• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.229-244
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• 1998

This study was performed to determine proper fan and heater management schemes for natural air drying of rough rice in round steel bin with stirring device under Korean weather conditions. A computer simulation model was developed to predict moisture content changes, energy requirements, and drymatter losses during drying of rough rice by natural air. Drying test was conducted to validate the simulation model using round steel bin of holding capacity of 300ton at Rice Processing Complex in Jincheon. The bin was filled with rough rice every day and mixing by stirring device. Moisture contents, ambient air temperatures, relative humidities, static pressures in plenum chamber in the bin, airflow rates, and electrical and fuel energy were measured. Relative errors of moisture content changes predicted by the simulation model were below 5ft, and relative errors of final moisture content, final grain weight, required energy ranged from 0.9% to 6%. These not levels indicated that the simulation model can satisfactorily predict the performance factors of natural air drying system such as drying rates and energr consumptions comparing error level of 10% to 15% in other drying simulation models generally used in dryer desists. Twelve different fan and heater management schemes were evaluated using the computer simulation model based on three hourly weather data from Suweon for the period of 1952-1994. The best management schemes were selected comparing the drymatter losses, required drying times, required energy consumptions. Operating fan without heating only when ambient relative humidity was below 85% or 90% appeared to be the most effective method of In operation in favorable drying weather. Under adverse drying climates or to reduce required drying time, operating fan continuously, and heating air with $1.5^{\circ}C$ temperature rise only when ambient relative humidity was over 85% appeared to be the most suitable method.