JPS6391482A - Cereal drier operation controller - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an apparatus for operating a grain dryer, and particularly for operating a grain dryer by comparing the moisture content of grain with a preset target moisture content. The present invention also relates to a grain drying m operation control device that stops the grain dryer when the grain reaches a predetermined dry state.

[Prior art] The temperature of the hot air supplied to the grain dryer is controlled in the initial state by drying with a high or low temperature and a large air volume, and in the late stage of drying, the control is switched to a low or high temperature with a small air volume. Prevents overdrying.

In addition, in this grain dryer, the moisture content of the grain at the end of drying is set before drying starts using hot air supply, and the moisture content is automatically measured by periodically sampling the grain with a moisture meter.
When the moisture content falls below the set value, the dryer automatically stops drying. Furthermore, it is also possible to operate the machine for a predetermined period of time using a timer and automatically stop it after the elapse of the predetermined time. The moisture content of the grains is also measured at appropriate times during operation using this timer.

Here, after the moisture content of the grain reaches a set value or after the dryer is automatically stopped by a timer, the dryer is conventionally restarted at the discretion of the operator depending on the drying progress.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] For this reason, the grain is overdried due to inappropriate re-drying, which causes poor finish such as cracking of the grain.

For example, poor finishing of grain due to re-drying can include variations in the measured moisture content within a predetermined range (display unevenness) that occurs when the dryer is stopped for +h when the measured moisture content of the grain matches the target moisture content. .

Furthermore, the moisture content of the grain may change depending on the temperature and humidity of the outside air when the grain is finished, and unless these factors are taken into consideration, it will be difficult to determine whether the dryer needs to be restarted.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above facts, and an object of the present invention is to provide a grain dryer operation control device that can determine whether or not to restart the dryer after it has been stopped and can prevent overdrying.

[Means for solving the problems] Grain outcome according to the present invention! jI1. JJ! The control device is a grain dryer operation control device that operates the grain dryer and stops the grain dryer when the grain reaches a predetermined drying state, and includes a detection device that detects grain drying progress data. a determining means for determining whether re-drying of the grain is appropriate based on the drying progress data of the grain, and a display means for displaying the determination result of the determining means.

[Operation] The dryer continues to operate while periodically measuring the moisture content of the grain. The drying capacity of the dryer is initially set at maximum output, but the output is reduced depending on the drying condition of the grain to prevent overdrying.

In this dryer, operation is automatically stopped when the grain reaches a predetermined dry state. Here, in the present invention, this operation progress data is detected, and based on this detection result, the suitability of grain re-drying is determined and displayed. This display may be displayed when the dryer is automatically stopped or during operation, and the operator can confirm whether or not the dryer needs to be re-dried after checking this display. Therefore, for example, depending on this display, it is possible to predict changes in moisture content due to leaving the grains unattended, and the degree of overdrying of the grains due to re-drying.

Further, the display may be such that the drying progress data is directly displayed as a numerical value or a lamp or the like may be turned on or blinked when the drying progress data exceeds a predetermined value.

(Description of Embodiments) The detection means detects the drying loss rate corresponding to the grain drying speed, the fluctuation range of the measured moisture content with respect to the appropriate turning state of the grain, and the temperature and humidity of the outside air at the time of grain finishing, and the determination means The suitability of re-drying the grains is determined by the re-drying suitability rate calculated based on the detection result of the detection means.

The re-drying suitability rate R is expressed by a function f of the drying loss rate m, the swing width r, the finishing temperature te, and the humidity he.

As shown in Section 4 [1], the drying rate m is determined by the slope b/a of the change in moisture content of the grain, and the larger the value of this slope b/a, the faster the heating can be determined. Therefore, the slope b
The larger /a is, the less suitable it is for re-drying.

The swing width r indicates the variation in the measured grain moisture content values (bottle marks) in Figure 4. That is, the continuous curve is the average value of the measured values, and by comparing this with the measured values, the swing amplitude r is determined. Therefore, if the swing width r is large, there is a high probability that the dryer contains a large amount of undried grain when the drying stops +h, and it is necessary to re-dry the grain.

Next, the finishing temperature te and humidity he indicate the temperature and humidity of the outside air, and if the temperature te is high, the grains may be dried and are not suitable for re-drying. Also, if the humidity is high, the grains may absorb moisture and need to be re-dried.

In this way, for example, by determining the re-drying suitability rate R based on four types of drying progress data, it is possible to prevent finishing errors such as over-drying of grains, and to perform the re-drying operation of the dryer at an appropriate time. .

Note that the dryer may be operated after a predetermined time period calculated from the moisture content of the grain before drying and the drying capacity (timer control), or the moisture content of the grain may be measured at appropriate times during grain drying and this measured value may be used. matches the target moisture content (comparison control l
), it is determined that the grain is in a predetermined dry state and the operation is stopped. This timer control and comparison control can also be used together.

[Example] FIG. 1 shows an example of a circulating grain dryer 10 to which the present invention is applied.

This circulating grain dryer 10 includes an upper storage section 12 and a lower drying section 14. A flow path 16 partitioned by a net-like wall surface is formed in the drying section 14, and a flow path 16 is formed in the drying section 14.
of grain is allowed to flow down. Hot air chambers 18. are arranged alternately between adjacent flow passages 16. A ventilation chamber 20 is formed.

Hot air is sent to the hot air chamber 18 by a burner and a suction fan (not shown) that are activated by operating the power switch 23, work selection switch 31, and operation switch 21 on the operation panel 19 shown in FIG. Downstream path 16
It is configured to flow through the air to the exhaust chamber 20 side. The operating time of the burner, suction fan, etc. can be set to a desired time using the program type setting section 25. Further, the temperature of the hot air in the drying section can be set using the temperature setting knob 27, and the temperature of the hot air is measured by a hot air temperature sensor (not shown) installed in the dryer 10, and the hot air is controlled by comparing the set temperature and the measured temperature. The temperature can be maintained almost constant. This hot air causes the flow path 16
The grain inside is dried. Also, on the side of the dryer, a JD b is connected to the microcomputer 38 via an A/D converter 50.
A temperature sensor 52 is provided to measure the temperature of the outside air. Note that a humidity sensor 54 is also disposed near the temperature sensor 52 to measure the humidity of the outside air, and its value is supplied to the microcomputer 38 via an A/D converter 56.

A stop switch 29 is arranged in parallel near the operation switch 21, and the dryer LO can be stopped by operating this stop switch 21. In this case, the initial stage for operating the dryer 10 is All data (grain moisture content, hot air temperature, humidity, etc.) will be reset.

A rotary valve 22 is disposed near the opening at the lower end of the flow path 16 to allow dried grains to fall into a lower hopper 24. A screw conveyor 26 is provided at the bottom of the lower hopper 24 to supply grain to the lower part of a packet conveyor 28. This grain is lifted above the storage section 12 by a packet conveyor 28 and dropped into a rotary equalizer 30.11. The grains in the rotary equalizer 307 fall into the storage section 12 under the influence of centrifugal force, and the upper surface of the accumulated grains has a mortar shape. That is, the grains are wU-ringed at regular intervals. Proper unit of grain @
The cycle time varies depending on the type of grain and the amount of grain to be loaded, and the grain changeover switch 33 allows the interval between circulation surfaces to be set according to the grain to be dried.

Note that the grain filling amount corresponds to the temperature setting knob 27.

A moisture content detection device 32 is disposed at the bottom of the packet conveyor 28, and when the packet main body 28A is turned over to scoop up the grain, a part of the grain is guided into the moisture content detection device 32, and the moisture content Gi is detected. It is now possible to do so.

The moisture content detection device 32 measures the moisture content Gi of the sampled grains at predetermined time intervals (one hour in this embodiment) and sends the values to a microcomputer 38 (see FIG. 1) via an A/D converter 36. (see).

The grain moisture content at the end of drying to stop the dryer IO, that is, the target moisture content setting value Ga, is set using the moisture content setting knob 3.
6, and the set value is supplied to the microcomputer 38. The microcomputer 38 performs drying when the target rootstock P setting value Ga and the moisture content Gi of the grain match. 1.1
0 is stopped and the moisture content Gi of the grain at the time of this stop F is stored.

Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the microcomputer 38 calculates a set value Gb that is slightly higher than the target moisture content Ga, and when the moisture content Gi of the grain exceeds this set value Gb, the sampling interval is set to 20 minutes. It is now possible to do so. The microcomputer 38 outputs the moisture content to the display 42 via the driver 40. The display 42 retains and displays the previous display value until the next display value is supplied. The 0 display 42 can also display hot air temperature, etc. by operating a changeover switch 43.

Further, the display 42 is configured to display the re-drying suitability rate R while the dryer 10 is in operation or after the dryer 10 is stopped by operating the changeover switch 43.

The redrying suitability rate R is expressed as a function of the drying loss rate m, the swing width r, the finishing temperature te, and the humidity he, as shown in the following formula.

R=f (m, r, te, he) For example, if the drying rate m (slope b/a in Figure 4) is large, the slope of the curve will be large, and the dryer will dry the grain by rapid heating. The value of the re-drying suitability rate R is set to be high.

In addition, the re-drying suitability rate R increases in proportion to the outside air temperature te at the time of finishing, and the variation in moisture content measurement @r
And it becomes smaller in inverse proportion to the outside air humidity he at the time of finishing. That is, in this embodiment, the re-drying suitability rate R is a value that increases as the risk of re-drying increases, and can also be referred to as the re-drying risk rate.

Here, a dryer restart switch 44 is installed in the dryer 10, and the operation of the dryer 10 is restarted by pressing the restart switch 44 after the dryer is stopped. Further, the dryer 10 is configured such that even when the target moisture content is changed by operating the moisture content setting knob 36, the operation of the dryer is restarted.

This restart of the dryer 10 is restarted based on the moisture content of the grain stored at the time of the operation stop, and the burner output is set to be equivalent to the output when the dryer was stopped based on this moisture content. It is designed to be ignited by output (small air volume at low or high temperature).

The operation of this embodiment will be explained below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the power switch 23 is turned on and the work selection switch 31 is in the drying position, first, in step 100, the on/off state of the operation switch 21 is determined. When the operation switch is turned on, data such as the moisture content of the grain, the temperature and humidity inside the dryer 10 are initialized in step 101. Next, the dryer operating time is read in step 102, and then set in step 103. Read the target moisture content Ga. Once these readings are completed, step 1
The process advances to 04 and drying operation is started. Here, step 1
When the drying operation is started at 04, the operation is continued until there is an instruction to stop the operation.

Figure 4 shows an example of grain drying control conditions.
If the water content is much larger than the measured value Ga, the water content is measured by sampling every hour. When the moisture content is below Gb, to prevent overdrying,
The moisture content is measured at short time intervals, for example every 20 minutes.

In the early stages of operation of the dryer 10, the hot air is supplied with a large amount of high temperature or low temperature, and in the later stages of operation, the hot air is supplied with a small amount of air with low or high temperatures. Therefore, overdrying of the grains is prevented and the moisture content Gi of the grains can be easily brought to approximately ] ] standard water content a.

Next, while this dry explosion slow rotation state is continued, the process moves to step 106 and the moisture content Gi of the grain is read every time the moisture content is measured by the moisture content detection device 32, and the process moves to step 108.

In step 108, it is determined whether the time set in step 100 has arrived, and if the set time has not been reached, step 1
10, the target water content Ga and the constant water content Gi of ΔI11 are compared. Further, if it is determined in step 10B that the set time has elapsed, the process moves to step 120. Further, when the moisture content Gi of the grain reaches the target moisture content Ga in step 110, the process also moves to step 120.

If the grain moisture content Gi has not reached the target moisture content Ga in step 110, the process moves to step 112, where display control is performed, and then the process moves to step 114.

As shown in FIG. 5, the display control routine in step 112 begins with step 200, in which the display changeover switch 43 is
Read the contact position of , and based on this, step 202
It is determined whether or not the moisture content is displayed. If the moisture content is to be displayed in step 202, the process proceeds to step 204, and if the temperature is to be displayed, the process proceeds to step 206, where the temperature of the hot air is displayed on the display 42, and the process returns to the main routine with this display continued.

In step 204, it is determined whether or not to display the redrying suitability rate R. If the redrying suitability rate R does not need to be displayed, the process moves to step 208, where only the moisture content of the grain is displayed on the display 42, and this display is not performed. Return to the main routine in a continued state.

If it is determined in step 206 that the redrying suitability rate should be displayed, the process moves to step 210, where the moisture content and the redrying suitability rate are alternately displayed, and the process returns to the main routine with this display continued.

In addition, by adding a contact point of the display changeover switch 43, it is also possible to display the outside air temperature, humidity, remaining drying time, etc.

Next, in step 114, it is determined whether or not the work selection switch 31 has been switched, and if it has been switched, the operation is stopped in step 115, and then the process moves to step 118, where another work control is performed accordingly. 0 If the work selection switch 31 is not switched, step 11
6, the operating state of the stop F switch 29 is determined. If the stop switch 29 is not activated, step 1
03, the drying control is continued, and the stop switch 29 is turned on.
If it is operating, the dryer lO is stopped, and after the re-drying suitability rate R is displayed on the display 42 in step 117,
The power switch 23 is only turned on.

Then step 108 or step 110 to step 1
20, the operation of the dryer 10 is stopped, and in step 121, regardless of the current display state of the display 42,
The moisture content Gi of the grain immediately after the operation of the dryer 10 is stopped and the re-drying suitability rate R are alternately displayed on the display 42, and the process continues to proceed to step 122. In step 122, the target moisture content Ga is stored and the target moisture content Gc is changed again.
Next, the process moves to step 124, where it is determined whether or not there is a change between the stored target moisture content Ga and the newly set target moisture content Gc, and the target moisture content Gc is set higher than the target moisture content Ga. If there is no change, it is determined that there is no need to restart the dryer J1110, and the process moves to step 126. In step 126, the operating state of the restart switch 44 of the dryer 10 is determined, and if the restart switch 44 is on, the process moves to step 128, and if it is off, the process moves to step 122.

Further, in step 124, the target moisture content GC is changed to the target moisture content G.
Even if it is set lower than a, it is determined that it is necessary to restart the dryer 10, and the process moves to step 128.

In addition, since the operator operates the restart switch 44 or changes the setting of the target moisture content after confirming the re-drying suitability rate R displayed on the display 42, the dryer 10
restart is prevented.

In step 12g, a new timer setting time is read, and the process moves to step 130, where the target moisture content Gc is set to the target moisture content Ga, and then the process moves to step 104, where the drying operation is restarted.

Here, when the operation of the dryer 10 is stopped in step 120, the moisture content Gi of the grain at the time of the operation stop F is not erased and remains in the memorized state, so the dryer 10 is Operation will resume based on the continued conditions.

Therefore, the dryer 10 does not restart operation at maximum output, and defects such as cracking of grain shells due to overdrying do not occur.

In addition, when the set time of the dryer 10 expires or the target moisture content is reached, the dryer 10 is not completely stopped, but is maintained in a so-called pause state, making it easier to reach the target grain drying state, improving drying efficiency, and improving product quality. Quality is also targeted.

In this way, before restarting the dryer 10 by operating the restart switch 44 or the moisture content setting knob 36, the operator can judge the suitability of the re-drying based on the re-drying suitability rate R displayed on the display 42, and prevent over-drying etc. It is possible to prevent erroneous operation. Since the re-drying suitability rate can be displayed on the display 42 whenever the operation is stopped and as needed during the operation, monitoring of the drying operation becomes easy.

In this embodiment, the value of the re-drying suitability rate H is displayed as is, but a red-drying suitability threshold value may be determined in advance, and a lamp or the like may be turned on or blinked only when this threshold value is exceeded.

Further, in this embodiment, the operation of the dryer 10 was controlled using both timer control and comparative control, but if the timer is continuous, control can be performed only by comparative control based on the moisture content.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the grain dryer operation control device according to the present invention has the excellent effect of being able to determine whether or not to restart the dryer after it has been stopped, and being able to prevent overdrying.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a front view showing the internal structure of the grain dryer. Figure 2 is a front view of the operation panel, Figure 3 is a flowchart of drying control, Figure 4 is a time-moisture content characteristic diagram showing an example of moisture content characteristics due to drying control, and Figure 5 is a flowchart of the display control routine. It is a diagram. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10...Dryer, 19...Operation panel, 32...Moisture content detection device, 36...Associated water rate setting knob.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A grain dryer operation control device that operates a grain dryer and stops the grain dryer when the grain reaches a predetermined drying state, and a detection means that detects grain drying progress data; A grain dryer operation control device comprising: a determining means for determining whether re-drying of the grain is appropriate based on data on the drying progress of the grain; and a display means for displaying a determination result of the determining means. (2) The detection means has a drying loss rate corresponding to the grain drying rate;
The fluctuation range of the measured moisture content with respect to the appropriate drying and loss state of the grain, the temperature and humidity of the outside air at the time of finishing the grain are detected, and the judgment means determines whether the grain is re-dried according to the re-drying suitability rate calculated based on the detection result of the detection means. The grain dryer operation control device according to claim 1, wherein the grain dryer operation control device determines whether or not drying is appropriate.