Paddy Drying Systems

By:
M Gummert
J Rickman
Agricultural Engineering Unit
IRRI, Los Baos , Philippines
Content
Why drying
Drying and quality
Drying methods
Mechanical drying systems
Drying strategies

Why Drying?
Rice is harvested at high
moisture contents >20%
Quality deterioration starts
immediately after harvest
The wetter the grain the
faster the loss of quality
Different MC for different
purposes (see Table)

Purpose Required
MC
Potential problems
2 - 3 weeks storage 14 - 18% Molds, discoloration,
respiration loss
8 - 12 months storage <= 13% Insect damage
> 1 year storage <= 9 % Loss of viability
Milling 14% Damaged grains,
cracking
Improper drying, 1
Heat build-up
from natural respiration
excellent growth conditions for molds and
insects
Mold development
propagate diseases in the grain
may release toxins into the grain
proper drying and storage can reduce
propagation of molds
Insect infestation
insects are always a problem in stored
grain
at lower moisture content insect activities
are lower
proper drying helps keeping insects at
acceptable level (4 insects per kg)
Improper drying, 2
Discoloration/Yellowing
heat build-up in the paddy grain
before drying
drastically reduces the market
value of rice
Loss of germination and vigor
active respiration depletes the
nutrition reserves
molds and diseases can reduce
the ability of the seed to
germinate
the lower the MC at the beginning
of storage, the longer the seed
remains viable
Improper drying, 3
Loss of freshness/odor development
Heat build up -> musty odor in rice.
Reduces the market value of rice.
If from mycotoxin-producing fungi rice
might become unusable.
Reduced head rice yield
moisture adsorption of individual dry
grains with moisture contents below
16% - fissuring
mixing dry with wet grains
Exposing dry grains to humid air
Fissures cause cracking in milling
process -> reduced the head rice
recovery.

Equilibrium moisture content (EMC)
Rice is hygroscopic
Equilibrium moisture
content (EMC)
If grain is exposed to
air for a longer time it
will reach EMC
Dry grain will adsorb
water from humid air
Wet grain will dry
Grain properties
Moisture Content, MC
Temperature
Air properties
Relative Humidity, RH
Temperature
Purpose Required
MC
Potential problems
2 - 3 weeks storage 14 - 18% Molds, discoloration,
respiration loss
8 - 12 months storage <= 13% Insect damage
> 1 year storage <= 9 % Loss of viability
Milling 14% Damaged grains,
cracking
Drying methods
Drying
Traditional Methods
(Sun drying)
Mechanical drying
Field Drying
Panicle drying
Mat drying
Heated-Air Drying
Low-Temperature
Drying

Batch dryer
Re-circulating Batch
Dryer
Continuous Flow Dryer
Flash Drying
Aeration
In/store drying
Pavement drying
Field drying
Why field drying?
Waiting for the thresher
Manual threshing
How?
Spreading the crop in the field
Stacking/piling
Advantages
Can reduce MC by 1% per day
Disadvantages
Rapid quality deterioration
Shattering
Losses to bird and rodents when spread in
the field
Heat build up and rapid quality deterioration
in piles
Re-wetting from straw in piles
It is impossible to produce good quality grains
with field drying practices.
Field drying should therefore be avoided.
Panicle drying
Traditional method
harvested with a small knife (ani ani)
paddy grains that are still attached
to the panicles
for drying small amounts of paddy.
stored in farmers houses, e.g. under
the roof for protection from rodents.
Problems
low capacity
grains inside the panicle dry slower
than the grains that are exposed
directly to the sun.
Tips
turning of the panicles improves the
drying process
Mat drying
Paddy can be placed on nets,
mats or plastic sheets
(canvas).
Advantages
Most hygienic method.
less contamination with
stones and other dirt
Easy collection in case of
sudden rainfalls.
Easy mixing
Disadvantages of nets
danger of re-wetting of the
bottom grains from soil
moisture
Pavement drying
Better-off farmers, grain collectors,
traders and millers use drying
pavements
specifically constructed for drying
multi purposes (basketball court)
Advantages
high capacity / economics of scale
can be partially mechanized
tools for mixing and grain
collection
larger mills often use two or four
wheel tractors
Disadvantages
capital requirements for the
pavement
pollution with stones and dirt
Sundrying and quality
Layer thickness
Spread the grains in thin layers,
ideally 2-4 cm.
Too thin layers -> heat up very
quickly
Too thick result in a large
moisture gradient
Mixing interval
mixing the grain is the most
important activity for maintaining
good quality
Turn or stir the grain at least
once per hour, better every 30
minutes to achieve uniform MC.
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Mixing interval, h
R
e
c
o
v
e
r
y
,

%

5
5.25
5.5
5.75
6
6.25
6.5
D
r
y
i
n
g

T
i
m
e
,

h

Head rice
Milled rice
Drying time
Source: IRRI, (Gayanilo)
Location: Philippines
Intital M.C. = 24%
Final M.C. = 14%
74
76
78
80
82
84
86
88
90
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Layer thickness, cm
R
e
c
o
v
e
r
y
,

%

3
3.5
4
4.5
5
5.5
6
6.5
7
7.5
8
D
r
y
i
n
g

T
i
m
e
,

h

Head rice
Milled rice
Drying time
Source: IRRI, (Gayanilo)
Location: Philippines
Intital M.C. = 24%
Final M.C. = 14%
Tips for better sundrying
Management
Layer depth of 4cm
Mixing every 30 minutes
Monitor moisture content
Monitor temperature
Protection
Cover the grain when
temperature rise above 50-
60C
Cover during rain.
Prevent contamination
keep animals off the grain
Use tools to improve sundrying
Heated air drying
Components of a dryer
Main components
Drying bin
Air distribution system
Fan
Air heater
Optional
Conveyors
Accessories
Moisture meter
Dust separator


Options for heated air drying
Fixed bed batch dryer Re-circulating batch dryer Continuous flow drying plant
Tempering
Section
Drying
Section
Dryer
Tempering bins
In
Out
Air
Grain
Fixed bed batch dryer (1)
Flat bed dryer
Key features
Batch Capacity: 1-10t
Drying time 6-8h
Approximate prices: US$ 1000-
2000
Kerosene or rice hull fired
Advantages
Simple and affordable
Disadvantage
Labor intensive
Moisture gradient
Temperature control
Fixed bed batch dryer (2)
Low cost batch dryer
Key features
Batch Capacity: 0.2-2t
Drying time: 1-2 days
Approximate prices:
US$ 100-200
Wood, coal or rice hull fired
Advantages
Simple and affordable
Very cheap
Uses local storage structures
Disadvantage
Labor intensive
Moisture gradient
Temperature control
Fixed bed batch dryer (3)
Reversible air flow dryer
Key features
Same as flat bed dryer
Airflow is reversed after to
of drying time was completed
Advantages
Minimized moisture gradient
Less labor intensive since
mixing is eliminated
Disadvantage
Additional cost
Re-circulating batch dryer
Key features
Batch Capacity: 4-12t
Drying time: 8 hours
Approximate prices:
US$ 8,000-10,000
Kerosene fired
Advantages
Automatic operation
Produces excellent quality
Little floor area
Disadvantage
Wear of conveying elements
Problems with very wet paddy
Mechanical drying Methods
Drying air temp.: 43C
Air velocity: 0.15-0.25 m/s
Airflow rate per t grain: >0.7 m/s
Power requirement: 1.5-2.5kW/t grain
Layer depth: < 40 cm
Drying time: 6-12 h
Initial MC: up to 30%+
Drying
Zone
10
15
20
25
30
0 5 10 15
Drying time, h
M
C
,

%

w
.
b
.
Top
Middle
Bottom
Avg.
Drying
Zone
Dry
Grains
Wet
Grains
10
15
20
25
0 48 96 144 192 240
Drying Time, h
M
C
,

%

w
.
b
.
Top
Middle
Bottom
Heated-air drying
Low-Temperature Drying
Drying air temperature: T = 0-6 K
Air velocity: 0.1 m/s
Airflow rate per t grain: >0.05-0.4 m/s
Power requirement: 0.05-0.15 kW/t grain
Layer depth: < 2 m
Drying time: days to weeks
Initial MC: 18% ( 28%)
Advantages:
Simple management
Fast drying
Affordable
Low level of integration
Disadvantages:
3-4% moisture gradient in final product, requires
mixing or reduced layer depth
Reduction in milling yield
Danger of killing seeds
Advantages:
Very energy efficient
Bins can be filled at harvest rate
Maintains grain quality optimally
Drying in storage structures
Disadvantages:
Increased risk with poor power supplies
Requires bulk handling system (high level of integration in
postharvest system)
Long drying time
Other drying systems
First stage dryers
Fluidized bed dryer
Rotary drum dryer
Low-temperature dryer (often second stage dryer)
In-store dryer
Aeration facilities


Flash dryer
Principle
Grains are pre-dried quickly in a
fluidized bed
As a first-stage dryer in a two-stage
drying strategy
Key features
Batch Capacity: 4-12t
Drying time: 10-15 minutes
Air temperatures: 110-120C
Air velocity: 2.3 m/s
Advantages
Very fast pre-drying
High capacity
Disadvantage
For pre-drying to 18% MC only
High energy requirement
Fluidized bed dryer from Thailand
In-store dryer
Drying
Zone
Dry
Grains
Wet
Grains
Principle
Slow EMC based drying with ambient air or
slightly pre-heated air
Key features
Batch Capacity: 1 x.000 tons
Drying time: 4 days to 2 weeks
Air temperatures: ambient, 3-6C above
ambient
Air velocity: 0.1 m/s
Advantages
Produces very high quality
Low energy requirement
Drying in storage bin
Disadvantage
High risk if MC is > 18%
Long drying time
Drying Strategies
Decentralized on-farm drying
Requires quality incentive
Low utilization of equipment
Training and technical support service
Centralized drying
Contractors (service providers)
Mills
Economics of scale
Two-stage drying
Ideal process to produce best quality
Two machines are needed for one operation
First stage dryer dries only to 18%
Thank you