Avaliação econômico-energética da secagem combinada em cooperativa de milho.

Abstract

The combined drying process consists on using a high temperature drier, which reduces the humidity level on grains up to 16-18% w.b., followed by drying with air near to ambient temperature, until the grains reach the ideal content moisture for storage. This paper aimed to study its feasibility, keeping the conventional high temperature drying method as a reference, assessing related energy consumption parameters and process operation functionality. This work was carried on, in real scale, using a mixed flow continuous drier with a wood furnace. The drying process with natural air happened on a grain store with ventilation system. In order to collect data and subsequent calculation of energetic parameters, each treatment was repeated three times. The results proved the feasibility of the combined drying methodology for corn on the region, improving the system energetic efficiency with 30% less than energy, increase 29% the drying capacity, optimizing operations of reception, precleaning and drying. Furthermore, it allows 22% cost reduction on the total drying process.