DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT FOR THE MODIFICATION OF A

FLAT-BED RICE DRYER

A Project Study
Presented to
The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Department
College of Engineering
TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
Manila

In Partial Fulfillment
of the Course Requirements for the Degree of
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Fronda, Paul Jhon O.

Natulan, Joan Mae F.
Ramirez, Jesus Carlo R.
Tabora, Amado Jr. G.
Zamora, Joshua Mar M.

March 2019
 APPROVAL SHEET

The project study entitled, DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT FOR THE

MODIFICATION OF FLAT-BED RICE DRYER prepared and submitted by
FRONDA, Paul Jhon O., NATULAN, Joan Mae F., RAMIREZ, Jesus Carlo R.,
TABORA, Amado Jr. G., and ZAMORA, Joshua Mar M. in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING is hereby approved and accepted.
[

Approved by:

ENGR. BENEDICTO N. FORTALEZA

Adviser

DR. MARIO REGINO M. NORBE ENGR. ROAN N. MAMBA

Panel Member Panel Member

ENGR. NELSON D. DELA PEÑA JR. DR. RONALDO A. JUANATAS

Panel Member Panel Member

ENGR. JORGE B. YASAY

Chairman

Accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING.

ENGR. EDWIN G. MACALINTAL ENGR. BENEDICTO N. FORTALEZA

Department Head College Dean
To our Families...

To our Friends...

To our Professors...

To Ourselves...

And to God...

iii
 Acknowledgement

It is a pleasure to acknowledge those who helped for the completion of our project

study. This research would not be successful without the help and support of various

individuals, so the researchers would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the people

who have been part in the completion of this project.

First and foremost, to our Almighty God, He who has given us the knowledge,

blessing, wisdom and strength. Without Him, we couldn’t achieve anything.

To our loving parents who are always there to help and support us morally and

financially. This project could have been impossible without them. Their hard work for

us had been our inspiration throughout.

To our adviser, the Dean of College of Engineering, Engr. Benedicto N. Fortaleza

for sharing his time, idea and knowledge for the development of our project. We are

thankful for his time and effort in our project.

To our panel advisers, Dr. Ronaldo A. Juanatas, Dr. Mario Regino M. Norbe,

Engr. Roan N. Mamba, and Engr. Nelson D. Dela Peña Jr. in sharing their ideas for the

improvement of our project. We are thankful they make time for us despite their busy

schedule.

To Engr. Jorge B. Yasay, for his guidance and assistance throughout our project

development. Your guidance helps us to further improve our project.

To Mr. Amado Fronda, for letting us build the Modified Flat-Bed Dryer in his

backyard and tending us in our whole stay in Cagayan. We are sincerely thankful for all

the help that you’ve given us.

The Authors

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 ABSTRACT

This study was primarily focused on the Design and Development for the

Modification of a Flat-Bed Rice Dryer.

This project was conducted to achieved the elimination of manual mixing of rice

paddy, reduce the unwanted smell that the rice paddy gains during drying and lessen the

drying time in comparison with sun drying and conventional flat-bed rice dryer. The

modified flat-bed rice dryer had a mixing mechanism that mechanically mixes the rice

and it also utilized equal distribution of conduction to dry the rice paddy.

The proponents incorporated these features to address the problem observed with

the existing flat-bed rice dryer: a mechanized mixer, which replaces human labor in

mixing the rice and aluminum plate for the drying bed for heat transfer and insulation.

Testing the developed prototype reveals the following findings:

The developed prototype can accommodate 15 cavans of rice paddy per batch and

can dry a rice paddy in less than an hour difference compared to the existing flat-bed rice

dryer. The drying time using the prototype when tested was 12 hours for the 15 cavans of

rice paddy with final moisture content of 12%. It had removed an average of 24.44%

moisture content in three hours. Also, the rate of return was 1.1 years for the modified

flat-bed rice dryer because of less capital used and less consumed time in drying

operation conserving fuel and labor. Overall the dryer worked well and functioned

according to its intended use and purpose development.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page ……………………………………………………… i
Approval Sheet ……………………………………………………… ii
Dedication ………………………………………………………. iii
Acknowledgement ……………………………………………………… iv
Abstract ………………………………………………………. v
Table of Contents ………………………………………………………. vi
List of Tables ……………………………………………………… viii
List of Figures ………………………………………………………. ix

CHAPTER 1 THE PROBLEM AND IT’S BACKGROUND

1.1 Introduction ………………………………… 1
1.2 Background of the Study ………………………………… 2
1.3 Statement of the Problem ………………………………… 3
1.4 Objectives .………………………………… 5
1.5 Conceptual Framework ………………………………… 6
1.6 Scope and Limitations ………………………………… 7
1.7 Significance of the Study ………………………………… 7

CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

2.1 Related Literature ………………………………… 8
2.2 Related Studies ………………………………… 22

CHAPTER 3 METHDOLOGY
3.1 Research Design ………………………………… 24
3.2 Project Development ………………………………… 25
3.3 Project Design ………………………………… 26
3.4 Research and Development Phase……………………………… 26
3.4.1 Preliminary Investigation Phase……………………… 26
3.4.2 Problem Analysis ………………………………… 27
3.4.3 Researches ………………………………… 27
3.4.4 Initial Design Phase ………………………………… 28
3.4.5 Materials ………………………………… 28
3.4.6 Fabrication ………………………………… 29
3.4.7 Testing ………………………………… 30
3.4.8 Final Modification Phase……………………………… 30

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 3.4.9 Instruments and Technique Used……………………... 31
3.4.10 Operation and Testing Procedure…………………… 34
3.4.11 Evaluation Criteria ………………………………. 36

CHAPTER 4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Technical Description of the Project............................................ 38
4.2 Technical Structure of the Project……………………………… 39
4.3 Prototype Capabilities and Restriction......................................... 43
4.4 Prototype Testing and Evaluation................................................. 43
4.4.1 Prototype Testing ………………………………. 44
4.5 Economical Comparison ................................................. 52

CHAPTER 5 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION, &

RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary of Findings ................................................ 54
5.2 Conclusions ................................................ 55
5.3 Recommandations ................................................ 56

References ……………………………………………………… 57
Appendices ……………………………………………………… 59
Appendix A Definition of Terms ...................................................................... 60
Appendix B Bill of Materials ..................................................................... 63
Appendix C Computation ...................................................................... 66
Appendix D Technical Drawing ..................................................................... 85
Appendix E Documentation ..................................................................... 105
Appendix F Members Profile ..................................................................... 116
Appendix G Survey ..................................................................... 122

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 List of Tables

Table Title Page

Table 2.1.1 Table for storage period to avoid potential problems 12

Table 2.1.2 Summary of Target Moisture Content 13
Table 3.4.9 Community Needs Assessment 33
Table 3.4.11 Evaluation Table Template for Modified Flat-Bed Dryer 36
Table 3.4.11b Survey - Evaluation Template for the Modified Prototype Rice 37
dryer
Table 4.4.1a Evaluation Table for Existing Flat-Bed Dryer First Trial (Dry 44
Run)
Table 4.4.1b Evaluation Table for Existing Flat-Bed Dryer Second Trial 45
Table 4.4.1c Evaluation Table for Modified Flat-Bed Dryer First Trial 46
Table 4.4.1d Comparison of Percent Reduction in Moisture Content 47
Table 4.4.2a Evaluation-Survey for Modified Flat-bed dryer 48
Table 4.4.2b Evaluation-Survey for Regular/Existing Flat-bed dryer 49
Table 4.4.2c Survey - Evaluation Summary of Results 50
Table 4.4.2d Evaluation-Survey for Community Needs Assessment 51
Table 4.5a Summary of Operating Cost and Annual Profit 52
Table 4.5b Summary of Rate of Return and Payback Period 53

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 List of Figures

Figure Title Page

Figure 1 Flat-bed dryer in Brgy. Pury, Quezon 3

Figure 1.5 Conceptual Framework 6
Figure 2.1.1 Fixed Bed Dryer 14
Figure 2.1.2 Re – Circulating Batch Dryer 17
Figure 2.1.2a Re – Circulation Airflow 17
Figure 2.1.2b Re-circulating Batch Dryer 18
Figure 2.1.3 Conventional Continuous Flow Dryer 19
Figure 2.2 UPLB Flat-bed dryer 23
Figure 3.2 Design Flow Chart 25
Figure 3.4.9a Digital Grain Moisture with probe tester 31
Figure 3.4.9b Temperature gauge 32
Figure 3.4.9c Relative Humidity Tester 32
Figure 4.2.1a Ducting (Drying Bin) 39
Figure 4.2.1b Ducting (Furnace) 39
Figure 4.2.2 Furnace 40
Figure 4.2.3 Engine and Dynamo 41
Figure 4.2.4 Tube Axial Fan 41
Figure 4.2.5 Mixing Mechanism Assembly 42
Figure 4.2.6 Tiller 43
Figure 4.4.1 Percent Moisture Reduction vs Drying Time Graph 47
Figure D-1 Dryer Assembly 85
Figure D-1.1 Dryer Assembly 86
FigureD-1.2 Dryer Assembly 87
Figure D-2 Dryer Assembly Half Section 88
Figure D-2.1 Dryer Assembly Half Section 89
Figure D-3 Drying Chamber 90
Figure D-4 Furnace 91
Figure D-5 Furnace Assembly - Half Section 92
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Figure D-6 Ash Bin 93
Figure D-7 Ducting (Furnace Side) 94
Figure D-8: Ducting (Drying Chamber Side) 95
Figure D-9 .Grate 96
Figure D-10 Hopper 97
FigureD-11 Tiller Mechanism 98
FigureD-11.1 Tiller 99
Figure D-12 Electric Motor and Gearbox Assembly 100
Figure D-13 Dynamo, Engine, and Fan Assembly 101
FigureD-14 Heat Flow 102
FigureD-14.1 Heat Flow 103
Figure D-15 Heat Flow from Furnace to Drying Bin 104