Costs of intermittent drying corn grains subjected to three temperatures of drying air (60, 70 e 80°C)

Abstract

This study was performed to evaluate fuel consumption and costs of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and electricity in the intermittent dry in gof grains, comparing three temperatures of drying air. The grains were derived from experimental farm of the Experimental Station of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, and dry until moisture content of about 13% using intermittent drying with the use of LPG at temperatures of 60, 70 and 80°C. We evaluated costs and time consumption, unit and total for the LPG fuel. Were also evaluated for total consumption and electricity cost per bag, beyond the total cost of drying for all treatments. The intermittent drying of grain at an air temperature of 80°C had the highest drying rate and the lowest total time of drying. The total cost of LPG and time and total cost of intermittent drying of grains per bag on drying was less than 70°C. The drying air temperature of 80°C has high work efficiency, while the drying air temperature of 70°C showed greater economic efficiency.