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M. Sc. Dissertations
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ThesisItem Open Access Comparative performance of evaporative cool chambers using alternative materials for storage of fruits and vegetables(CCSHAU, 2010) Yogender Singh; Yadav, Y.K.The investigations were carried out to study the comparative performance of evaporative cool chambers using alternative materials for storage of fruits and vegetables. Two evaporative cool chambers were constructed with the help of baked bricks. One of the evaporative cool chamber was filled with river bed sand whereas the other with rice husk ash. Temperature and relative humidty were recorded inside and outside the evaporative cool chambers for round the year use. It was found that for round the year average dry bulb temperature was 8.6ºC and 10.7ºC lower than ambient in evaporative cool chamber with river bed sand and in rice husk ash, respectively and the average relative humidty was by 53% and 57%, respectively higher than ambient. Low density polyethylene bags of thickenss 100 gauge (25 micron) with 1% perforation were also used in combination with these conditions for the storage studies. A comparative study was made for the storage of different fruits and vegetables inside the evaporative cool chambers and the ambient conditions and their physico-chemical parameters were observed at regular interval of time. The average cooling efficiency for round the year for evaporative cool chamber with rice husk was 14% higher than the evaporative cool chamber with river bed sand. Thus, the shelf life of the fruits and vegetables kept in these chambers increased substantially. The evaporative cool chambers extended the shelf life of fruits and vegetables by 2-3 times as compared to ambient. The evpaoriative cool chamber with rice husk ash was found more effective to retain the quality of fruits and vegetables. The evaporative cool chamber does not require mechanical or electrical energy input and can be constructed with locally available materials with unskilled labour, so the fruits and vegetables growers can use evaporative cool chamber with rice husk ash for short duration storage of horticultural produce.ThesisItem Open Access Comparative study of performance parameters of combine harvesters(CCSHAU, 2010) Dinesh Kumar; Bansal, N.K.The investigation was carried out on the comparative study of performance parameters of combine-harvesters. The main objectives of the study were to compare the existing engine performance data with the results obtained from the test report released by testing institutes and to study the extent of labor, fuel and cost involved in testing the engine. Kirloskar engine (Model 6R-1080) used in three different makes of combine harvesters, was tested three times with combines at NRFMT&TI (Hisar) during different years. Although this model of engine was already tested at A.R.A.I.(Pune) as per the BIS codes. The average mean values of engine performance data, tested at NRFMT&TI (Hisar) were compared with the engine performance obtained at A.R.A.I. (Pune). Ashok Leyland engine (Model ALU-400) used in 22 different makes of combine harvesters was tested 22 times with combines at NRFMT&TI (Hisar) in different years. The testing performances of Ashok Leyland engines used in 22 different combines were compared on the basis of mean values of performance data. Four testing performance parameters of engine viz. power (kW), torque (N-m), fuel consumption (l/h) and specific fuel consumption (g/kW-h) were selected to compare the engine performance, as given in the engine test report of the combine harvester. Mean values of all the performance parameters in Kirloskar engines (Model 6R 1080) obtained under varying speed and varying loads in different testing institutes were similar. The percentages of variations in all the testing parameters were found to be very low in varying speed and varying load test. There was no significant effect on performance parameters of the engine tested during different periods and different testing institutes. So, there was unnecessary expenditure in conducting testing of Kirloskar engines (Model 6R 1080) again at combine testing institute with no fruitful contribution to the results already obtained at A.R.A.I.(Pune). Performance of all testing parameters in Ashok Leyland engines (Model ALU-400) obtained under varying speed and varying load tests were also similar. There was no significant effect on engine performance parameters in varying speed and varying load tests in engines tested during different periods, at NRFMT&TI (HISAR). Performance of all the testing parameters in Ashok Leyland engines (Model ALU-400) obtained in maximum power test and five hours rating test were similar. The percentages of variations in all the performance parameters were found to be very low in maximum power test and five hours rating test. There was non-significant difference in engine performance parameters under maximum power test and five hours rating test of engine tested during different periods, at NRFMT&TI (HISAR). Total cost of complete testing of engine of combine harvester, at NRFMT&TI (Hisar) observed was Rs. 1.38 lacs. Retesting of Kirloskar and Ashok Leyland engines used on combine harvesters, resulted in extra expenditure of Rs.1.38 lacs on testing and also unavoidable delays. Therefore this practice needs to be reviewed at the testing institute level to economize the cost of combine testing. Retesting of engines of combines at testing institutes may be discontinued to save time, labor, energy and money.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of moisture content on physical properties of coarse grain(CCSHAU, 2011) Pati, Rajeswari; Jain, SurjeetPhysical properties often required for designing the equipments for planting, harvesting and post harvest operations. Now-a-days, all developed and developing countries are boosting the production of coarse grain as its importance as a staple food in a diet. Some selected varieties of coarse grains viz. sorghum, pearl millet and maize developed in HAU were procured. Physical properties such as Sphericity, crushing load, thousand grain mass, bulk density, particle density, porosity, angle of repose, coefficient of internal friction and coefficient of external friction on three surfaces (Plywood, G.I. sheet, Concrete) and colour were measured for three moisture contents namely 10%, 14% and 18% d.b. The physical properties of sorghum with four varieties Cv. HC-308, HC-171, HC-260 and HJ-513; pearl millet with five varieties Cv. HHB-117, HHB-94, HHB-223, HHB-197 and HHB-67 and maize with four varieties Cv. 139x1011, 1040x1011, HM-7 and 3-4-8-6ER were determined and the results were written in the text. The regression analysis was done and prediction equations are given. The properties like Sphericity, crushing load, bulk density, particle density linearly decreased and the properties like thousand grain mass, porosity, angle of repose, coefficient of internal friction and coefficient of external friction linearly increased with increase in moisture content for all the varieties.ThesisItem Open Access Development of paddle operated Petha (ash gourd) pricking machine(CCSHAU, 2011) Shukla, Abhishek; Sharma, D.K.A study of optimization of a number of process variables namely needle diameter (1, 3 and 5 mm) sugar solutions of 50-70oB temperature range of 60-80oC and FTSR of 1:3 to 1:12 for the Petha (ash gourd) sweet manufacture was attempted. Response surface methodology was adopted for optimization of process variables. The effect of process variables were studied on solute gain, water loss, colour (L* value) and sensory scores. The needle with 3 mm diameter proved to be the best thickness needle. The optimum conditions generated by RSM were: temperature as 69.65oC, concentration as 50.0oB and FTSR as 1:4.10. The kinetics study was done on the optimum conditions and it revealed that moisture content decreased from 92.5 to 23.8% following a polynomial trend. TSS increased from 4.2 to 74% following a polynomial trend, total sugars increased from 3.6 to 73.9% following a polynomial trend, reducing sugars increased from 3.4 to 3.6% following a linear trend, non-reducing sugar increased from 0.2 to 70.3% following a polynomial trend, colour value decreased from 30.08 to 12.81 following a linear trend and sensory scores increased from 1.03 to 7.86 following a linear trend. A paddle operated Petha (ash gourd) pricking machine was designed, developed and tested. The designing criteria kept in mind were, the optimum diameter of pricking needles, ergonomic height of workstation for average height of both Indian men and women and the force considerations. The machine was successful in pricking 35 kilograms of ash gourd per hour with no damage to the fruit slices. The machine pricked Petha (ash gourd) sweet was excellent in sensory scores (7.86) and quality parameters (74% TSS, 73.9% total sugars, 70.3% non-reducing sugar, 3.6% reducing sugars and L*=12.81 as colour value). The economic analysis revealed 4 years of payback period and 0.477 as breakeven point.ThesisItem Open Access Optimization of biogas slurry use for digestion of an admixture of kitchen waste and cattle dung(CCSHAU, 2011) Sunil Kumar; Yadav, Y. K.Anaerobic digestion of kitchen waste and cattle dung was carried out in laboratory scale batch mode reactors in two phases. In the first phase, anaerobic digestion with different mixture of kitchen waste (KW) and cattle dung (CD) with 20% inoculum was carried out whereas in the second phase, anaerobic digestion of mixture of KW and CD with different concentration of inoculum was carried out. Five feedstock of which were made by mixing kitchen waste and cattle dung at different mixing ratios of 0:1 (P1R1), 1:3 (P1R2), 1:1 (P1R3), 3:1 (P1R4) and 1:0 (P1R5) were tested. The result showed that reactor P1R3 (50% KW + 50% CD) with kitchen waste and cattle dung ratio of 1:1 gave the maximum (21.3 l/kg of solid substrate) biogas with volumetric biogas production of 0.37 l/kg/d and methane yield of 0.092 m3/kg VS added with solid conversion efficiency of 142 ml/g TS and 162 ml/g VS added. After completion of first phase, the best mixture obtained was 50% KW + 50% CD (P1R3). In the second phase, this mixture was digested with different concentrations of inoculums viz. 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%. The maximum biogas yield was of (27.6 l/kg of solid substrate) observed in reactor P2R4 (50% KW + 50% CD with 25% inoculum) with volumetric biogas production of (0.48 l/kg/d) and methane yield of 0.085 m3/kg VS added with solid conversion efficiency of 127 ml/g TS and 145 ml/g VS added. Therefore, mixing ratio of 1:1 of kitchen waste and cattle dung was optimal for biogas yield, methane yield and solid conversion efficiency with 25% inoculum.ThesisItem Open Access Performance evaluation of bed planter for intercropping in castor(CCSHAU, 2011) Ajit Singh; Vijaya RaniIn India, the area and production of castor is 0.74 million hectares and 0.93 million tonnes, respectively. Castor (Ricinus communis L.) is most important oilseed crop of India due to the fact that its oil has diversified uses and has great value in foreign trade. The intercropping in castor is carried out on flat bed. Firstly, castor is sown manually or by pora method and the other pulse crops of short duration are inter-sowed by seed drill. The process of sowing castor which is done manually or by animals drawn sowing plough is very tedious and time consuming. Thus, there was a need to evaluate the feasibility of raised bed system for intercropping of pulse crop in castor over existing practice of intercropping. The different physical properties of the castor seed were determined for dry seed (5.9 %), seed soaked for 6 hours (25.8 %) and seed soaked and 12 hours (32.8 %). The average length, average width and average thickness were found to increase with increased moisture content. The values for spherecity and roundness were not close to 100 % and hence seed shape could be considered oval. The gravimetric properties of the castor seed as 1000 seed weight, single seed volume and bulk density increased as soaking hours increased from 0 to 12 hours. True density and porosity increased for first 6 hrs of soaking and then the values decreased when the hours of soaking further increased form 6 to 12 hours. The effective field capacity of planter was 0.50 ha h-1at average operating speed of 3.9 km h-1. The missing index, multiplying index and quality of feed index recorded for bed planter were 10.71 %, 1.19 % and 88.10%, respectively. Payback period of bed planter and seed drill were calculated were 1.51 and 0.58 year. Break-even points in hr per year were 44.75 and 25.85 in case of bed planter and seed drill. The plant stand obtained after 21days of sowing was higher for raised bed than flat bed by 24.33%, 23.33% and 24.33 % for castor intercropped with green gram, moth bean and cluster bean. Significant difference was obtained for plant height at 30, 45, 60 days and at primary spike for castor crop. The plant height was more for raised bed intercropping than flat bed intercropping for both castor and pulse crop. Number of capsules/spike, number of pods/plant, length of spike and length of pod were also higher for the raised bed intercropping than flat bed intercropping. Thousand grain and seed weight for pulse and castor obtained was higher for castor crop and for pulse crop on raised bed than flat bed. The yield (q ha-1) for pulse and castor obtained was 31.33 %, 29.77 % and 30.43 % higher for castor crop and 4.51 %, 5.2 % and 6.27 % for pulse crop, respectively on raised bed than flat bed.ThesisItem Open Access Development of a dehumidified air dryer(CCSHAU, 2011) Pandhari, Sandeep Chavan; Garg, M.K.The present investigation entitled “Development of a dehumidified air dryer” was carried out with the objectives to development of a dehumidified air dryer and to test the performance of the dehumidified air dryer for drying of cauliflower. The development of dryer was based to maintain the low relative humidity in the drying chamber at the range of 35-450C temperature. The drying performances of heat pump dryer were compared with tray dryer. The temperature and relative humidity were recorded inside and outside of the dryer. The relative humidity were observed lower than ambient air in heat pump dryer as compared to relative humidity of the tray dryer. The rehydration ratio, nutritional characteristics, reconstitutional quality and their physic-chemical parameters of the dehydrated cauliflower were better in the heat pump dryer as compared to tray dryer. Drying in heat pump dryer at 400C took less time compared to tray dryer at 500C and 550C. The energy consumption of heat pump dryer for 24 hours of operation was found less (6, 7.5 kWh) than tray dryer (7.25, 7.8kWh) and cost of drying was found to be more in tray dryer at 50 and 550C as compared to 400C in heat pump dryer. All the analysis justifies that dehumidified air dryer did improve the quality of dried food. By using it, the products owned less browning colour, better texture, retention of nutrients and increased overall acceptability, So the dehumidified air dryer is best alternative in food industries for drying fruits and vegetables.ThesisItem Open Access Comparative performance evaluation of mechanical transplanting and direct seeding of rice under puddle and unpuddle conditions(CCSHAU, 2011) Rakesh Kumar; Bansal, N.K.Rice is a major crop that is grown in more than 110 countries. The total area planted under rice in India is 44.0 million hectares which is largest in the world against a total area of 156.6 million hectares. The total rice production in the world was 650.19 million tonnes out of which 141.13 million tonnes were produced in India. The average yield of rice in India is 3.20 tonnes/hectare. The lowest yield of (29.75 q. /ha) was obtained in Zero till-mechanical transplanting (T4) and the maximum yield (32.67 q./ha) was obtained in Unpuddle-mechanical transplanting (T5.). Economic of rice cultivation under different crop establishment techniques is presented in the Table 4.6. The rental value of the land is assumed to remain the same offset the price fluctuation. The gross returns of T4 and T2 (Zero till-direct seeded rice without residues) were found less as compared to other treatments. The lowest and highest net returns were found to be Rs.5314 (T7) and Rs.16090 (T3) with per hectare, respectively. The height benefit cost ratio was obtained as 1.27 and 1.30 for T2 and T3, respectively. The lowest benefit cost ratio was obtained as 1.08 and 1.16 for T7 and T4, respectively. A comparison between transplanting treatments T4 & T5 (unpuddled field) and T6 & T7 (puddle field) clearly shows that any attempt to switch from the irrigating practice of transplanting under puddle conditions to transplanting under unpuddled conditions will require additional water applications i.e., the water applied in transplanted treatments with unpuddled field was more than 20 cm than that applied under puddled field conditions. It is also important to note that the fields of study were historically under puddle transplanted conditions. It is assumed that there may be slight effect of previous years puddling on the infiltration rate of the soil. Consequently, the water required for unpuddled field is expected to be even more than what was observed under this study.