Biomass Logistics and Particle Technology Group Development of Purdue Improved Drying Stove (PIDS) for Grain Drying Klein E. Ileleji, PhD. Associate Professor.

Biomass Logistics and Particle Technology Group

Development of Purdue Improved Drying Stove (PIDS) for Grain Drying

Klein E. Ileleji, PhD.

Associate Professor & Extension Engineer

Associate Prof. Mechanical Engineering (by courtesy)

Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department

Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

Project Team Purdue University: Klein Ileleji (PD), Mohan Dutta, Titilayo Okoror,

Corinne Alexander and Jacob Ricker-Gilbert (PIDS Development) Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

(KNUST), Kumasi: Ahmad Addo, Komla Dzisi, Ato Bart-Plange (PIDS Testing in Ghana)

CSIR-Food Research Institute, Accra: Kwame Vowotor, Kafui Kpodo (Mycotoxin and Pest Mgt. Impact Assessment)

Project in-country coordinator: Kwabena Adu-gyamfi Other Collaborators and stakeholders:

USDA-FAS George Opit, OSU and Sam McNeill, UK (Rice Husk Ash as

Grain Protectant) ACDI/VOCA ADVANCE Project Ghana Grains Council


Acknowledgements

Acknowledge Purdue Global Food Security

Initiative and Global Policy Research Institute

(GPRI) for providing the seed funding for this

project

Problem Statement During fact finding visit (USDA-FAS Project)

in October 2010, drying was identified as a major problem affecting the ability of farmers to maintain quality of grain in storage.

Farmers primarily depended on open air solar drying after harvesting high-moisture grain during the major season when harvest occurs and the minor season rains begin.

Grain Drying Challenges in the Humid Tropics

High post-harvest losses (PHL) from improperly dried grains.

Health problems related to aflatoxin contamination.

The yield potential in grain is inhibited by high PHL.

No alternative technology to sun drying yet available.

Exploratory Research Trip in August When: August 6 to 12, 2011 Who was involved at Purdue:

Klein Ileleji, Ag. & Biological Engineering Corinne Alexander, Ag. Economics Titilayo Okoror, Public Health

Goal: Collect data from target community using culture-centered approach (CCA) to problem solving, understand and affirm that the problem targeted is accurate, meet with project partners and potential collaborators.

Open Air Solar Drying of Maize in Ejura Market, Ghana

Are Purdue professors playing in corn being dried or helping Out?

A pile of ear corn waiting to be shelled and dried in Ejura

Commercial Drying Site in Techiman

Focus Group Discussion with Farmers in Ejura


Outcome of trip Successfully conducted focus group

sessions at two locations, Techiman in Brong-Ahafo region and Ejura in Ashanti region with a total of 72 participants (Traders, Farmers and Extension workers)

Collected 10 hours of audio data from focus groups.

Met with our stakeholders Confirmed that we are on the right track

Outcome of Trip Received good feedback from agencies:

KNUST and CSIR-FPI are on board with project goals. UN WFP and IFAD interested in PIDS technology and

will support. ACDI-VOCA ADVANCE: Interested and will support USAID Ghana: Interested and will support

The big questions was PIDS performance which needs to be proven by extensive testing – quality degradation of corn from smoke and soot were raised

Outcome of Trip We ascertained that drying is a major bottleneck in the

grain value chain which affects: Post-harvest losses Grain quality and health Grain productivity Income generation Lifelihood

Data is currently being transcribed from Twi language to English and will be analyzed further


Some results of focus group survey compiled by:Corrine Alexander, PhD.

Michael Jones, MS.

Agricultural Economics Department

Survey of Traders, Farmers and Extension Agents (n=72)

Demographic Average or PercentageAge 46.2Male 79.2%Female 20.8%Married 86.1%Children 91.7%Have Farmland 93.0%Farm Size (hectares) 23.13Farm Size (hectares; median) 4.52% Land for Maize Production 67.0%How long maize lasts (months) 7.3Purchasing Maize 17.4%

How is Maize Dried?

Maize Drying* Farmers Traders Extension

Sun 94% 65% 85%

Machine drying/Dryer 0% 35% 0%

Crib 6% 0% 5%

Keep more days before harvest

0% 0% 5%

Air dry at barn 3% 0% 0%

Drying floor 0% 0% 5%

*Can sum to more than 100% because some use more than one drying method.

How is Maize Dryness Determined?

Moisture Test* Farmers Traders Extension

Teeth 51% 50% 82%

Sound 32% 28% 29%

Hands 16% 11% 24%

Moisture meter/ Machine determines/ Instrument

0% 28% 11%

Leaves turn yellowish 3% 0% 0%

Whole plant becomes dry 0% 0% 6%

Cobs brown/ upside down 6% 0% 0%

Color 3% 0% 0%

*Can sum to more than 100% because some use more than one test.


Objectives

Develop a low-cost grain dryer which will be

integrated into the existing homestead cooking

stove for simultaneous cooking and drying of

maize.

Agro-Ecological Zones in Ghana

WETTER

DRYER

Source: WFP

Major focus area for technology development and demonstration are Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions of Ghana

Focus on pilot study in Ghana


PIDS Concept and Testing

Acknowledge Undergraduate Researchers:Nathaniel Bergman (ME, DURI Intern)Rachel Sinders (ME, DURI Intern)Megan Shafer (ME, DURI Intern)Zane Graper (ABE, DURI Intern)Jinhyun Kim (CHE, Special Project)


Homestead grain granary Internal structure


Opportunities for an Improved Stove


PIDS Holistic Concept

Dry with biomass ag. residues (target 80% of fuel needs)

Target drying entire corn harvested within one week

Use rice husk ash as grain protectant from insects

Store dry grain using PICS technology

PIDS Technology (PIDS-I Prototype)

• PIDS technology combines an efficient cooking stove and crop dryer in one unit.

• PIDS concept is an indigenous idea which has been optimized with engineering.

• PIDS can utilize corn cobs as fuel to reduce drying energy and save firewood use.

• PIDS will enable PICS to be used for other grains grown in the humid tropics.


Drying rates of corn at target temperatures(Using convective air-oven tests)

PIDS Testings Evaluate heat distribution and determine maximum temperature

rise. Targeting 70oC (158oF) drying temperature. Determined dryer capacity and drying rate Tested two types of fuels (wood and corn cobs) Determined corn drying rate using lab study Understand how to control smoke and flame Evaluate corn quality (by smell and product quality) Evaluate particulate release Evaluate energy utilization and efficiency Redesign PIDS-I Prototype Document dryer operation


Data collection during tests Temperatures in each

heating chamber, heat transfer plenum, fire box and ambient

Determined drying chamber capacity

Determined drying rate for a 2 ha farm


Temperature Distribution Data in PIDS-I in Heat Transfer Plenum


Temperature Distribution Data in PIDS-I in Drying Tray


Some major findings• Smoke and coloring from soot is a problem• Achieved the minimum target temperature of

60˚C in Chambers 1 and 2• Heat loss was a problem• Need to understand the use of different

biomass fuels• Wind can be a problem during operation• Need to work on modeling using CFD to

understand heat transfer dynamics


Yes, you’re right, PIDS make great hot dogs!

Questions?

Biomass Logistics and Particle Technology Group Development of Purdue Improved Drying Stove (PIDS) for Grain Drying Klein E. Ileleji, PhD. Associate Professor.

Documents

project slide

ghana slide

ejura slide

techiman slide

indiana slide

pids technology

drying stove pids

project team purdue