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Title: NONDESTRUCTIVE MICROWAVE MOISTURE SENSOR FOR ON-LINE APPLICATIONS

Author
item TRABELSI, SAMIR - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item NELSON, STUART

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/18/2004
Publication Date: 10/28/2004
Citation: Trabelsi, S.; Nelson, S. O. Nondestructive microwave moisture sensor for on-line applications. Poster presentation. 2004. The Inaugural University of Georgia Engineering Conference.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Rapid sensing of moisture content in agricultural products is important for their optimum processing, safe storage and fair trade. In this poster, a sensor operating at microwave frequencies will be described for real-time, nondestructive sensing of moisture content in granular materials. The sensor is based on correlating an electrical parameter (relative complex permittivity) with the desired physical properties of the material, moisture content in this instance. Among the advantages of such a sensor are its nondestructive nature and provision of moisture content and bulk density for granular materials in real time. These features are of prime importance in highly automated and computerized food and agricultural industries. Unlike usual methods for moisture measurement, where a few samples are tested off line, the proposed sensor allows continuous monitoring of large amounts of the material. The poster will highlight, through measurements on grain and seed, the progress made in moving a laboratory measurement technique to a practical inexpensive prototype instrument.