Mobile drying equipment helps farmers during the rainy season.

To help farmers proactively preserve agricultural products after harvest, regardless of weather conditions, a group of lecturers and students from the University of Technology (Da Nang University) successfully researched and manufactured a mobile drying device. The product effectively dries produce, prevents mold, and contributes to reducing post-harvest losses.

Faculty and students stand beside the equipment created by the research team. Photo: THU HA

Solving the problem of agricultural production during the rainy season.

The research team consists of lecturers Dr. Ngo Phi Manh, Dr. Nguyen Thi Cuc, and two students, Nguyen Thanh Nhan and Doan Nguyen Thuan, from the Faculty of Thermal and Refrigeration Engineering, University of Technology, Da Nang University.

Speaking on behalf of the group of lecturers, Dr. Ngo Phi Manh said that currently, after harvesting agricultural products, farmers mainly still use natural drying methods (sun drying), which are entirely dependent on the weather.

However, during the summer and autumn seasons, the weather is often unstable, with sudden thunderstorms or prolonged tropical depressions significantly affecting the drying process, leading to the risk of agricultural products becoming moldy, losing quality, or spoiling.

From there, the team came up with the idea of ​​developing a mobile drying system that is designed to be simple and efficient to operate; requiring minimal manpower, thus contributing to solving the problem of rural labor shortages.

The agricultural drying equipment consists of: a drying tower body, a suction fan, a supply fan (providing air to the combustion chamber), a flue gas heating device, and a system of ducts for hot air to enter and exit the drying tower. The equipment is mounted on a mobile frame, suitable for the scale and farming conditions of the Central region.

The portable drying device during its manufacturing process in the workshop. Photo: THU HA

According to Dr. Ngo Phi Manh, the outstanding advantage of the drying equipment is that it can handle many types of grain agricultural products such as rice, beans, corn, and coffee; the products after drying do not have any unpleasant odors or burnt colors, retain their original shape, and are clean.

Common fuels used include firewood, sawdust, corn cobs, etc. The advantage of using this machine is its portability, making it easy for farmers to operate at a reasonable cost.

To test the machine, in early September 2025, the research team conducted rice drying experiments in Thu Bon commune.

In practice, the theoretical drying time is 9 hours, but the team experimented with drying rice in 6 hours. The equipment can dry 650-700 kg of rice per batch (14-15 bags). The temperature of the hot air after heating before being introduced into the drying tower can be raised to over 100°C. Experimental results showed that the rice dried evenly within 4-6 hours with electricity costs ranging from 30,000 to 45,000 VND and 20-25 kg of firewood.

“Based on these promising results, the team hopes the product will be widely adopted in practice. People, cooperatives, or businesses can contact the team for advice on designing and manufacturing equipment to achieve their desired productivity,” Dr. Nguyen Phi Manh expressed.

A bridge between faculty and students.

Participating in research and development with faculty members provides students with the opportunity to apply their learned specialized knowledge to real-world situations. Student Doan Nguyen Thuan shared that, in addition to professional training, the professors also guide students in developing soft skills that they can apply in their future careers, such as the ability to search for information in English, preparation and presentation skills, persuasive report writing skills, and problem-solving and analytical skills.

The product was transported to Thu Bon commune for testing. Photo: Provided by the company.

As for student Nguyen Thanh Nhan, directly participating in the research helped her learn a lot of valuable knowledge and experience, and hone her meticulousness and carefulness from the lecturers, as well as her problem-solving thinking and practical manufacturing skills... "I have gained a better understanding of the design and manufacturing process of a complete product, from sketching the drawings, selecting the structure, machining, to assembly and testing."

"From the practical experience of manufacturing, I've gained a better understanding of the difficulties that can arise when transforming theory into a practical product. Hopefully, the mobile drying device that the team has created can be widely applied in practice, contributing to improving product quality and minimizing post-harvest losses," Nhan shared.

A portable drying device is used by the research team during a rice drying experiment in Thu Bon commune. Photo: Provided by the team.

These project models are one of the effective ways to connect faculty and students in scientific research. According to Dr. Ngo Phi Manh, the Polytechnic University launches scientific research activities every year, which serves as a bridge for those who love scientific research.

When research topics are conducted in the right field and are highly feasible, they attract enthusiastic participation from students. From these experiences, students will mature and have a good foundation to continue developing in their specialized field or pursuing in-depth research in the future.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/thiet-bi-say-di-dong-ho-tro-nong-dan-mua-mua-3303772.html