Free-space reflection method for measuring moisture content and bulk density of particulate materials at microwave frequency

2015 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 034712 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenxiao Li ◽  
Bing Han ◽  
Tao Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Free Space ◽  
Microwave Frequency ◽  
Reflection Method ◽  
Particulate Materials

Microwave Nondestructive Sensing of Moisture Content and Water Activity of Almonds

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 1373-1379
Author(s):  
Samir Trabelsi
Keyword(s):  
Dielectric Constant ◽  
Dielectric Properties ◽  
Dielectric Loss ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Water Activity ◽  
Free Space ◽  
Loss Factor ◽  
Dielectric Loss Factor ◽  
List Type

HighlightsMoisture and water activity were determined nondestructively and in real time from measurement of dielectric properties.Moisture and water activity calibration equations were established in terms of the dielectric properties.Situations in which bulk density was known or unknown were considered.SEC ranged from 0.41% to 0.68% for moisture and from 0.02 to 0.04 for water activity.Abstract. A method for rapid and nondestructive determination of moisture content and water activity of granular and particulate materials was developed. The method relies on measurement of the dielectric constant and dielectric loss factor at a single microwave frequency. For the purpose of illustration, the method was applied to predicting the moisture content and water activity of almond kernels. A free-space transmission technique was used for accurate measurement of the dielectric properties. Samples of Bute Padre almond kernels with moisture content ranging from 4.8% to 16.5%, wet basis (w.b.), and water activity ranging from 0.50 to 0.93 were loaded into a Styrofoam sample holder and placed between two horn-lens antennas connected to a vector network analyzer. The dielectric properties were calculated from measurement of the attenuation and phase shift at 8 GHz and 25°C. The dielectric properties increased linearly with moisture content, while they showed an exponential increase with water activity. Situations in which the bulk density was known and unknown were considered. Linear and exponential growth regressions provided equations correlating the dielectric properties with moisture content and water activity with coefficients of determination (r2) higher than 0.96. Analytical expressions of moisture content and water activity in terms of the dielectric properties measured at 8 GHz and 25°C are provided. The standard error of calibration (SEC) was calculated for each calibration equation. Results show that moisture content can be predicted with SECs ranging from 0.41% to 0.68% (w.b.) and water activity with SECs ranging from 0.02 to 0.04 for almond kernel samples with water activity ranging from 0.5 to 0.9 and moisture contents ranging from 4.8% to 16.5% (w.b.). Keywords: Bulk density, Dielectric constant, Dielectric loss factor, Free-space measurements, Loss tangent, Microwave frequencies, Moisture content, Water activity.

scholarly journals Comparative Study of the Properties of Wood Flour and Wood Pellets Manufactured from Secondary Processing Mill Residues

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 2487
Author(s):  
Geeta Pokhrel ◽  
Yousoo Han ◽  
Douglas J. Gardner
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Wood Flour ◽  
The United States ◽  
Red Maple ◽  
Wood Pellets ◽  
Secondary Processing ◽  
Material Costs ◽  
Mill Residues

The generation of secondary processing mill residues from wood processing facilities is extensive in the United States. Wood flour can be manufactured utilizing these residues and an important application of wood flour is as a filler in the wood–plastic composites (WPCs). Scientific research on wood flour production from mill residues is limited. One of the greatest costs involved in the supply chain of WPCs manufacturing is the transportation cost. Wood flour, constrained by low bulk densities, is commonly transported by truck trailers without attaining allowable weight limits. Because of this, shipping costs often exceed the material costs, consequently increasing raw material costs for WPC manufacturers and the price of finished products. A bulk density study of wood flour (190–220 kg/m3) and wood pellets (700–750 kg/m3) shows that a tractor-trailer can carry more than three times the weight of pellets compared to flour. Thus, this study focuses on exploring the utilization of mill residues from four wood species in Maine to produce raw materials for manufacturing WPCs. Two types of raw materials for the manufacture of WPCs, i.e., wood flour and wood pellets, were produced and a study of their properties was performed. At the species level, red maple 40-mesh wood flour had the highest bulk density and lowest moisture content. Spruce-fir wood flour particles were the finest (dgw of 0.18 mm). For all species, the 18–40 wood flour mesh size possessed the highest aspect ratio. Similarly, on average, wood pellets manufactured from 40-mesh particles had a lower moisture content, higher bulk density, and better durability than the pellets from unsieved wood flour. Red maple pellets had the lowest moisture content (0.12%) and the highest bulk density (738 kg/m3). The results concluded that the processing of residues into wood flour and then into pellets reduced the moisture content by 76.8% and increased the bulk density by 747%. These material property parameters are an important attempt to provide information that can facilitate the more cost-efficient transport of wood residue feedstocks over longer distances.

scholarly journals Parameters of Trucks and Loads in the Transport of Scots Pine Wood Biomass Depending on the Season and Moisture Content of the Load

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 223
Author(s):  
Grzegorz Trzciński ◽  
Łukasz Tymendorf ◽  
Paweł Kozakiewicz
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Load Capacity ◽  
Wood Chips ◽  
Total Weight ◽  
Wood Biomass ◽  
Four Seasons ◽  
Gross Vehicle Weight ◽  
Bulk Volume ◽  
Average Quantity

Transport of wood biomass is one of the key operations in forestry and in the wood industry. An important part is the transport of shredded wood, where the most common forms are chips and sawdust. The aim of the research was to present the variability of the total weight of trucks (gross vehicle weight, GVW), the weight of the empty trucks (tare), and loads of chips and sawdust in different periods of the year. Changes in specific parameters were analyzed: GVW; tare weight; trailer capacity; use of the trailer load capacity; bulk volume and bulk density of wood biomass loads; solid cubic meter (m3) and weight of 1m3 of the load; and load weight depending on the season, with simultaneous measurements of wood chips and sawdust moisture. More than 250 transports from four seasons of the year were analyzed in the research. It was found that the total weight of trucks (GVW) was at a comparable level, on average from 39.42 to 39.64 Mg with slight differences (with SD 0.29 and 0.39). The weight of empty trucks was 16.15 Mg for chip-bearing trucks and 15.93 Mg for sawdust-bearing trucks (with SD 0.604 and 0.526). The type of wood material has an influence on the transported volume. The average quantity of load in the bulk cubic meter was 64.783 m3 for wood chips (SD 3.127) and 70.465 m3 (SD 2.516) for sawdust. Over 30% differences in the volume of transported wood chips and approximately 18% for sawdust were observed. The use of the loading capacity of the trailer was on average 72.58% (SD 5.567) for the transport of wood chips and 77.42% (SD 3.019) for the transport of sawdust. The sawdust bulk density was from 0.3050 to 0.4265 Mg⋅m−3 for wood chips and 0.3200 to 0.3556 Mg⋅m−3 for sawdust. This parameter is significantly dependent on moisture content, and the determined correlation functions can be used for estimating and predicting bulk density. The abovementioned absolute moisture content of chips and sawdust also depends on the season, which also affects the selected parameters of wood biomass loads.

Measuring the Thermo-Technical Parameters of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete

2016 ◽  
Vol 824 ◽  
pp. 100-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alena Struhárová
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Capillary Absorption ◽  
Measuring Device ◽  
Technical Parameters ◽  
Autoclaved Aerated Concrete ◽  
Aerated Concrete ◽  
Technical Properties

Bulk density and moisture content are factors that significantly affect the physical properties of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) including thermal conductivity and other thermo-technical characteristics. This article shows the results of measurements of compressive strength, capillary absorption, water absorption and porosity of AAC (ash on fluidized fly ash) at different bulk density and also the results of thermal conductivity of AAC at different bulk density and variable moisture content of the material. The thermo-technical properties were measured using the Isomet 2104, a portable measuring device. Acquired results demonstrate dependence of physical properties including thermal conductivity of AAC on bulk density and moisture content. The reliability and accuracy of the method of measuring was also shown.

Physical Quality of Turmeric Powder (Curcuma longga Linn) Result of Foam-mat Drying Method Using Microwave

2021 ◽  
pp. 57-65
Author(s):  
Dhinar Patliani ◽  
Dian Purbasari
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Water Absorption ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Oil Absorption ◽  
Drying Method ◽  
Physical Quality ◽  
Average Grain Size ◽  
Two Factors

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L) in Indonesia is widely known as a herbal medicinal plant, food coloring, and food flavoring. The high water content of turmeric will shorten the storage time and the quality of the ingredients. The need for drying which is the process of removing the moisture content of the material with the aim of prolonging the shelf life. The use of the foam-mat drying method with the addition of adhesives aims to speed up the drying process and maintain the quality of a material. The result of drying turmeric obtained is turmeric powder product. This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) with two factors, namely the variation of the microwave oven power and the composition of the developer agent (ovalet). The research procedure was divided into two stages, namely the manufacture of powder and continued with the measurement of physical quality. The stages of making powder begin with the preparation of raw materials, stripping, size reduction, addition of developer, drying, then grinding. The second stage is measuring physical quality, namely fineness modulus, average grain size, powder moisture content, color, water absorption, oil absorption, and bulk density. The power variations used are 420 watts, 535 watts, and 680 watts, while the composition of the developer is 1%, 2%, and 4%. Data analysis using two-way ANOVA statistical test with two factors that affect the variation of power and composition of the developer (ovalet). FM values ​​ranged from 0.364 – 1.576, D values ​​ranged from 0.005 – 0.0012 mm, final moisture content values ​​ranged from 7.60 – 9.59%, powder moisture content values ​​ranged from 9.47 – 11.43%ww , L values ​​ranged from 61.46 – 65.96, a values ​​ranged from 13.54 – 16.05, b values ​​ranged from 48.21 – 52.42, DSA values ​​ranged from 2.78 – 3.54 ml/ g, DSM values ​​ranged from 1.22 – 1.60 ml/g, and DC values ​​ranged from 0.38 – 0.44 g/cm3. The combination treatment of drying power with developer is influenced by the drying power of the parameters, namely the value of moisture content, fineness modulus, average grain size, brightness level, redness level, yellowness level, oil absorption, water absorption, and bulk density. While the developer affects the finenes modulus, average grain size, yellowness level, and bulk density.

scholarly journals Draft Requirement of Two Animal - Drawn Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) Weeders

2020 ◽  
pp. 14-20
Author(s):  
Y. A. Unguwanrimi ◽  
A. M. Sada ◽  
G. N. Ugama ◽  
H. S. Garuba ◽  
A. Ugoani
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Experimental Plot ◽  
Moisture Contents ◽  
Loam Soil

Draft requirements of two animal – drawn (IAR) weeders operating on loam soil were determined in the study. The implements include a straddle row weeder and an emcot attached rotary weeder evaluated under the same soil conditions, using a pair of white Fulani breed of oxen. The animal draft requirement was first estimated from the animal ergonomics measurements. Using area of 0.054 hectare as experimental plot for each implement the draft requirement of each implement was investigated after taking soil samples for soil moisture content and bulk density determinations. The implements tested showed variation in their average draft requirement. The straddle row weeder had the highest value of 338.15 N respectively while the emcot attached rotary weeder had the lowest value of 188.12 N with 47.03%, respectively. The average soil moisture contents and bulk density were 13.0% and 1.46%/cm3, respectively.

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