DEVElOPMEN OF APPROPRIATE INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PALM KERNEL NUTS DRIER

Abstract

A cabinet drier with dimensions 0.82m x O.4Sm x 0.S2m, having four trays and capable of drying 4kg of palm kernel per hour was constructed. Using electrical heating, hot air is produced and allowed to flow through the product in order to remove the moisture. The drier is heavily lagged to conserve heat. Type k thermocouple was constructed and used to monitor the temperature. The electronic instrumentation section of the drier has a digital display unit that allows the temperature of the drying chamber to be read. A control circuit for regulating and presetting the temperature of the drier was also developed. This permits the temperature of the drying chamber to be fixed between ambient temperature and 100°C. This drier was found to work satisfactorily, achieving complete drying of the nuts within the temperature range of 800C to 1000C under 60minutes of its operation without discoloration of the kernels or the resultant extracted oil. It is also suitable for drying several agricultural products under varying temperature condition.