Exploring the best model for sorting Blood orange using ANFIS method

OranOrange has abundant nutritional properties and is consumed worldwide.  Sorting oranges of different masses based on their physical traits could help reduce packaging and transportation cost.  The ‘Blood’ cultivar of Iranian oranges from Kermanshah province of Iran (7.03 °E 4.22 °N) was used in this study.  100 samples were randomly selected.  During the two-day experiment, all measurements were carried out inside the laboratory at mean temperature of 24°C.  In this study, some physical properties of ‘Blood’ orange were measured, such as length, width, thickness, volume, mass, mean value of geometric diameter, sphericity and projected area.  ANFIS and linear regression models were employed to predict the mass based on sphericity and mean of projected area inputs.  In ANFIS model, samples were divided into two sets, with 70% for training set and 30% for testing set.  The coefficient of determination (R2) for ANFIS and linear regression models were 0.983 and 0.927, respectively.  It is shown that the mass can be estimated based on ANFIS model better than linear regression model.   Keywords: linear regression, orange, packaging, physical properties, sorting

Comparative analysis of exhaust gases from MF285 and U650 tractors under field conditions

Agricultural machinery is an important source of emission of air pollutant in rural locations.  This work deals with the effects of types of tractors and operation conditions on engine emission.  The values of some exhaust gases (HC, CO, CO2, O2 and NO) from two common tractors (MF285 and U650) at three situations (use of ditcher, plowing and cultivator) were evaluated in the West of IRAN (Kermanshah).  In addition, engine oil temperature at operation conditions was measured.  Also results showed the values of exhaust HC and O2 of MF285 are lower than U650, while the other exhausts gases (CO, CO2, and NO) of MF285 are higher than U650.  Value of NO emission increased as engine oil temperature increased.  All of exhaust gases except CO have a significant relationship with type of tractors, while all of measured gases have a significant relationship with installed instruments at 1%.   Keywords: environmental pollution, exhaust gases, tracto

Simulation and control of fan speed in a solar dryer for optimization of energy efficiency

In a forced convection solar dryer, the dryer efficiency is continuously changing during the drying process due to changes of solar radiation and temperature. So, it is important to use a control system to optimize energy efficiency based on changing drying factors. For this reason, a controller was designed, simulated and evaluated. In this research fan speed was simulated and controlled based on changing system variables accordingly to maintain the optimized efficiency. Fan speed was simulated by SIMULINK toolbar of MATLAB software. The dryer efficiency was determined by considering the mathematical relations and monitoring the air temperature in 3 positions: inlet and outlet of collector and outlet of drying chamber. All experiments were carried out in three replications. The current and optimized dryer efficiencies were calculated by using the control program. Results showed that the simulated model was capable of modeling fan speed. So, statistical analysis showed that the control system highly improved the dryer efficiency throughout its operation at probability level of 1%

Noise evaluation of MF285 tractor while pulling a trailer in an asphalt road

Tractors have been used for transportation on roads by many farmers in addition to use in the field operations. MF285 tractor is the popular kind of tractor in Iran (about 30% of all tractors) and almost this tractor has been used without cabin.  Despite the problems caused by noise from the tractors and all its adverse effects on users and observers, no comprehensive research has been done on them.  The result of this research indicate that the noise level of MF285 tractor, in 2250 r/min engine speed, will be 90 dB(A) which in comparison with the standard value, 85 dB(A), is dangerous for operator’s ears.  The test site was prepared according to the international standards.  The noise emitted by tractor in three gears (2, 3 and 4) and three speeds (1,500, 1,950 and 2,250 r/min) were measured and then analyzed statistically.  Analysis of variance and Duncan’s mean comparison test showed that the Sound Pressure Level (SPL) at the position of the driver in comparison to the observer position was statistically significant (

Measurement and Analysis of Vibration of Operator in Universal 650, Massey Ferguson 285 & MF 299 Tractors

Abstract Since healthy human is basis of permanent development in any society, and safety & health subject have special importance, then examination and investigation is necessary about of risks working for the purpose of recognition danger and guiding to eliminate them. In this study, object is to compare effect of change engine rotation and ground type on operator of tractors and implements that utilized. In other words, the goal is to measurement and analysis of transmitted vibration on different parts of human body. In this investigation universal tractor and ferguson285 &299 tractors with moldboard plough and disk are used. Hand-Arm vibration's operator in 1300, 1500 and 1700 rpm and in ploughing field and unploughing field with hand-arm vibration meter are measured. After statistical analysis, appeared that effective vibration difference on hand and arm's operator in examined tractors is significant and engine rotation is significant too

Modeling of wheat yield and sensitivity analysis based on energy inputs for three years in Abyek town, Ghazvin, Iran

To get a proper energy consumption pattern and an increase in energy productivity, determining a relationship between energy inputs and outputs is necessary.  In this study, the equivalent energy of inputs and outputs data used in wheat production in Abyek town of Ghazvin province, Iran was collected from farmers over three years.  The energy ratio was obtained as 2.11, 2.08 and 2.03 and energy productivity was obtained as 0.15, 0.14 and 0.14 (kg MJ-1) for 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  It was found that the contributions of indirect and non-renewable energies on wheat yield were more than the impacts of direct and renewable energies.  To determine the effects of energy inputs on wheat yield, the Cobb–Douglas production function was used.  Model 1 was composed of individual energy inputs: labor, machinery, electricity, diesel fuel, water for irrigation, fertilizer, chemicals and seed energies  In Model 2 energy inputs divided to direct and indirect energies and in Model 3 they divided to renewable and non-renewable energies.  The R2 values in all three models were more than 0.98 and showed that the models can estimate well.  The sensitivity analysis results for Model I showed that the major marginal physical productivities (MPPs) were water for irrigation, human labor and water for irrigation in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. In Model II, the major MPP belongs to for renewable energy in the same years.   Keywords: energy consumption pattern, Cobb-Dauglas, marginal physical productivity, renewable, return to scal

Noise evaluation of MF285 and U650 tractors by using Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference Systems (ANFIS) method

In this research ANFIS method has been used to predict sound pressure levels of MF285 and U650 tractors for following machines: moldboard plow, chisel plow, cultivator, rotary tiller, boom-type sprayer, disk harrow and ditcher. Combination of fuzzy logic with architectural design of neural network leads to creation of neuro-fuzzy systems, which benefit from feed forward calculation of output and back-propagation learning capability of neural networks, while keeping interpret-ability of a fuzzy system. An adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system architecture based on the Takagi-Sugeno model created to modeling of sound pressure level of MF285 and U650 tractors during agricultural operations. The testing performance of the proposed ANFIS model revealed a good predictive capacity to yield acceptable error measures with, R2= 0.917 and also RMSE= 1.06, SSE= 76.11 and MAE= 0.7495. The study recommends that the ANFIS technique can be successfully used in estimation of sound pressure level of MF285 and U650 tractors