scholarly journals Dielectric properties of hops – an effect of bulk density

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (Special Issue) ◽  
pp. S18-S23
Author(s):  
Lev Jakub ◽  
Kumhála František

  Continuous detection of basic physical properties of freshly picked and cleaned wet hop cones would be very helpful for better control and automation of harvesting processes. That is why the main aim of this article was to determine the effects of bulk density changes on dielectric properties of freshly picked hop cones. Relative permittivity and loss factor were measured using a newly developed capacitance measuring device. A strong linear correlation between fresh hops relative permittivity and bulk density was found. This finding could be used e.g. for consequent hop drying process control. Significant differences between tested hop varieties were observed for both relative permittivity and loss factor measurements. These differences cannot be explained only by a slightly different moisture content of the measured varieties and ambient temperature changes. Measured material loss factor was only slightly affected by bulk density changes. However, relative permittivity was affected by bulk density changes significantly. These facts could be used for other properties of wet hop cones estimation.  

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 1373-1379
Author(s):  
Samir Trabelsi

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.


2016 ◽  
Vol 824 ◽  
pp. 100-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alena Struhárová

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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 154 ◽  
pp. 01004
Author(s):  
Ewa Golisz ◽  
Małgorzata Jaros ◽  
Szymon Głowacki

The goal of the work was to propose and verify the model of temperature changes of the convective dried biomass depending on the drying time. The algebraic temperature model of the convective dried solid, giving the possibility of its direct calculation, was based on the logistic function of growth. Temperature model was verified for convective dried biomass: vegetable and wood (poplar and willow wood chips) significantly differing in initial moisture content. Parameter W in the temperature model, defined as the coefficient of temperature rate changes reaches greater values in higher temperature of drying air and for wood biomass which has lower initial moisture content. Empirically selected parameter W allows to verify the temperature model with the relative error less than 5%.


Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (15) ◽  
pp. 4102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chengjie Li ◽  
Bin Li ◽  
Junying Huang ◽  
Changyou Li

The online measurement of moisture content for grains is an essential technology to realize real-time tracking and control, improve drying quality and reduce energy consumption of the drying process. To improve the measurement accuracy and reliability of the dynamic measurement process as well as expand the application scope of the device, the present work constructed an experimental equipment for determining dynamic resistance characteristics of a single grain. The relations between moisture content and real-time resistance waveform were revealed, and an analytical calculation method of peak value and peak area of waveform was proposed, which correctly revealed the electrical measurement properties of grain. The results demonstrated that the gap width between the electrodes had large influence on the sensor’s performance. Moreover, an online measuring device was developed based on the experimental analysis and calculation method, and the test results in both lab and field for different grains showed that online real-time absolute measurement error are within ±0.5% in the varied moisture content (10–35%w.b.) and the temperature (−20–50 °C). The main results and the developed device might provide technical support for developing intelligent grain drying equipment.


2013 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 587-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenhui Liu ◽  
Libo Zhang ◽  
Jinhui Peng ◽  
Wenwen Qu ◽  
Bingguo Liu ◽  
...  

AbstractThe effects of moisture content and temperature on the dielectric property of sodium chloride were investigated by using open-ended senor dielectric measurement system at the frequency of 2.45 GHz. Moisture content is a major influencing factor in the variation of dielectric properties. Dielectric constant, loss factor and loss tangent all increase linearly with moisture content increasing. Three predictive models were developed to obtain dielectric constant, loss factor, loss tangent and of sodium chloride as linear functions of moisture content. Temperature between 20 °C and 100 °C has a positive effect on dielectric constant and loss factor. Penetration depth decreased nonlinearly with moisture and temperature increasing. A predictive model was developed to calculate penetration depth for sodium chloride as a fifth function of moisture content. In addition, the measurements indicate that the particles temperature increases linearly with microwaving heating time at different power levels. The knowledge gained from these results is useful in developing more effective applications of microwave drying and designing better sensors for measuring moisture content of sodium chloride.


Author(s):  
Chunfang Song ◽  
Tian Sang ◽  
Haiying Chen ◽  
Li Zhenfeng ◽  
Li Jing

AbstractThe dielectric properties of blackberry samples with a 20.0–80.0 % w.b (web basis) moisture content were determined with a network analyzer and an open-ended coaxial-line probe over a frequency range from 5 to 3000 MHz and a temperature range from 20 to 100 °C. The results showed that the dielectric constant decreased with increasing temperature but increased with increasing moisture content; however, the loss factor increased with increasing temperature and moisture content. The dielectric constant and the loss factor decreased with increasing frequency. The penetration depth decreased with increasing temperature, frequency and moisture content. A large penetration depth at 915 MHz may provide practical large-scale dielectric drying for blackberries. The dielectric constants and loss factors for blackberry by combining the above mathematical model and temperature and moisture of the sample in the microwave drying process were used to analyze and control blackberry drying technology.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document