Low Profile Solar Drying Tunnel with External Grain Turning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solar dryers are tall, expensive, and not transportable, requiring human entry for grain or seed turning, and lack solar gain due to non-transparent designs, while existing collapsible systems do not utilize solar gain and require manual turning.
Innovation Solution
A low-profile solar drying tunnel with a flexible bottom, transparent cover, and a rolling mechanism that allows external turning of grains or seeds, enabling remote operation and solar gain for efficient drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional solar dryers use a transparent dome for solar gain, then drying efficiency is improved, but the structure becomes tall and expensive and is not transportable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible, collapsible tunnel structure that can be collapsed for transport and expanded for use. The transparent cover is attached to a collapsible frame that allows the tunnel to be compressed into a compact form while maintaining its transparent enclosure when deployed, thus achieving portability without sacrificing solar gain capability
Solution Approach 2:
The tunnel utilizes a flexible bottom surface made of black plastic and a transparent flexible cover that can conform to a collapsible frame. This flexible construction allows the structure to be compressed for transport while maintaining its functional form during operation, resolving the contradiction between portability and structural integrity needed for solar gain
2Ease of operation
If conventional solar dryers have a tall structure for human entry, then grain turning is easier, but the structure becomes expensive and not transportable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an automated grain turning mechanism with rollers that move beneath the flexible bottom surface to automatically turn grains during drying. This eliminates the need for human entry into the tunnel, allowing the structure to be compact and transportable while maintaining ease of grain turning through automation
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical action of entering the tunnel and turning grains is replaced with an automated roller mechanism that moves beneath the flexible bottom. This substitution allows the tunnel to have a low profile suitable for transport while maintaining the grain turning function through a different mechanical approach
3Length of moving object
If collapsible systems like CDC are used for transportability, then the system becomes movable, but solar gain is lost due to non-transparent cover
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a transparent flexible plastic cover that can be attached to a collapsible frame, allowing the tunnel to be collapsed for transport while maintaining transparency when deployed. This flexible transparent construction enables both portability and solar gain capability simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The tunnel employs a dynamic collapsible frame structure that can be compressed for transport and expanded for operation. The transparent cover is integrated with this dynamic structure, maintaining its transparent property during both collapsed and expanded states, thus preserving solar gain capability throughout the transport and deployment cycle
4Device complexity
If manual grain turning is used in open air drying, then no complex mechanism is needed, but drying efficiency is reduced and rain protection is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an automated roller mechanism that turns grains without requiring manual intervention. The flexible bottom surface works with rollers positioned beneath it to automatically turn grains during drying, eliminating the need for human entry while maintaining operational simplicity and improving drying efficiency through consistent automated turning
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical turning operation is replaced with an automated roller system that moves beneath the flexible bottom surface. This substitution maintains relative simplicity while dramatically improving drying efficiency and providing rain protection through the enclosed transparent structure
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution allows for efficient, remote drying of grains or seeds with solar gain, enhancing drying speed and reducing manual labor, while being easily transportable and rain-protected.
Implementation Method 1
The dome is generally transparent so as to provide solar gain, also known as the 'greenhouse effect.'
Implementation Method 2
The dome is generally transparent so as to provide solar gain, also known as the 'greenhouse effect.'
Data Source
AI summary
A solar drying tunnel having a low-profile and which is transportable includes a bottom portion, a frame, a cover, and externally controlled rolling mechanism for turning grain over. The tunnel may also include a fan at one end and a chimney at another end to provide enhanced air flow.