Description:Field of the invention
[001] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a system and method of drying grains and particularly to a system and method of drying grains using waste heat generated from vehicles.
Description of Related Art
[002] Before being sold in commercial market, every grain of crop goes through a sequential process, first being harvested, inspected, cleaned, dried and packed. If any of these steps is not carried out properly, the grains show infestation or fungal growth leading to wastage of crop and furthermore, the wasted crop leads to financial loss of the farmer and/or the miller who was in charge of trading the grains for money. Additionally, in tropical countries where moisture level is on a higher side, it is very difficult to prevent induction of moisture in the crops and grains. To make sure the grains are properly dried, farmers use driers to dry the crops by bringing the moisture level content to a considerable and suitable level.
[003] However, carrying this process is an expensive affair as the driers need their power supply/energy to operate and it also led to consumption of time, and delay in distribution. This process is easy for large scale farmers as they have sufficient resources to carry out the process of drying, however for small and medium scale farmers it is very uneconomical as they are not very affluent with resources. Still, they carry out the process of drying the grains in sunlight, but this step needs big span of spaces to spread the grains.
[004] Further, there are grain drying apparatus designed and commercially available for drying the harvested grains by removing moisture, some of them are specifically targeted toward small to medium-scale farmers and are also cost-effective. However, the grain drying apparatus needs its source of power and vigilance to achieve an optimal level of dryness.
[005] There is thus a need for a system that can utilize waste heat generated from a vehicle for drying the grains.
SUMMARY
[006] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a system for drying grains using waste heat generated from a vehicle. The system includes a heat exchanger arranged around a heat exhaust of the vehicle, and adapted to heat up a stream of air received from a blower such that the blower is arranged with an engine of the vehicle. The system further includes a dryer drum configured to receive the grains to be dried. The grains are dried by using the hot air received from the heat exchanger through a hot air pipe. The system further includes a moisture sensor arranged in the dryer drum, and configured to sense a level of moisture in the grains during an operation of drying the grains. The system further includes a control unit communicatively connected to the moisture sensor. The control unit is configured to receive the sensed level of moisture in the grains from the moisture sensor. The control unit is further configured to compare the sensed level of moisture with a pre-defined level of moisture. The control unit is further configured to activate an indicator to indicate a user to collect the grains from the dryer drum, when the sensed level of moisture in the grains reaches the pre-defined level.
[007] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention further provide a method of drying grains using waste heat generated from a vehicle. The method comprising steps of: heating up a stream of air received from a blower in a heat exchanger; receiving the grains to be dried in a dryer drum; transmitting the stream of hot air received from the heat exchanger to the dryer drum through a hot air pipe; receiving a sensed level of moisture in the grains from the moisture sensor; comparing the sensed level of moisture with a pre-defined level of moisture; activating an indicator to indicate a user to collect the grains from the dryer drum in a tray, when the sensed level of moisture in the grains reaches the pre-defined level.
[008] Embodiments of the present invention may provide a number of advantages depending on their particular configuration. First, embodiments of the present application provide a system for drying grains using waste heat generated from a vehicle.
[009] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a system for drying grains using waste heat generated from a vehicle that is automated and disregards any human intervention.
[0010] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a system for drying grains using waste heat generated from a vehicle that uses sensors to prevent over-drying and roasting of the grains.
[0011] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a system for drying grains using waste heat generated from a vehicle that is sustainable in a longer run.
[0012] These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
[0013] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram depicting a system for drying grains using waste heat generated from a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a control unit of the system, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0017] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method of drying the grains using the waste heat generated from the vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Optional portions of the figures may be illustrated using dashed or dotted lines, unless the context of usage indicates otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0020] "In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising", "comprises”, and the like (which are synonymous with "including", "having” and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of", “consists essentially of", and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of", "consists of”, the like."
[0021] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram depicting a system 100 for drying grains using waste heat generated from a vehicle (hereinafter referred to as the system 100), according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the system 100 may be an add-on accessory that may be used by a user for drying grains. The system 100 may be designed as such to harvest the wasted heat energy radiated by the vehicle, in an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the system 100 may deploy an autonomous and simultaneous drying process, which means that the user may not need to dry the grains manually instead the system 100 may be installed with the vehicle and as the vehicle may drive, the process of drying of the grains may continue.
[0023] According to embodiments of the present invention, the vehicle on which the system 100 may be installed may be, but not limited to, a combiner, a harvester, a thresher, a truck, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle may be a tractor. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any vehicle on which the system 100 may be installed, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0024] According to embodiments of the present invention, the grains to be dried in the system 100 may be, but not limited to, wheat, maize, jawar, bajra, sesame, mustard, barley, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the grains to be dried in the system 100 may be paddy. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the grains that may be dried in the system 100, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0025] According to embodiments of the present invention, the system 100 may be designed to be used at various places such as, but not limited to, a field, a factory, a farmhouse, a warehouse, a storage house, a granary, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any place where the system 100 may be used for drying the grains. According to embodiments of the present invention, the user may be, but not limited to, a farmer, a worker, a labor, a grain merchant, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any user.
[0026] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the system 100 may comprise a heat exchanger 102, a heat exhaust 104, a blower 106, a dryer drum 108, a hot air pipe 110, a hopper 112, a tray 114, an air outlet 116, a moisture sensor 118, an indicator 120, and a control unit 122.
[0027] In an embodiment of the present invention, the heat exchanger 102 may be arranged around the heat exhaust 104 of the vehicle. The heat exchanger 102 may be adapted to heat up a stream of air received from the blower 106, in an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the heat exchanger 102 may provide an isolated environment to heat up the stream of the air by raising a temperature of the air inside the heat exchanger 102. The temperature inside the heat exchanger 102 may be raised by capturing the waste heat energy radiated by the heat exhaust 104 of the vehicle, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] According to embodiments of the present invention, the heat exchanger 102 may be constructed of any material such as, but not limited to, a plastic material, a metallic material, a Bakelite material, a carbon fiber material, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the heat exchanger 102 may be constructed of a thermally isolated material. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material that may be utilized in the construction of the heat exchanger 102, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0029] According to embodiments of the present invention, the heat exchanger 102 may be constructed of any shape such as, but not limited to, a cubical shape, a cuboidal shape, a pyramidical shape, a frustum shape, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the heat exchanger 102 may be constructed in a cylindrical shape. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any shape of the heat exchanger 102, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0030] In an embodiment of the present invention, the blower 106 may be configured to blow the stream of air inside the heat exchanger 102. The air blown by the blower 106 may be already heated, in an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the blower 106 may receive operational power from an engine of the vehicle. The blower 106 may further receive the operational power from a battery of the vehicle, in another embodiment of the present invention.
[0031] According to embodiments of the present invention, the blower 106 may be of any type such as, but not limited to, a positive displacement blower, a rotary lobe blower, a helical screw blower, a centrifugal blower, a multistage centrifugal blower, a high-speed blower, a regenerative blower, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the blower 106, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0032] In an embodiment of the present invention, the dryer drum 108 may be configured to receive the grains to be dried. The capacity of the dryer drum 108 may be 5 kilograms, in an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the grains inside the dryer drum 108 may continuously be rotated so that each grain may be evenly dried and avoid of being burnt/roasted. The dryer drum 108 may receive the grains to be dried through the hopper 112 arranged at a top-side of the dryer drum 108, in an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the hopper 112 may further be arranged with a lid (not shown) to prevent an entry of any foreign elements into the dryer drum 108. After completion of the process of drying, the grains may be collected in the tray 114 arranged at a bottom of the dryer drum 108, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0033] According to embodiments of the present invention, the dryer drum 108 may be constructed of any material such as, but not limited to, the plastic material, the metallic material, the Bakelite material, the carbon fiber material, the thermally isolated material, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material that may be utilized in the construction of the dryer drum 108, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0034] According to embodiments of the present invention, the dryer drum 108 may be constructed in any shape such as, but not limited to, the cubical shape, the cuboidal shape, the pyramidical shape, the frustum shape, the cylindrical shape, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any shape of the dryer drum 108, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0035] In an embodiment of the present invention, the hot air pipe 110 may be arranged between the heat exchanger 102 and the dryer drum 108. An air pass-through connectivity may be provided by the hot air pipe 110 from the heat exchanger 102 to the dryer drum 108, in an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the air heated and captured inside the heat exchanger 102 may be transmitted through the hot air pipe 110 to the dryer drum 108 for drying of the grains.
[0036] According to embodiments of the present invention, the hot air pipe 110 may be constructed of any material such as, but not limited to, the plastic material, the metallic material, the Bakelite material, the carbon fiber material, the thermally isolated material, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material that may be utilized in the construction of the hot air pipe 110, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0037] In an embodiment of the present invention, the air outlet 116 may be arranged with the dryer drum 108 to release the hot air collected inside the dryer drum 108. Collecting excess hot air inside the dryer drum 108 may lead to an uncontrolled rise in temperature, leading to roasting/burning of the grains, in an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the excess hot air inside the dryer drum 108 may further lead to an increase in internal pressure leading to an explosion of the dryer drum 108. The air outlet 116 may further be provided with a valve to actuate a unidirectional flow of air (from in to out), and prevents opposite direction (from out to in) airflow, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0038] In an embodiment of the present invention, the moisture sensor 118 may be arranged in the dryer drum 108. The moisture sensor 118 may be arranged as such to be in contact with the grains that may be undergoing the operation of drying in the dryer drum 108, in an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the moisture sensor 118 may be configured to sense a level of moisture in the grains while an operation of drying the grains. According to embodiments of the present invention, the moisture sensor 118 may be, but not limited to, a volumetric water content sensor, a TDR sensor, a neutron probe sensor, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the moisture sensor 118, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0039] In an embodiment of the present invention, the indicator 120 may be configured to notify the user to collect the grains when the level of moisture in the grains reaches a pre-defined level. The pre-defined level may be in a range of 10-12 percent of moisture content available in the grains, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. According to embodiments of the present invention, the notification provided by the indicator 120 may be in form of such as, but not limited to, a visual notification, an audible notification, a sensational notification, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any form of notification provided by the indicator 120, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0040] In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 122 may be communicatively connected to the moisture sensor 118. The control unit 122 may be configured to execute computer-executable instructions to generate an output relating to the system 100. According to embodiments of the present invention, the control unit 122 may be, but not limited to, a Programmable Logic Control (PLC) unit, a microprocessor, a development board, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the control unit 122 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. In an embodiment of the present invention, components of the control unit 122 may further be explained in conjunction with FIG. 2.
[0041] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the control unit 122 of the system 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 122 may comprise programming instructions in form of programming modules such as a data receiving module 200, a data comparison module 202, and an indicator activation module 204.
[0042] In an embodiment of the present invention, the data receiving module 200 may be configured to receive the sensed level of moisture in the grains from the moisture sensor 118. The data receiving module 200 may further transmit the received sensed level of moisture to the data comparison module 202, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0043] In an embodiment of the present invention, the data comparison module 202 may be configured to compare the sensed level of moisture with the pre-defined level of moisture. In an embodiment of the present invention, if the sensed level of moisture may be in the range of the pre-defined level, then the data comparison module 202 may generate and transmit an indicator activation signal to the indicator activation module 204, else the data comparison module 202 may enable the data receiving module 200 to continue receiving the sensed level of moisture in the grains from the moisture sensor 118.
[0044] In an embodiment of the present invention, the indicator activation module 204 may be configured to activate the indicator 120 to indicate the user to collect the grains from the dryer drum 108 based on the received indicator activation signal.
[0045] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart for a method 300 of drying the grains using the waste heat generated from the vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0046] At step 302, the system 100 may heat up the stream of air received from the blower 106 in the heat exchanger 102.
[0047] At step 304, the system 100 may receive the grains to be dried in the dryer drum 108.
[0048] At step 306, the system 100 may transmit the stream of the hot air received from the heat exchanger 102 to the dryer drum 108 through the hot air pipe 110.
[0049] At step 308, the system 100 may receive the sensed level of moisture in the grains from the moisture sensor 118.
[0050] At step 310, the system 100 may compare the received sensed level of moisture in the grains with the pre-defined level of moisture. If the sensed level of moisture in the grains is in the range of the pre-defined level of moisture, then the method 300 may proceed to a step 312. Else the method 300 may return to the step 308.
[0051] At the step 312, the system 100 may activate the indicator 120.
[0052] At step 314, the system 100 may enable the user to collect the grains from the tray 114 provided below the dryer drum 108.
[0053] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
[0054] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements within substantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
, Claims:I/We Claim:
1. A system (100) for drying grains using waste heat generated from a vehicle, the system (100) comprising:
a heat exchanger (102) arranged around a heat exhaust (104) of the vehicle, and adapted to heat up a stream of air received from a blower (106) such that the blower (106) is arranged with an engine of the vehicle;
a dryer drum (108) configured to receive the grains to be dried, wherein the grains are dried by using the hot air received from the heat exchanger (102) through a hot air pipe (110);
a moisture sensor (118) arranged in the dryer drum (108), and configured to sense a level of moisture in the grains during an operation of drying the grains; and
a control unit (122) communicatively connected to the moisture sensor (118), and configured to:
receive the sensed level of moisture in the grains from the moisture sensor (118);
compare the sensed level of moisture with a pre-defined level of moisture; and
activate an indicator (120) to indicate a user to collect the grains from the dryer drum (108), when the sensed level of moisture in the grains reaches the pre-defined level.
2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dryer drum (108) receives the grains to be dried through a hopper (112) arranged at a top-side of the dryer drum (108).
3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a capacity of the dryer drum (108) is 5 kilograms.
4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger (102) is of a cylindrical shape.
5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger (102) is made up of a thermally isolated material.
6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pre-defined level is in a range of 10-12 percent of moisture content available in the grains.
7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprises a tray (114) arranged at a bottom of the dryer drum (108) to collect the dried grains.
8. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprises an air outlet (116) arranged with the dryer drum (108) to release the hot air collected inside the dryer drum (108).
9. A method (300) of drying grains using waste heat generated from a vehicle, wherein the method (300) comprising steps of:
heating up a stream of air received from a blower (106) in a heat exchanger (102);
receiving the grains to be dried in a dryer drum (108);
transmitting the stream of hot air received from the heat exchanger (102) to the dryer drum (108) through a hot air pipe (110);
receiving a sensed level of moisture from a moisture sensor (118);
comparing the sensed level of moisture with a pre-defined level of moisture; and
activating an indicator (120) to indicate a user to collect the grains from the dryer drum (108) in a tray (114), when the sensed level of moisture in the grains reaches the pre-defined level.
10. The method (300) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pre-defined level is in a range of 10-12 percent of moisture content available in the grains.
Date: 19th July, 2022
Place: Noida
Nainsi Rastogi
Patent Agent (IN/PA-2372)
Agent for the Applicant