Classification Index and Grade Levels for Energy Efficiency Classification of Agricultural Dryers in Korea

Purpose: The objective of this study was to develop a classification index and the grade levels for a five-grade energy efficiency classification of agricultural dryers in Korea. Methods: The classification index and the grade levels were determined by using the performance test data published by the FACT over the last eight years to reflect a state of the art technology for agricultural dryers in Korea. The five grades were designed to have the classified dryers distributed normally over the grades with 15% for the $1^{st}$ grade, 20% for the $2^{nd}$ grade, 30% for the $3^{rd}$ grade, 20% for the $4^{th}$ grade and 15% for the $5^{th}$ grade. Results: The classification index was defined as the total amount of fuel and electrical energy consumed per 1% of the wet basis moisture content evaporated from a unit mass of grain or agricultural crops during the drying process: 1 MT of paddy rice for grain dryers and 1 kg of red pepper for agricultural crop dryers as the standard mass. Conclusions: The grade levels for the five-grade energy efficiency classification of grain dryers, kerosene dryers, and electric dryers were proposed in terms of the classification index value.