The aim of this study was to evaluate the energetic performance in the process of intermittent drying of white oat grains at three different air temperatures and final moisture. White oat grains (Avena sativa L.), UPFA 20 Teixeirinha cultivar produced at Palma Experimental Station of the Federal University of Pelotas, 2003/2004 crop, were submitted to intermittent drying at three temperatures (60, 85, 110 ºC) at 1:6 rate of intermittence up to final moisture of 11, 13 and 15%, in totally randomized experimental delineation. Drying was performed in a pilot dryer, with cylindrical chamber and centered conic bottom. The drying rate was calculated by the time variation of the mass of grains' rate of moisture, and energetic efficiency by the ratio between the amount of energy used to heat the air and the variation of the mass of the grain rate of moisture. Drying air temperature, as well as initial and final moisture, are key factors to measure the energy consumption and the drying rate of white oat grains. The drying rate increases following the increase of temperature of air at the entrance of the intermittent dryer. The air temperature at the dryer entrance, final grain moisture and initial moisture are the variables that affect the time of intermittent drying of white oat.
Avena sativa; energy consumption; efficiency of drying
