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Theses

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1995 - 19977
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Subject: Agricultural Engineering × End date: 1997 × Start date: 1994 × Type: Thesis ×
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Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Design, fabrication and testing of a power operated paddy dibbler
    (Department of Farm Power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1996) Jayarajan, R; KAU; Jippu, Jacob
    A 2-row power operated paddy dibbler was designed, fabricated and tested at Kelapaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Thavanur. The main components of the dibbler were two seed boxes, plungers reciprocating within the seed tubes, fluted roller seed metering mechanism, dibbler wheels, stationary cam, frame and transport wheels. The seed tubes were fixed radially around the dibbler wheel with 45 mm of it projecting outwards for penetrating the soil. The plunger was actuated by a stationary cam and during its upward stroke it uncovered the farther end of the seed transfer tube and transferred the seeds into the seed tube and then into the holes made in the soil. In the downward stroke the plunger closed the seed transfer tube. Simultaneously the fluted roller transferred the seeds in to the seed transfer tube. The average speed of operation of the dibbler was 1.32 kmph and its field capacity and field efficiency were 0.031 ha/h and 78.18 per cent respectively. The average number of seeds dropped per hill was 5 and the seed rate obtained was 78 kg/ha. The seeds were placed within the confines of the holes made by the seed tube and plunger. There was absolutely no scattering. The depth of placement varied from 3.8 to 4.6 cm. The operating cost of the dibbler was Rs. 502.58/ha. This mechanism offers scope for developing dibblers with more number of rows for being operated more economically.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of soil solarization using ldpemulch on moisture conservation and soil temperature variation
    (Department of Land and Water Resources and Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1997) Anu Varghese; KAU; John Thomas, K
    Soil solarization is based on mulching the soil surface with transparent polyethylene sheets which capture the solar radiation and thus heat the soil to a level lethal for various pests. Solarization is useful in the control of weeds and also helps in moisture conservation. To some extent this can satisfy the demand of water for pre sowing irrigation during the summer months by conserving the moisture in the soil. In the experiment two types of polyethylene sheets (0.10 mm and 0.05 mm) were used and three durations of solarization, i.e., 30 days, 40 days and 50 days were tried. A crop (bhindi) was sown in the area after the solarization period to know the effect of solarization on its performance. The average maximum soil temperature at 5 cm depth obtained in the non-solarized plots was 49.5°C only, but in solarized plots it went upto 56.5°C. The magnitude of rise in soil temperature of solarized treatments was higher due to 0.05 TP than 0.10 TP. The intensity of solar radiation reaching the soil surface was significantly higher in the non-solarized plots than in the solarized plots. There was significant increase in the moisture content values in the solarized plots compared to the non solarized plots at 5, 10 and 15 cm depth below the soil surface. The moisture content values in 0.05 TP solarized plots were slightly higher than in 0.10 TP solarized plots, but was not significant. In the solarized treatments, there was 37.9, 33.7 and 38.3 per cent increase in the moisture content values at 5, 10 and 15 cm depths respectively. Solarization also had significant effect in lowering the weed count as well as the dry weight of the weeds for around 5 months after the period of solarization. The yield of bhindi was significantly higher in the solarized treatments than in the non-solarized treatments. This increase in the yield of bhindi may be due to the drastic reduction in weed count and dry weight on account of solarization.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Development and testing of a rotary type black pepper cleaner
    (Department of Farm Power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1995) Abdul Wahab, V S; KAU; Jippu, Jacob
    A power operated rotary type black pepper cleaner is developed, tested and its performance evaluated. The major parts are an inclined circular disc, an involute shaped scraper, a feeding unit and a collecting tray. The black pepper admixture is fed to the drum sieve through a hopper. By rotating the sieve, feed material fall uniformly over one-half of the area of the inclined rotating disc. Good pepper grains being nearly spherical in shape roll down at one end, whereas foreign materials which cannot roll down as freely, is scraped out at the other end by means of an involute scraper. Both cleaned and uncleaned grains are received in a collecting tray placed below the disc. A 3-phase 0.5 HP variable speed dynodrive motor along with a 10:1 gear reduction unit operates the machine. The important physical properties of black pepper relevant to cleaning process are also studied. The trials are repeated for the surfaces of mica and cotton under different levels of feed rate, angle of inclination and speed. Better performance is obtained in the case of cotton surface. Under these conditions, a cleaning efficiency of 88 per cent is obtained at a feed rate of 12 kg/h, angle of disc 11o and at a speed of 10 rpm. The cost of the machine excluding the power unit comes to Rs. 1’100/-. The operating cost of machine is found to be Rs. 16.45/h. It is recommended for further studies and modifications.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Dynamics of power transmission in tractor mounted paddy reaper
    (Department of Farm Power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1996) Sushilendra; KAU; Sivaswami, M
    A tractor front mounted 2.2 m wide paddy reaper windrower was evaluated to find out the optimum forward speed, cutterbar speed, conveyor belt speed and engine speed for different field conditions to achieve better harvesting and windrowing pattern, Maximum field capacity and field efficiency with less harvesting losses. Three PTO pulleys of 17.78 cm, 19.03 cm and 20.32 cm diameter with internal splines were fabricated and used with an engine speed from 1000 to 2000 rpm with four gears in low range and first gear in high range. In addition to pneumatic tyres, a pair of special cage wheels and a simple collection unit were developed and evaluated. In water submerged fields with special cage wheels and PTO pulley of 17.78 cm diameter better results were observed when reaper was operated at an engine speed of 1500 rpm with third low gear with a forward speed of 0.95 m/s. The optimum cutterbar index and conveyor index were found to be 1.56 and 2.30 respectively. The actual field capacity was 0.38 ha/hr and field efficiency was 54 per cent. The crops were found to throw within 10 cm from the discharge plate with an tiller angle of more than 85 degree with only 1.54 per cent of total loss of grain. When the soil is moist and pneumatic wheels fail to give sufficient traction, the special cage wheels were used with a PTO pulley of 19.03 cm diameter. An engine speed of 1400 rpm with third gear and with a forward speed 0.90 m/s was found to give satisfactory performance. The optimum cutterbar index was 1.66 and conveyor index was 2.45. The reaper had the field capacity of 0.36 ha/hr with field efficiency of 53 per cent. The windrowed crop were found to throw within a distance of 13.5 cm with 85 degree of tillers angle with total grin loss of 1.55 per cent. For dry fields, the reaper with pneumatic wheels was found to operate satisfactorily with 20.32 cm diameter PTO pulley at an engine speed of 1300 rpm with fourth gear and with a forward speed of 1.00 m/s. The optimum cutterbar index was 1.48 and conveyor index was 2.19. The actual field capacity was 0.38 ha/hr and field efficiency was 50.66 per cent. The tillers angle was 85 degrees with total grain loss of 1.62 per cent. It is found that the better field performance was achieved when the reaper is operated at a cutterbar speed of 1.50 m/s and conveyor belt speed of 2.20 m/s. A simple crop collection unit of size 1. 5m x 0.7m x 0.35m was developed with the provision for conveying the windrowed crop directly into the collection box. The unit was field evaluated with reaper. The box was found to fill within 10 m of travel and problems were observed in its manoeuv reability, loading and unloading of box and increased idle time.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Development and evaluation of a low cost power operated paddy thresher-cum-winnower
    (Department of Farm Power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1996) Sureshkumar, P K; KAU; Sankaranarayanan, M R
    Since threshing is labour intensive and involves considerable human drudgery and as the threshers now available are not suitable for small and marginal farmers, a Low Cost Power Operated Paddy Thresher Cum Winnower has been developed and tested. The machine consists of a threshing unit of wire loop cylinder and cover, a winnowing unit, a grain collecting tray, prime mover, power transmission system and the main frame. The power required to operate the machine is taken from a 2 hp electric motor and is transmitted to the cylinder and blower shafts by V- belt and pulley arrangement. Two labourers can hold the crop against the threshing cylinder. The optimum cylinder speed is 400 rpm. The capacity of the thresher at 16.0 per cent moisture content of the crop is 300 hg per hour. Threshing and cleaning efficiencies are 99.25 and 91.82 per cent respectively. Mechanical damage to the grain is negligible. The labour requirement of the thresher cum winnower is two. The cost of the thresher cum winnower was found out to be around Rs 8000.00 and the cost of operation for threshing and winnowing was Rs 8.50 per quintal. An empirical relation between the energy requirement of the thresher and various crop and thresher parameters is P = 931.035 + 4.683 (MC) – 0.462 (PV) – 1.169 (FR) + 8.251 (G/S ratio) The moisture content of the crop and the Feed Rate have statistically significant effect on power Requirement whereas the cylinder speed and Grain/Straw ratio do not have any statistically significant effect.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Design fabrication and testing of a low cost greenhouse
    (Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1995) Ajayambikadevi, S J; KAU; Remadevi, A N
    Controlled environment agriculture in the form of greenhouses, low tunnels and cloches are being practiced at commercial levels in many countries. Among these the greenhouses are the best for active environmental control. The major hurdle for adopting greenhouse cultivation is its high initial investment. Considering the importance of developing greenhouses of simple design with low initial investment, the thesis entitled ‘Design, Fabrication and Testing of a Low Cost Greehouse’ was undertaken. A greenhouse of size 12 m x 3 m was constructed at the Instructional Farm, KCAET, Tavanur. The structure was gable shaped. The main structural members were hoops, ridge line mechanism, foundation material and the structure for pad gripping and fan replacement. Ultraviolet stabilized polyethylene film was used as the glazing material. The fan and pad system of cooling in which the air is cooled by the moist air drawn through the wetted pads was adopted. The system was designed based on the rate of air to be removed from the greenhouse. A fan of maximum air flow rate of 10450 m3 /hr and a pad of size 3000 mm x 1200 mm was found necessary to satisfy the cooling requirements. The climatological parameters namely dry bulb temperature, wet bulb temperature and intensity of solar radiation were measured both inside and outside the greenhouse. The cooling system was operated for various time intervals and the observations were taken under cooled and uncooled conditions of the greenhouse. The temperature inside the greenhouse was higher than that outside. The maximum temperature recorded inside the greenhouse was 47.60C without cooling and 38.50C with cooling. Longitudinal temperature gradient of 50C existed between the fan end and pad end of the greenhouse. Cooling increased the relative humidity inside the greenhouse. Variation in humidity existed between the pad end and the fan end. A desired temperature and relative humidity can be maintained inside a greenhouse by operating the cooling system for various time intervals. The variation of solar intensity inside the greenhouse was similar to that outside. The polyethylene cover transmitted 60 per cent of the solar radiation incident on it. The average efficiency of the pad was 65 per cent. The cost of construction was Rs. 375.58 per square metre.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Development of a power tiller operated paddy transplanter for conventional seedlings
    (Department of Farm Power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1995) Prakash, K V; KAU; Sivaswami, M
    Transplanting of paddy seedlings is a very tiresome and labour consuming operation and labour shortage is experienced during planting. As a solution to reduce the high cost of cultivation and labour shortage in paddy transplanting, a power tiller operated paddy transplanter is an essential need of hour. The APAU paddy transplanter was evaluated after rectifying the defects at KCAET instructional farm, Tavanur. Based on the field experiences and considering the all problems in APAU paddy transplanter, an improved version of power tiller operated paddy transplanter was developed and fabricated at KCAET Tavanur and tested during September-October 1994. The convensional root washed paddy seedlings ready to manual transplanting were used. When the power tiller is operated at a forward speed of 1.20 km per hr, the transplanter could transplant 2 to 4 seedlings per hill at a spacing of 100 to 120 mm. The average field capacity was found to be 0.13 ha per hr. A saving of Rs.800 per ha which is 50 per cent and reduction of 296 man-hr per ha which is 92.5 per cent was achieved for transplanting operation alone compared to manual transplanting.