Eficiência térmica na secagem de grãos a alta temperatura : uma abordagem exploratória

Abstract

For reasons of safety and better conditions in the conservation of grain quality, drying becomes a necessary process, especially in places where the harvest is done at times when the weather is unfavorable to the loss of moisture in the field. A relevant factor in this process is the demand for fuel, which depends on the initial humidity of the product, the specific heat and the conditions of the dryers. Good thermal efficiency in high temperature processes is important so that drying time is reduced, and less fuel is used. The objective of this work was to seek information about high temperature drying processes, types of dryers, fuel demand, and especially thermal efficiency in drying. The purpose was to obtain information, to find out if important data has been monitored to generate practical information that allows corrective interventions during the drying processes. The work is characterized as exploratory research by means of literature review and evaluation of practices performed in storage units, providing familiarization with the problem, in order to diagnose it and allow the exploration of new ideas and solutions. Thus, based on the information obtained and through reports used in the drying process it was possible to identify that there is a lack of data, which makes it impossible to perform thermal efficiency calculations in real time. A spreadsheet model for monitoring the drying processes is suggested, as well as the implementation of automated calculation routines, based on information from sensors that already exist in the dryers. For this procedure to be done, it is necessary to access the data collected by the sensors installed by the dryer manufacturers.