The use of solar plants for crop seeds drying

Abstract

A grain drying complex based on solar energy, including a grain storage with a built-in solar drying system and a drum solar dryer for grain, is proposed. The construction and principle of operation of the grain drying complex is described. The basis of each of the solar drying systems of the complex is the presence of two solar collectors, one of which provides heating of the drying agent at the inlet into the drying chamber, and the second-heating of the used drying agent in the exhaust pipe to increase its flow rate and, accordingly, the intensification of grain drying. Availability of gravel or water heat accumulators allows to carry out the process of grain drying or grain storage, at night and under adverse weather conditions without the risk of self-heating. The optimum capacity of the gravel accumulator is 0.5-0.75 m 3 per 1 m 2 of solar collector area. Drum solar dryer provides guaranteed drying of a grain batch for 6-7 hours of the day time and a grain batch for the night time. It was found that the optimum thickness of the grain layer in the drying process is 50-70 cm and specific load is up to 100 kg of grain per square meter of the horizontal solar collector area.