Closed Loop Temperature Control System for Paddy Dryers Using Node Microcontroller Unit

One of the most crucial procedures before delivering paddy grains to the rice mill is drying. Grain moisture is reduced by drying to a safe level that is suitable for storage. A grain with a high moisture content can be destroyed as a whole, promote the growth of mould, and make pest attacks more likely. When rice is harvested, it has 20– 30% moisture. Therefore, rice grain must be dried within 24 hours of being pulled from the field. Grain quality will be compromised and losses will occur as a result of drying delays, incomplete drying, or inadequate drying. The temperature of the paddy when it is dried plays a crucial role in determining the quality of the rice. Due to improper programming and temperature monitoring, the rice is broken into pieces, and it will not benefit the manufacturer or the customer. Therefore, after rice grain is picked from the field, it must be dried as quickly as feasible. Grain quality will be compromised, and losses will occur as a result of drying delays, incomplete drying or inadequate drying. Currently, paddy dryers are used to dry rice quickly and effectively without breaking the grain. The temperature sensor is installed in the chamber box of the paddy dryers, and the industry-installed LCD panel boards are used for temperature monitoring and control, which is done manually by workers. Poor temperature control results in a decline in rice quality, which is detrimental to both the producer and the consumer. The suggested NODE MCU-based rice dryer automation system allows for accurate temperature control in a paddy dryer using a feedback control loop. The proposed model can control the air temperature in the paddy dryer precisely, change specified set points without user intervention, and operate an independent Node MCU based control system that will increase the rice quality and make the process efficient without manual labour.