Copra and its Preparation 401 



For anyone requiring a self-contained drying 

 apparatus which provides the same favourable 

 conditions obtained in drying out of doors when 

 the weather allows, and who prefers a lower 

 building provided with shelves instead of floors, 

 the illustration on p. 402 may prove of use. It 

 is constructed in various sizes, the one illustrated 

 being calculated to dry about 2,000 Ib. of cacao 

 per day or the equivalent in other materials. 

 The drying chamber is of galvanized sheet 

 steel, and is (in this size) about 29 ft. long, 

 4 ft. 6 in. wide, and 8 ft. high. It is filled with 

 perforated trays, made of galvanized wire, with 

 a drying surface of about 439 sq. ft. 



The warm air is circulated rapidly by a fan 

 of large size, which draws the air first over 

 the heated stove pipes, then through the 

 heating chamber, and thence over and under 

 the trays on which the material is spread. 

 There is, of course, no contact of the air with 

 the fires, or any possibility of the products of 

 combustion entering the drying chamber. 



The temperature of the air is under absolute 

 control and regulated by means of the swing 

 door " C," which also controls the quantities 

 of fresh air admitted and moist air discharged. 

 The greatest economy in working is assured, 

 because the heated air is used to its fullest 

 drying capacity. The swing door is so 

 arranged that, by partly opening it, the moist 

 air is allowed to escape below it while the 

 corresponding quantity of fresh air which 



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