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Copyrigte C Unlversity of Walkato l www.science earn.org.ng
Department of
Agriculture Engineering
Course Syllabus
Theory
Lecturee Topic Weightage (%)
Solar dryers
Greenhouse definition
A building, room, or area, usually chiefly of glass, in which the temperature is maintained
within a desired range, used for cultivating.
Introduction
After the advent of green revolution, more emphasis is laid on the quality of the product along
with the quantity of production to meet the ever- growing food requirements. Both these demands
can be met when the environment for the plant growth is suitably controlled. The need to protect the
crops against unfavourable environmental conditions led to the development of protected
agriculture. Greenhouse is the most practical method of achieving the objectives of protected
agriculture, where the natural environment is modified by using sound engineering principles to
achieve optimum plant growth and yields.
History
A greenhouse is a framed or an inflated structure covered with a transparent or translucent
material in which crops could be grown under the conditions of at least partially controlled
environment and which is large enough to permit persons to work within it to carry out cultural
operations.
The grow ing of off - season cucumbers under transparent stone for Emperor Tiberius in the
Ist century, is the earliest reported protected agricu lture. The technology was rarely employed
during the next 1500 years. In the 16th century, glass lanterns, bell jars and hot beds covered with
glass were used to protect horticultural crops against cold. In the 17th century, low portable wooden
frames covered with an oiled translucent paper were used to warm the plant environment.
In Japan, primitive methods using oil -paper and straw mats to protect crops from the severe
natural environment were used as long ago the early 1960s. Greenhouses in France and England
during the same century were heated by manure and covered with glass panes. The first greenhouse
in the 1700s used glass on one side only as a sloping roof. Later in the century, glass was used on
both sides. Glasshouses were used for fruit crops such as melons, grapes, peaches and strawberries,
and rarely for vegetable production.
Protected agriculture was fully established with the introduction of polyethylene after the
World war II. The first use of polyethylene as a greenhouse cover was in 1948, when professor
Emery Myers Emmert, at the University of Kentucky, used the less expensive material in place of
more expensive glass
The total area of glasshouses in the world (1987) was estimated to be 30,000 ha and most of
these were found in North- Western Europe. In contrast to glasshouses, more than half of the world
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area of plastic green houses is in Asia, in which China has the largest area. According to 1999
estimates, an area of 6, 82,050 ha were under plastic greenhouses (Table 1.1). In most of the
countries, green houses are made of plastic and glass; the majority is plastic.
Glasshouses and rigid plastic houses are longer-life structures, and therefore are most located in
cold regions where these structures can be used throughout the year.
In Japan, year round use of greenhouses is becoming predominant, but in moderate and
warm climate regions, they are still provisional and are only used in winter. In India, the
cultivation in the plastic greenhouses is of recent origin. As per 1994-95 estimates,
approximately 100 ha of India are under greenhouse cultivation
China 3,80,000
Japan - 51,042
Korea 2,200
World Total 6,82,050
Since 1960, the greenhouse has evolved into more than a plant protector. lt is now
better understood as a system of controlled environment agricu lture (CEA), with precise
control of air and root temperature, water, humidity, plant nutrition, carbon dioxide and light.
The greenhouses of today can be considered as plant or vegetable factories. Almost every
aspect of the production system is automated, with the artificial environment and growing
system under nearly total computer control.
Greenhouse Effect
In general, the percentage of carbon dioxide in
The Greenhouse Effect
the atmosphere is 0.035% (345 ppm).
But, due to the emission of pollutants and Some solar radiation
s reflected by the Some of the infrared radiation
Earth and the passes through the atmosphere.
exhaust gaseS into the atmosphere, the atmosphere. Some is absorbed and re-emitted
in all directions by greenhouse
percentage of carbon dioxide increases which gas molecules. The effect of this
is to warm the Earth's surface
forms a blanket in the outeratmosphere. and the lower atmosphere.
Most radiation is absorbed
This causes the entrapping ofthe reflected solar by the Earth's surface Atmosphere
Infrared radiation
and warms it.
Earth's surface emitted by the
isEarth's
radiation from the earth surface. surface.
Due to this, the atmospheric temperature increases, causing global warming, melting of ice
caps and rise in the ocean levels which result in the submergence of coastal lines.
This phenomenon of increase in the ambient temperature, due to the formation of the blanket
of carbon dioxide is known as greenhouse effect.
The greenhouse covering material acts in a similar way, as it is transparent to shorter wave
radiation and opaque to long wave radiation.
During the daytime, the shorter wave radiation enters into the greenhouse and gets reflected
from the ground surface.
This reflected radiation becomes long wave radiation and is entrapped inside the greenhouse
by the covering material.
This causes the increase in the greenhouse temperature. It is desirable effect from point of
view of crop growth in the cold regions.
Advantages of Greenhouses
The following are the different advantages of using the green house for growing
Gadgets for efficient use of various inputs like water, fertilizers, seeds and plant protection
chemicals can be well maintained in a green house.
Effective control of pests and diseases is possible as the growing area is enclosed.
Percentage of germination of seeds is high in greenhouses.
The acclimatization of plantlets of tissue culture technique can be carried out in a green house.
Agricultural and horticultural crop production schedules can be planned to take advantage of
the market needs.
Different types of growing medium like peat mass, vermiculate, rice hulls and compost that
are used in intensive agriculture can be effectively utilized in the greenhouse.
Export quality produce of international standards can be produced in a green house.
When the crops are not grown, drying and related operations of the harvested produce can be
taken up utilizing the entrapped heat.
Greenhouses are suitable for automation of irrigation, application of other inputs and
environmental controls by using computers and artificial intelligence techniques.
Self-employment for educated youth on farm can be increased.
A) Based on shape
a. Lean-to type greenhouse
B) Based on Utility
a. Greenhouses for active heating
C) Based on Construction
a. Wooden framed structures
A) BASED ON SHAPE
Greenhouses can be classified based on their shape or style.
For the purpose of classification, the uniqueness of the cross section of the greenhouses can
be considered as a factor.
As the longitudinal section tend to be approximately the same for all types, the longitudinal
section of the greenhouse cannot be used for classification.
The cross sections depict the width and height of the structure and the length is perpendicular
to the plane of cross section.
Also, the cross section provides information on the overall shape of the structural members,
such as truss or hoop, which will be repeated on every day.
The commonly followed types of greenhouse based on shape are lean-to, even span, uneven
span, ridge and furrow, saw tooth and quonset.
The lean-to type greenhouse is limited to single or double-row plant benches with a total
width of 7 to 12 feet.
It can be as long as the building it is attached to.
It should face the best direction for adequate sun exposure.
The advantage of the lean-to type greenhouse
It is that, it usually is close to available electricity, water, and heat.
This design makes the best use of sunlight and minimizes the requirement of roof supports.
It has the following disadvantages:
limited space, limited light, limited ventilation and temperaturecontrol.
The height of the supporting wall limits the potential size of the design.
Temperature control is more difficult because the wall that the greenhouse is built on, may
collect the sun's heat while the translucent cover of the greenhouse may lose heat rapidly.
It is a half greenhouse, split along the peak of the roof.
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through which heat escapes.
The snow loads must be taken into the frame
specification of these green house since the snow
cannot slide off the roofs as in case of individual
free standing greenhouse, but melts away.
In spite of snow loads, ridge and furrow
greenhouses are effectively used in northern
countries of Europe and in Canada and are well
suited to the Indian conditions.
) Quonset greenhouse
This is a greenhouse, where the pipe arches or trusses are supported by pipe purling running
along the length of the greenhouse
In general, the covering material used for this type of greenhouses is polyethylene.
Such greenhouses are typically less expensive than the gutter connected greenhouses and are
useful when a small isolated cultural area is required. These houses are connected either in
free, standing style or arranged in aninterlocking ridge and furrow.
In the interlocking type, truss members overlap sufficiently to allow a bed of plants to grow
between the overlapping portions of adjacent houses.
A single large cultural space thus exists for a set of houses in this type, an arrangement that is
better adapted to the automation and movement of labour.
B) Based On Utility
Classification of greenhouses can be made depending on the functions or utilities.
The different utilities, artificial cooling and heating of the greenhouse are more expensive and
elaborate.
Hence based on the artificial cooling and heating, greenhouses are classified as green houses
for active heating and active cooling system.
To avoid the cold bite to plants due to freezing, some amount of heat has to'be supplied.
The requirements for heating greenhouse depend on the rate at which the heat is lost to the
outside environment.
Various methods are adopted to reduce the heat losses, viz., using double layer polyethylene,
thermo pane glasse (Two layers of factory sealed glass with dead air space) or to use heating
systems, such as unit heaters, central heat, radiant heat and solar heating system.
This type of greenhouse either consists of evaporative cooling pad with fan or fog cooling.
This greenhouse is designed in such a way that it permits a roof opening of 40% and in some
cases nearly 100%.
C) Based On Construction
The type of construction is predominantly influenced by the structural material, though the
covering material also influences the type.
Span of the house inurn dictates the selection of structural members and their construction.
Higher the span, stronger should be the material and more structural members are used to
make sturdy truss type frames.
For smaller spans, simpler designs like hoops can be followed.
Therefore based on construction, greenhouses can be broadly classified as wooden framed,
pipe framed and truss framed structures.
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Flat steel, tubular steel or angular iron is welded together to form a truss encompassing rafters,
chords and struts.
Struts are support members under compression and chords are support members under
tension.
Angle iron purlins running throughout the length of greenhouse are bolted to each truss.
Columns are used only in very wide truss frame houses of 21.3 m or more.
Most of the glass houses are of truss frame type, as these frames are best suited for pre-
fabrication.
E) Based On Covering Materials
Covering materials are the major and important component of the greenhouse structure.
>Covering materials have direct influence on the greenhouse effect inside the structure and
they alter the air temperature inside the house.
The types of frames and method of fixing also varies with the covering material.
Based on the type of covering materials, the greenhouses are classified as glass, plastic film
and rigid panel greenhouses.
a) Glass greenhouses
Only glass greenhouses with glass as the
covering material existed prior to 1950.
Glass as covering material has the
advantage of greater interior light intensity.
These green houses have higher air
infiltration rate which leads to lower interior
humidity and better disease prevention.
Lean-to type, even span, ridge and furrow type of designs are used for construction of glass
greenhouse.
For ex ample, the best quality ultraviolet (UV) stabilized film can last for four years only.
Quonset design as well as gutter-connected design is suitable for using this covering material.
c) Panel greenhouses
Polyvinyl chloride rigid panels, fibre glass-
reinforced plastic, acrylic and polycarbonate
rigid panels are enmployed as the covering
material in the quonset type frames or ridge
and furrow type frame.
This material is more resistant to breakage
and the light intensity is uniform throughout
the greenhouse when compared to glass or
plastic.
High grade panels have long life even up to
20 years.
The main disadvantage is that these panels tend to collect dust as well as to harbor algae,
which results in darkening of the panels and subsequent reduction in the light transmission.
There is significant danger of fire hazard.
d) Shading Nets
There are a great number of types and varieties
of plants that grow naturally in the most
diverse climate conditions that have been
transferred by modern agriculture from their
natural habitats to controlled crop conditions.
Therefore, conditions similar to the natural
ones must be created for each type and variety
of plant.
Each type of cultivated plant must be given the
specifie type of shade required for the diverse
phases of its development.
The shading nets fulfill the task of giving appropriate micro-climate conditions to the plants.
Shade nettings are designed to protect the crops and plants from UV radiation, but they also
provide protection from climate conditions, such as temperature variation, intensive rain and
winds.
Better growth conditions can be achieved for the crop due to the controlled micro- climate
conditions "created" in the covered area, with shade netting, which results in higher crop
yields. All nettings are UV stabilized to fulfill expected lifetime at the area of exposure.
They are characterized of high tear resistance, low weight for easy and quick installation with
a 30-90% shade value range.
A wide range of shading nets are available in the market which are defined on the basis of the
percentage of shade they deliver to the plant growing under them.
The productivity of a crop is influenced not only by its heredity but also by the
microclinmate around it. The components of crop microclimate are light, tenmperature, air
compositions and the nature of the root medium. In open fields, only manipulation of nature
of the root medium by tillage, irrigation and fertilizer application is possible. The closed
boundaries in greenhouse permit control of any one or more of the components of the micro
climate.
A) Light
The visible light of the solar radiation is a source of energy for plants.
Light energy, carbon dioxide (CO2) and water all enter in to the process of photosynthesis
through which carbohydrates are formed.
The production of carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of
chlorophyll, using light energy is responsible for plant growth and reproduction.
The rate of photosynthesis is governed by available fertilizer elements, water, carbon dioxide,
light and temperature.
The photosynthesis reaction can be represented as follows
Cholophyl
CO2+Water + Light Energy Carbohydrates + Oxygen
Plant Nutrients
Considerable energy is required to reduce the carbon that is combined with oxygen in CO2 gas
to the state in which it exists in the carbohydrate.
The light energy thus utilized is trapped in the carbohydrate.
If the light intensity is diminished, photosynthesis slows down and hence the growth.
If higher than optimal light intensities are provided, growth again slows down because of the
injury to the chloroplasts.
The light intensity is measured by the international unit known as Lux.
It is direct illumination on the surrounding surface that is one meter from a uniform point
source of I international candle.
Green house crops are subjected to light intensities varying from 129.6klux on clear summer
days to 3.2 Klux on cloudy winter days.
For most crops, neither condition is ideal.
Many crops become light saturated, in other words, photosynthesis does not increase at light
extent of about 40% from mid spring (May) to mid fall (August and September).
Thus, it is apparent that light intensity requirements of photosynthesis are vary considerably
from crop to crop.
Light is classified according to its wave length in nanometers (nm).
Not all light useful in photosynthesis process.
UV light is available in the shorter wavelength range, i.e less than 400nm.
Large of quantities of it is harmful to the plants. Glass sereens are opaque to the most UV
light and light below the range of 325nm. Visible and white light has wavelength of 400 to
700nm.Far red light (700 to 750nm) affects plants, besides causing photosynthesis.
Infrared rays of longer wavelengths are not involved in the plantprocess.
It is primarily, the visible spectrum of light that is used in photosynthesis.
In the blue and red bands, the photosynthesis activity is higher, when the blue light (shorter
wavelength) alone is supplied to plants, the growth is retarded, and the plant becomes hard
and dark in color.
When the plants are grown under red light (longer wavelength), growth is soft and internodes
are long, resulting in tall plants.
Visible light of all wavelengths is readily utilized in photosynthesis.
B) Temperature
Temperature is a measure of level of the heat present.
All crops have temperature range in which they can grow well.
Below this range, the plant life process stop due to ice formation within the tissue and cells
C) Relative humidity
As the green house is a closed space, the relative humidity of the green house air will be more
when compared to the ambient air, due to the moisture added by the evapo- transpiration
process.
Some of this moisture is taken away by the air leaving from the green house due to
ventilation.
Sensible heat inputs also lower the relative humidity of the air to some ex tent.
In order to maintain the desirable relative humidity levels in the green houses, processes like
humidification or dehumidification are carried out.
For most crops, the acceptable range of relative humidity is between 50 to 80%.
However for plant propagation work, relative humidity up to 90% may be desirable.
In summer, due to sensible heat addition in the daytime, and in winters for increasing the
night time temperatures of the green house air, more sensible heat is added causing a
reduction in the relative humidity of the air.
For this purpose, evaporative cooling pads and fogging syste m of humidification are
employed.
When the relative humidity is on the higher side, ventilators, chemical dehumidifiers and
cooling coils are used for de- humidification.
D) Ventilation
A green house is ventilated for either reducing the temperature of the green house air or for
replenishing carbon dioxide supply or for moderating the relative humidity of the air.
Air temperatures above 35°C are generally not suited for the crops in green house.
It is quite possible to bring the green house air temperature below this upper limit during
spring and autumn seasons simply by providing adequate ventilation to the greenhouse.
The ventilation in a green house can either be natural or forced.
In case of small green houses (less than óm wide) natural ventilation can be quite effective
during spring and autumn seasons.
However, fan ventilation is essential to have precise control over the air temperature, humidity
and carbon dioxide levels.
E) Carbon dioxide
Carbon is an essential plant nutrient and is present in the plant in greater quantity than any
other nutrient. About 40% of the dry matter of the plant is composed of carbon.
Under normal conditions, carbon dioxide (CO;) exits as a gas in the atmosphere slightly
above 0.03% or 345ppm.
During the day, when photosynthesis occurs under natural light, the plants in a green house
draw down the level of Coz to below 200ppm. Under these circumstances, infiltration or
ventilation increases carbon dioxide levels, when the outside air is brought in, to maintain the
ambient levels of CO2.
If the level of C02 is less than ambient levels, CO2 may retard the plant growth.
In cold climates, maintaining ambient levels of CO2 by providing ventilation may be un-
economical, due to the necessity of heating the incoming air in order to maintain proper
growing temperatures.
In such regions, enrichment of the green house with CO2 is followed.
The exact CO2 level needed for a given crop will vary, since it must be correlated with other
variables in greenhouse production such as light, temperature, nutrient levels, cultivar and
degree of maturity.
Most crops will respond favorably to CO; at 1000 to 1200 ppm.
A greenhouse, is basically the purpose of providing and maintaining a growing environment
that will result in optimum production at maximum yield.
The agriculture in the controlled environment is possible in all the regions irrespective of
climate and weather.
It is an enclosing structure for growing plants, greenhouse must admit the visible light portion
of solar radiation for the plant photosynthesis and, there for, must be transparent.
At the same time, to protect the plants, a greenhouse must be ventilated or cooled during the
day because of the heat load from the radiation.
The structure must also be heated or insulated during cold nights.
A greenhouse acts as a barrier between the plant production areas and the external or the
general environment
Structural design
The most important function ofthe greenhouse structure and its covering is the protection of
the crop against hostile weather conditions (low and high temperatures, snow, hail, rain and
wind
diseases and pests.
It is inmportant to develop greenhouses with a max imum intensity of natural light inside.
The structural parts that can cast shadows in the greenhouse should be minimized.
The different structural designs of greenhouse based on the types of frames are available.
A straight side wall and an arched roof is possibly the most common shape for a greenhouse,
but the gable roof is also widely used.
Both structures can be free standing or gutter connected with the arch roof greenhouse.
The arch roof and hoop style greenhouses are most often constructed of galvanized iron pipe.
If tall growing crops are to be grown in a greenhouse or when benches are used, it is best to
use a straight side wall structure rather than a hoop style house, this ensures the best
operational use of the greenhouse.
A hoop type greenhouse is suitable for low growing crops, such as lettuce, or for nursery
stock which are housed throughout the winter in greenhouses located in extremely cold
regions.
A gothic arch frame structure can be designed to provide adequate side wall height without
loss of strength to the structure.
Loads in designing the greenhouse structures include the weight of the structure itself and, if
supported by the structure, loads of the equipment for the heating and ventilation and water
lines.
Side wel with arch roof Side we" with gotho root
HAE H
d. Side well outter-connected root
Covering Materials
The following factors are to be considered while selecting greenhouse covering material:
i.e. Light, Temperature, Weight, Resistant to impact, and durability to outdoor weathering andd
In temperature regions where high temperatures are required, the covering material with high
light transmission and far IR absorption must be selected. Also the loss of heat by conduction
should be minimum.
.no.
Sr.i Covering material Life span
Glass and acryl sheet 20 years
The ideal greenhouse selective covering material should have the following
properties:
It should transmit the visible light portion of the solar radiation which is utilized by plants for
photosynthesis.
It should absorb the small amount of UV in the radiation and convert a portion of it to
fluoresce into visible light, useful for plants.
It should reflect or absorb IR radiation which are not useful to plants and which causes
greenhouse interiors to overheat.
Should be of minimum cost.
Should have usable life of 10 to 20 year
Materials of Construction
Materials of construction for traditional and low cost green house: Wood, G.I.,
aluminum, steel, R.C.C. and Glass
The following materials commonly used to build frames for greenhouse are:
) Wood,
(ii) Bamboo,
(ii) Steel,
(iv) Galvanized iron pipe,
() Aluminum and
(vi) Rcinforced concrete (RCC).
(vii) Glass
The selection of above materials was based on their Specific physical properties, requirements
of design strength, life expectancy and cost of construction materials.
Wood
Wood and bamboo are generally used for low cost poly-houses.
In low cost poly-houses, the wood is used for making frames consisting of side posts and
columns, over which the polythene sheet is fixed.
The commonly used woods are pine and casuarina, which are strong and less expensive. In
pipe-franmed poly-houses, wooden battens can be used as end frames for fixing the covering
material.
In tropical areas, bamboo is often used to form the gable roof of a greenhouse structure. Wood
must be painted with white colour paint to improve light conditions with in the green house.
Care should be taken to select a paint that will prevent the growth of mold.
Wood must be treated for protection against decay.
Chromated copper arsenate and ammonical copper arsenate are water based preservatives that
are applied to the wood that may come into contact with the soil.
Red wood or cypress (natural decay resistance woods) can be used in desert or tropical
regions, but they are expensive.
Aluminum and steel must be protected by painting with bitumen tar, to protect these materials
from corrosion, while these materials contact with the ground.
Now-a-days, the greenhouse construction is of metal type, which is more permanent.
RCC is generally limited to foundations and low walls.
>In permanent bigger greenhouses, floors and benches for growing the crops are made of
concrete.
Glass
Glass has been traditional glazing material all over the world.
Widely used glass for green house are: (1) Single drawn or float glass and (i) Hammered and
tempered glass.
Single drawn or float glass has the uniform thickness of 3 to 4 mm.
Hammered and tempered glass has a thickness of 4 mm.
Single drawn glass is made in the traditional way by simply pulling the molten glass either by
hand or by mechanical equipment.
Float glass is made in modern way by allowing the molten glass to float on the molten tin.
Coating with metal oxide with a low emissivity is used for saving of energy with adequate
light transmittance.
Hammered glass is a cast glass with one face (exterior) smooth and the other one (interior)
rough. It is designed to enhance light diffusion.
This glass is not transparent, but translucent.
Tempered glass is the glass, which is quickly cooled after manufacture, adopting a procedure
similar to that used for steel.
This kind of processing gives higher impact resistance to the glass, which is generally caused
by hail.
Modern material
(4) Fiberglass-reinforced
rigid-panel
A well-designed irrigation system will supply the precise amount of water needed each day
throughout the year.
The quantity of water needed would depend on the growing area, the crop, weather
conditions, the time of year and whether the heating or ventilation system is operating.
Water needs are also dependent on the type of soil or soil mix and the size and type of the
container or bed.
Watering in the green house most frequently accounts for loss in crop quality.
Though the operation appears to be the simple, proper decision should be taken on how, when
and what quantity to be given to the plants after continuous inspection and assessment .Since
under watering (less frequent) and over watering (more frequent) will be injurious to the
crops, the rules of watering should be strictly adhered to.
Several irrigation water application systems, such as hand writing, perimeter watering,
overhead sprinklers, boom watering and drip irrigation, over sprinklers, boom watering and
drip irrigation which are currently in use.
Rules of Watering
The following are the important rules of application of irrigation.
Rule 1: Use a well drained substrate with good structure
If the root substrate is not well drained and aerated, proper watering can not be achieved.
Hence substrates with ample moisture retention along with good aeration are indispensable for
proper growth of the plants. The desired combination of coarse texture and highly stable
structure can be obtained from the formulated substrates and not from field soil alone.
Rule 2: Water thoroughly each time
Partial watering of the substrates should be avoided; the supplied water should flow from
the bottom in case of containers, and the root zone is wetted thoroughly in case of beds. As a
rule, 10 to 15% excess of water is supplied. In general, the water requirement for soil based
substrates is at a rate of 20 1/mn* of bench, 0.3 to 0.35 litres per 16.5 cm diameter pot.
Rule 3: Waterjust before initial moisture stress occurs
Since over watering reduces the aeration and root development, water should be applied
just before the plant enters the early symptoms off water stress. The foliar symptoms, such as
texture, colour and turbidity can be used to determine the moisture stress, but vary with crops.
For crops that
do not show any symptoms, colour, feel and weight of the substrates are used for
assessment.
Overhead sprinklers
While the foliage on the majority of erops should be kept dry for disease control
purposes, a few crops do tolerate wet foliage.
These few crops can most easily and cheaply be irrigated from overhead.
Bedding plants, azalea liners, and some green plants are crops commonly watered from
overhead.
A pipe is installed along the middle of a bed.
Riser pipes are installed periodically to a height well above the final height of the crop
(Fig.14).
A total height of 0.6 m is sufficient for bedding plants flats and 1.8 m for fresh flowers.
A nozzle is installed at the top of each riser.
Nozzles vary from those that throw a 360° pattern continuously to types that rotate around a
360° circle.
Trays are sometimes placed under pots to collect water that would otherwise fall on the
ground between pots and wasted.
Each tray is square and meets the adjacent tray.
In this way nearly all water is intercepted.
Each tray has a depression to accommodate the pot and is then angled upward from the pot
toward the tray perimeter.
The trays also have drain holes, which alow drainage of excess water and store certain
quantity, which is subsequently absorbed by the substrate.
Drip Irrigation System
Drip irigation, often referred to as trickle irrigation, consists of laying plastic tubes of small
diameter on the surface or subsurface of the field or greenhouse beside or beneath the plants.
Water is delivered to the plants at frequent intervals through small holes or emitters located
Saud filter
Mainline
Well
End stopP
Dripper
Flush valve
Submaun HDPE PVC
Drip irrigati sys ms are commonly used in combination with protected agriculture, as an
integral and essential part of the comprehensive design.
When using plastic mulches, row covers, or greenhouses, drip irrigation is the only means of
applying uniform water and fertilizer to the plants.
Drip irrigation provides maximum control over environment variability; it assures optimum
production with minimal use of water, while conserving soil and fertilizer nutrients; and
controls water, fertilizer, labour and machinery costs.
Drip irrigation is the best means of water conservation.
In general, the application efficiency is 90 to 95%, compared with sprinkler at 70% and
furrow
irrigation at 60 to 80%, depending on soil type, level of field and how water is applied to the
furrows.
Drip irrigation is not only recommended for protected agriculture but also for open field crop
production, especially in arid and semi-arid regions of the world.
One of the disadvantages of drip irrigation is the initial cost of equipment per acre, which may
be higher than other systems of irrigation.
However, these costs must be evaluated through comparison with the expense of land
preparation and maintenance often required by surface irrigation.
Basic equipment for irrigation consists of a pump, a main line, delivery pipes, manifold, and
drip tape laterals or emitter
The head, between the pump and the pipeline network, usually consists of control valves, couplings,
filters, time clocks, fertilizer injectors, pressure regulators, flow meters, and gauges.
Since the water passes through very small outlets in emitters, it is an absolute necessity that it should
be sereened, filtered, or both, before it is distributed in the pipe system.
The initial field positioning and layout of a drip system is influenced by the topography of the land and
the cost of various system configurations.
Fog particles are generally considered to be less than 50 microns (0.002in) in diameter.
The particle size typically used in high pressure greenhouse fog systems is about 10 microns.
Mist, on the other hand, is particles from 50 to 100 microns.
As a comparison, human hair is about 0.004in diameter that equals 100 microns.
Breaking one gallon of water into 50 micron droplets will produce about 68 billion droplets of fog.
Injected into the air, tiny water droplets of fog remain suspended until they are evaporated.
The smallest particles vaporize almost instantaneously.
The larger ones are carried by air currents, gradually becoming smaller until they are vaporized. Mist
size particles are heavier and take much longer to evaporate.
These are more likely to fall out and wet the plant surface or saturate the growing medium.
On the other hand, when he air temperature is high and leaf temperature increases, water loss
can exceed the ability of the plant to take up moisture and stress can build up within the plant.
The use of fog and mist at this time can reduce the air temperature and increase the humidity
within the plant canopy without saturating the plant medium.
With more oxygen in the root zone, faster rooting occurs. Once the root system is established,
the relative humidity can be reduced.
Experience is usually the best approach to determining the proper humidity level.
Another advantage to the fog system is that foliar feeding, insecticides and fungicides can be
applied automatically with a fog system. This saves time and gives a uniform application.
Foggers systems
Several methods are used to produce fog.
A typical system uses ahigh pressure pump, distribution piping and nozzles that break the
water stream into very fine droplets.
Piston pumps are needed to develop the 800 to 1200 psi pressure to get the 10 to 20 micron
size droplets.
Most systems available from irrigation equipment suppliers and labeled as fog systems
operate on 50 to 60 psi irrigation water and create a droplet size larger than 50 microns.
They are really mist: ystems
Copper, stainless steel and re-enforced flexible hose are used for piping.
Diameter is frequently 1/4in or 3/8in as water supply required is only
I to 2 gallons/hour/nozzle. For propagation, lines of pipe are evenly spaced above the crop
area.
Plastic, ceramic and stainless steel are used for nozzles.
Nozzles should have anti-drip check valves to prevent dripping after the system shuts off.
An integral strainer will keep the nozzle from clogging.
The greatest problem associated with fogging systems is nozzle clogging from chemical and
particulate matter.
Calcium deposits can coat the inside ofthe pipe and nozzles reducing flow.
Water treatment or the use of rain water or bottled water can solve this problem.
Several levels of filtration of particulate matter should be installed.
Fog can also be produced by a system using a high-speed fan with water channeled to the tip
of the blades.
The shearing action as the water exits the blades produces a fine fog.
The fan distributes the fog above the crop canopy.
This system has the advantage of less clogging as no nozzles are used but some growers have
had to remove the system because of the high noise level.
Water at household pressure, injected through a nozzle into a stream of compressed air will so
produce a fine fog.
Each nozzle requires both a water and air supply.
Different flow rates and droplet sizes can be achieved by adjusting the water and air pressure.
Distribution can be through ducts, HAF fans or nozzles evenly space over the crop.
For small areas, some growers have used an electrothermal aspirator with good results.
Fog systems frequently operate with a controller or computer that measures vapor pressure
deficit (VPD).
The difference between saturation water vapor pressure and ambient water vapor pressure is
the VPD and represents the evapotranspirational demand of the surrounding atmosphere as
well as the proximity to the dew point.
Due to the fact that relative humidity varies with temperature, it is better to manage
propagation with VPD.
By maintaining the VPD below one, water stress within the plant can be keep at an acceptable
level.
Other systems
Hand watering
EesyiBages
Perimeter watering
Boom watering
The term greenhouse refers to a structure covered with a transparent material for the
purpose of admitting natural light for plant growth. Two or more greenhouses in one location
are referred to as a greenhouse range. A build ing associated with the greenhouses that is used
for storage or for operations in suppot of growing of plants, is referred to as a service
building or head house.
Natural Ventilation
In the tropics, the sides of greenhouse
NWIX/XY
structures are often left open for wwNANWNNNINNINNN
natural ventilation.
Tropical greenhouse is primarily a
rain shelter, a cover of polyethylene
over the crop to prevent rainfall from
entering the growing area.
This mitigates the problem of foliage
diseases.
Ventilators were located on both roof slopes adjacent to the ridge and also on both side walls
of the greenhouse.
The ventilators on the roof as well as those on the side wall accounts, each about 10% of the
total roof area. During winter cooling phase, the south roof ventilator was opened in stages to
meet cooling needs.
When greater cooling was required, the north ventilator was opened in addition to the south
ventilator.
In summer cooling phase, the south ventilator was opened first, followed by the north
ventilatopr.
As the incoming air moved across the greenhouse, it was warmed by sunlight and by mixing
With the warmer greenhouse air.
With the increase in temperature, the incoming air becomes lighter and rises up and flows out
through the roof ventilators.
This sets up a chimney effect which in turn draws in more air from the side ventilators
creating a continuous cycle.
This system did not adequately cool the greenhouse.
On hot days, the interior walls and floor were frequently injected with water to help cooling.
Force Ventilation
In forced or active ventilation,
mechanical devices such as fans are
used to expel the air.
This type of ventilation can achieve
uniform cooling. These include
summer fan-and-pad and fog
cooling systems and the winter
convection tube and horizontal
airflow systems.
For mechanical ventilation, low pressure, medium volume propeller blade fans, both
directly connected and belt driven are used for greenhouse ventilation.
They are placed at the end of the green house opposite to the air intake, which is normally
covered by gravity or motorized louvers.
The fans vents, or louvers, should be motorized, with their action controlled by fan
operation.
Motorized louvers pre vent the wind from opening the louvers, especially when heat is
being supplied to the green house.
Wall vents should be placed continuously across the end of the greenhouse to avoid hot
areas in the crop Zone.
Evaporative cooling in combination with the fans is called as fan-and-pad cooling system.
The fans and pads are usually arranged on opposite walls of the greenhouse.
The common types of cooling pads are made of excelsior (wood fiber), aluminum fiber,
glass fiber, plastic fiber and cross-fluted cellulose material.
Evaporative cooling systems are especially efficient in low humidity environments.
There is growing interest in building greenhouses combining both passive (natural) and
active (forced) systems of ventilation.
Microprocessors
Dedicated microprocessors can be considered as simple computers.
A typical microprocessor will have a keypad and a two or three line liquid crystal display
of, sometimes, 80-character length for programming.
They generally do not havea floppy disk drive.
They have more output connections and can control up to 20 devices.
Computer
Now-a-days, computer control
systems are common in greenhouse
installation throughout Europe,
Japan and the United States.
Computer systems can provide
fully integrated control of
temperature, humidity, irrigation
and fertilization, CO2, light and
shade levels for virtually any size e em igemd teng
growing facility.
the hent
heat required for moisture Lvapcrative
thenger
Mecirculation
evaporation is derived from the purg
ebherno
surrounding environment causing a
The two active summer cooling systems in use presently are fan-and pad and fog systems.
In the evaporative cooling process the cooling is possible only up to the wet bulb temperature
of the incoming air.
Green house
Delivery-
pipe Exhaust
fan
Tank
The fan and pad evaporative cooling system has been available since 1954 and is still the most
common summer cooling system in green houses.
Along one wall of the green house, water is passed through a pad that is usually placed
vertically in the wall.
Traditionally, the pad was composed of excelsior (wood shreds), but today it is commonly
made of a cross-flutedcellulose material some what similar in appearance to corrugated card
board.
Exhaust fans are placed on the opposite wall.
Warm outside air is drawn in through the pad.
The supplied water in the pad, through the process of evaporation, absorbs heat from the air
passing through the pad as well as from surroundings of the pad and frame, thus causing the
cooling effect.
Khus-khus grass mats can also be used as cooling pads.
As this system does not wet the foliage, there is less scope for disease and pest attack.
The plants stay dry throughout the process
This system is equally useful for seed germination and propagation since it eliminates the need
for a mist system.
Both types of summer evaporative cooling system can reduce the greenhouse air temperature.
The fan-and pad system can lower the temperature of incoming air by about 80% of the
difference between the dry and wet bulb temperatures while the fog cooling system can lower
the temperature by nearly 100% difference.
Otherwise, hot and cold spots in the green house will lead to uneven crop timing and quality.
This mixing of low temperature ambient air with the warm inside air cools the green house in
the winter.
Two active winter cooling systems commonly employed are convection tube cooling and
horizontal air flow (HAF) fan cooling systems.
Engineering Properties
Engineering Properties of cereals, pulses and oil seed.
Their applications in PHT equipment design and operation:
Physical properties: Size and Shape (Roundness and Sphericity) Porosity, Coefficient of
friction, and angle of repose, Thermal properties: Definition of Specific heat and
Thermal conductivity. Aero & hydrodynamie properties: Definition of Terminal
velocity.
3. The machine should be as simply designed as possible and of such sturdy construction that few
repairs are needed.
4. It should be economical in operation
withstand the application of chemical cleaners, sanitizers, and pesticides; they must be easily
cleaned and readily accessible for inspection
3. Open seams in cooking kettles, mixers, blenders, storage vats, and filling machines must be
eliminated.
4. Surfaces of equipment in contact with food must be smooth and continuous; rough spots and
crevices must be avoided.
5. All junctions, particu larly pipelines and ducts, must be curved or rounded. Cooking kettles,
storage tanks, holding vats, and similar units must have long curves at the juncture of the
bottom and sidewalls instead of sharp corners.
6. All machine parts in contact with food must be accessible for hand-brush cleaning and/or
inspection.
7. Dead-end areas in all machines must be eliminated.
8. Metals like lead, antimony, and cadmium must not be used in fabricating equipment. Copper or
copper-containing alloys are not recommended.
9.Stuffing boxes or glands in which food might accumulate and decompose should not be used.
10. Pipe fittings must have a sanitary thread and threaded parts must be accessible for cleaning.
11. Sanitary-type valves, such as plug type, should be used.
ceilings may pick up dirt and peeled paint, later to drop into open cooking kettles or holding
vats. PHT equipment"'s design and operation
15. Mix ing blades should be welded to the drive shaft or both should be in one piece. Shaft and
blades should be removable from the mixer at a point above the surface of the product.
16. Machine parts in contact with food should be constructed of noncorrosive metal.
17.Equipment like kettles, certain mixers, and holding vats and storage bins should have
sectional covers, which are free from seams, hinges, crevices, and heads in which dirt might
collect.
18. Drive shafts must be sealed so that lubricating grease does not work its way into the food.
19. Any horizontal parts of machines or supports should be at a minimum of 15 cm (6 in) above the
floor. Tubular supports are preferred, but if squared tubing is placed horizontally, it should be
rotated 45° to eliminate flat surfaces. Equipment occupying large floor areas should have a
clearance of 46 cm (18 in) or more to facilitate cleaning.
Physical Properties
Shape and size
Shape of the grain is connected with the geometrical form of the grain.
Size of the grain refers to the characteristics of an object which in term determine how much
space it occupies and, within limits, can be described in terms of length, width, and thickness.
The Shape and size together with other characteristics of the grains is important in the design of
the seed grader.
These factors determine the free flowing or bridging tendencies of the seed mass, and therefore,
determine the suitable handling and feeding equipment.
Sphericity and equivalent diameters are also used to describe the shape and size, respectively for
the grains.
The sphericity (p) defined as the ratio of the surface area of sphere having the same
volume as that of the grain to the surface area of the grain, can be calculated from the axial
dimensions of the grain as follows:
=(
The sphericity (p) of the fruits can be calculated using the following formula.
1
where,
(a) = major diameter ; (b) = intermediate diameter; (c) = minor diameter The geometrical
mean diameter (GMD) can be calculated as follows:
GMD (dbe)
Porosity
Properties such as bulk density, true density and porosity of grains are useful in design of
various separating, handling, storing and drying systems. Resistance of bulk grain to airflow
is a function of the porosity and the kernel size. The porosity (E) defined as the percentage of
void space in the bulk grain which is not occupied by the grain can be calculated from the
following relationship:
= ( X100
Coefficient of friction
The frictional properties of granular materials are important in designing of storage bins,
hoppers, chutes, pneumatic conveying system, screw threshers and conveyors, forage
harvesters, etc,. The ratio between the force of friction (F), and the force normal to the surface
of contact (N), is known as the coefficient of friction (u).
Mathematically,
coefficient of friction,
Angle of Repose
The flowing capacities of different grains are different. It is characterized by the angle
of natural slope. The angle of repose is the angle between the base and the slope of the cone
formed on a free vertical fall of the grain mass to a horizontal plane.
Thermal Properties
The raw foods are subjected to various types of thermal treatment namely heating,
cooling, drying, freezing etc., for processing. The change of temperature depends on the
thermal properties of the product. Therefore knowledge of thermal properties namely, specific
heat, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity is essential for the design of different thermal
equipments and for solving various problems on heat transfer operation.
Specific Heat:
Specific heat of a substance is defined as the amount of heat required to raise the
temperature of unit mass through 1°C. In mathematical form, specific heat Cp, is written as
Cp = Q/nm. dT where Q is the amount of heat, m is the mass of material, and dT is the change
in temperature.
Thermal Conductivity:
The thermal conductivity is defined as the amount of heat flow through unit thickness of
material over an unit area per unit time for unit temperature difference.
Specific Heat:
Specific heat of a substance is defined as the amount of heat required to raise the
temperature of unit mass through 1°C. In mathematical form, specific heat Cp, is written as
Cp Q/m. dT where Q is the amount of heat, m is the mass of material, and dT is the change
in temperature.
Thermal Conductivity:
The thermal conductivity is defined as the amount of heat flow through unit thickness of
material over an unit area per unit time for unit temperature difference.
Aero and Hydrodynamie Properties
In handling and processing of agricultural products often air or water is used as a carrier for
transport or for separating the desirable product from the unwanted materias
The pneumatic separation and conveying has been in use in agricultural machinery and food
processing equipment for many years.
Use of water however, as a carrier for more economical transport or less injury to such
products as fruits and vegetables, is a relatively new idea in the agricultural industry.
In either case, fluid flow occurs around the solids and the problem involves the action of the
forces exerted by the fluid on these solids.
As the principles of this subject, known as fluid mechanics, find increasingly wide
applications in handling and processing of agricultural products, it becomes necessary to have
a knowledge of those physical properties which affect the aero and hydrodynamic behavior of
agricultural products
Terminal velocity
The terminal velocity of a particle may be defined as equal to the air velocity at which a
particle remains in suspended state in a vertical pipe. In the condition of free fall, the particle
attains a constant terminal velocity, Vt, the net gravitational accelerating force, Fg, equals the
resisting upward drag force, Fr.
B) Dehydration-
Dehydration means removal of moisture to very low levels usually to bone
dry condition."
Utilities/ Importance
Draying of grains to about 12% moisture improve the storage period.
RH= equilibrium relative humidity, decimal Me = E.M.C dry basis, per cent
T=temperature, °K and c and
n = product constants, varying with material
The upper edge of the dying zone at the interface with the wet zone is called thedhying front.
The drying front indicates the level of grains in the bin at which, the grain have just started
loosing moisture to the drying air.
The volume of drying zone varies with the temperature and hunmidity of entering air, the
moisture content of the grain and velocity of air movement.
The drying rate in a bin varies from layer to layer from time to time and depends upon the
characters of grains and the air used for drying.
Moisture Measurements
Moisture content and its measurement, Moisture content representation: Dry basis and
wet basis
Moisture Content determination Methods:- Direct methods- Air oven method, Vacuum
oven method and Infra-red method Indirect Methods- Electrical resistance method andd
Moisture content
All agricultural products are hygroscopic in nature and contain some percent of moisture. This
moisture content of substance is usually expressed in percentage by weight.
Two methods are used to express this moisture content. These methods are wet basis (m) and
dry basis (M).
Moisture content, wet basis
Moisture content is usually expressed is percentage by weight on wet basis as
Wm
M= Wm+ Wd X 100
Wm Weight of moisture
Wd Weight of bone dry material
M X 100 = m = 100
Wd 100-m
Since the total mass is the reference base for the moisture content, the reference condition is
changing as the moisture content changes.
On the other hand, the amount of dry matter does not change.
The moisture content on dry basis is more simple to use in calculation as the quantity off
moisture present at any time is directly proportional to the moisture content on dry basis. Use
of the wet basis measurement is common in the grain industry.
However, use of the wet basis has one clear disadvantage is that, the total mass changes as
moisture is removed.
For a given product, the moisture content dry basis is always higher than the wet basis
moisture content.
Problem: The moisture content of grain is 25% on w.b. and is equal to---- % on d.b.
Moisture measurement
Moisture content can be determined by direct and indirect methods.
Direct method includes air-oven drying method (13020C) and distillation method.
Direct methods are simple and accurate but time consuming, where as indirect methods are
convenient and quick but less accurate.
Direct method: Grind the sample (2 to3 g), keep the sample in oven for about 1
hour at
13020C and place the sample in desiccator and then weigh.
Distillation method: 100 g grain + 150 ml mineral oil is heated in a flask at 200°C for 30-40
minutes. Moisture condenses in a measuring cylinder
Infra-Red Method
Infrared radiation is used in many moisture analyzers, such as halogen moisture analyzers
which are used to produce infrared radiation from a halogen lanmp.
The weight of the sample is measured and recorded continuously and once it becomes
constant the drying is stopped
Indirect methods
Indirect nmethods are based on the measurement of a property of the grain that depends upon
moisture content. Two indirect methods are described as follows:
The electrical resistance varies with moisture, temperature and degree of compaction.
The universal moisture meter (U.S.A), Tag-Happenstall moisture meter (U.S.A) and Kett
moisture meter (Japan) are some of the resistance type moisture meters.
They take only 30 seconds for the moisture measurement.
Dielectric method
The dielectric properties of grain depend on its moisture content.
In this type of moisture meter, 200gm grain sample is placed between the condenser plates
and the capacitance is measured.
The measured capacitance varies with moisture, temperature and degree of compaction. The
Motomco moisture meter (USA) and Burrows moisture recorder (USA) are some of the
capacitance type moisture meters.
They take about 1
minute for the 55 e measurement of moisture. These are also known as safe
crop moisture testers as they do not damage the grain sample.
Sun drying
This is a traditional method of drying of erops and grains.
Sun drying involves using the energy of the sun to remove moisture from the product. Major
portion of crops is left in the field and threshing yard for dry ing under sun.
A major quantity of grain is still dried by the sun in most of the developing countries.
The advantages ofsun drying are:
1. No fuel or mechanical energy is required.
4. Excessive losses occur due to shattering, birds, rodents etc. It is usually 0.1 to 0.4%.
5. Require specially constructed large dry ing floor.
Mechanical drying
This process utilizes mechanical means to circulate heated air at constant temperature and
humidity, through the grain mass to accomplish the removal of excess moisture from the
grain.
Mechanical drying, in conjunction with early harvest, improves the milling quality of paddy
considerably.
The disadvantages of mechanical drying are: the process requires fuel and electrical or
mechanical power to drive the blower, elevators etc.
1
Therefore, cost of drying is relatively higher compared to sun-drying for commercial drying.
Mechanical dryers The mechanical dryers are classified as: (a) Contact drying
(b) Convection drying (c) Radiation drying.
1. Contact drying
When the heat for drying is transferred to the wet solid mainly by conduction through a solid
surface (usually metallic), the phenomenon is known as conduction or contact drying.
2. Convection drying
The drying agent (hot gases) in contact with the wet solid, is used to supply heat and carry
away the vapourized moisture. The heat is transferred to the wet solid mainly by convection.
Convection drying is most popular in grain drying. Fuel consumption per kg of moisture
evaporated is always higher than that of conduction drying.
3. Radiation drying
It is based on the absorption of radiant energy of the sun and its transformation into heat
Conversion of wet basis moisture contents to dry basis moisture contents Conversion of
dry basis moisture contents to wet basis moisture contents, Problems on drying
Problems on moisture contents Problem No.1 & No.2
Determine the quantity of parboiled paddy with 40 per cent moisture content on wet
basis required to produce 1 tonne of product with 12 per cent moisture content on wet
basis. Work out the problem on wet basis and check the answer using dry basis
Grain spreader
The dried zone will gradually move
Exhaust
vent upward as drying proceeds in the
direction of air movement.
The air passes through the dried zone
Wet grain
and picks up moisture in the drying
Drying zone 1 to 2 t zone until it reaches equilibrium
moisture content (EMC) in the case of
Dry grain
very wet grain.
Fan
Drying will cease as son as the product comes in equilibrium with the air.
The upper edge of the drying zone at the interface with the wet zone is called the dry ing front.
The dry ing front indicates the level of grains in the bin at which, the grain have just started
loosing moisture to the drying air.
The volume of drying zone varies with the temperature and humidity of entering air, the
Screen
Sreen
Adjustable Adjustable
Discharge Dischorge
Saew B Srew
Conveyor Conveyo
This dryer was developed at Rice Processing Engineering Centre (RPEC), IIT, Khargpur.
It consists of two concentric circular cylinders made of perforated sheets of 20 gauge.
The cylinders are set about 20 cm apart, to move the grain downward.
These two cylinders are supported on four channel sections.
A bucket elevator of suitable capacity is provided to feed and recirculate the grain into the
dryer.
A centrifugal blower blows the hot air into the inner cylinder which acts as a plenum.
The hot air from the plenum passing the grain moving downward by gravity and comes out of
the perforated cylinder.
A torch burner is employed to supply the necessary heat with kerosene oil as fuel.
RPEC dryers are made for half, one and two tones holding capacities.
Construction:
(1) a rectangular drying chamber fitted with air ports and the holding bin,
wwe
TMa
(1) Rectangular bin:
Usually the following top square sections of the bin are used for the design of LSU dryers:
G) 1.2m x 1.2 m, (ii) 1.5 mx 1.5 m,
(ii) (iii) 1.8 mx 1.8 m and (iv) 2.1 m x 2.1 m. 74
The rectangu lar bin can be divided into two sections, namely, top holding bin and bottom
drying chamber
(2) Air Distribution system:
Layers of inverted trough or V- shaped channels (called inverted V-ports) are installed in the
drying chamber.
Alternate rows of these ports are opened on the blower and closed on the exhaust end. These
are called inlet ports Hot air enters the drying chamber through these ports.
The other alternative rows of ports are closed on the blower end and are opened on the
exhaust end.
These are called outlet or exhaust ports as the drying air goes out through these ports.
The inlet and outlet ports are of uniform sizes and equal in number with equal spacing in
between them.
Usually the inlet ports are given in 3 columns and outlet ports in 4 columns ( 2 column of full
size ports and 2 columns of half-size ports).
The number of ports containing a dryer varies widely depending on the size of the dryer.
The inlet and outlet ports are arranged one below the other in a zig-zag path, so that when
paddy flows down between these ports, it takes a zig-zag path.
Hot air enters the inlet ports from the blower end.
Since these ports are closed on exhaust end, the hot air from these channels or ports flows
down through the paddy and enter the outlet ports and leave the drying chamber through
exhaust side.
Some degree of mixing of hot air and paddy occurs in this chamber while air is flowing across
it in zig-zag path and paddy flowing downwards.
Three fluted rolls are attached at the bottom, which are rotated at a slow speed.
The discharge of the paddy is regulated with these fluted rolls.
To provide hot air for drying, fuel is burnt to raise the ambient air temperature.
Heat may be supplied by the direct fired burners or direct or indirect heat exchangers.
In general, the capacity of the dryer varies from 2 to 12 tonnes of grain, but sometimes dryers
of higher capacities are also installed.
Accordingly power requirement varies widely.
Recommended air flow rate is 70 m°/min/tonne of dry paddy and optimum air temperatures
are 60-70°C and 85 C for raw and parboiled paddy respectively.
A series of dryers can also be installed.
In continuous flow dryers, drying air temperature may be as high as 70 C, whereas for batch
dryers, this temperature seldom exceeds 45 "C.
g) The burner should be started only after the blower has been started.
h) There should be appropriate controls to put the flame off in case of blower failure due
to either power or mechanical failure. An automatic fuel cut-off valve is recommended for this
purpose.
Baffle dryer
This is a continuous flow mixing type of grain dryer. The main advantage with the
dryer is uniformly dried product is obtained.
Construction
The baffle dryer consists of; (1) grain receiving bin, (2) drying chamber fitted with baffles, (3)
plenum fitted with hot air inlet, (4) grain discharge control devices and (5) hopper bottom. A
number of baffles are fitted with the drying chanmber to divert the flow and affect certain
degree of mixing of grain. The dryer is made of mild steel sheets.
Oneration
Grain is fed at the top receiving bin and allowed to move downward in a zigzag path through
the drying chamber where it encounters a cross flow of hot air. A bucket ele vator can
recirculate the grain till it is dried to the desired moisture level. This design helps in mixing of
dried and undried grains.
Tray Dryer
Schematic of a typical batch dryer is shown in fig.
Tray dryers usually operate in batch mode, use racks to hold product and circulate air over the
material.
It consists of a rectangular chamber of sheet metal containing trucks that support racks. Each
rack carries a number of trays that are loaded with the material to be dried.
Hot air flows through the tunnel over the racks. Sometimes fans are used to on the tunnel wall
Solar Dryer
Solar radiation
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3. General Information
Step type solar dryer has a collector area of about 4.32 m 2.
This multi track step type dryer can hold 10 aluminum trays at a time.
The absorber is 20 gauge GI sheet, black painted at the top with bottom insulation.
The drier is covered at the top with 2 layers of 3 mm thick plain glass kept at an air gap of 2.5
cm. At the rear side of the collector, two chimneys of 120 cm height are provided. Chimneys
are provided with butterfly valves to control the movement of air.
1. Belt conveyors
Troughing Angle
A belt conveyor is an endless belt operating between two pulleys with its load supported on
idlers.
The belt may be flat for transporting bagged material or V-shaped.
The belt conveyor consists of a belt, drive mechanísm and end pulleys, idlers and loading and
discharge devices.
On the belt conveyor baggage/ product lie still on the surface of belt and there is no relative
motion between the product and belt.
This results in generally no damage to material.
Belt can be run at higher speeds, so, large carrying capacities are possible.
Horizontally the material can be transported to longer distance.
The initial cost of belt conveyor is high for short distances, but for longer distances the initial
cost of belt conveying system is low.
The first step in the design of a belt conveyor with a specified conveying capacity is to
determine the speed and width of the belt.
The belt speed should be selected to minimize product spillage or removal of fines due to
velocity of the belt.
For transportation of grains, the belt speed should not increase 3.5 m/s.
Generally, for grain conveying, belt speed of 2.5to 2.8 m/s is recommended.
The selection of belt width will depend upon the capacity requirement, speed of operation,
angle of inclination of belt conveyor, trough angle and depth.
Screw Conveyor
SCREWv
cONVEYOR
oUTLET
The screw conveyor consists of a tubular or U-shaped trough in which a shaft with spiral
screw revolves.
The screw shaft is supported hanger bearings at ends.
The rotation of screw pushes the grain along the trough.
A typical screw conveyor is shown in the following Figure.
The screw conveyor is used in grain handling facilities, animal feed industries and other
installations for conveying of products generally for short distances.
Screw conveyor requires relatively high power and is more susceptible to wear than other
types of conveyors.
The pitch of a standard screw which is the distance from the centre of one thread to the centre
of the next thread is equal to its diameter.
For example a 10 cm diameter screw has a pitch of 10 cm.
Screw conveyor details As the screw conveyor's driving mechanism is simpler, and no
tensioning device is required, the initial cost of the conveyor is lower than any other conveyor
with the same length and capacity.
The main parts of a screw conveyor are, screw blade, screw shaft, coupling, trough, cover,
inlet and outlet gates, bearings and drive mechanism.
The screw conveyor is generally used to move grains horizontally.
However, it can also be used at any angle up to 90° from the horizontal, but the capacity
correspondingly reduced as per the inclination of conveyance.
The screw basically consists of a shaft and the screw blade or flight.
The flight is a continuous one piece helix shaped from a flat strip of steel welded onto the
shaft. The screw shaft is usually a joint less tube with thick sides and a high tensile strength to
reduce the weight.
The thickness of the steel strip helix decreases from the inner edge to the outer edge.
Troughs of screw conveyor have different shapes.
Most common is U shaped trough. In an enlarged or flared trough the side walls become
wider at the
top (Figure).
>This type of trough is usually used for conveying non-easy flowing materials which may have
lumps.
>The tubular trough is completely closed with circular eross-section and mostly used for
conveying materials at inclination or for vertical lift.
Bucket Elevator
A bucket elevator consists of buckets attached to a chain or belt that revolves around two
pulleys one at top and the other at bottom.
The vertical lift of the elevator may range between few metres to more than 50 m. Capacities
of bucket elevators may vary from 2 to 1000 t/hr.
Bucket elevators are broadly classified into two general types,
(1) spaced bucket elevators and
(2) continuous bucket ele vators
Head section
Bucket
Belt
Boot section