Performance assessment of a solar powered rice husking system with a VFD controlled high capacity 3-phase inverter

With the improvement of technology and economic enhancement, people are now using fuel or grid powered machine for food processing. Among all agricultural crops, rice is the main crop cultivated in Bangladesh and a high efficient processing is required for this. But excessive rise of fuel prices and limitation of power supply to the off grid areas is an obstacle for this sector. Ozone gas emissions for both fuel burning and power generation results in global warming and health issues due to inhalation of the smoke. Because of a good solar irradiation pattern, a solar powered rice husking machine can minimize this burden from the nation. The purpose of this paper is to design and analyse the performance of solar powered rice husking system. Physical demonstration was made by installing 2 kW crystalline PV modules by setting up the rice husking machine with VFD based 3-phase inverter and other measuring equipment in experimental building. Based on maximum solar irradiation, projected output is analysed by using PSIM simulation and the prospect of solar powered rice husking system in Bangladesh is shown with economic feasibility. Based on the experimental data, the performance of the system is also analysed and presented in this paper.