Drying of paddy (Raw.Rice) using microwave energy. An initial report on trials in Malaysia and England

Ooi Ho Seng Ray Wijewardene, Ayob Sukra and R.A.Shute

Abstract

Microwave heating offers a much faster method of grain drying than conventional methods.In the trials carried out paddy was dried from moisture content of 30.0% to 13.0% (w.b.) in 20-30 minutes. Grain temperatures were kept below 45°C by blowing ambient air through it. The drying performances under possible commercial drying configurations were evaluated.A feature of the present design was the gravity-fed pneumatic conveyor system. An estimate of cost shows that annual capital cost per ton of paddy dried using microwave energy is about the same as that of the latest conventional drying complexes in Malaysia while fuel and operating cost is about a third to half that of the latter.

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