scholarly journals Hydraulic Properties of Baled Switchgrass and Miscanthus

2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 1145-1155
Author(s):  
Drew F. Schiavone ◽  
Michael D. Montross
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Hydraulic Properties ◽  
Biomass Conversion ◽  
Initial Moisture Content ◽  
Variable Density ◽  
High Solids ◽  
Moisture Contents ◽  
Percentage Points ◽  
Infiltration Tests

Abstract. This study characterized the hydraulic properties within baled switchgrass ( L., variety Alamo) and miscanthus (×), thereby enabling a better understanding of moisture changes in baled biomass during on-farm storage and/or high-solids bioconversion. Fully saturated bales were drained by gravity, and the moisture content was determined over 60 h. The average initial moisture content ranged between 55.9% and 71.9% (w.b.) for switchgrass and between 60.5% and 73.9% (w.b.) for miscanthus bales depending on the dry bale density. As the bale drained by gravity, rapid leaching of water was observed within the first 0.1 h, with a reduction in moisture content of 7.3 and 7.0 percentage points (w.b.) for switchgrass and miscanthus, respectively. Leaching then continued at a steady rate until termination of the experiment, with further reductions of 4.3 and 4.4 percentage points (w.b.) for switchgrass and miscanthus, respectively. Final moisture contents after 60 h ranged from 45.8% to 58.3% for switchgrass and from 48.7% to 60% for miscanthus, with the higher moisture contents observed in the lowest density bales. Hydraulic conductivity tests were carried out with bales of switchgrass and miscanthus with a constant head system. The average saturated hydraulic conductivity ranged between 0.103 and 0.616 cm s-1 for baled switchgrass and between 0.219 and 0.658 cm s-1 for baled miscanthus depending on the bale density. The matric suction of baled switchgrass was also assessed at variable densities and moisture contents using the contact filter paper method. The van Genuchten parameters were found to range between 0.235 and 0.270 m-1 for a and between 5.415 and 10.345 for n, depending on the density. Infiltration tests were also carried out on baled switchgrass at variable densities and moisture contents using a minidisk infiltrometer. The curve-fitting parameters of Philip’s two-term equation ranged between 0.086 × 10-6 and 0.779 × 10-6 cm s-1 for C1 and between 0.200 and 5.805 × 10-6 cm s-1/2 for C2, depending on the density and moisture content. The unsaturated hydraulic conductivity ranged between 0.019 and 0.272 cm s-1, while sorptivity ranged between 0.048 and 2.103 cm s-1/2, depending on the density and moisture content. These results provide data required to evaluate water flow through variable-density rectangular bales and indicate a potential to remove end-products of biomass conversion from baled biomass. Keywords: Biomass, Bioprocessing, Flushing, High solids.

Stability of Thiamine and Riboflavin During Extrusion Processing of Triticale

1976 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 244-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. BEETNER ◽  
T. TSAO ◽  
A. FREY ◽  
K. LORENZ
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Multiple Regression ◽  
Temperature Effects ◽  
Initial Moisture Content ◽  
Final Moisture Content ◽  
Whole Grain ◽  
Moisture Contents ◽  
Extrusion Processing ◽  
Nozzle Size ◽  
The Relationship

Triticale kernels were extruded using a Brabender Plasticorder extruder with ¾-inch rifled barrel and 1:1 flight depth ratio screw. Whole grain samples were extruded at initial moisture contents of 15, 20, and 25%. Debranned samples were extruded at an initial moisture content of 22%. Barrel temperatures of 350, 400, and 450 F and nozzle openings of 1/8 inch and 1/16 inch were used. The products were analyzed for thiamine and riboflavin content. Results were corrected for final moisture content and expressed as fraction retained. A multiple regression was done to determine the relationship between independent and derived variables, and the retention. Riboflavin retention was correlated simply as a function of barrel temperature. Thiamine retention of the debranned material was correlated as a function of nozzle size and barrel temperature. Thiamine retention of the whole grain samples was correlated for nozzle size, first and second order temperature effects, and confounding between nozzle size and temperature.

scholarly journals Effect of Stored Humidity and Initial Moisture Content on the Qualities and Mycotoxin Levels of Maize Germ and Its Processing Products

Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 535
Author(s):  
Yun-qi Wen ◽  
Li-li Xu ◽  
Chang-hu Xue ◽  
Xiao-ming Jiang
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Initial Moisture Content ◽  
Acid Value ◽  
Storage Condition ◽  
High Humidity ◽  
Quality Indices ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Limited Effect ◽  
Moisture Contents ◽  
Maize Germ

With high fat and protein content, maize germ is easily infected with fungus and mycotoxins during its storage. The qualities and safety of germ and its processing products may be affected by the storage. However, studies on the effect of storage on quality and polluted mycotoxin level of maize germ are limited. In this study, maize germ was stored with different initial moisture contents (5.03, 9.07, 11.82 and 17.97%) or at different relative humidity (75, 85 and 95%) for 30 days. The quality indices of germ (moisture content and crude fat content) and their produced germ oils (color, acid value and peroxide value) as well as the zearalenone (ZEN) and deoxynivalenol (DON) levels of germ, oils and meals were analyzed. Results showed that maize germ with high initial moisture contents (11.82, 17.97%) or kept at high humidity (95%) became badly moldy at the end of storage. Meanwhile, the qualities of these germ and oils showed great changes. However, the ZEN and DON contents of this maize germ, oils and meals stayed at similar levels (p < 0.05). Therefore, the storage could produce influence on the qualities of germ and oils, but showed limited effect on the DON and ZEN levels of germ and their processing products. According to this study, the storage condition of germ with no more than 9% moisture content and no higher than 75% humidity was recommended. This study would be benefit for the control of germ qualities and safety during its storage.

scholarly journals A New Concept of Applying Methanol to Dry Cellulose Insulation at the Stage of Manufacturing a Transformer

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1658 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr Przybylek
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Power Transformers ◽  
Technical Challenge ◽  
Moisture Contents ◽  
Percentage Points ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Drying Techniques ◽  
Heating Up ◽  
Cellulose Insulation

A decisive technical challenge for transformer manufacturers is correctly drying the cellulose insulation. During the production of a transformer, it is necessary to reduce its insulation’s moisture content from about 8% to less than 1% in the shortest possible time period. The drying of insulation is a time-consuming process, and for high-power transformers, it can last up to three weeks. Several drying techniques are used during the production of a transformer, and all of them require heating up the insulation to a high temperature and applying a vacuum. Unfortunately, the use of a high drying temperature above 100 °C can cause a decrease in the degree of cellulose polymerization by over a dozen percentage points. This paper presents a new concept for drying cellulose insulation that does not require heating insulation and applying a vacuum. In this solution, methanol is used as the drying medium. The research results showed the possibility of drying cellulose insulation by means of methanol with different initial moisture contents. The possibility of completely drying pressboard of various thicknesses for a sufficient period of time was also proven. The paper also presents a new concept of both the device and the procedure for drying cellulose insulation by means of methanol.

scholarly journals Forma e tamanho de grãos de soja para diversos teores de água

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 2821
Author(s):  
Wilker Alves Morais ◽  
Osvaldo Resende ◽  
Fernando Nobre Cunha ◽  
Vitor Marques Vidal ◽  
Nelmício Furtado da Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Initial Moisture Content ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Volumetric Shrinkage ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Moisture Contents ◽  
Soybean Cultivars ◽  
Grain Moisture

Physical properties of soybean grains present differences as a function of cultivars and moisture content, with the correlation between physical properties. This study aimed to determine the characteristics related to the physical properties of grains with different moisture contents of three soybean cultivars. The experimental design was completely randomized design in a 3 × 6 factorial scheme with three replications, consisting of three soybean cultivars (6266 RSF IPRO, BMX Potência RR, and 14403Z6001) and six grain moisture contents (11, 13, 15, 17, 19, and 21% wb). Soybean grains presented an initial moisture content of 11.0, 11.0, and 10.8% wb, respectively for 6266 RSF IPRO, BMX Potência RR, and 14403Z6001. The other moisture contents were obtained by soaking in a BOD chamber maintained at 25 °C and 93% of relative humidity. We assessed volume, roundness, sphericity, surface area, volumetric shrinkage, and volumetric shrinkage rate. The data were submitted to the analysis of variance by the F-test (p < 0.05) and when significant, regression analysis was performed for grain moisture contents and the means of cultivars were compared by the Tukey’s test. Pearson’s correlation analysis was also carried out to represent the linearity between grain physical properties. The cultivar BMX Potência RR obtained the highest results for volume, roundness, sphericity, and surface area. Volume and surface area increased as the moisture content of soybean grains increased; the opposite was observed for roundness and sphericity. A linear increase in volumetric shrinkage was observed as moisture content increased. The values of the correlation coefficients of the linear regression models can be used to describe the relationships between physical properties.

scholarly journals Effect of tillage practices at different levels of soil moisture on some soil properties and maize productivity

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (01) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Abdel-Aal M. H.
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Total Porosity ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Tillage Practices ◽  
Moisture Contents

A field experiment was carried out during the early summer seasons of 2018, at Agricultural Research Centre (ARC) Giza, Egypt. This study aims to examine the effect of three tillage treatments under three different moisture contents on some soil properties and on maize crop production. The experiments included three moisture contents of (MC1, 27.2 %), (MC2, 15.4 %) and (MC3, 7.2 %); as well as three tillage treatments, no-tillage control (NT), minimum tillage (MT) and conventional tillage (CT). The experimental was laid out in split-split plot design with four replications. The results showed that, there was significant effect of tillage at different moisture levels on soil physical and chemical properties. It was also indicated that the effect of tillage practices was significantly on soil bulk density, total porosity, hydraulic conductivity and moisture constants, where the conventional tillage at soil moisture level 15.4% (MC2) helped in improving soil bulk density, hydraulic conductivity and total porosity. Soil organic C, cations exchange capacity CEC, available N, P and K were improved in the soil surface layer of NT and decreased with depth. Clod mean weight diameter of soil was improved with 15.4-% of soil moisture content regardless of tillage depth and enhanced root proliferation by increasing density roots compared with minimum and no tillage in maize plant. The grain yields of maize were improving more under conventional tillage at moisture content 15.4% compared with other treatments. It was found that plant height and roots value increased by using conventional tillage compared with other tillage treatments.

Figure 1. Anmonia-binding capacity of the three litters under laboratory conditions. 4. LIQUID-BINDING CAPACITY The absorption capacity of the litter determines the amount used, and also affects the functioning of hydraulic manure presses. Hie absorption capacity of litter depends on its initial moisture content. In the laboratory tests , peat had a much greater absorption capacity than other litters. Peat absorbed a maximum of 4.5 times its own weight of liquid, straw 3.5 times, cutter shavings 3.6 times and sawdust 1.5 times (4). The litters used in the tests had an initial moisture content of 20%, with the exception of peat, which contained 40% moisture. These moisture contents represent the working values for good-quality litters. Peat was far superior in terms of absoption capacity to the other litters. Litter should retain its absorption capacity even when under pressure, for example in a hydraulic manure press. The ability of litters to withstand pressure was tested by first allowing than to absorb either water or urine. The litters were then compressed in a hydraulic press for one hour as the pressure was increased stepwise from 20 N/an2 to 50 N/an2. The pressure exerted by hydraulic manure presses in practice is around 40-60 N/cm2. All the retained urine better than water. Sawdust was found to have the greatest resistance to pressure, retaining about 75% of the absorbed

1986 ◽  
pp. 197-197
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Laboratory Tests ◽  
Binding Capacity ◽  
Initial Moisture Content ◽  
Hydraulic Press ◽  
Absorption Capacity ◽  
The Other ◽  
Moisture Contents ◽  
Laboratory Conditions ◽  
Better Than

Proposed outflow method for the determination of the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated porous materials

Soil Research ◽  
1966 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 165 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Collis-George ◽  
MJ Rosenthal
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Porous Materials ◽  
Curve Matching ◽  
Simple Criterion ◽  
High Moisture ◽  
Moisture Contents ◽  
Membrane Impedance ◽  
Content Range

Examination of the existing outflow methods reveals that none of the available methods consider membrane impedance without simultaneously involving subjective curve matching. A method is proposed that meets both these requirements and also allows determination of hydraulic conductivity after only small changes of moisture content; the results are therefore easier to interpret. A comparison is made between results obtained from the proposed method and from published outflow methods, as well as from the horizontal infiltration and 'air-pressure' methods. The results obtained exhibit hysteresis for both diffusivity and hydraulic conductivity as functions of moisture content. An hypothesis explaining occurrence of hysteresis in hydraulic conductivity at low moisture contents is presented. It is concluded that the proposed outflow method is experimentally suited to the dry end of the moisture content range, because of the restriction imposed at high moisture contents by the membrane impedance being large relative to the sample impedance. A simple criterion to determine the range of validity of the method is proposed.

scholarly journals Drying tea in a kilburn vibro fluid bed dryer

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Akhtaruzzaman ◽  
MR Ali ◽  
MM Rahman ◽  
MS Ahamed
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Fluidized Bed ◽  
Dynamic Equilibrium ◽  
Initial Moisture Content ◽  
Drying Time ◽  
Fluidized Bed Dryer ◽  
Moisture Contents ◽  
Fluid Bed ◽  
Fluidized Bed Drying ◽  
Drying Curve

The fluidized bed drying principles for drying of tea in Bangladesh is thoroughly studied. The experiments were conducted to determine the drying curve, drying time, drying constant and dynamic equilibrium moisture contents of tea at the Bangladesh Tea Research Institute. Drying of tea in a fluidized bed dryer (Kilburn Vibro Fluid Bed Dryer) takes only 20 min for drying from an initial moisture content of 69.1% to a final moisture content of 2.8%. Temperatures of drying air were recorded to be 130°C at the inlet and 90°C at the outlet. The drying constant was found to be 31.05 h-1 and the dynamic equilibrium moisture contents were in the range of 18.3 to 2.0%. Finally the principle of fluidized bed drying was compared with the principle of conventional endless chain pressure type drying. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbau.v11i1.18227 J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 11(1): 153-158, 2013

The effect of initial moisture content and infiltration quantity on redistribution of soil water

Soil Research ◽  
1974 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Talsma
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Initial Moisture Content ◽  
Fine Sand ◽  
Coarse Sand ◽  
Recent Analysis ◽  
Moisture Contents ◽  
Gravity Effects ◽  
Potential Gradients ◽  
Moisture Profiles

The effects of initial moisture content and infiltration quantity on redistribution of water were studied in a loam, a fine sand, and a coarse sand. Moisture profiles during redistribution were obtained by gamma ray attenuation. Measured values of the hydraulic properties of these soils were used to calculate fluxes at the transition from drainage to wetting. The results were used to check a recent analysis of Peck. Gravity effects dominated in both sands, while in the loam capillary effects dominated at the smaller initial moisture contents and infiltration quantities. In all materials, increasing initial moisture content or infiltration quantity increased the contribution of gravity to the flux at the transition, and decreased the contribution due to capillary potential gradients. For a particular material, it depends on the magnitude of these fluxes whether mean moisture contents in the draining zone will be higher or lower at increasing values of initial moisture content or infiltration quantity.

scholarly journals Physical properties of safflower grains. Part II: Volumetric shrinkage

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 350-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elton A. S. Martins ◽  
André L. D. Goneli ◽  
Alexandre A. Gonçalves ◽  
Cesar P. Hartmann Filho ◽  
Jerusa Rech ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Initial Moisture Content ◽  
Linear Shrinkage ◽  
Agricultural Products ◽  
Volumetric Shrinkage ◽  
Drying Process ◽  
Moisture Contents ◽  
Forced Air ◽  
Air Circulation

ABSTRACT Agricultural products usually have their size reduced during the drying process. The quantification of the reduction in the dimensions is important for the development and optimization of equipment for the post-harvest of the product. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the variation in the moisture content during drying on the volumetric shrinkage of safflower grains and their respective axes. Safflower grains were harvested with an initial moisture content of approximately 0.445 decimal d.b. (dry basis) and subjected to drying in an oven with forced air circulation at 40 °C, until the grains reached a final moisture content of 0.073 ± 0.008 decimal d.b. During drying, the contraction of the axes, unit volumetric shrinkage and volumetric shrinkage of the mass of safflower grains were determined at different moisture contents. Based on these results, it can be concluded that reducing the moisture content causes a reduction in the axes of safflower grains and, consequently, reductions in the unit volumetric shrinkage and volumetric shrinkage of the mass of approximately 16 and 13%, respectively, and both variables can be represented by the linear shrinkage model.

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