Design modification of biomass-fed copra dryer / Raymond Russel O. Lacambra.

Thesis BSAE University of Rizal System - Tanay 2020

Includes bibliographical references

The study was conducted to modify the design and evaluate the performance of biomass-fed copra dryer The modified biomass-fed copra dryer is a fix type dryer composed of the following components: furnace chamber, exhaust vent, drying chamber, and heat exchanger. The modified biomass-fed copra dryer has overall length and width of 350 cm X 180 cm. The performance of the dryer was tested using different drying periods of 18 hrs, 24 hrs and 36 hrs. The copra was dried from the initial moisture content of 41.10 % to safe moisture content of 12 %. The appearance of the dried copra using modified biomass fed copra dryer is clean and white. The quality of copra dried at 24 hrs based on percent free fatty acid and extraneous matter is rated as Grade 1, however, final moisture content and inferior copra, the copra is rated as Grade 3. The most economical drying period was the 24 hrs of drying with a net income of ₱ 9,225.25. The cost of drying is ₱ 1.15 per nut and the return on investment is 13 % and payback period of 1.54 years.