• 2025-10-31
• E.M. Samagbeyi, E.O. Olusola, J.F. Eiche, A. Akinsade, S.O. Oladapo
• Volume 1, Issue 2

Abstract

This project focuses on the design, fabrication, and performance evaluation of an electrically powered cabinet grain dryer suitable for drying staple grains such as rice, maize, millet, wheat, and guinea corn. The dryer was developed with a focus on affordability, material availability, and operational efficiency. Key considerations in material selection included thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, mechanical strength, ease of fabrication, and long-term maintainability. The main components of the dryer include a stainless steel drying chamber with internal sawdust insulation, four perforated metal trays, an axial flow fan (0.1 HP), a 3.53 kW electric heating element, and an Arduino-Nano microcontroller-based control panel with LM35 sensors for temperature regulation. Performance evaluation was conducted through drying tests under controlled conditions. The dryer achieved maximum internal temperatures of 58 °C and demonstrated effective moisture removal capabilities. Moisture content reductions for wheat, millet, rice, maize, and guinea corn were 34.84%, 41.43%, 14.29%, 16.00%, and 18.84%, respectively. The heat utilization factor (HUF) is 0.15, and drying efficiency is 84%, using maize as the reference grain. The results confirm the dryer’s suitability for small- to medium-scale post-harvest processing. It offers an energy-efficient and user-friendly alternative to traditional open sun drying, contributing to food quality preservation, reduced post-harvest losses, and improved grain marketability.

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