Cel To spread the technology used in the previous project SE./174/88/FR/PO (co-financed by the Commission in the context of the "Energy Demonstration Projects" program) the objective of which was to show the feasibility of using solar energy as a principle energy source for the drying of rice.The drying of rice started on 27 October 1993 and finished on 26 November 1993.Taking into account the climatic conditions and the breakdown of one of the harvesters, the drying took place in four phases.Drying was done in 2 of the 4 existing silos (which represent 50% of the installation capacity) and lasted 15.5 years, which corresponds to 125 working hours of the ventilation system.During this period 430 tons of rice, with an average humidity factor of 20%, have been dried. This quantity represents 350 tons of dried rice (humidity = 14.5%).The yield of the solar captor has varied between 25% and 50%, the specific consumption registered of non primary energy has been 140 kcal/kg water vapour, which represents 488 kcal/kg water vapour in primary energy (approximately 3 times less than traditional drying), the efficiency coefficient of the system has been 3.45 (representing 3.45 solar kWh recuperated per 1 kWh of electricity used) and the running cost of solar drying is 4 times less than that of the traditional method. These figures demonstrate the advantage of using solar energy for the drying of cereals. However some aspects can still be improved such as the output of the captor and reduction of electrical energy consumption.The project consists of a newly built solar rice drying installation with a capacity for drying 800 tons per year. The installation consists of an open air solar captor of 670 m2 which doubles as the roof of the installation, five silos (four of which are for drying purposes and one is for storage), one ventilator for each drying silo, and everything concerned with air circulation, transport, cleaning of the rice, control and regulation of the installation.The technique used is simple and consists of sucking up the air contained in the solar captor which consists of a collecting cover, a layer of air and a bottom insulating part. The air circulates between the cover and the bottom part and is blown by means of ventilators into the base of the drying silos which have false perforated bottom plates. Horizontal, rotating extractors are installed over the false bottoms thus allowing the dried grains to be removed in uniform layers. At the same time as the dried grains are extracted,the silos are filled from the top with wet grains.It is worth pointing out that this project demonstrates some new characteristics as compared to the demonstration project :- annual drying capacity is over 200 tons.- the interior diameter of the silos is reduced wich improves air extraction and circulation of the rice grains and thus their humidity content inside the drying silos.- The drying is controllable per silo thus allowing the installation to be run as a function of the harvesting and the need for drying.- centralised control of equipment for cleaning of the rice, stocking up the silos, drying, extracting, stocking and loading of trucks.This project enables us to demonstrate on a much larger scale the 4 principal advantages of the solar drying technique for cereals as compared to installations using fossilised fuel:- The drying silos allow the stocking of grains after the drying period which renders the available space more profitable.- The solar drying process operates at low temperature ensuring a better quality of grain, reducing loss of grains which become brittle when dried at high temperatures.- Specific primary energy consumption is reduced by approximately 3 times.- Installation construction investment is identical to the traditional plants and operating cost are reduced by appoximately 4 times. Program(-y) ENG-THERMIE 1 - Programme (EEC) for the promotion of energy technology in Europe (THERMIE), 1990-1994 Temat(-y) 2.1 - BUILDINGS Zaproszenie do składania wniosków Data not available System finansowania DEM - Demonstration contracts Koordynator MANUEL RAMOS SIMOES Wkład UE Brak danych Adres RIBEIRA DE SANTO AMARO 3125 Lourical Portugalia Zobacz na mapie Koszt całkowity Brak danych
