Agricultural Technology

In order to facilitate hybrid and bulk drying with reduced drying time, enhanced quality and without fungal contamination of agro-products, integration of two modes of heat source is developed with auto-control system. Biomass hot air generation system consists of efficient combustion chamber cum heat exchanger and hot-air distribution ducts. Biomass consumption rate is 15-17 kg/h with coconut husk as feedstock. Solar tunnel dryer consists of semi cylindrical tunnel shaped drying chamber with trays and movable trolley structure for loading copra and turmeric about 1.5-2 tonnes per batch. The auto-controlled mechanism will maintain the constant drying environment (desired temperature and relative humidity) throughout the drying period, by utilizing heat gain from solar dryer during sunshine hours and from biomass hot air generation system during off-sunshine hours and rainy days.