Aeration System Design for Flat Grain Storages with an Expert System

An expert system, Aeration System Design (ASD), was developed for the design of aeration systems for farm-sized flat grain storages. ASD requests information about the storage problem from a user and generates a custom design drawing, component specification list, and management recommendations. The knowledge base was derived from publications and experts. ASD represents the first attempt to consolidate aeration system design guidelines and procedures for flat grain storage into an expert system. ASD uses illustrations to communicate concepts and terminology more clearly with users. A feature of ASD allows an expert to change the design guidelines and factors. For example, alternative methods of determining the layout and length of ducts can be selected. ASD offers the capability of rapidly designing an aeration system and changing design guidelines to study the effects upon the design

Teaching Control Programming Using Programmable Automation Controllers

Introductory control programming was included as a required course for agricultural systems students. A programmable automation controller (PAC) was programmed with a flowchart paradigm to monitor and control applications. An ex post facto research design was used, with a questionnaire to obtain student feedback. The PAC instructional unit and student feedback are described. Ninety‐two percent of students agreed the PAC unit of the course helped improve their problem‐solving skills

Air Carrier Technique for Row Crop Spraying Applications

This study focuses on the problem of applying spray material to upper-plant, underside-leaf surfaces of corn and soybean plants. Aircraft and ground pressureatomizer applications of spray solution were quantified. Percent coverage values were generally less than 1 % on the sampling locations. Flat and hollow cone nozzle air carrier units were developed and evaluated for spray application to the upper-plant, bottom leaf surface. The air carrier method tested within a shroud improved spray deposition to the entire plant by 100% for corn and 234% for soybeans. Deposition to the upper-plant, bottom leaf surface was increased by 900% and 400% for corn and soybean plants, respectively. Deposition uniformity was also improved with the air carrier method

A coupled mathematical model for simultaneous microwave and convective drying of wheat seeds

Faster drying techniques are preferred to prevent spoilage of harvested wheat seeds. Microwave (MW) drying may be used as an alternate technique for faster drying of crops with efficient utilisation of time and energy. The objective of this study was to develop a mathematical model to simulate the drying condition of wheat seeds during drying in a MW oven. A coupled mathematical model was developed for simultaneous MW and convective drying of wheat seeds in a domestic MW oven, resulting in a system of non-linear equations. Wheat samples with initial moisture levels of 15e25% wet basis were dried under MW power ranging from 245 to 910W for 3 min. The temperature and the relative humidity of drying air was 23 degC and 27%, respectively. The results revealed that the rate of drying increased with increase in the initial moisture content of wheat seeds. The germination percentage of wheat seeds decreased with the increase of the MW power at each initial moisture content. The predicted temperature of grain during drying with the MW power at 910W was within the range of 65-70 degC. The experimental results of moisture content of wheat seeds undergoing MW drying were in good agreement with the moisture content of wheat seeds predicted by the coupled mathematical model

Microwave drying kinetics and quality characteristics of corn

In recent years, microwave (MW) drying has gained popularity as an alternative drying method for a wide variety of food and agricultural products because of increasing concerns over product quality and production costs. However, the determination of drying kinetics that accurately describes microwave drying characteristics is crucial for the optimization of operating parameters, performance improvement of the drying system and product quality. The objective of this study was to investigate the drying kinetics and the quality characteristics of corn kernels, especially the effects of different initial moisture contents (18.3%, 26.3%, 34.3% and 42.3% db), MW power levels (70, 175 and 245 W) and exposure time (80 s and 120 s) on the drying kinetics, drying rate and various key quality parameters. The results indicated that the increased drying rate at higher power levels (P3, 245 W) reduced the drying time considerably but increased stress crack index and reduced germination. In addition, it reduced bulk density, true density and thousand grain weight (TGW). The germination rate of corn was the highest at MW power level P1 (70 W), with the lowest drying rate and observed to decrease with increase in initial moisture content. The reduction in exposure time decreased stress crack index and increased germination rate, bulk density and true density. The correlation analysis among drying rate, germination, stress-crack index (SCI), bulk density, true density and TGW showed that increasing drying rate could lead to an increase in SCI and decrease in germination, bulk density and true densit

Measurement of granular flow in a vertical column using pulse induction (PI)

Gravity flow of granular materials in vertical columns can generate pressure and density fluctuations which are difficult to quantify. Examination of prior research led us to propose a new measurement technique based on the principle of pulse induction (PI) for metal detection. An experimental device using 8 mm diameter spherical particles flowing through a polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipe of 75 mm diameter and 1000 mm height was developed to demonstrate the feasibility of PI. Ten PI coils were used to quantify tracer movement through the column with time. Average and instantaneous velocities were determined for five diameters of outlet orifices: 68.0, 62.5, 54.5, 44.0 and 36.5 mm. Flow rate was calculated and modelled. When compared to prior research, PI proved to be a reliable method for flow measurement in opaque ducts

Data Points and Duration for Estimating Fuel Consumption of a Diesel Engine

Accurate measurement of fuel consumption is required to quantify the efficiency of an engine or predict emissions. As part of a larger project, accurate instantaneous fuel consumption data was required for a John Deere 4045T diesel engine. While establishing test criteria, it became evident that literature did not provide clear recommendations on the number of data points or time duration for data collection, for a diesel engine. Fuel consumption tests were conducted using up to 15 data points of percent fuel rate and up to 15 min of data collection. Based on statistical analysis of test results, at least 2 data points (0% and 100% of fuel rate) and 2 min of data collection are recommended for similar fuel-injected, diesel engine fuel rate tests. When a nonfuel injected engine is used, the Hogan et al. (2007) recommendation of at least 3 data points and 3.5 min of data collection should be followed

UV-C treatment of soymilk in coiled tube UV reactors for inactivation of Escherichia coli W1485 and Bacillus cereus endospores

Coiled tube UV reactors were used to investigate the influence of tube diameter (1.6 mmID, and 3.2 mmID) and Reynolds number (Re) to inactivate Escherichia coli W1485 and Bacillus cereus spores in raw soymilk (RSM). Four levels of Re (343, 686, 1029 and 1372) were tested in RSM inoculated separately with each bacterium and treated in the UV reactors at a constant residence time of 11.3 s with UV-C dose of 11.187 mJ/ cm2 at 253.7 nm. Inactivation efficiency of both microorganisms increased with Re. Maximumreductions of 5.6 log10 CFU/ml of E. coli and 3.29 log10 CFU/ml of B. cereus spores were achieved in the 1.6 mm ID UV reactor. Inactivation efficiency was higher in the 1.6 mm ID UV reactor than the 3.2 mm ID UV reactor for both the organisms. Effect of UV-C light on lipid oxidation of untreated RSM, measured as malondialdehyde and other reactive substances (MORS) content, was much higher (95 nmol/ml) than the UV-treated (58 nmol/ml) and thermally pasteurized (55 nmol/ml) RSM during the storage period of 7 days. The UV-C treatment can be effectively used for reducing E. coli cells and B. cereus spores in soymilk without compromising its quality

A CD-ROM Based Agricultural Information Retrieval System

An information retrieval system for agricultural extension was developed using CD-ROM technology as the primary medium for information delivery. Object-oriented database techniques were used to organize the information. Conventional retrieval techniques including hypertext, fulltext searching, and relational databases, and decision support programs such as expert systems were integrated into a complete package for accessing information stored on the CDROM. A multimedia user interface was developed to provide a variety of capabilities including computer graphics and high-resolution digitized images. Information for the disk was gathered and entered using extension publications which were tagged using an SGML-based document markup language. The fully operational CD-ROM system has been implemented in all 67 county extension offices in Flori

Comparative Models of Hydrocarbon Emissions for a Diesel Engine Operating at Constant Loads and Speeds

Linear multiple regression (LMR) and nonlinear polynomial network (NPN) models were developed from data collected from ISO 8178‐4 (1996) test cycle B‐type tests (ISO) and an expanded set of tests (EXP) to predict hydrocarbon (HC) emissions from a diesel engine. LMR using the ISO training data (R2 = 0.94) resulted in overfitting of the model as applied to the evaluation data (R2 = 0.49). LMR based on the expanded data (R2 = 0.68) was a better LMR model when applied to the evaluation data (R2 = 0.64). NPN using the expanded training data (R2 = 0.99) resulted in the best model when applied to the evaluation data (R2 = 0.98) and is preferred for predicting HC when the larger set of test mode data are available. NPN using the ISO training data (R2 = 0.99) resulted in a satisfactory fit for the evaluation data (R2 = 0.91), although with a higher average absolute error (0.52 vs. 0.42 g/kWh) than NPN using the EXP training data. This model was also considered suitable for predicting HC. Results of this initial study suggest that data could be collected during ISO 8178‐4 emission tests and modeled with NPN to predict HC emissions for a diesel engine operating at various constant speeds and loads