Design and Fabrication of Rotary Dryer for

Robusta Coffee Bean using Coffee Husk as

energy source
Alfred Maitem Mechanical Britney S. Pahamotang Paul Roland C. Rebayla
Engineering Program, College Mechanical Engineering Mechanical Engineering
of Engineering Education Program, College of Program, College of
University of Mindanao, Matina, Engineering Education Engineering Education
Davao City, Philippines University of Mindanao, Matina, University of Mindanao, Matina,
[email protected] Davao City, Philippines Davao City, Philippines
.ph b.pahamotang.502185@umindana [email protected]
o.edu.ph .ph

Introduction used to create instant coffee, which Filipinos

consume daily. Robusta coffee has a much
Coffee husk is a by-product of coffee
sharper flavor and a unique scent when brewed
production that is often seen as waste.
[2].
However, it can be used as an energy source
for a rotary dryer, which is commonly used to Due to the non-optimal temperatures,
dry coffee beans. drying coffee beans naturally takes a relatively
long time. Small farmers in the Philippines
Using coffee husk as energy for a
require an efficient dryer that is simple to
rotary dryer of coffee beans is a sustainable
operate and has long-term sustainability. The
practice. It is a renewable resource that can be
dryer model will be designed with the aid of
locally sourced and reduces the dependence on
small farmers. It uses coffee husk energy
non-renewable energy sources such as fossil
sources to produce evenly dry products at
fuels. This, in turn, reduces greenhouse gas
optimal temperatures.
emissions and helps to mitigate climate
change. Biomass is the organic materials
derived from living bodies, such as plant,
Coffee husk is an abundant and widely
animal, and agricultural waste. Biomass can be
available resource. It is estimated that the
used to replace fossil fuels as an alternative
coffee industry produces around 23 million
energy source [3].
tonnes of coffee husk every year. This means
that there is a significant opportunity to use Heat exchangers and biomass can be
this waste product to generate energy for the used to speed up the drying process of palm
drying of coffee beans, rather than letting it go fibers. This study installed a gas-to-gas heat
to waste or causing environmental problems exchanger model above the biomass
[1]. combustion chamber, with the flue gas area
and cold air flow at the top [4].
Robusta is most likely the most
common type of coffee in the Philippines. Rotary dryers are made up of a
When compared to Arabica, this coffee is cylinder or drum that continuously rotates and
easier to cultivate. It can grow on lowlands, obtains heat from an energy source such as
which makes it common in the Southern biomass. This type is suitable for granular
Tagalog regions of Bulacan, Mindoro, and foods like grains. Rotating drums are
Cavite. It accounts for over 85% of coffee commonly used to heat, cool, mix, and dry
farmed in the Philippines since it is mostly granular materials [5,6,7].
 Small farmers require low costs in the waste while reducing smallholder post-harvest
post-harvest drying process. The dryer's design drying costs.
is adapted to waste energy, which is easily
References:
obtained and inexpensive.
[1] Pike D. at Daily Coffee News (2018)
Rotary dryer applications are an
What Goes Around: How Coffee
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Waste Is Fueling a Circular Economy.
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