Results of Heat-technical Investigation of Renovated Bábolna Type Grain Dryer

Abstract

The drying are the one of the most considerable technological cost factor in the production of the agricultural final products. Considering the expenses of the drying operation the maintenance, besides the living labor demand, the most determining cost of the applied thermal energy. Examining the combination of the inland grain dryer plant, majority consists of exceptionally anachronistic equipments. The grain dryers are approx. 50% technically obsolete, average age above 15-20 years.
The specific thermal energy use of these dryers (thermal energy for vaporization of the 1 kg water) on the average 5,4 – 6,5 MJ/kg water, which constitutes a most value, that is for an energy-wasting can be considered. Their majority can be renewed yet, in the course of which is done the heat recovery system, the moisture regulator instrument, the construction of control panel, and with placement of dust collector, the system suit the environment protection requirements.
In the present study we demonstrate the renovation of a Bábolna 1-15 types cross flow grain dryer which was built in 1987, in the course of which with the elimination of the cold fan and the application of heat recovery the specific thermal energy consumption of the new system reduced by 38%. This value was justified by the thermal technique controlling examination of the dryer.