Diseño y construcción de un deshidratador de maíz mediante radiación solar para los productores del cantón Cevallos

Abstract

This project arises from the problems that exist for producers in the Cevallos canton during the corn dehydration process, a process in which they manipulate the corn outdoors, exposing it to the growth of bacteria or possible germination; Therefore, they require the dehydration process for conservation, consumption and seed. In the province of Tungurahua there is a global average of solar insolation that was used as an energy resource, a corn dehydrator was designed and built, information was taken that allowed determining the parameters for the design, using the INEN 2050:95 standard; The CONELEC solar map and the INHAMI meteorological station revealed the amount of global irradiation and the peak solar time; The selection of materials was carried out based on efficiency, budget and operating conditions, presenting the tunnel-type dehydrator. Using simulation and design software, the behavior of the components that are part of the heat transfer was presented. From the dimensions obtained, the dehydrator was built, with a capacity of 10 kg considering that the humidity must be reduced to 14 percent for 3.45 days. As a result, an operation and maintenance manual was created, providing added value to the production, storage and transportation chain of corn according to the level of impurities and humidity that govern the quality and price of the product in its future commercialization.