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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Dawson, Georgia » National Peanut Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #82547
Title: A TWO-STAGE BATCH DRYER FOR CURING PEANUTS

Author
item Butts, Christopher - Chris
item OMARY, M - UGA

Submitted to: American Peanut Research and Education Society Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/16/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A two-stage batch peanut dryer developed by a commercial grain dryer manufacturer was tested at a commercial peanut buying point during the 1996 harvest. A 7.3-m diameter grain bin provides the superstructure for two peanut curing chambers. Each chamber had a capacity of approximate 18000 kg of in-shell peanuts. Comparisons between conventional peanut curing wagons and the two-stage dryer were conducted. Recorded data included temperature and relative humidity in both type dryers, drying time, moisture content throughout curing, propane consumption, farmers stock grades, milling quality, and seed germination. A total of twenty-three batches were dried in the bin dryer and thirteen in the conventional dryers. of 0.44%/h. The moisture removal rates for the two dryers were not significantly different and average .43 and 0.45 %/h for conventional and two-stage dryers, respectively. Farmers stock grades and milling quality were not significantly different. The average quota support price, including LSK for peanuts cured in conventional dryers was $671.59/net 1000-kg compared to $671.69/net 1000-kg peanuts cured in the two-stage dryer. Seed germination averaged 78.4 and 80.2% for conventional and bin-dried peanuts, respectively. Mechanical problems maintaining lot identity in the two-stage dryer were encountered. Design modifications will be tested during the 1997 peanut harvest.