Author(s):

Vasundhara CH, Rajender G, Teja R, Mamatha P and Sunil K

Abstract: Aerodynamic properties of food grains are important factors in harvesting pneumatic conveying, separating, cleaning, transportation and storage of agricultural products. The aerodynamic properties of crop grains influence the selection of design and operational parameters of equipment. These properties are crop variety specific and moisture dependent among the properties, terminal velocity is very important. The terminal velocity of agricultural grains can be measured by using vertical wind column apparatus. In this study, terminal velocity apparatus (vertical wind column) was fabricated by using locally available materials such as M.S sheet, GI sheet, motor, fiber column, blower and speed regulator. The dimensions of this machine were 41.3 × 30 × 141.9 cm and its weight was approximately 19.5 kg. This machine was tested on sorghum (sorghum) grains at eight different moisture content levels viz. 8.96%, 14.37%,17.29%, 20.69%, 23.22%, 25.03%, 27.56% and 29.15 %( w.b.).The terminal velocity values were found 8.83 m/s, 9.11 m/s, 9.28 m/s, 9.32 m/s, 9.46 m/s, 9.54 m/s, 9.62 m/s and 9.71 m/s respectively. The calculated theoretical terminal values were 9.10 m/s, 9.17 m/s, 9.18 m/s, 9.47 m/s, 9.53 m/s, 9.62 m/s, 9.73 m/s and 9.79 m/s respectively at said moisture content levels. There is no significant difference between recorded practical terminal velocity values and calculated theoretical values. Further the study continued on effect of moisture content on terminal velocity, sphericity, and projected area of sorghum grains. It was found that, the terminal velocity of sorghum grains was linearly increased with increase in moisture content. The projected area was also increased with increase in moisture content in linear relationship but sphericity of grains was not depending on moisture content.

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