Determination of Bulk Grains Moisture Content in a Silo Using Distributed Sensor Network
Keywords:
Grains, Moisture content, Sensor node, Sink node, GUI, LABVIEW
Abstract
This paper presents a solution to the problem of determining the moisture content of bulk grains stored in silos. A distributed sensor network was designed to achieve this. The network consists of sensor nodes and a sink node connected to a Personal Computer (PC) through a USB port. The sensor nodes were calibrated using standard saturated salt solutions.
Data collection, analysis and logging were achieved with Graphical User Interface (GUI) developed using LABVIEW graphical programming software. The distributed system was then evaluated with reference to the standard test values established against the oven-drying method. This study concluded that its approach provides improved flexibility and control in measurement of moisture content of grains over the existing stand alone meters.
References
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Chang, C.S., Converse, H.H. and Steele, J.L., Modelling of temperature of grain during storage with aeration. Transactions of the ASAE. 36(2):509–519, 1993.
Chen, C., Rapid model to determine the sorption isotherms of peanuts. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research. 75(2):401–404, 2001.
Chung, D.S. and Pfost, H. B., Adsorption and desorption of water vapour by cereal grains and their products part II. Transactions of the ASAE. 10(4):549-551, 1967.
Gillay, B. and Funk, D.B., Effects of moisture distribution on measurement of moisture content of dried corn. Acta Alimentaria. 35 (2):171–181, 2006.
Greenspan, L., Humidity fixed points of binary saturated aqueous solutions. Journal of Research of the National Bureau of Standards A - Physics and Chemistry. 81A(1): 86-96, 1977.
Haigh, A. D., Thompson, F., Gibson, A. A. P., Campbell, G. M. and Fang, C., Complex permittivity of liquid and granular materials using waveguide cells. Subsurface Sensing Technologies and Applications, 2(4):425–434, 2001.
Halsey, G., Physical adsorption on uniform surfaces. The Journal of Chemical Engineering, 16(10):931-937, 1985.
Jayas, D.S., White, N.D.G. and Muir, W.E., Stored-Grain Ecosystems. Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, 1995.
Jayas, D.S., Paliwal, J. and Visen, N.S., Multi-layer neural networks for image analysisof agricultural products. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research 77:119-128, 2000.
Lahsasni, S., Kouhila M. and Mahrouz M., Adsorption and desorption isotherms and heat of sorption of prickly pear fruit. Energy Conversion and Management, 45(2):249–261, 1985.
Lucas, E.B. and Alabadan, B.A., Simulation of temperature changes during storage of maize in hexagonal wooden bin due to weather variability. Journal of Applied Science and Technology. 2(1):16–32, 2002.
Park, K.J., Vohnikova, Z. and Brod, F. P. R., Evaluation of drying parameters and desorption isotherms of garden mint leaves (Mentha crispa L.). Journal of Food Engineering. 51:193–199, 2002.
Pfost, H. B., Maurer, S. G., Chung, D. S. and Milliken, G. A., Summarising and reporting equilibrium moisture data for grains. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, ASAE Paper No 76–3520, St. Joseph, MI. 1976.
Ray, D., Gattani, N., Castillo, E., and Blankenhorn, P., Identification of the relationship between equilibrium moisture content, dry bulb temperature, and relative humidity using regression analysis. Journal of Wood and Fiber Science. 39(2):299-306, 2007.
Singh, S.K., Singh, M.P. and Singh, D.K., Routing protocols in wireless sensor networks - A survey. International Journal of Computer Science and Engineering Survey. 1(2), 2010.
Soysal, Y. and Oztekin, S., Equilibrium moisture content equations for some medicinal and aromatic plants. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research. 74(3):317–324, 1999.
Thompson, T.L., Peart, R.M. and Foster, G.H., Mathematical simulation of corn drying. Transactions of the ASAE. 1(4):582–586, 1968.
ASAE, Moisture relationships of plant-based agricultural products, ASAE Standards D245.5 (44th Edition). American Society of Agricultural Engineers, St. Joseph, MI, 1997.
Basunia, M.A., Abe, T. and Bala, B.K., Application of finite element method for the simulation of temperature distribution during storage of rough rice in cylindrical bin. Agricultural Mechanization in Asia, Africa and Latin America. 27(2):33–40, 1996.
Brooker, D.B., Arkena, F. W. and Hall, C. W., Drying cereal grains. The Avi Publish Co., Connecticut, 1974.
Chang, C.S., Converse, H.H. and Steele, J.L., Modelling of temperature of grain during storage with aeration. Transactions of the ASAE. 36(2):509–519, 1993.
Chen, C., Rapid model to determine the sorption isotherms of peanuts. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research. 75(2):401–404, 2001.
Chung, D.S. and Pfost, H. B., Adsorption and desorption of water vapour by cereal grains and their products part II. Transactions of the ASAE. 10(4):549-551, 1967.
Gillay, B. and Funk, D.B., Effects of moisture distribution on measurement of moisture content of dried corn. Acta Alimentaria. 35 (2):171–181, 2006.
Greenspan, L., Humidity fixed points of binary saturated aqueous solutions. Journal of Research of the National Bureau of Standards A - Physics and Chemistry. 81A(1): 86-96, 1977.
Haigh, A. D., Thompson, F., Gibson, A. A. P., Campbell, G. M. and Fang, C., Complex permittivity of liquid and granular materials using waveguide cells. Subsurface Sensing Technologies and Applications, 2(4):425–434, 2001.
Halsey, G., Physical adsorption on uniform surfaces. The Journal of Chemical Engineering, 16(10):931-937, 1985.
Jayas, D.S., White, N.D.G. and Muir, W.E., Stored-Grain Ecosystems. Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, 1995.
Jayas, D.S., Paliwal, J. and Visen, N.S., Multi-layer neural networks for image analysisof agricultural products. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research 77:119-128, 2000.
Lahsasni, S., Kouhila M. and Mahrouz M., Adsorption and desorption isotherms and heat of sorption of prickly pear fruit. Energy Conversion and Management, 45(2):249–261, 1985.
Lucas, E.B. and Alabadan, B.A., Simulation of temperature changes during storage of maize in hexagonal wooden bin due to weather variability. Journal of Applied Science and Technology. 2(1):16–32, 2002.
Park, K.J., Vohnikova, Z. and Brod, F. P. R., Evaluation of drying parameters and desorption isotherms of garden mint leaves (Mentha crispa L.). Journal of Food Engineering. 51:193–199, 2002.
Pfost, H. B., Maurer, S. G., Chung, D. S. and Milliken, G. A., Summarising and reporting equilibrium moisture data for grains. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, ASAE Paper No 76–3520, St. Joseph, MI. 1976.
Ray, D., Gattani, N., Castillo, E., and Blankenhorn, P., Identification of the relationship between equilibrium moisture content, dry bulb temperature, and relative humidity using regression analysis. Journal of Wood and Fiber Science. 39(2):299-306, 2007.
Singh, S.K., Singh, M.P. and Singh, D.K., Routing protocols in wireless sensor networks - A survey. International Journal of Computer Science and Engineering Survey. 1(2), 2010.
Soysal, Y. and Oztekin, S., Equilibrium moisture content equations for some medicinal and aromatic plants. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research. 74(3):317–324, 1999.
Thompson, T.L., Peart, R.M. and Foster, G.H., Mathematical simulation of corn drying. Transactions of the ASAE. 1(4):582–586, 1968.
Published
2012-11-01
How to Cite
Onibonoje, M., Jubril, A., & Owolarafe, O. (2012). Determination of Bulk Grains Moisture Content in a Silo Using Distributed Sensor Network. Ife Journal of Technology, 21(2), 55-59. Retrieved from https://ijt.oauife.edu.ng/index.php/ijt/article/view/109
Section
Articles - DO NOT USE
