A field practice report at the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) with focus on the postharvest engineering related projects

Date

4-2013

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering

Major Course

Major in Agricultural and Bio-Process Engineering

College

College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Peralta, Engelbert K.

Abstract

The field practice was conducted at the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) from April 23 to June 5, 2012. The author focused on the different postharvest engineering related projects of PhilMech. Experiment on the quality restoration of water-soaked onions was done through employing different drying methods such as sun drying, Forced-air drying and mechanical drying and by utilizing a cold storage device. Results of the experiment verified the significance of applying either forced-air drying or mechanical and cold storage in improving the storage life of onions as indicated by the computed percentage recovery of good quality onions. The institution, recognized for its expertise in developing postharvest technologies, enabled the author to involve in other research projects. In the corn grading analysis using computer vision, image of the white flint corn kernels were extracted through scanning. Physical analysis of Adlai samples was also done to determine the important properties necessary for the design of a suitable threshing equipment for Adlai. On the average, the Adlai has 16 tillers and 103 grains per plant, a grain moisture content (wet basis) of 27.25% grain weight of 0.0861 grams, grain length of 9mm, grain minimum width of 5mm,grain maximum width of 6mm, and grain cracking index of 1.23kg. The terminal velocity of each Adlai component was measured with the stalks obtaining the lowest terminal velocity of 247.233 ft/min and the grain with impurities having the highest terminal velocity of 1023.433ft/min. Physical analysis of the threshed soybean using the Modified ACT Thresher was also conducted to evaluate the performance of the equipment. The calculated purity were 50.65% and 70.545 for samples with high moisture content and low moisture content respectively. The computed threshing cylinder efficiency was 93.34% while the threshing recovery was 24.09%. Performance testing of the indirect-fired biomass furnace which is retrofitted to a flatbed dryer was also conducted in accordance with PAES 243. The furnace has biomass fuel consumption rate of 40.77kg/hr and a heating system efficiency of 25.8%. Further adjustments of the furnace must be made to meet heating system, efficiency indicated in PAES 201 which is about 50%. Performance testing of the wind turbine was also done. The corresponding voltage and current reading for each rpm setting was obtained and the power generated was computed using the said readings.A linear relationship between the rpm and voltage was obtained. Power generated also increases as the rpm is increased. Exposure on the aforementioned activities held by PhilMech enabled the author to apply the knowledge gained from the academe and further extend her technical skills.

Language

English

Location

UPLB College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology

Call Number

LG 993 2013 A2 L53

Document Type

Thesis

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS