Test Model for Studying Sun Drying of Rough Rice Using Far-Infrared Radiation

The effect of heat input, mixing at regular intervals, airflov over the surface and the relative humidity were investigated within a radiation chamber. Likening to sun drying as practiced in the tropics, the chamber was constructed to study the direct radiant heat drying of rough rice under various bed thicknesses. Graphic results showing the variations of rough rice surface temperature during the experiments are presented. Comparisons are also made between the relative contributions of bed depth and mixing on the drying rate. A non-mixed bed of 3 cm dried just as fast as a 6 cm mixed bed although moisture content was nonuniform in the former case. After drying, the grains were dehusked by hand and examined for physical defects like cracks. Possible constraints involved in drying thick beds of rough rice under direct radiation were investigated with the aim of defining suitable strategies for improving actual sun drying.