Abstract: “An infrared radial radiation heating system was developed for drying paddy. A cylindrical drying chamber was installed 1,200 W of infrared heater at center for radial radiation heating. Paddy drying behavior and performance of the paddy dryer in terms of drying rate (DR), specific energy consumption (SEC) and quality of paddy i.e. head rice yield (HRY) and whiteness index (WI) were evaluated by drying 15 kg of paddy with initial moisture content of 23-26% (w.b.) by using the drying conditions of 80°C of drying temperature, 334.2 m3/min of air flow rate and 0.837, 1.228 and 1.875 kg/min of thin layer paddy flow rate. The results indicated that the drying rate and head rice yield were increased when increase the flow rate of thin layer paddy but in contrast of SEC and whiteness index.”

Keywords: paddy dryer, infrared, radial radiation