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Open Access
Design, development and performance evaluation of a family size biogas plant using alternate construction material
(G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand), 2018-08) Dey, Deeksha; Singh, R.P.
Anaerobic digesters are assets for economic and clean biogas energy along with management of biodegradable waste like local biomass, agricultural waste etc. Biogas production in agriculture sector is a very fast growing market in developing countries and finds increased interest in many parts of the world. In India, net biogas production per year is about 2.07 billion m3. Different designs of biogas plants are available to provide biogas and fertilizer as residue. Beside, in hilly regions, inadequate production of biogas is experienced at a high cost of construction and installation. Thus, for optimum performance of biogas plant; design, operation efficiency and economic feasibility are vital factors to increase adaptation of small size domestic biogas plant in rural areas. Therefore, a family size biogas plant of capacity 0.5 m3 was designed at low cost of construction and ease of installation and operation. Also, its comparative analysis with conventional biogas plant like Pant RCC, Pant Tarai and prefabricated HDPE biogas plant was performed. All above biogas plants (fixed dome, floating drum and flexible type) were evaluated in three levels of temperature i.e. low, moderate and high. The study shows that daily biogas production per meter cube digester volume was higher in designed seamless HDPE sheet biogas plant as compared to Pant Tarai throughout the experiment. Also, daily biogas production per kg total solids for the designed seamless HDPE sheet biogas plant was comparable in mesophilic temperature range to other biogas plants. However, daily biogas production per kg volatile solids was higher for prefabricated HDPE biogas plant in mesophilic range with respect to other biogas plants. Methane content in biogas was highest of 68.86% in Pant RCC during mesophilic temperature. Further, cost analysis showed that lowest construction and installation cost of biogas plant as compared to Pant RCC, Pant Tarai, Deenbandhu, KVIC, prefabricated HDPE biogas plant was for the designed seamless HDPE biogas plant, both in planes as well as for hilly regions. Thus, flexible designs could be suggested for rural areas.
Open Access
Optimization of design parameters of a pedal operated winnowing fan
(G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand), 2018-08) Joshi, Swati; Singh, T.P.
A pedal operated winnowing fan was developed and fabricated in the research workshop of the department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering of G. B. Pant University especiallyfor use in hilly regions. Farmers in hilly region use conventional methods of the winnowing utilizing natural wind velocity. Available manually hand operated winnowers are heavyand the operator has to work with his one hand resulting into more effort on the arm. The present study was under taken to solve these problems. The developed winnowing fan is pedal operated where aperson can exerts more physical power for longer durations. The fan blade for this winnower is one of its vital components and was selected based on laboratory studies. During laboratory trial five sizes of fan blades having lengths of 40, 48, 60, 72, 80 cm and blade angles 10, 12, 16, 20, 22 degree, were tested at 150, 200, 230, 275, 320 and 350 rpm. The generated air velocity at the mentioned speeds was measured at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 m positions in horizontal plane and vertical plane at 0.6 m below, 0.3 m below, at fan rotational axis, 0.3 m above and 0.6 m above with reference to position of fan centre. The results were optimized using Design Expert RSM CCD technique. Based on the optimized result obtained from the software, blade with length 48 cm, blade angle 20 degree and fan speed of 320 rpm was found most suitable for winnowing operation. In the developed prototype, physical effort using foot was transmitted to fan blades, through a pedal and connecting rod to aspur gear with 80 teeth. The spur gear further transmitted the power to smaller size of spur gear having 20 number of teeth, increasing the speed at smaller gear with 4 times. With this arrangement of speed of the winnowing fan could be achieved in the range of 320 to 360 rpm. The developed winnowing fan with three blades was tested for cleaning of wheat grain at three feed rates. The cleaning efficiency was found in the range of 68.9% to 81% while winnowing in front of the winnowing fan at a distance of 1 m.
Open Access
Design and development of aspirator blower for spice thresher and performance evaluation of the developed thresher on fenugreek crop
(G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand), 2018-08) Pandey, Garima; Arun Kumar
A thresher is an agricultural machine which separates the seeds and the husk. The power operated threshers are almost a boon to the farmers as the time required for threshing is particularly less when compared with the traditional techniques like animal and human treading, beating on wooden block etc. Everywhere throughout the world, the quickly developing food industry depends to a great extent on spices for taste and flavor creators. India is the largest producer of fenugreek. During 2015-16, its production was 299 million tonnes of seeds out of an area of 211 hectares. Even after lots of development there is no thresher particularly for spices. The design factors and performance parameters of existing thresher were studied and lower concave, sieve and blower assembly were developed according to the physical properties of fenugreek seeds to attain a thresher with higher cleaning efficiency. The cleaning unit of spice thresher was designed and developed and other modifications were done at the Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar. The physical properties of fenugreek seed were important factor in deciding the design parameters of thresher and were determined with two levels of moisture contents, varying from 5.16% to 8.33% (w.b.). The length, width and thickness of fenugreek seeds were 3.26 mm, 2.01 mm, 1.53 mm, respectively at 5.16 % moisture content and 4.16 mm, 2.81 mm, 2.33 mm, respectively at 8.33% moisture content. The arithmetic mean diameter increased from 2.26 to 3.06 mm and geometric mean diameter from 2.15 to 2.98 mm as the moisture content increased from 5.16 % to 8.33 %. The surface area and volume were 14.54 mm2 and 3.61 mm3 at 5.16 % moisture content and 27.90 mm2 and 10.19 mm3 at 8.33 % moisture content. The sphericity of fenugreek seeds was 0.66 and 0.74 at 5.16 % and 8.33 % moisture content level, respectively. One thousand seed weight increased linearly from 9.67 g to 12.13 g. the bulk density and true density decreased non- linearly from 0.769 g/cm3 to 0.745 g/ cm3 and 1.316 g/cm3 to 1.294 g/cm3, with increase in moisture content from 5.16 % to 8.33 %. Also, the value of porosity for the seeds increased from 41.60 % to 42.42 %. The static coefficient of friction increased nonlinearly from 0.36 to 0.51 with increase in moisture content. Perimeter and angle of repose increased linearly from 8.95 mm to 10.05 and 38.28􀀀 to 41.16􀀀, respectively with increase in moisture content. The performance parameters of thresher in terms of sieve loss, cylinder loss, visible seed damage, threshing efficiency, cleaning efficiency, output capacity and power consumption were evaluated for different combinations of four cylinder peripheral speeds (6.27 m/s, 7.5 m/s, 9 m/s and 12.10 m/s) and four concave clearances (8mm, 14mm, 20 mm, 26 mm). The mean values of sieve loss and cylinder loss was 0.13 % and 1.27 %, respectively for different treatments. The visible seed damage was negligible and threshing efficiency was 99.9 % for all combinations of cylinder peripheral speeds and concave clearances. The cleaning efficiency was increased with increase in cylinder peripheral speed and decrease in concave clearance with 95.69 % maximum value at 9 m/s speed and 14 mm concave clearance, when fan having forward inclined blades was used as the blower. After attaching aspirator blower and providing the speed of 9 m/s to threshing cylinder with 14 mm concave clearance, for the samples received during threshing when fan blower was used, the cleaning efficiency increased significantly and the average value was 98.57 % for all the samples. The maximum output capacity was 48.26 kg/h for 12.10 m/s threshing cylinder speed and 8 mm concave- clearance. Maximum power consumption was 1.059 kW for 12.10 m/s speed and 8 mm concave- clearance. The best results were found at 9 m/s peripheral speed and 14 mm concave- clearance with 99.9 % and 98.88 % threshing and cleaning efficiency, respectively and minimum total losses.
Open Access
Comparative performance of seed metering mechanisms for finger millet and barnyard millet
(G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand), 2018-08) Kadvekar, Supriya; Singh, T.P.
Sowing is the pivotal operation in cultivation of any crop. Sowing of finger millet and barnyard millet is performed by broadcasting in the hills of Uttarakhand. The recommended seed rate requirement for finger millet and barnyard millet varies from 8- 10 kg/ha which contains about 4 million seeds. To obtain higher yields an optimum 4-5 lakh plant population is required. Therefore, after sowing thinning operation is followed to maintain a plant spacing of 7.5–10 cm. As finger millet and barnyard millet are small seeded crops, the seeds need to be placed precisely and thus it requires an appropriate seed metering mechanism in order to minimize the seed rate requirement. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the performance of the existing as well as designed seed metering mechanisms for metering the finger millet and barnyard millet seeds. Four types of seed metering mechanism namely inclined plate type (existing), inclined plate type (developed), cup feed type and sponge pad and disc type were selected and tested in the laboratory using sticky belt method in order to determine the uniformity in metering of finger millet and barnyard millet seeds. The performance of seed metering mechanisms was evaluated at five levels of forward speed i.e. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 km/h. Based on seed to seed spacing and number of seeds dropped performance indicators such as mean seed spacing, multiple index, quality of feed index, miss index, precision, seed rate were calculated. Also, number of visibly damaged seeds were counted and percentage of seed damage was determined. Coefficient of uniformity based on seeds to seed spacing and based on number of seeds dropped was calculated. The results were statistically analysed using two factorial ANOVA with completely randomized design. From the results, inclined plate type (developed) seed metering mechanism was found most suitable for barnyard millet seeds and with higher quality of feed index than other seed metering mechanisms with value ranging from 80.4- 88.4 percent at different levels of forward speed. The seed damage was found to be within the permissible limit. Inclined plate type (developed) seed metering mechanism gave better performance at 3 km/h forward speed for finger millet and 4 km/h for barnyard millet. The cup feed type seed metering mechanism gave better performance for sowing of both the seeds. Quality of feed index was found to be in the range of 60.2-71.0 and 71.5-83.3 percent at different levels of forward speed for finger millet and barnyard millet respectively. The performance of cup feed type seed metering was found to be better at 2 and 3 km/h forward speed for finger millet and barnyard millet respectively. Seed damage was not observed with cup feed type seed metering mechanism.
Open Access
Studies on compatibility of pine needle biooil as a ci engine fuel
(G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand), 2018-07) Bhunia, Snehasish; Bhattacharya, T.K.
The world is presently facing the twin crisis of fossil fuel and environmental degradation. Development of alternative fuel has most necessity for betterment of economy of country and saving the environment. In Indian Himalayas region, the availability of pine needle (Pinus roxburghii) is about 15.9 MMT/yr whereas the availability in Uttarakhand alone is about 2.058 MMT/yr. The study was conducted to access the formulation of microemulsions from pine needles bio-oil for energy use and evaluate the performance of a CI engine on formulated microemulsions. The bio-oil was prepared by using a slow pyrolysis process. The condensate collected from the slow pyrolysis process contained moisture and sediments along with organic phase, which was the biooil. Moisture and sediments were removed from bio-oil by treating it with DCM and then filtering and distillation process respectively. Forty microemulsions were prepared using 5 to 25 % of pine needle bio-oil, 2 to 16 % n-butanol and the rest made up with HSD. The fuel properties such as relative density, kinematic and dynamic viscosity, flash and fire point, cloud and pour point, gross heat of combustion, ash content, carbon residue and corrosion level in copper strip of diesel, n-butanol, distilled pine needle bio-oil and the selected microemulsions were determined. A Kirloskar make, constant speed, C.I. engine developing 3.73 kW rated power at 1500 rpm was tested the performance on reference fuel HSD and selected stable microemulsions. The condensate from pyrolysis contained 46 % of moisture and 54 % of bio-oil. The average recovery of the bio-oil from pine needle was 24.8 %. The bio-oil was found to contain 1.84 and 10.34 % of coarse and fine sediments respectively. Formulation of microemulsions from pine needle bio-oil with HSD leads to improve of some properties viz. viscosity, carbon residue, ash content, copper strip corrosion level etc. The brake specific fuel consumption by the engine on HSD was calculated as 0.274 kg kW1 h1 at 100 % load. The same was found to be 5.47, 15.69, 22.26, 33.57 and 49.64 % higher than HSD in case of microemulsions replacing 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 % HSD respectively. Brake thermal efficiency of the engine on HSD was calculated as 28.91 % at maximum load. For the microemulsions replacing 15 to 35 % HSD, the brake thermal efficiency was found to be 0.05, 8.09, 11.79, 18.30 and 26.05 % lower than HSD respectively. Based on the fuel properties and engine performance test results it was evident that microemulsion P5B10D85 (5 % bio-oil, 10 % n-butanol and 85 % HSD), microemulsion P10B10D80 (10 % bio-oil, 10 % n-butanol and 80 % HSD) and microemulsion P15B10D75 (15 % bio-oil, 10 % n-butanol and 75 % HSD) may be recommended for use in CI engine without any engine modification. The above microemulsions replace 15, 20 and 25 % of HSD.
Open Access
Studies on performance evaluation of vertical rotary plough
(G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand), 2018-08) Chandrashekar; Singh, Jayant
The undulating and sloppy geography, small size fields with uneven topography, lack of skilled labour, poor repair and maintenance facilities, low purchasing capacity of farming community and non-availability of improved farm implements and machines are some of the main reasons for low level of mechanization in the hilly region of the state. By keeping in mind the problems faced by the farmers in hilly areas and to promote farm mechanization a new type of rotary plough cum weeder is designed. The designed rotary plough has 4 straight knife edge blades which were attached on circular mounting plate with the help of nuts and bolts. Power from main engine shaft is transmitted to the rotary blades by using bevel (Pinion: 10 teeth and 4 cm diameter, Crown: 40 teeth and 16 cm diameter) and spur gear transmission system. The effect of forward speeds, rotor speed and soil moisture content on actual field capacity, field efficiency, fuel consumption, energy required per unit area and total cost operation were studied. Two soil moisture content (12.5 ± 0.5 and 14.5 ± 0.5 %), three forward speeds (1.5, 1.75 and 2 km h−1) and three rotor speed (350, 450 and 550 rpm) have been chosen. The results showed that, the maximum actual field capacity of vertical rotary plough 0.097 ha h−1 was obtained when the rotor speed was 350 rpm, with the forward speed 2 km h−1 and the soil moisture content of at 14.5 ± 0.5 %. The highest field efficiency of vertical rotary plough was 88.09 % when the soil moisture content was 14.5 ± 0.5 % with a rotor speed 350 rpm and 2 km h−1 forward speed. The minimum fuel consumption of vertical rotary plough was 0.84 l h−1 when the rotary plough operated at 350 rpm of rotor speed with 1.5 km h−1 forward speed of operation and soil moisture content was 14.5 ± 0.5 %. The maximum energy per unit area of vertical rotary plough 1298.71 MJ ha−1 was obtained when the machine is operated at 2 km h−1 forward speed, 12.5 ± 0.5 % soil moisture content with 550 rpm of rotor speed. The minimum operation cost per unit area of vertical rotary plough ₹ 1504.22 ha−1 was obtained when the soil moisture content 14.5 ± 0.5 % at 1.5 km h−1 forward speed and 350 rpm of rotor speed. The maximum weeding efficiency of vertical rotary weeder was 84.44 % with a rotor speed 550 rpm and 2 km h−1 forward speed.
Open Access
Studies on energy requirements in paddy and wheat crop production system
(G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand), 2017-07) Mounica, Sappogu Leena; Bhattacharya, T.K.
Energy is the key input in an agricultural production. Crop yield dependent upon both direct and indirect energy sources i.e. human beings, fuel, electricity, seed, fertilizer, chemical, and machinery. Paddy-wheat is the major crop rotations in Tarai region of Uttarakhand and production system of both the crops is highly mechanized. The study also compares energy requirement in raising paddy and wheat crops using more efficient methods and equipment. An attempt has therefore, been made in the experimental, commercial and farmer’s field to analyse the energy requirements in paddy and wheat crop production in Tarai region of Uttarakhand. The total energy requirement in paddy cultivation was observed as 32278.8, 23985.6, 25341.4, 25802.9, 26228.5 and 31728.7 MJ/ha with corresponding crop yield of 5.27, 7.67, 8.03, 9.11, 9.30, 9.71 t/ha under the treatment DSR (TP1), transplanting in unpuddled soil (TP2), transplanting in puddled soil with paddy harrow (TP3), rotavator (TP4), spiked puddler (TP5) and combination of paddy harrow, rotavator, patela (TP6), respectively. The requirement of electrical energy was highest in all treatments which was used for operating irrigation pumpset. The energy productivity and energy ratio for high yielding practices has been found to be 0.35 kg/MJ and 5.21 in treatment TP5 with a yield of 9.3 t/ha whereas at a yield of 9.71 t/ha in farmer’s field in (TP6), the energy productivity and energy ratio was 0.3 kg/MJ and 4.49 respectively. The production of paddy crop in a larger area TP5 (4.8 ha) and TP6 (8 ha) indicated the consumption of diesel at the rate of 84.2 l/ha and 117.9 l/ha. The total energy requirement in wheat cultivation was observed as 18146.0, 18650.9, 16646.3, 16745.5, 18491.3, 19132.7, 19760.3 and 21833.6 MJ/ha and the crop yield was 2.96, 3.32, 3.46, 2.75, 2.80, 3.21, 4.70 and 6.20 t/ha under the treatments TW11, TW12, TW13, TW2, TW3,TW4, TW5 and TW6, respectively. The highest share of energy in all treatments was found be from fertilizer. Comparing the wheat crop production in a large area i.e. 4.8 ha in treatment TW5, (commercial field) and 8 ha in treatment TW6, (farmer’s field), the energy productivity and energy ratio were 0.24 kg/MJ and 3.5 in with a yield of 4.7 t/ha and 0.28 kg/MJ and 4.17 with a yield of 6.2 t/ha respectively. The average diesel consumption was found to be between 75 to 86 l/ha for the above treatments.
Open Access
Development and performance evaluation of a pedal operated winnowing fan for hill region
(G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand), 2017-01) Sharma, Ekta; Singh, T.P.
Open Access
Development of patternator and performance evaluation of different nozzles used in agricultural sprayers
(G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand), 2017-06) Yadav, Hemant Kumar; Arun Kumar
In agrarian economy, agriculture plays a vital role to secure the nation and crop production being soul of agriculture highlights its importance. In order to accommodate the requirements of a growing population, agricultural production and protection technology play a vital role. More recently, while estimates of potential global losses due to insect and vertebrate pests, diseases and weeds varies from crop to crop, it has been estimated that these pests possibly cost up to 40% of the world’s production of food by reducing crop yield and causing losses in storage. In India, annual crop loss is estimated to be around 50,000 crores due to pests. Plant protection chemicals currently cover about 30% of the total cultivated area in India, of which insecticides account for 61.39% followed by fungicides (19.06%), herbicides (16.75%) and others (2.80%). The plant protection operations are generally done by hydraulic energy sprayers, gaseous energy sprayers, centrifugal energy sprayers, kinetic energy sprayer. Nozzle selection is one of the most important decisions to be made related to pesticide applications. The type of nozzle affects not only the amount of spray applied to a particular area, but also the uniformity of the applied spray, the coverage obtained on the sprayed surfaces, and the amount of drift that can occur. In pesticide application, accuracy and uniformity of application is most important to avoid adverse effects of pesticides on environment and crop injury, and reduced pest management. A poor choice in spray nozzles selection, or use of under-performing nozzles, can lead to re-spraying and reduced performance, so one should be very particular regarding use of nozzles. Keeping in view the above mentioned problems, a Patternator was developed in the Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering to evaluate the performance of different nozzles used in agricultural sprayers. Nine nozzles Flat Fan nozzle, Hollow Cone nozzle, Solid Cone nozzle, Flood Type nozzle, NTM, Kishan, NMD, BCN and Plastic speaker were selected and tested in the laboratory to find their volumetric distribution, swath width and spray angle at different pressure and height combinations. The independent parameters for patternator test were operating pressure (1.5, 2, 2.5,3 and 3.5 kg/cm2) and nozzle heights (200, 300,400,500,545 and 600 mm). The most uniform volumetric distribution of manual operated flat fan nozzle was obtained at 400 mm height on 2.5 kg/cm2 operational pressure and C.V. value of the distribution was 33.96%. Among the power operated nozzles, uniform volumetric distribution NTM nozzle and kishan nozzle was recorded at 545 mm height with the operational pressure of 3.5 kg/cm2 and Coefficient of variation values were 20.32 and 29.82%, respectively. Highest spray angle 69° for kishan nozzle was calculated at 400 mm height with the operating pressure of 3.5 kg/cm2 followed by flood type nozzle 68.08o was recorded at 400 mm height with the operating pressure of 3.5 kg/cm2. Minimum spray angle was calculated for the hollow cone nozzle and plastic speaker nozzle as 28.07o with the operating pressure of 1.5 kg/cm2 at 400 mm height which was similar in both types of spray nozzles. The maximum swath width of NMD nozzle (720 mm) and BCN nozzle (660 mm) was observed at 600mm height and operational pressure of 3.5 kg/cm2. Maximum discharge rate was recorded with flood type nozzle 3.120 l/min at the operating pressure of 3.5 kg/cm2 followed by NTM nozzle 1.332 l/min at 3.5 kg/cm2 and NMD nozzle 0.906 l/min at the operating pressure of 3 kg/cm2. It was found that with the increment of operating pressure, the discharge rate was also found to be increased.

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