Experimental evaluation of drying kinetics of biomass powered grain dryer

Grain drying is a critical post-harvest process, particularly in developing countries where inadequate drying methods contribute to significant post-harvest losses. Traditional open sun drying is inefficient and weather-dependent, underscoring the need for sustainable and controlled alternatives. This study evaluates the performance of a biomass-powered grain drying system designed to offer smallholder farmers an off-grid, cost-effective solution for reducing moisture content in grains.
The dryer's performance was evaluated experimentally using corn grains, focusing on drying kinetics, thermal efficiency, and overall energy performance. The dryer achieved a thermal efficiency of up to 78.09% with a maximum drying rate of 0.118%/min. Experimental results were compared with thin-layer drying models, the Logarithmic model and Page model achieved the best fit. These findings highlight the dryer’s capability to achieve efficient and reliable drying, particularly for grains with high initial moisture content.
While the dryer demonstrated acceptable performance, areas for improvement were identified, including thermal losses and airflow distribution, which could be addressed in future versions. The study establishes the biomass-powered dryer as a practical and scalable alternative to conventional drying methods, particularly in resource-constrained environments.