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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Dawson, Georgia » National Peanut Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #197386
Title: Parrallel-plate sensors for measurement of moisture content in in-shell peanuts non-destructively

Author
item Kandala, Chari
item Butts, Christopher
item Nelson, Stuart

Submitted to: Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers International (ASABE)
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/25/2006
Publication Date: 7/9/2006
Citation: Kandala, C., Butts, C.L., Nelson, S.O. 2006. PARALLEL-PLATE SENSORS FOR MEASUREMENT OF MOISTURE CONTENT IN IN-SHELL PEANUTS NON-DESTRUCTIVELY. Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers International (ASABE). Paper number 066041.

Interpretive Summary: none required

Technical Abstract: In earlier work reported, parallel-plate capacitance sensors were used to determine the average moisture content (MC) of small samples of in-shell peanuts (peanut pods). In this method, seven or eight peanut pods were held between two parallel metal electrodes and the capacitance, phase angle and/or dissipation factor of the system were measured at frequencies of 1, 5 and 9 MHz. The measured values were used in an empirical equation and the average MC values were calculated. In the present work two parallel-plate electrodes were mounted inside a cylinder, made of acrylic material, and the space between the plates was filled with peanut pods. The impedance measurements were made on the cylinder system and the average MC of the peanut pods was determined from a similar empirical equation. The calculated MC values were compared with their oven-determined values and were found to be within 1% of the standard oven values for 90% of the samples tested in the moisture range between 6 and 20%. Two parallel-plate sensors with different plate separations, and peanuts from 2004 and 2005 harvests, were used in these measurements. The method being rapid and nondestructive, is suitable for the development of a practical instrument for measurement of moisture content in in-shell peanuts.