Reducing energy consumption for the drying of paddy in the silos 300 tons with heat recovery

Abstract

This research is aim to reduce the energy consumption to decrease the moisture of paddy in a paddy silo size 300 tons by using the heat exchanger equipment for heat recovery from baking paddy. Then, compare between before and after reduce of moisture with heat circulation by testing on temperature of the testing environment with similar average is about 32° C hot air temperature is found to leave from the furnace husk average test similar in both cases, the study is around 80°C. The testing to reduce moisture paddy by using this heat exchangers can be economical husk fuel about 12.88% per cycle when compared with old method of reduce moisture or about 6,408 baht (on purchase husk on 8 baht/kg). The study shown that energy can be saving is 1,837,080 MJ/year, cost savings with 145,800 baht/year, present value (NPV) equals 237,260.87 baht and the internal rate of return (IRR) is around 17.32%, payback time is 6 years and is considered to a worthwhile investment.