Thumbnail Image

Theses

Browse

Reset filters
End date: 1996 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Tech. ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 9 of 19
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Design fabrication and testing of an arecanut dehusker
    (Department of Farm Power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology,Tavanur, 1993) Febi Varghese; KAU; Jippu Jacob
    A power operated arecanut dehusker is designed, developed and its performance evaluated. The major parts are the hopper, feeder, lead plate, cutting blade, shearing roller, friction plate and scraper. The feeder receives the graded fruit from the hopper and delivers it on the lead plate. The fruit is compressed between the rotating shearing roller and the lead plate. The teeth on the roller peel off the husk and the kernel is ejected out through the slot on the lead plate and the husk removed. A single phase 0.5 hp motor operates the machine. From the studies, the optimum set - up of the machine for deriving maximum dehusking efficiency and Iower percentage of the number kernels damaged is at a speed of 35 rpm, blade angle of 600 and slot angle of 1400. At this set - up the machine gives an output of 9.0 kg dried fruit/h, with 84.5 per cent dehusking efficiency.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of land use on water yield from small agricultural watersheds of western ghats
    (Department of Land and Water Resources and Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1993) Abdul Hakkim, V M; KAU; Xaviour Jacob, K
    Effect of deforestation and other land use changes brought about by human activities of hydrologic cycle continues to be of great concern. A study was conducted to assess the effect of land use on water yield from small agricultural watersheds of Western Ghats of Kerala. Four small watersheds planted with cashew, rubber, coffee and tea were selected for the study. To get information regarding rainfall, temperature, humidity and daily evaporation; raingauges, thermometers and USWB class A Pan evaporimeters were installed in each watershed. The runoff which is of specific concern was measured using stage level recorders along with weirs and flumes. Infiltration measurements were done using double cylinder infiltrometers. Soil samples were collected from each watershed and were analysed for grain size distribution, soil pH and organic carbon content. Different geomorphological characteristics of the watersheds were also worked out. Analysis of rainfall and runoff data indicated that nearly 50 per cent of the total rain fall leaves these watersheds as runoff except in the case of rubber watershed. The infiltration studies indicated that all these watersheds have high infiltration rates even after saturation, thereby absorbing even the most intense storms of the study period. From the hydrograph analysis of these watersheds it was observed that the hydrographs attain a sharp peak immediately as the rainfall and there is a baseflow which is folowing through the 3 watersheds, except in the case of rubber watershed. The rubber watershed is very small and lies adjacent to the Kuttiadi reservoir. The interflow from the rubber watershed was observed to join the reservoir avoiding the measuring channel. From the soil profile analysis of Western Ghat region it was observed that there is an impermeable clay layer lying below the laterite having an average thickness of 3.5 m located at 7 to 10.5 m below the ground surface. The results of the study leads to the conclusion that the infiltrated rain water meets the impermeable layer and there it flows laterally through the soil. This lateral interflow reaches the valley portion of the watersheds where it saturates the soil. This saturated area acts like an impervious layer producing 100 per cent surface runoff and it is responsible for the sharp peak of hydrographs. Runoff is generated from these source areas and Hortanian overland flow is a rare phenomenon in these watersheds. Thus from the study it was concluded that land use has no significant effect on water yield from the selected small agricultural watersheds of Western Ghats of Kerala.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of landslope on uniformity of water distribution of sprinklers
    (Department of Land and Water Resources and Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology,Thavanur, 1996) Jigimon T; Joby V Paul
    A study was conducted at Keleppaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur to find out the effect of land scope on sprinkler uniformity. A single nozzle sprinkler was used for the study. The study was carried out over an artificial platform. The water distribution pattern for three slopes viz; 12.5 %, 10.0 % and 7.5 % was studied for three riser positions viz; vertical, mid way and perpendicular to the land. Isohytes were drawn for the various positions in wind and no wind conditions for the three slopes. The uniformity coefficient, Cu values were evaluated and the spacing between the sprinklers for good overlap was found out. It is found that the water distribution is decreasing as the land slope is increasing. The perpendicular position was the ideal position for all the slopes. The optimum riser angles for various slopes are found to be 70 7 ‘30’ ‘for 12.5 % slope, 50 42 ‘38’ ‘for10.0 % slope and 40 17 ‘21’ ‘for 7.5 % slope with respect to the vertical position. The rpm of the sprinkler head for three riser positions was studied. In vertical position the rpm was almost same in all the slopes. It was decreasing as the riser position was changing from vertical to perpendicular in every slope. The rpm was less in wind conditions than in no wind conditions. The erosivity was also measured. The amount of soil collected for the various positions was evaluated. It was found that the amount of soil loss is increasing with the increase in land slope. It was maximum in vertical position, less in mid way position and least in perpendicular position for all the land slopes.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Development of rational formulae to predict the advance and recession flow in border irrigation method
    (Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1992) Mary Regina, F; KAU; Ramadevi, A N
    An investigation was undertaken to develop the predictive relationship for water advance and recession in field borders with cow pea as the test crop. The experiment was conducted at the KCAET, Tavanur during February-April 1992. Border strips of 2 m width and 40m length were used for the study. The strips were laid out on three different slopes, 0.4 %, 0.3%, and 0.2%. Stream sizes of 4 Ips, 3 Ips, and 2 Ips per meter widths were used to irrigate the strips. There was nine treatments each replicated twice. Advance and recession times were noted at every 5 m distance from the upstream end of border. Advance and recession curves were plotted to draw conclusions on the effect of the three parameters viz stream size, slop and distance on advance and recession times. Uniformity of irrigation was also analysed for the different treatments and the treatment with 0.2% slope and 4 Ips/m width stream size showed the best uniformity. Multiple linear regression was done considering stream size, slope and distance from upstream end as independent variables. Advance and recession times were taken as dependent variables. Rational formulae to predict the advance and recession times were developed from the results of the multiple regression analysis.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on the Effects of Various Parameters on the Performance of Petti and Para
    (Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1994) Saji Kuriakose, M; KAU; John Thomas
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation and modification of powertiller operated paddy reaper
    (Department of Farm Power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1995) Selvan, P; KAU; Sivaswami, N
    The study on power tiller operated paddy reaper-windrower was taken up solve the problems of labour scarcity and uneconomic cost of cultivation of paddy. The 1.6 m vertical conveyer reaper-windrower was fabricated and was mounted with commercially available 8-10 hp air cooled Mistubishi power tiller. Improvements and modifications were carried out to make the unit suitable for harvesting of paddy in Kerala. The original engine chasis of the power tiller was replaced with a newly fabricated chasis on which both the engine and paddy harvester were mounted. Difficulties were experienced in starting and in operating the harvester when the drive was taken directly from the engine pulley to the cutterbar. Initialy the unit was operated with rotovator at the rear side. It was found difficulty in crossing the bunds, hence rotovator was removed. After detailed studies, an auxiliary gear box was designed and fabricated for transmitting power to reaper from the rotovator gear assembly. The rear rotovator was dismantled and the auxiliary gear box was assembled. For balancing, a counter weight of 35 kg was added in between the handles. The crop is cut by the reciprocating knife while passing through crop dividers, star wheels, pressure springs and is conveyed by a pair of lugged conveyer belts and is discharged as a neat windrow. Improvements and modifications were carriedout on most of the reaper components. Field evaluation of paddy harvester was carried out at KCAET Tavanur for two seasons. It was found that harvester has an effective cutting width of 1.55 m and an average field capacity of 0.02036 ha/hr. The pre harvest loss, sickle loss, shattering loss and total cutter bar loss were found to be 0.005 per cent, 2.43 per cent and 0.026 per cent respectively. The power tiller operated reaper-windower was found suitable for harvesting paddy both in wet as well as dry fields except the fully lodged crops. It is an appropriate machinery for harvesting paddy and is found economically and technically suitable for Kerala conditions. It was calculated that manual harvesting needs Rs. 1625/ha whereas power tiller operated reaper needs only Rs. 348/ha and thus achieved a saving of amount of Rs. 1277/ha. The savings of 186 man-hrs/ha achieved by the introduction of power tiller operated paddy reaper is a promising solution for the crisis of labour scarcity and the high cost of labour input in the paddy cultivation.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Simulation studies on different design parameters of spurs (Groynes)
    (Department of Land and Water Resources and Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1995) Roy, Mathew; KAU; Xavior Jacob, K
    The Use of spurs as river training measure has proved to be an effective means of protecting river bank and their design requires indepth knowledge about its parameters related to the solution of a specific river training problem. To analyse various design parameters of spurs, a simulation study was conducted at KERI,Peechi. Characteristics such as flow pattern, velocity distribution and scour pattern was analysed for different spur lengths 25 cm, 35 cm, 45 cm and 55 cm, spur angles 900, 1000, 1100 and 1200, spur spacings 2L, 3L, 4L and 5L and for discharge rates 14.14 1ps, 28.28 1 ps and 42.42 1 ps. Single spur and multiple spur scheme were tested on rigid as well as mobile bed condition. The analysis of the obtained flow pattern, velocity distribution and scour pattern reveals that the specified design parameters have a significant effect on flow diversion, length of bank protected, maximum scour depth at the spur nose, percentage increase in velocity at opposite bank etc. The analysis of the present study also led to conclusion that L/B ratio of 0.19, spure angle of 900 was the best combination for single spur study and the same with a spacing of 5L was most effective for multiple spur scheme.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on the preservation of boar semen in various extenders
    (Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,Mannuthy, 1977) Vijaya Kumaran, KAU; Neelakanta, Iyer C P
    With the ultimate object of evolving a suitable extender for boar semen 72 ejaculates from six boars selected at random from University Pig Breeding Farm, Mannuthy were used for the preservation studies. Six diluents viz., Egg yolk – glucose – citrate, 111ini variable temperature diluent, Coconut milk extender, Kiew – 1, Kiew – 11 and Glucose – glycine – EDTA – bicarbonate – citrate diluent were used to study the keeping quality of boar semen at two temperatures of storage ( 150 and 50C). The highest percentage of progressively motile sperms was observed in glucose – clycine – EDTA – bicarbonate – citrate, Kiew – 11 and Kiew – 1 extenders. At 150 C semen could be stored in these extenders upto 60 hours with good motility. Coconut milk extender proved to be least suitable for the preservation of boar semen both at 150 and 50 C of storage. Progressive motility in all the diluents was higher at 150 C than at 50 C.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Design fabrication and testing of a rainfall simulator
    (Department of Land and Water Resources and Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1993) Kurien, E K; KAU; George, T P
    Rainfall simulators are considered as effective aids in soil conservation research. Simulators make it possible to produce predetermined storms at any desired time and location. A rainfall simulator suitable for soil erosion studies was designed and fabricated at KCAET Tavanur. The developed simulator was tested for its performance. Erosion studies on laterite soil was conducted using the developed simulator. The rainfall simulator designed and fabricated was of an oscillating, tubing tip type. The crop former unit consisted of 112 numbers of 18 gauge hypodermic needles fitted on a 1.8 cm GI pipe network. The speed of oscillation was 8 oscillations per minute. The drop former unit was supported at a height of 3 cm above ground level. Intensity of rainfall was varied by changing the pressure of water supply to the simulator. The simulator was tested for intensity, droplet size and uniforimity of application of the rainfall produced. The intensity of rainfall was related to the pressure of water supply as 1 = 6.0386 – 31.9152 P + 177.30 P2 The drop size obtained was 2.31 mm for an intensity of 4.77 cm/hr and the corresponding drop sizes for intensities of 5.60, 6.73, 6.99 and 8.80 cm/hr were 2.20, 2.18, 1.05 and 0.80 m respectively. Christiansen’s uniformity coefficients calculated for intensities ranging from 4.77 to 8.80 cm/hr varied from 82 to 88 per cent. Experiments were also conduced to study soil loss and runoff from laterite soil. The soil loss increased with the intensity of rainfall for all the slopes studied. Maximum soil loss of 1464 kg/ha/hr occurred from a slope 20 per cent at a rainfall intensity of 8.80 cm/hr. A general trend of increase in soil loss with slope was observed. At an intensity of 8.80 cm/hr the soil loss from 5 per cent slope was 940.2 kg/ha/hr whereas the soil loss from 20 per cent slope was 1464 kg/ha/hr for the same intensity. At 5.60 cm/hr intensity of rainfall the runoff from a slope of 5 per cent was 325.33 m3 /ha/hr whereas the runoff was 432 m3 /ha/hr at 6.73 cm/hr intensity for the same slope. Empirical equations were developed for estimating soil erosion and runoff for various intensities of rainfall and land slopes. The equations are : 1. E = -982.384 + 2834.63 S + 225.239 1 (R = 0.94) 2. Q = -216.174 + 1104.65 S + 79.375 1 (R = 0.92)