Tomohiko Ichikawa

Development of Grain Dryer Using Far-Infrared Radiation Yasuyuki

We developed a far-infrared radiation (FIR )grain dryer , with the FIR body built into a recirculating dryer that is used widely in Japan. This dryer converted thermal energy into FIR by heating a FIR body with a kerosene burner. Furthermore, exhaust heat was reused to increase drying efficiency. Using this method, we reduced electricity consumption by 30% and kerosene consumption by 10%, compared with heated-air (HA) dryers. Because the kerosene was burned in the FIR body with a burner, combustion noise was low. The germination rate was not decreased by FIR. The increase of cracking rate of rice was satisfactory at 2% or less. Rice dried by FIR had more viscosity and palatability has become good. The 34,000 FIR dryers produced in the project were distributed among individual farmers in Japan.