Syllabus - Unit Operation in Post Harvest Management (AT501)

Agriculture Engineering

Unit Operation in Post Harvest Management (AT501)

V-Semester

Unit I

Introduction

Post-harvest management introduction –objectives –post harvest losses of cereals, pulses and oilseeds – importance - optimum stage of harvest. Threshing – traditional methods mechanical threshers – types-principles and operation-moisture content –measurement –direct and indirect methods – moisture meters – equilibrium moisture content.

Unit II

Psychrometry and Drying

Psychrometry – importance – Psychometric charts and its uses – Drying – principles and theory of drying – thin layer and deep bed drying – Hot air drying – methods of producing hot air – Types of grain dryers – selection – construction, operation and maintenance of dryers – Design of dryers

Unit III

Cleaning and grading

Principles - air screen cleaners – adjustments - cylinder separator-spiral separator – magnetic separator-colour sorter-inclined belt separator – length separators - effectiveness of separation and performance index.

Unit IV

Shelling and handling

Principles and operation – maize sheller, husker sheller for maize – groundnut decorticator – castor sheller – material handling –belt conveyor –screw conveyor – chain conveyor – bucket elevators – pneumatic conveying.

Unit V

Paddy and crop processing

Paddy processing – parboiling of paddy – methods – merits and demerits – dehusking of paddy – methods – merits and demerits – rice polishers –types – constructional details – polishing –layout of modern rice mill - wheat milling – pulse milling methods – oil seed processing.

Course Objective

On completion of this chapter the students will understand different post harvest losses of agricultural and horticultural crops, their prevention and different unit operations involved after harvest for value addition to the produce.

Course Outcome

None

Practicals

  • Determination of moisture content

    None

  • determination of engineering properties of grain- testing of paddy thresher-paddy winnower

    None

  • Testing of groundnut decorticator-maize Sheller - evaluation of thin layer drier- study of LSU drier

    None

  • Determination of oil content of oilseeds Determining the efficiency of bucket elevator and screw conveyor-study of paddy parboiling drum-evaluation of shelling efficiency of rubber roll sheller-study of cone polisher-visit to modern rice mill – visit to pulse milling industry

    None

Reference Books

  • Chakraverty, A.2000.Third Edition, Post harvest technology for Cereals, Pulses and oilseeds. Oxford &IBH publication Pvt Ltd, New Delhi

  • Sahay, K.M., and Singh, K.K. 1994. Unit operations of Agricultural Processing. Vikas publishing house Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.

  • Pande, P.H. 1994. Principles of Agriculture Processing. Kalyani Publishers, Ludhiana

  • Mohsenin, N.N.1970. Physical properties of plant and animal materials Grodon and Breach publishers, Ludhiana

  • Chakraborty, S.K. 2013. Fundamental Food Engineering, Narosa Publishing House Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, ISBN:978-81-8487-334-4.