Philippine Journal of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
ISSN-0119-7312
The Philippine Journal of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering is published annually by the Agricultural Mechanization Development Program, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology, University of the Philippines Los Banos
The PJABE is a refereed journal which aims to serve as a national venue for the dissemination of information on recent research and development in the field of agricultural and biosystems engineering.
Design, Fabrication and Evaluation of a Direct-Fired Corncob Furnace for Corn Drying
ABSTRACT
The performance of a fabricated direct-fired corncob furnace was evaluated to determine best combinations of operating parameters involving fuel feed rate, combustion air, and fuel size. The furnace had the following components: hopper; rotary feeder; variable motor; inclined grate; and horizontal grate. The furnace wall was made up of cement and red volcanic cinder.
Result showed no trend from the computed burning efficiency when the fuel feed rate was varied. All the levels of combustion air and fuel size significantly affect the burning efficiency of the furnace. All levels of the independent parameters revealed significant differences in the furnace efficiency. In terms of furnace capacity, all independent parameters revealed no significant differences.
Theoretically, the furnace can supply the required energy needed for the two-ton flat bed dryer to dry corn grains from 28% to 12% moisture content for 8 hours of operation. Fuel feed rate of 15 kg/hr with 3300 cubic meter per hour combustion air and fuel size >2.5 cm is the best operating condition to operate with high furnace efficiency. The average computed furnace efficiency for this operating condition is 89%.
Keywords: direct-fired corncob furnace, fuel feed rate, combustion air, and fuel size
Instructor, College of Engineering, Nueva Vizcaya State University, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines; Associate Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor, College of Engineering & Agro-Industrial Technology, University of the Philippines Los Banos, Philippines.
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The Managing Editor
AMDP, IAE, CEAT
University of the Philippines Los Banos
College, Laguna 4031 Philippines
e-mail address: mariavictorialarona@yahoo.com
