Design and Fabrication of a Portable Solar-Powered Smart Grain Dryer

Author

K. Hemanth Kumar, K. Sivakumar, G. Sai and Dr. G. Sasikumar

Abstract

 Post-harvest drying of grains such as paddy, maize, wheat, and pulses is essential for preventing spoilage during storage, yet small farmers in many rural areas still depend on open-sun drying, which is slow, weather-dependent, and exposes the grain to dust, insects, birds, and rain. This paper presents the design and fabrication methodology of a portable, low-cost, solar-powered smart grain dryer for small-scale use. The dryer consists of an insulated metal drying chamber with perforated grain trays, a nichrome heating element housed in a separate protected heating chamber, and a DC blower that circulates hot air through a duct and manifold. A solar panel, charge controller, and rechargeable battery supply the electrical load, making the unit suitable for off-grid locations. An Arduino Uno microcontroller reads a temperature and humidity sensor and displays real-time readings on an LCD so that the drying environment can be observed. The paper describes the working principle, mechanical and electronic design, the design relations used to size the heater, blower, panel, and battery, the fabrication sequence, and the test procedure and performance indices for evaluating the prototype. 

Keywords

solar dryer, grain drying, hybrid dryer, nichrome heater, Arduino Uno, forced convection, post-harvest loss.

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References

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