ORNA, Javier; CHUQUIN, Nelson; SAQUINGA, Luis    CUEVA, Oswaldo. Design and construction of an automatic dryer for cacao a rotating type of hot air base for a capacity of 500 kg. []. , 9, 2, pp.159-174. ISSN 1390-6542.  https://doi.org/10.29019/enfoqueute.v9n2.185.

The increase of time in the process of dry of cocoa and the problematic winter season motivated in realizing an automatic drying machine for cocoa that fulfills the characteristics of dry, reducing to a percentage of adequate humidity in the Mirador Lojano Community located in the Province of Santo Domingo of the Tsáchilas. The development of the project has as its scope to design and build an automatic dryer for cocoa based on hot air rotary type for a capacity of 500 Kg; this involved the collection of information necessary to carry out the design methodology, the study of existing technological alternatives in the market and select the most viable one that meets the user's requirements, quality and production parameters. Subsequently the mechanical and energetic design of the elements that make up the machine was made. In conclusion, the automatic drying machine for cocoa achieves an adequate drying of 9% humidity in a period of 4 to 5 hours during the process, thus improving the efficiency and production.

: energy efficiency; mechanical design; drying; cacao..

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