Department of Processing and Food Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Online published on 14 March, 2012.
The study was undertaken to determine the various engineering properties of agricultural wastes like grounded paddy straw, rice husk, rice bran, sawdust and groundnut haulms (straw + leaves). Among these agricultural wastes bulk density and true density of rice bran was found to be maximum whereas minimum bulk density and true density was observed for groundnut haulms and grounded paddy straw, respectively. Groundnut haulms were found to have maximum porosity. Angle of repose was found to be similar for grounded paddy straw, rice husk and rice bran. The maximum value of thermal conductivity was observed for rice bran while it was minimum for groundnut haulms. The maximum and minimum value of thermal diffusivity was observed for saw dust and minimum for grounded paddy straw, respectively. The specific heat was found maximum for grounded paddy straw and minimum for sawdust.
Agricultural wastes, Physical properties, Thermal properties
