Drying of oilseeds

Drying of oilseeds is a post harvest operation required for safe storage of harvested seeds. Oilseeds have gained importance in India over the last fe w years. Fluidized bed (FB) drying and Spouted Bed (SB) drying of oilseeds were studied as potential dryers for these seeds. Experimental pilot fluidi zed bed dryers were developed and a 2 TPH capacity (mustard seed) FB dryer plant was designed and installed in the lab. Experimental units and a pilot spouted bed dryer were also developed. The dryer units and the plant have been extensively tested and satisfactory drying performance has been achiev ed. Drying data and drying characteristics have been generated for differen t oilseeds such as mustard. sunflower, soybean and groundnut etc. The dryin g rates in different regimes of drying characterized by constant rate and f alling rate periods have been evaluated. The salient results of the work ar e briefly outlined.