Utilization of a direct combustion type husk burner for grain drying

Abstract

We conducted grain drying tests using exhaust heat from a direct combustion type husk burner (HB) and compared the results with those of a conventional system using a kerosene burner (KB). The thermal efficiency of the direct combustion type HB was high, and 88 to 90% of the energy from husk combustion was available for grain drying. Grain drying could be properly controlled, and the quality of rice and wheat were almost equivalent to when dried using a conventional KB, but with only 10 to 15% of the CO 2 emission required. Therefore, we considered the system using heat from the HB for grain drying to be useful in reducing the environmental load resulting from fossil-fuel consumption.