep bed achieve the desired
In/Store Dryer – very high quality of grains was produces, but it also requires a very
C. Solar drying - most recent drying innovation that can mimic sun drying notwithstanding
Solar bubble dryer – which can be built locally and be utilized by small-scale farmers.
D. Grain cooling - cools the grain to safe stockpiling conditions as opposed to drying it,
In the storage, the final moisture content of the paddy depends on the relative humidity
and temperature in the atmosphere of the grain. The resulting final grain moisture content from
the storage area is known as the ‘Equilibrium Moisture Content’. The grains which are exposed
to the humidity in the air, specifically during the rainy season on which the reading of the
relative humidity reaches 95% to 100%, are likely to increase the moisture content and will
Given the condition, that a grain is placed in a storage which is well sealed enclosure like
silos, bag etc., on which the air outside have no free contact in the air surrounding the grain. In
such case, the equilibrium will be achieved by the relative humidity of the enclosed air with the
moisture content in the grain. ‘Equilibrium relative humidity’ is define as the final relative
humidity of the enclosed air. The higher the grain moisture content of the put away grain, the
higher the equilibrium relative humidity, and the higher the odds of mold advancement or loss of
germination. To conclude, 65% or below is considered a safe prevention against the development
Drying Process
Moisture Removal
The Moisture is present in two places when it comes to paddy grain, first is at the surface
of the grain, where external moisture is present and the second is inside the grain, which is the
internal moisture. The moisture in the surface is immediately evaporated when the grain is
exposed to hot air, while the moisture internally evaporates in a very slow rate for it must move
from inside to the outside surface of the grain. Thus, the moisture from internal and the external
The Drying rate of the grain can be increase above the 18% moisture content, which will
the drying will occur faster by supplying a temperature that is higher temperature provided that
there will be no big changes in the temperature of the grain. However, below the 18% moisture
content of the grain, When the drying air temperature will increase, the paddy might be
potentially damaged. Therefore, to remove the external moisture, that is the moisture in the
surface of the grain, higher drying air temperature is to be used down to 18% moisture content,
further than that, lower drying air temperature is to be used for the drying of the internal moisture
of the grain. Drying Air temperature should never exceed 43°C regardless of the moisture
Uniform Drying
Variation of moisture content of every individual grain will always take place in a
uniform drying process. Increasing the rate of frequency of stirring in sun drying will improve
the uniformity of drying, maintaining a good quality of the grain, and it will lessen the re-wetting
Tempering
The moisture within the grain equalize due to diffusion when the drying of the grain is
temporarily stopped. When the drying is restarted, a higher drying rate is observed compared to
the continuous drying. This process on which the drying process is stopped and then restart is
called tempering. Moreover, during the tempering period, the moisture difference between the
grain is begun to be in equilibrium thus, equalize. To maintain a good quality of the grain, it is
recommended that tempering period may be included during the process of drying the grains to
allow the allocation of the moisture internally in the grain. [ CITATION Int13 \l 1033 ]
Layer Thickness
Layer Thickness Spread the grains in thin layers, ideally 2-4 cm. Too thin layers tend to
warm up rapidly with negative impact on the head rice recuperation. When the layers are too
thick, the tendency for the lower part of the grain is to absorb the moisture that is given off by
the upper part. Broken grains may be the product after mixing the grains. The layer’s thickness
Mixing
Mixing and turning the grain during good weather condition is the most important
practice , To maintain a good quality of the grain, the IRRI recommends that the grain may be
stirred at least once per hour, but it is much better every 30 minutes in order to achieve uniform
moisture content in the grain. Different moisture content in every grain may lead to subsequent
minimize the fungal growth and infestation of the grains, immediate drying is encouraged to
achieve the correct moisture content right after the harvest. Around the world, Sun-drying is the
most typical and most common style used in terms of drying grains. The process is basic and
simple and depends on solar energy. But the weather condition is still to be considered. Due to
climate change, the weather became very unpredictable and a rain that is not expected can delay
the drying process, on which leads to make the grain wet again, the quality of the grain will also
be degraded. When the quality of the grains is deteriorated, its market value will reduce.
In common villages in the Philippines, the setup of the rice grains is usually spread out on
the roads to dry using the sun’s radiated heat on which an agricultural engineer from University
of Hohenheim, Germany named Engr. Ana Salvatierra have this familiar scenery. [ CITATION
Far14 \l 1033 ]
The method of drying the grains under the sun is also the most common drying method in
different tropical countries like India, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand because of it is less
expensive and more convenient. The heat source of sun-drying is the sun. But, it is laborious and
unreliable. The grains needed to be mix by farmers at least every half hour for equal drying.
When the sun is too hot, the farmer need to cover the grain to lessen the cracking from
overheating and consistently keep animals away from the grain. The Cloudy skies extend the
drying period. And a sudden rain makes the farmer hurried to collect the grains to prevent it to
become wet. The constant threat of rainfall made the traditional way of drying the grains under
the sun a wasted effort of farmers’ hard work. Certainly, the quality of the grains decreases and
postharvest losses could increase around 20% or even more.[ CITATION Far14 \l 1033 ]
To minimize the effect of the unpredictable weather to the grains during the stage of
The First design according to Engr. Salvatierra, she includes a chimney, but a chimney is
not very efficient to move the air through the drying tunnel. And when a typhoon comes, there is
an instance of the chimney to fall. Revision of the design had been taken place by using small
ventilators to move air. And then Engr. Salvatierra come up with the bubble concept.
The Air is circulated and the bubble is inflated by the means of using the small ventilator.
The waters are removed by the air-flow from inside the drying tunnel on which the grains where
spread, the air-flow also prevents overheating. Using a metal roller underneath the dryer, the
grains are stirred from time to time to ensure the drying of the grains evenly.
The Solar bubble dryer can dry paddy to a moisture content level of 10 percent to 13 per
cent, depending on whether the weather is dry or wet. According to Martin Gummert, head of the
IRRI post-harvest unit, the dryer has numerous advantage over mechanical dryers for the small-
scale farmers. The price is less expensive and easy to operate and set-up. The design is very ideal
for the rural areas without power source of electricity. Compare to the mechanical dryers that
need a vast amount of paddy to operate/dry, the solar bubble dryer can utilize one tonne on
which can dry in two days, depending on the given weather condition.
For Example, a typical recirculating batch dryer requires at least 10 tons of paddy in one
drying operation. Auditing the Energy consumed by the machine which needs electricity to run
the dryer and a fuel for the air-heater simultaneously, the Operating Cost for this type of dryer is
higher. Solar bubble dryer additional benefit comes from its photovoltaic solar panels that
In addition, neighboring country like Myanmar, have many farming village that do not
have access to electricity. Battery and the solar panel can also be utilized for other purposes, for
example, when the dryer is not in use the power comes from battery can be used for the lighting
of the house.
As of today, the solar bubble dryer is being tested in different countries such as in
Myanmar, Vietnam, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Africa [ CITATION Far14 \l 1033 ]
When the surface of the grains heats up due to when the day is sunny, the increase in the
frequency of mixing the grains is necessary to take place. A rolling bar where designed intend to
place underneath the dryer for mixing the grains. Two persons are required to pull the handles of
the bar and roll it down the whole length of the contraption to mix the grains inside. Other
paraphernalia to the roller is attached which enables the grain to be mix more effectively
hassle-free, the Material of the dryer is locally available, it is economical to build. Introducing a
low-cost drying solution into the market is an valuable aspect that could encourage intended
users— small-scale farmers, in this case—to cope with the advancing of technology.
DRYING MECHANISM
Solar Bubble Dryer can be used in two methods. First, the transparent sheet cover helps in
collecting heat coming from solar energy. When high temperature is acquired inside the system,
Second, Solar bubble dryer has system control to produce electricity, coming from the
collected solar energy, inverted and stored using deep cycle battery. Also, blowers, connected to
the battery, are used to aerate the plastic sheet and remove the moisture from the grains inside it.
Solar bubble dryer has a roller, maneuvered by farmers, are used to mix the paddy without the
need of opening the plastic sheet. This protects the paddy from contamination of small rocks and
HOW IT OPERATES
Solar bubble can be used in any flat surface like backyard, or dooryard. Even
rice field is also advisable. The area where the solar bubble will set up should
have a good exposure to sun light. To obtain it, the area should be free from
tree, buildings and other structure that might cover or shade the dryer. To
1. Locate area where the sun has the highest exposure throughout the
2. The paddy will be laid in plastic, so that it can be mixed easily. Since it
any unwanted pointed objects and if possible, try to level the ground.
3. Lay the plastic sheet evenly. Tie the other end, and pull it to prevent
any fold that might get the roller stop from mixing.
4. Assemble the control panel and connect the battery. Position the solar
5. Prepare the paddy. Fill up the plastic with the desired amount and
Spread the grains evenly from left to right and top to bottom using a
6. Turn on the system and use rollers to mix the paddy with desired
FIELD TESTING
In 2011, design for 1-ton capacity of paddy dryer has begun. This design went through many
revisions while it is being tested in the country. The first prototype design is a chimney with steel
assembly that supports the plastic sheets on the rice grains. Operators of the prototype found it
hard to maneuver it because one should pull out the plastic sheet on the steel pipes. Also, the
chimney’s efficiency in blowing air throughout is low. Since the design is stand alone, it was
One of the pioneers in designing paddy dryer is Engr. Salvatierra. According to him, they
made the prototype revisions out from the observation and recorded data they gathered. Also,
surveys and field tests become helpful to them in modifying the design.
After a year, a simple prototype design was proposed. The machine consists of 2 layers of
plastic sheets, the dark layer where the paddy will be laid and the transparent sheet cover to
protect the grains and also served as roofing. These sheets will be joined by a zipper. According
to Engr. Salvatierra, the term solar bubble was coined from the bubble shape of the plastic sheet
The recent design they worked on has 2 ventilators, with steel pipes as the support of the
structure. Solar bubble dryer is tested and evaluated for its efficacy and product quality.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Grain - a small, hard seed, especially the seed of a food plant such as wheat, corn, rye,
from below. The top cover and the drying floor are joined together by heavy-duty
zippers.
Roller bar – located underneath the dryer for mixing the grains
Chapter 3
METHODOLOGY
This chapter envelope all the processes used in the study which includes the yielding of
the design and its significance. Also, it includes the phases of project development, and product
evaluation. Through flow charts, the researchers will be able to demonstrate the construction of
The development of the alternative solar grain dryer using transparent sheets is a product
of gathered ideas for modification and improvement of existing equipment. The proposed study
is a combination of scientific and applied research with continuous development process. Ideas
for the improvement of existing machineries were gathered that resulted to an agricultural
conceptualized design that can help in the fabrication of the proposed prototype. Different
concepts, theories, and ideas made way in the formulation of the said project where subject
courses and materials are to be engaged in the foundation of the fabrication of the prototype.
The alternative solar grain dryer using transparent sheets is a 6ft. by 9ft. prototype
designed to dry 1 cavan of grains. It has a 12V high-torque, low rpm DC motor, two fans for the
ventilation, a transparent sheet that covers the grains to be dried, and a microcontroller for the
relays of the system. A timer was also used to cut off and to latch the power supply whenever
mixing is needed. All the components were supplied by a 12V, 65Ah deep cycle battery.
the design of an alternative solar grain dryer using transparent sheets. It includes 2 dc
The Alternative Grain Dryer using Transparent Sheets can have a load of 1 cavan of paddy.
The timer can be set with a minimum interval of 1 minute and a maximum interval of one
week. 16 cycles of automatic on and off can be programmed into the timer. Manual on and off is
also available.
The fans and motor draws power from the 65Ah rechargeable battery while the Arduino
Each phase in project development is defined and needed to follow to acquire desired
results. Project development flow chart aids in fine-tuning and identifying arising problems that
As technology advances abruptly in every aspect in the society, the agricultural sector is
subjected to a vast need for improvement as it contributes to a large scale of necessities that
every nation should meet. Palay is a staple food of the country, thus, belongs to a great
percentage in the farming industry. Palay undergoes a drying process prior to packing and
storage. Aside from palay, other grains such as corns, sorghums, and the like, also need drying in
the whole process. Farmers dry grains manually in the area and as the grains are exposed to heat,
mixing it from time to time is observed to be done. As it require a lot of manual labor to take the
whole process, it is observed that the productivity and the work load of the farmers are affected.
Drying reduces grain moisture content to a safe level for storage. It is the most critical
operation after harvesting a rice crop. When rice is harvested, it will contain up to 25% moisture.
High moisture level during storage can lead to grain discoloration, encourage development of
molds, and increase the likelihood of attack from pests. It is important to dry rice grain as soon as
ineffective drying will reduce grain quality and result in losses. Using sun’s heat is one of the
conventional methods to dry harvested grains. Sun drying, either mat or pavement drying is used
to dry grains when subjected directly to sun. Nevertheless, there are disadvantages in using this
conventional method. Heat for drying is needed when it rains or at night when
solar radiation is low. Also, a large space for solar collectors for heated air
drying is required. According to Rice Knowledge Bank, the solar collector
3.8 RESEARCH
considered as the main crop were gathered and interviews from the locals
were conducted.
3.9 CONCEPTUALIZATION
Most farmers try to avoid having to use a grain dryer, or at least try to use it very little,
whenever possible. This is because of the added expense the additional step will involve. This is
why farmers will leave the crops out in the field as long as they possibly dare in the fall. The
dead plants will naturally dry out the corn and beans. However, harvest must be done before the
However, a grain dryer can also be a valuable tool for large-scale farming operations.
This is because it allows for earlier harvesting of at least some of the crop. Without
advancements in grain dryer technology, that prolonged harvesting season, created by starting
earlier, may not have been possible. In the long run, this can be a financial benefit to the farming
operation.
The combination of ideas and gathered date provided the main concept of the study, to
dry grains in the community. The proposed prototype design was based on the existing grain
drying technology in the Philippines where different engineering subject courses are to be
incorporated to form a new technology. Modifications on the design were made with ideas and
analysis concerning machine elements and design, motion, and instrumentation. Individual
components are based on research and investigation within available materials that can increase
the output of the study. Consultation has also been done for modification and further
consideration for the construction of the prototype. Solar drying requires direct heat from
the sun. The use of transparent sheets to enclose the grains will allow absorption of
sunlight while trapping the heat inside the system. As for the frame, a material that can be
used for a longer time at a low cost is suitable for the construction and fabrication. With
the recommendation and the aspects in consideration, the proponents decided that the
3.10.1 COMPONENTS
Chain drives are used for the reason that the chain cannot slip on the sprocket, so
3.10.1.2 Bearing
system. A long rod is used to act as a mixer in the prototype wherein bearings are
3.10.1.3 Shaft
contacts in another circuit. Switching motor polarity is needed for the mixing
system to work back and forth. In this case, a relay module is used to execute the
mechanism.
Limit switches are to be attached at both ends of the frame to send signals
The electrical diagram that shows the wiring for the limit switches and relays is as
follows:
Figure 3.2 – Electrical Diagram
Part selection and fabrication were carefully done to ensure that the aforementioned
objectives of the machine were met. Also, several factors and operation conditions were
considered in the selection and fabrication of the parts. The assembly was done strictly following
the design, keeping in mind the variables of operation and problems the machine may encounter.
the prototype.
distinctive terminals.
Evaluating the effectiveness of the study will be done with a series of performance tests
at a certain period of time. This will rate the proposed prototype according to the functionality,
efficiency, and acceptability of the system. The evaluation process will aid in the improvement
of the performance and will determine the range of operational capability of the project.
The test for the efficiency of the prototype will be based on a comparative study of the
drying time between the traditional grain-drying method and the use of the machine. Sampling
method is to be used by setting up nine zones for each method and measuring the loss of
moisture until 14% is reached by weighing the grains for equal time intervals, which was set to
thirty minutes as it was the recommended time for mixing to achieve uniform moisture content
stated by the International Rice Research Institute. The step-by-step procedure for testing the
efficiency is as follows:
3.12.1 Set up the traditional drying method as well as the prototype with the same
capacity.
3.12.2 Assign nine zones for each method where samplings will be collected.
3.12.3 Weigh the samplings with equal volume using a digital weighing scale then record
3.12.4 For every thirty minutes, mix the grains. Afterward, weigh the samplings once
more and determine the final moisture content with the weight loss by the
equation:
100−MC i
m f =mi ( 100−MC f )
Where:
m i = Initial weight
m f = Final weight
Repeat the step until 14% moisture content is reached in both method. The drying
time needed until the required percentage is reached will determine the efficiency
This chapter presents the technical design, detailed structure, technical description and its
parts and the project’s capabilities and limitations. It also presents the discussion of the data and
results of the equipment’s performance relevant to the procedures stated in the previous chapter.
grains. It has a 12V high-torque, low rpm DC motor, two fans for the ventilation and a
microcontroller for the temperature and relative humidity reading of the system. A timer was
also used to cut off and to latch the power supply whenever mixing is needed. All the
The project structure and assembly present the auxiliary details of the major parts of the
` Figure 4.b shows Figure 4.b – 12V DC fan the 12V dc fan that
an Arduino microcontroller. Two of which were used in the Alternative Dryer’s system, one for
the relay system and another for the humidity and temperature sensor. It was coded using
Figure
Figure 4.e – 12v DC Motor
4.e shows the 12v DC
the dryer
Figure 4.f – Timer
A programmable weekly timer is shown in figure 4.f. It turns the motor on or off
4.3 RESULTS
The following tables and charts present the results obtained from performing the
1 182 178 176 175 174 171 168 167 165 163 162 160
2 179 175 172 171 173 170 167 167 166 165 164 163
3 175 175 174 171 170 170 168 165 165 164 164 163
4 177 176 174 173 170 166 165 164 163 161 160 158
5 176 173 171 170 169 171 167 165 163 163 161 160
6 173 173 172 171 170 166 164 162 160 159 159 158
7 175 175 173 172 170 167 166 164 163 161 160 158
8 176 175 173 173 173 169 167 166 164 163 161 159
9 178 175 173 170 167 166 163 162 162 161 160 156
Averag 176.7 175.0 173.1 171.7 170.6 168.4 166.1 164.6 163.4 162.2 161.2 159.4
e 8 0 1 8 7 4 1 7 4 2 2 4
14.6
MC, % 23.00 22.22 21.37 20.76 20.24 19.19 18.06 17.34 16.72 16.09 15.57
3
The table above shows the weight of the paddy grain samples taken from the first
batch dried using the traditional way of drying. A cup of sample was taken from each of the 9
zones and were weighed using the electronic scale. Results showed that the weight of the
paddy grains decreased significantly every interval. The first 30 minutes showed that the
weight of a cup of paddy grains ranges from 175 g to 182 g while, after the last 30 minutes,
the weight only ranges from 156 g to 163 g. On average, the weight of the paddy grains
Meanwhile, the moisture content obtained from computations using the recorded
weight of the paddy grains can also be seen in the table. It can be observed that, like the
weight, it gradually decreases from 23% to around 14% over the period of 6 hours, which is
TABLE NO. 2
Weight and Moisture Content of Paddy Grains using Solar Grain Dryer
Trial No. 1
The table above shows the weight of the paddy grain samples taken from the first batch
ZONE 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH 5TH 6TH 7TH 8TH 9TH
zones and were weighed using the electronic scale. Results showed that the weight of the paddy
grains decreased significantly every interval. The first 30 minutes showed that the weight of a
cup of paddy grains ranges from 173 g to 182 g while, after the last 30 minutes, the weight only
ranges from 157 g to 162 g. On average, the weight of the paddy grains decreased gradually from
175
170
165
160
155
150
145
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Meanwhile, the moisture content obtained from computations using the recorded weight
of the paddy grains can also be seen in the table. It can be observed that, like the weight, it
gradually decreases from 23% to around 14% over the period of 6 hours, which is the safe
CHART NO. 1
Relationship of Drying Time and Average Weight of Paddy Grains
Trial No. 1
The chart shows the relationship of time to the moisture content of the paddy grains
for the first trial. It also presents the comparison between the drying rate of the traditional sun
drying to that of the Alternative Solar Grain Dryer. It can be observed that although both of
them can effectively reduce the moisture content of the grains, the Solare Grain Dryer
achieved the target 14% moisture content faster than the traditional way.
TABLE NO. 3
Weight and Moisture Content of Paddy Grains using Traditional Drying
Trial No. 2
The table above shows the weight of the paddy grain samples taken from the first
batch dried using the traditional sun drying. A cup of sample was taken from each of the 9
zones and were weighed using the electronic scale. Results showed that the weight of the
paddy grains decreased significantly every interval. The first 30 minutes showed that the
weight of a cup of paddy grains ranges from 176 g to 180 g while, after the last 30 minutes,
the weight only ranges from 158 g to 163 g. On average, the weight of the paddy grains
Meanwhile, the moisture content obtained from computations using the recorded
weight of the paddy grains can also be seen in the table. It can be observed that, like the
weight, it gradually decreases from 23% to around 14% over the period of 6 hours, which is
TABLE NO. 4
Weight and Moisture Content of Paddy Grains using Solar Grain Dryer
Trial No. 2
The table above shows the weight of the paddy grain samples taken from the first
batch dried using the alternative Solar Grain Dryer. A cup of sample was taken from each of
175
170
165
160
155
150
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Results showed that the weight of the paddy grains decreased significantly every
interval. The first 30 minutes showed that the weight of a cup of paddy grains ranges from
177 g to 180 g while, after the last 30 minutes, the weight only ranges from 159 g to 164 g.
On average, the weight of the paddy grains decreased gradually from 178.33 g to 160.67 g in
4.5 hours.
The chart shows the relationship of time to the moisture content of the paddy grains
CHART NO. 2
Relationship of Drying Time and Average Weight of Paddy Grains
Trial No. 2
for the second trial. It also presents the comparison between the drying rate of the traditional
sun drying to that of the Alternative Solar Grain Dryer. It can be observed that although both
of them can effectively reduce the moisture content of the grains, the Solare Grain Dryer
achieved the target 14% moisture content faster than the traditional way.
TABLE NO. 5
Average Time for Traditional Drying and Solar Grain Dryer to reach 14% MC
Results showed that on average, paddy grains achieve the desired moisture content
after 4.5 hours in the Solar Grain Dryer while it took 6 hours for the traditional sun drying.
The reduction of weight of the paddy grains can be accounted to the moisture content
of the grains being removed. Both ways use the heat of the sun to reduce the moisture
content, what must have caused the difference are the transparent sheets of the solar grain
dryer. It traps the heat of the sun inside the tunnel while the continuous air flow takes out the
Chapter 5
This chapter presents the conclusions, summary of findings and recommendations for
were derived:
5.1.1 The Alternative Solar Grain Dryer using transparent Sheets has a drying capacity of
1 cavan of paddy.
5.1.2 The frequency of mixing the paddy affects the length of time needed in drying the
paddy. The first and second trial has the same time interval of 30 minutes. Comparative
study was done between the Alternative Solar Grain Dryer using Transparent Sheets and
the traditional drying method wherein two trials were executed. The first and second trial
obtained the same results for both methods; for the machine it took 4 hours and 30
minutes in the drying process of the paddy to reach the required amount of 14% moisture
content while the conventional or natural solar drying took 6 hours in the drying process.
5.1.3 The overall environment condition affects the drying process. Sunny weather is the
most ideal time or condition to dry the paddy wherein the temperature in the environment
is high. Due to some features, the machine can still dry the paddy even if it is not a sunny
or good weather because it has a cover and a blower to help the paddy dry.
5.2 CONCLUSION
The researchers have come to the conclusion from the information collected during the
5.2.1 The study entitled “Development of an Alternative Solar Grain Dryer using
Transparent Sheets” was able to acquire the main objective of the study. With the
information collected using the weighing method of the paddy, the machine was shown to
dry paddy to 14% of moisture content in a weight of 1 cavan. Based on the results it is 1
hour and 30 minutes faster than the conventional or natural sun drying method, meeting
5.2.2 In addition, the study also successfully met all the other objectives. The machine
was able to design and fabricate a semi-automated alternative solar grain dryer using
transparent sheets and it was accomplish successfully. Also, the timer of the machine is a
programmable timer that enables the machine to accurately relay the mixer to mix the
5.2.3 As seen in the information collected, it is apparent that the machine is faster in
drying paddy than the conventional or natural sun drying method. The time required for
drying paddy using the machine is shorter whether it is sunny or not, with that, the study
was successful and all the objectives has been successfully met.
5.3 RECOMMENDATION
Some developments are needed to enhance the design of the machine for it to become
5.3.2 Using a moisture meter to reduce the time and effort in weighing the paddy to