CONA has developed special dryers in various sizes for cocoa, coffee, rice, corn, beans, and other grains.
The following benefits can be achieved with these solar drying systems for grains:
- Preserving the quality of the grains
- Saving labor
- Maintaining the typical characteristics of the grains
- Obtaining a contamination-free product
- Securing the harvest
- Preserving germination capacity
- Generating higher income – thanks to low operating costs
The high-quality drying and preservation of these valuable food products and luxury foods is extremely important, as even a small amount often represents an entire family’s income. With premium product quality, higher sales values can be achieved.
Guideline values for moisture content before and after drying:
Coffee drying: from approx. 60% to 11–12%
More information on the processing, quality, and storage of coffee
Cocoa drying: from approx. 60% to 7.5%
More information on the processing, quality, and storage of cocoa
Rice drying: from approx. 20-25% to 12–14%
More information on the processing, quality, and storage of rice
Corn drying: from 20–25% to 13–14%
More information on the processing, quality, and storage of corn
Solar coffee drying, cocoa drying,... Model SG250
Worldwide, the new model SG250 for solar grain drying—such as corn drying, rice drying, grain drying, bean drying, and many other types of grain—is currently available.
This model is perfect for small quantities with a moisture content of approx. 25%, which need to be dried down to 10–15%.
For cocoa and coffee, which are significantly wetter (approx. 50% moisture content), we recommend the larger and more powerful model SG1000+.
The solar dryer model SG250 has a capacity of 250 liters.
Depending on the hours of sunshine and the moisture content of the material to be dried, the grains are dry in 2–4 days.
This gentle drying process is particularly beneficial for product quality.
Large volumes of air are heated by the dryer and passed through the material to be dried. The temperature does not rise above 45°C in order to preserve the material in perfect quality.
Thus, the solar-dried corn, rice, and beans are also suitable for high export requirements; the germination capacity is also preserved, meaning this dryer can also be used for seed drying.
Simple operation of the dryer was the top priority during development.
The dryer can easily be filled from the top. Thanks to the sloped, specially developed ventilation floor, the rice, corn, or other beans are aerated evenly to ensure uniform drying.
For very wet material with a moisture content of over 25%, we recommend completely emptying the entire batch once a day via the discharge outlet and refilling it from the top. This prevents the formation of wet pockets and also leads to a very uniform drying result.
For more information and prices regarding the solar drying system SG250, please contact us.
Solar grain drying model SG1000+ for cocoa, coffee, rice, corn, beans,...
Worldwide, the new model SG1000+ for solar cocoa drying, coffee drying, rice drying, and many other grains is currently available.
This model has a capacity of around 1,000 liters for grains of any kind.
Depending on the hours of sunshine and the moisture content of the material to be dried, the grains are dry in 2–4 days.
To dry cocoa, approx. 4 days are required, as the initial moisture content is very high after fermentation. This gentle drying process is particularly beneficial for product quality.
Large volumes of air are heated by the dryer and passed through the material to be dried. The temperature does not rise above 45°C in order to preserve the material in perfect quality.
The germination capacity of all grains is preserved, meaning the dryer can also be used as a seed dryer.
Thanks to the gentle drying process of the model SG1000+, the solar-dried cocoa is also suitable for high export requirements.
Simple operation of the dryer was the top priority during development.
The dryer can easily be filled from the top. Thanks to the sloped, specially developed ventilation floor, the coffee, cocoa, rice, or other beans are aerated evenly to ensure uniform drying.
For very wet material, such as coffee or cocoa, we recommend completely emptying the entire batch once a day via the discharge outlet and refilling it from the top. This prevents the formation of wet pockets and also leads to a very uniform drying result.
For more information and prices regarding the model SG1000+ for coffee and cocoa drying, please contact us.
References
Our solar cocoa, coffee, and grain drying systems are mainly used in Latin America and Africa.
Ritter Sport (chocolate) also sources solar-dried cocoa from Waslala (Nicaragua) because the quality is right.
Here are some references:
Solar cocoa drying on the tropical island of São Tomé
Drying of high-quality cocoa beans in São Tomé is now done using a combined method. Pre-drying is carried out using traditional drying methods. The delicate final drying down to under 8% then takes place in CONA’s highly efficient solar drying system, the SG1000+ model.
Solar grain drying in Chontales, Nicaragua
The rural residents of the various communities of Chontales in Nicaragua benefit from the solar drying of their staple grains. 12 CONA SG600 solar dryers are already installed in this region of the country. The local residents see the benefit of drying their harvests, since they can preserve them to achieve a better price after harvest. In previous harvests they lost up to 80% because they stored the harvest with too much moisture. Now they only store the grain once it’s dried and can later achieve a much better sale price.
They also achieve better results when drying seeds for the next harvest’s sowing. The seed is gently dried using solar energy, preserving its natural germination capacity.
Solar drying of beans, corn, and rice in Montañita Arriba, Nicaragua
Harvests of mainly beans, corn, and rice can now be secured thanks to CONA’s solar drying. Grain moisture is no longer a risk for the families.
In the medium term, the families’ quality of life also improves, as profits increase from selling higher-quality products.
Solar grain drying in Nicaragua
Some families in the community of Montañita Abajo were fortunate to receive project funding from Horizont3000 and UNAG, and can now secure their harvest using CONA’s solar grain dryers. The families who benefited are very satisfied with the solar drying systems.
Solar grain drying in Coral, Nicaragua
This community joined forces and together purchased 3 SG600 solar drying systems. The farmers bring their produce to the dryers and dry it centrally. UNAG also funded measuring devices to go along with the solar drying systems.
Now the farmers can determine the moisture content of their grain and thereby ensure good quality.
Solar grain drying in Las Hamacas, Nicaragua
In Las Hamacas, large parts of the already modest harvest of essential staple foods used to spoil.
Recently, they have been able to secure their harvest using CONA’s solar grain drying systems. The project was largely funded through UNAG.
The owners of the solar grain drying system expect that, thanks solely to the elimination of grain spoilage, the system will pay for itself within a few years.
The grain can now be sold at a later date and at a higher price.
Solar grain drying in Las Praderas, Nicaragua
Farmers in Nicaragua are increasingly aware that it’s necessary to sell their products at good quality. To achieve this quality affordably, farmers in Las Praderas have joined forces and now dry their harvest using CONA’s solar technology.
Now they can secure the harvest and sell it later at a higher yield.
Solar drying of grain in Las Pavas, Nicaragua
In Las Pavas 1 and 2, 4 CONA solar drying systems for grain were installed. Las Pavas is very remote and has no electricity or road connection. It was therefore all the more important to preserve the food produced locally for the families.
Now staple foods such as beans, rice, and corn can be dried and preserved using solar power.
This means the arduous journey to market is no longer so time-critical, since the products to be sold keep well and a better price can be waited for.
Solar grain drying system in Riíto, Nicaragua
In this area, access by transport is very difficult, and there is also no electricity or road connection. All solar drying systems there are therefore equipped with photovoltaics.
Before CONA’s solar drying systems, beans, corn, rice, etc. were spread out on the ground and one person had to watch over them, turn them, and — in case of rain — fill them into sacks and bring them under cover. This led to extreme problems during the rainy season.
Now this person can devote themselves to other agricultural tasks, since the solar dryer is filled once and only emptied fully dried 1-2 days later.
