Secador contínuo tipo esteira e de fluxos cruzados: aperfeiçoamento e experimentação da secagem da semente da mamona.

Abstract

The objective of this work is study the drying of wet solids in a continuous and cross flow belt conveyor dryer; with particular reference to the drying of castor seeds. The improvement of the device was carried out in a developed prototype, related to the transmission systems, air blowing system, and heating system. Were carried out experiments of castor bean drying in over and dryer at different drying conditions. Was verified that the water content of the product in the drying process depends heavily on the temperature and velocity of the drying air, and on the speed of the belt conveyor. The results obtained through the performance of the continuous flow dryer has been considered optimum: belt conveyor speed less than 0.001 m/s, minimum drying air temperature of 40°C and maximum of 110°C for each chamber, energy consumption 17.5 kWh and air velocity 0.56 m/s, in each module. The prototype developed is versatile and low cost to construct, totally detachable, has good mobility, and total control of the air temperature, and velocity inside the chambers, and speed of the, by means of electronic systems.