Performance of biomass combustor based drying system for ginger drying

Abstract

A biomass combustor based dryer was evaluated with different biomass for drying of ginger. Biomass combustor based dryer consists of fuel hopper, combustion chamber, heat exchanger, grate for proper combustion of the combustible gas, chimney, ambient air inlet, hot air outlet and drying chamber. The system was evaluated at five fuel consumption rate (1 to 5 kg.h–1) and five air flow rate (100, 150, 200, 300 and 400 m3.h–1) using maize cobs, sized wood and saw dust briquettes for ginger drying. The experimental performances show that the hot air temperature inside the dryer vary between 36 to 81ºC for maize cobs, 53 to 85ºC for sized wood and 49 to 87ºC for biomass briquettes at tested air flow rate and fuel consumption rate in the system. The maximum efficiency of the system was found at the fuel consumption rate of 1 kg.h–1 and 400 m3.h–1 air flow rate using maize cobs, sized wood and saw dust briquettes as fuel respectively. The cost of operation of ginger drying at 1 kg.h–1 fuel consumption rate and 400 m3/h air flow rate was Rs. 32.76, 34.26, 34.76 and 55 per hour using maize cobs, sized wood, saw dust briquettes and mechanical drying system, respectively. Hence, the drying of ginger in biomass combustor based dryer using maize cobs at 1 kg.h–1 fuel consumption rate and 400 m3/h air flow rate resulted in better performance.