Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Development of an agricultural multi-zone solar dryer with airflow management using CFD and genetic algorithm

Jarinee Jongpluempiti — 2025-04-12

This research focuses on the development of an agricultural drying house with multi-zone airflow management using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) combined with Genetic Algorithm (GA) to enhance drying efficiency. The experiment compared the results of a conventional drying house with the improved version by analyzing drying time, energy consumption, average product moisture content, and drying uniformity. The results demonstrated that the drying house utilizing CFD and GA techniques reduced drying time by an average of 30.0 ± 2.6%, decreased energy consumption by 25.0 ± 2.0%, reduced the average product moisture content from 15.5 ± 1.0% to 10.5 ± 0.6%, and increased drying uniformity from 70.0 ± 3.5% to 90.1 ± 2.4%, all with statistical significance. These findings reflect the capability of CFD and GA technologies to improve efficiency, reduce production costs, and enhance the quality of products sustainably. This technology holds significant potential for advancing drying processes in agriculture and the food industry in the future.

Comparison of performance of moldboard plows and disk plows in upland soil conditions

Anuwat Pachanawan — 2025-05-03

Comparison of the performance of moldboard plows and disk plows in upland soil conditions. The objectives were to evaluate the performance of the moldboard plow and disk plow and to compare the costs associated with soil preparation using these implements. The experiment utilized two 90 hp tractors operating at an engine speed of 540 rpm with the L2 gear setting to measure draft force. Each test was repeated three times. The moldboard plow used had two bottoms with a working width of 45 cm, while the disk plow had three disks with a working width of 90 cm. The test soil was sandy loam with a moisture content of 1.10%. The study found that the soil penetration resistance in the test plot was 5.98 MPa for the moldboard plow. The operating speed was 2.45 km/h for the moldboard plow and 2.41 km/h for the disk plow. The slip ratio was 7.77% for the moldboard plow and 9.29% for the disk plow. The specific draft force was 71.56 kN/m² for the moldboard plow and 38.49 kN/m² for the disk plow. The draft power was 6.57 kW for the moldboard plow and 5.80 kW for the disk plow. The plowing depth was 0.30 m for the moldboard plow and 0.25 m for the disk plow. Regarding weed control efficiency, the moldboard plow achieved 82%, while the disk plow achieved 70%. The field efficiency was 82.59% for the moldboard plow and 66.05% for the disk plow. The fuel consumption rate was 7.59 l/h for the moldboard plow and 7.20 l/h for the disk plow. The annual operating cost was 11,318.80 Baht/Y for the disk plow and 7,106.81 Baht/y for the moldboard plow.

Design and evaluation of vertical coriander growing equipment using soilless planting media combined with artificial lighting

Akkaparp Panpoom — 2025-05-13

This research aims to increase the planting area in a 6x24 m greenhouse using a vertical planting system using soilless planting materials combined with artificial light. The vertical planting system will increase the yield per area, grams per plant by designing the planting equipment as an A-Frame layer with 10 planting trays in total. Each tray uses soilless planting materials by experimenting to find the appropriate ratio. Then, the yield from 3 planting methods were compared: A-Frame without light bulbs, A-Frame with light bulbs and a planting table. The results of the experiment to find the planting material ratio found that the ratio that gave the highest yield was coconut husks: raw rice husks: black rice husks: cow dung in a ratio of 2.0:3.0:3.0:2.0, giving an average yield of up to 101 grams/plant. The results of the comparison of the 3 planting methods showed that planting on the A-Frame without light bulbs gave the highest yield per greenhouse, 15% higher than planting on a normal table, which resulted in more cost-effectiveness of using the greenhouse.

Comparative analysis of energy, exergy and economic performance in biomass gasification: a process simulation study

Pakon Sakdee — 2025-05-17

Thailand possesses substantial biomass waste from industrial and agricultural sectors, which can be converted into chemicals and fuel through gasification, a thermochemical process that transforms biomass into fuel gas. This study examined five biomass types: rice straw, rice husks, corn cobs, rubber wood, and sugarcane bagasse, employing thermodynamic, energy, exergy, and economic analyses to assess investment viability through biomass gasification process modeling using ASPEN PLUS V12.1 software. The analysis evaluated the impact of operational variables such as gasification temperature, steam-to-biomass ratio (S/B), and equivalence ratio (ER) on process efficiency. Results indicated that increased gasification temperatures positively affected hydrogen production, with optimal temperatures ranging from 800-900°C, an optimal steam-to-biomass ratio of 1, and an ideal equivalence ratio between 0.1-0.2. Energy and exergy analyses revealed varying equipment efficiencies: decomposition units achieved 54-71% and 38-42%, coolers reached 58-75% and 54-75%, and gasifiers attained 87-96% and 68-76%, respectively, while other equipment exceeded 80% efficiency in both analyses. Economic analysis demonstrated high potential for rice straw, corn cobs, and sugarcane bagasse due to short payback periods and positive Net Present Values (NPV), whereas rice husks proved economically unfavorable with negative NPV and extended payback periods exceeding project timelines. The study's benefits include reduced prototype plant construction costs, improved production planning, and time savings by eliminating trial-and-error approaches in biomass selection for gasification processes.

Development of a banana fiber extraction machine and factors affecting fiber quality for textile use

Rewat Termkla — 2025-05-23

This study aims to evaluate the efficiency of a banana fiber extraction machine. The banana fiber separator has a 1 hp motor is used as the power source to rotate a 1 inch shaft attached to beating blades. Conduct tests at three different speed rotational; 450, 600, and 750 rpm. The banana sheaths are beaten with the blades until the pulp comes off, producing fibers. The extracted fibers can be separated, and the crushed banana sheath residue drops into the rear waste chute of the machine. The test results revealed that the suitable operating speed for the banana fiber separator is within the range of 750 rpm. The capacity, efficiency, and fiber strength of 61.03 kg/h, 98.86%, and 2,390.83 cN, respectively. The average fiber separation rate is 58.43 kg/h, when compared to manual labor, which can separate an average of only 2.87 kg/day. Therefore, using a banana fiber extraction machine can replace manual scraping, reducing labor requirements. Moreover, the machine is easy to operate and produces high-quality fibers in quantities sufficient to meet demand.