Biomechanism and Bioenergy Research
Volume:2 Issue: 1, Winter and Spring 2023

Evaluating energy and exergy can help to optimize the amount of energy consumption in dryers. In this research, apple slices were dried using infrared radiation, and then the energy and exergy of this process were analyzed. For conducting the experiments, apple slices, in two thicknesses of 5 and 10 mm, were prepared and dried using two air mass velocities of 0.006 and 0.012 kg/s and under infrared radiation. The drying time varied from 90 to 130 minutes. Experimental data were fitted to three mathematical models. A logarithmic type model with coefficient determination of 0.99 was the best fit for drying apple slices data.  The results of energy and exergy analysis showed that the amount of energy consumption, energy efficiency, the amount of exergy consumed and its efficiency decrease in all treatments. The value of energy efficiency changed between 0.09 and 0.42 and exergy efficiency between 0.01 and 0.81 in different stages indicating that a large amount of energy consumed in dryer, leaves the system unused.

This research was conducted to feasibility study and simulation of utilization of renewable energies (solar and biomass) in broiler industry in Khorramabad County. Data was collected by field sampling (for a breeding period in winter 2015-2016) and from organizations. In the simulation of a grid-connected photovoltaic system (20 kW) with PVsyst 6.7 software, the average performance ratio and available useful energy of the system were calculated at 0.785 and 4.75 kWh/kWp/day, respectively. The use of photovoltaic system can cover 25% of electrical energy in broiler production farms in winter season. Also, in feasibility study of combined heat and power system, the potential of biogas production from broiler manure was calculated at 448.5 m3 per 1000 pieces of broiler. The use of biogas plant can supply 98% of the electrical energy of broiler production farms in winter season. According to the results, the use of renewable energies in the present conditions, despite the reduction of fossil fuels consumption and many environmental benefits, in the broiler industry is not economical.

Walnut mechanical properties are an appropriate criterion for designing and adjusting the various parts of harvesting machines that are in contact with walnut. In this research, the aim is to find the effect of ultrasound factors on walnut mechanical properties to reduce walnut rupture force and energy. Walnuts were treated with three ultrasound time duration (5, 10, and 15 min) and three ultrasound bath temperatures (20, 35, and 50 ºC). After the walnuts were treated by ultrasound factors, wet and dried walnut samples were loaded at three loading speeds (0.5, 1.5, 2.5 mm/s) along width and length direction for determination of mechanical properties. Regarding the ANOVA results, the ultrasound time factor had the most effect on the rupture force, energy, and toughness. Results showed walnut ultrasound-treated samples had minimum rupture force and energy. Also, rupture force, required energy, and toughness decreased with increasing ultrasound bath temperature and the ultrasound time duration. The minimum walnut rupture force was obtained at 62.7 N in 25 min ultrasound time duration, 50 ºC bath temperature, 1.5 mm/s loading speed, and width loading direction for wet walnut sample.

Estimating the surface area of defects of diseased potatoes is a key factor in the automatic grading of this product. In this article, an algorithm has been developed using fuzzy clustering method and image processing functions to estimate the defective areas of potato tubers infected with black scab disease. Fuzzy clustering, which is an unsupervised method, was used to segment color images and extract defective areas of potatoes, and image processing functions have been used to extract the total area of potatoes. In the segmentation method based on fuzzy clustering, the data matrix related to potato images were divided into separate clusters in a fuzzy way, in which the boundaries of the clusters are defined in a fuzzy way instead of being definite and specific. The results showed that this algorithm is very efficient for extracting black scab disease and can be used to extract the amount of diseases that can be used for automatic grading of this product based on the American standards.

Mechanical harvesting of sugarcane is done in two ways: green and burnt, and usually burnt harvest has between 25-50% less losses. When harvesting sugarcane, the sound of sugarcane pieces hitting the wall of the primary extractor hood can clearly be heard. Accordingly, it was decided to use the audio system to determine the relationship between these sounds and the losses of the primary extractor. To record sounds in the basic extractor, two models of full-directional and one-way capacitive microphone (cardioid) and Cool Record Edit Deluxe and Audacity software were used. To detect the wavelength of the sounds caused by the collision of different parts of sugarcane with the hood cap and extractor blades by throwing a large volume of straw along with 25 cm pieces of sugarcane billets, a sound record was set. A camera was also installed there to record the video of what was happening under the extractor compartment. The results showed that the one-way capacitive microphone installed in the upper part of the primary extractor housing received clearer sounds. Analyzing the recorded sounds and comparing them with the images obtained from the camera under the primary extractor revealed that the audio loss detection system detects the losses in the primary extractor with an accuracy of about 75 to 80%. The loss rate at 1200 rpm was about 1.5 times higher than the loss rate at 1100 rpm.

Dates are one of the most important agricultural products in the world, especially in Iran, and currently, their share in Iran's agricultural production is more than one million tons per year. Due to the lack of attention to by-products and the traditional method of date waste is high in our country due to the lack of attention to by-products and the traditional method of its processing. Therefore, conducting research in the field of preparation and use of products (syrup and liquid sugar) is necessary. In this research, a device for extracting date syrup was designed, built and then evaluated. Temperature, pressure and duration of syrup extraction were the main factors of the experiment. The results showed that all three factors have a significant effect on the output date syrup amount. The most produced date syrup was obtained by using the temperature of 70℃, the pressure of 9 kPa and the operation of the device for 5 h. The amount of date syrup produced by the device was about 23% based on the weight. The amount of produced date syrup increased by 3.8 times compared to the traditional method. The date syrup obtained in this research was compared with traditional syrup in terms of some qualitative and sensory characteristics, such as the percentage of total soluble solids (TSS), acidity, pH, reducing sugars, and overall acceptability of taste. The results of the variance analysis of the data showed that the effect of temperature and pressure factors on some characteristics of the produced syrup was significant.

In order to investigate the effect of atmospheric cold plasma on some chemical characteristics of date fruits, Mazafati variety, in storage conditions, cold plasma was applied to the samples using a sliding rotary arc discharge device. The independent variables in this study were plasma application duration in 5 levels (30, 60, 120, 180, and 240 s) and different gases in 3 types (air, argon and oxygen). Then, some chemical properties including weight loss percentage, pH and acidity, total soluble solids, total phenolic compounds, and reducing sugar were measured. The experiments were conducted in the form of a factorial design based on complete randomized design. The results showed a significant decrease in the weight of the samples treated with plasma compared to the control samples, during the storage period. The effect of cold plasma on Mazafati date fruits showed a decrease in pH, and an increase in total soluble solids during the storage period. The average value of total phenolic compounds was the lowest value for the samples treated with oxygen gas (2182 mg/kg) and the highest value for the samples treated with argon gas (4007 mg/kg) with plasma treatment time of 240 s. The values of reducing sugar were 38.76 % at the lowest and 65.54 % at the highest amounts, for the control and the samples treated with air with a plasma treatment time of 240 s, respectively.

Deviation from the traction path affects the operation of composting machines that work in an offset manner and reduces their performance. In this article, a compost mixing machine behind a tractor, which deviates from the movement path during operation, was investigated and evaluated. The equations governing the performance of the extraction machine and the effective parameters in the optimal performance of the device were determined and their effect on the deviation of the device was investigated. The results of this research show that by changing the parameters of the machine without increasing its weight in order to reduce the deviation from the movement path, it is possible to significantly increase the balance of the machine and work efficiency and reduce the deviation from the movement path. In this investigation, it was found that by changing several parameters such as the longitudinal and transverse distance of the composting machine, the friction coefficient, etc., the deviation angle of the machine decreases from 17 degrees to less than 4 degrees. Based on the theory presented in this article, the device was designed, built and used in Gulab Zahra Kerman Company, and its performance is satisfactory, and the practical review of each of the parameters presented in this article will be presented in other articles.

In this article we describe a design process of a manipulator that is designed for complete servicing of a date palm. The feasibility of using this manipulator and determining the optimum position of its cameras as well as the number of cameras to be mounted on the equipment were also investigated. The manipulator was equipped with several cameras for monitoring the operations utilizing a ground-based operator. The operator monitors the manipulator and the end-effector on the display and navigates it using a joystick. In order to build the manipulator, a systematic deign method was utilized. Total length of the manipulator was 100 cm. Four electric motors provide the dynamic force of the manipulator to transport the end effectors to the desired positions for conducting horticultural operations. To investigate the performance of the manipulator, 9 different camera setups and 4 different manipulator distances from the target, were analyzed at 5 replication levels, through a statistical factorial experiment design (4х9). The experiments results showed that the remotely controlled manipulator is efficient in conducting horticultural operations. On the other hand, different camera setups showed significantly different results. The tests also indicated that to obtain the shortest reaching time, three cameras must be installed on the manipulator. The average time for reaching the target from a 100-cm distance was calculated 20.8 seconds.

Date tree (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is one of the oldest cultivated trees in the world, which grows in tropical and subtropical regions. This product is one of the most important products of the Middle East and North Africa. In this research, date kernel extract (DKE) was produced from date kernel powder in a hygienic and mechanized process. Hot water-assisted extraction of compounds from date kernel powder was carried out in the chamber system made in the research. The experiments were conducted using the response surface method (RSM)-central composite design. Independent variables included temperature and time of processing and liquid-to-solid ratio. The obtained solutions were dried by a vacuum rotary evaporator and some quality characteristics (total soluble solids (TSS), antioxidant activity, total phenolic content (TPC), melanoidins, and sensory properties) were evaluated. The results showed that the triple factors of temperature, time and liquid-to-solid ratio have a direct effect on the extraction efficiency, so that the increase of these factors had a significant effect on the extraction efficiency. The predicted efficiency equations for each of the above cases were significant at the 5% level and R2 was above 0.95. The results of the TSS, TPC, melanoidins and sensory attributes confirmed the high desirability of the produced DKE.