Fahim Ullah

Impact of drying method of figs with small-scale flat-plate solar collector

Purpose n n n n nThe purpose of the study was to develop a performance flat-plate solar collector that would be used as a solar drier for fruit fig (Ficus carica L). This study proposes how and why solar energy is important for drying the agricultural products. This study aims to expand the domain of solar collector for different purposes and, most important, for agricultural resource normally found in the literature. n n n n nDesign/methodology/approach n n n n nThe paper opted for an exploratory study using the flat-plate solar collector with drying chamber for drying purposes of agricultural products. During the experiment, the data were collected with moisture content, drying rate of the product and solar irradiation falls on the collector. n n n n nFindings n n n n nThis paper describes that how flat-plate collector works for agricultural products and how to reduce the moisture content in the product (fig). Efficiency of collector was evaluated under the ambient temperatures of 24°C. Efficiency also significantly increased from 53 to 55 per cent with an increase in ambient temperature from 22 to 24 °C. Figs (Ficus carica L) were dried in the drying chamber of the flat-plate solar collector. The products were dried at temperature of 55-65°C and 15 to 20 per cent humidity. n n n n nResearch limitations/implications n n n n nBecause of this research chosen, the research results are beneficiary for agricultural users for drying purposes. Therefore, the researchers are encouraged to dry the agricultural product with flat-plate solar collector, because it reduced the moisture content of the product very fast. n n n n nOriginality/value n n n n nThis paper fulfills an identified need to study that how flat-plat solar collector can be used.

Quality Evaluation of Biscuits Supplemented with Alfalfa Seed Flour

The effect of alfalfa seed flour supplementation on the quality characteristics of refined wheat flour-based biscuits was studied. The proximate composition of refined wheat flour and alfalfa seed flour was determined. Refined wheat flour contained 12.43% moisture, 11.52% crude protein, 1.61% crude fat, 0.71% crude fiber, 1.43% ash and 70.83% nitrogen free extract, while alfalfa seed flour contained 5.79%, 29.49%, 12.71%, 5.53%, 4.80% and 41.73% moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, ash and nitrogen free extract correspondingly. Alfalfa seed flour at 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% supplementation levels was incorporated in refined wheat flour to produce composite flour. The biscuits prepared were subjected to quality evaluation. Physical analysis of biscuits disclosed that supplementation of alfalfa seed flour decreased the width from 47.25 to 42 mm and the spread factor from 62.7 to 53.12, while it increased the thickness from 7.53 to 8.10 mm. Supplementation of refined wheat flour–based biscuits with alfalfa seed flour at different inclusion levels significantly (p < 0.05) increased the crude protein content from 10.19% to 15.30%, the crude fiber content from 0.73% to 1.62%, the crude fat content from 17.46% to 21.59% and the ash content from 1.37% to 1.92%, whereas it decreased the moisture content from 3.57% to 3.26% and the nitrogen free extract from 66.90% to 59.32%. The effect of supplementation on the mineral contents of biscuits was also significant (p < 0.05). Potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron and zinc contents increased from 105.30, 14.65, 43.91, 3.74 and 0.94 to 145.00, 26.64, 79.60, 7.93 and 1.60 mg/100 g, respectively. Sensory evaluation revealed that the quality score of biscuits in terms of color, taste, texture and overall acceptability decreased with increased supplementation. The present research work confirmed that a maximum of 10% alfalfa seed flour supplementation in refined wheat flour could produce acceptable biscuits with an appropriate nutritional profile.

Effects of Different Drying Methods on Some Physical and Chemical Properties of Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) Fruits

ABSTRACT In this communication, we have discussed and compared the different drying processes i.e. flat plate solar collector, open sun and mechanical dryer with the preservative solution of Sodium Benzoate. Loquats were pretreated with preservative solution and subject to the drying process. Drying kinetics in terms of moisture lost per hour and drying rate, texture and antioxidants retention were determined before and after drying. Statistical analysis of the data showed that the different drying process has significantly affected on the kinetics of loquat fruits with the confidence interval of (α ≤ 0.05), whereas the preservative solution showed a non-significant effect on texture and antioxidants retention. High moisture lost per hour (5.4%) was recorded in mechanical dryer followed by flat plate solar collector dryer (3.7 %) while minimum (1.8%) was recorded in open sun drying. Good textured dried loquat with optimum hardness (313 g) and stiffness (141 g mm−1) was found in flat plate solar collector dried samples. Similarly more antioxidants (52%) retained in samples dried with hot air using flat plate solar collector followed by the mechanical dryer (47%) while minimum (41%) was recorded in open sun drying. Although mechanical drying is fast, it does not help to maintain a good texture and more antioxidants. From the study, it was concluded that hot air drying using a flat plate solar collector is better for drying process to get valuable dried loquat with good texture and more antioxidants.

Retracted: Experimentally investigated the asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) drying with flat-plate collector under the natural convection indirect solar dryer

The above article, published online on 21 February 2018 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the journal Editor in Chief, Y. Martin Lo, and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. The retraction has been agreed at the authors’ request due to unattributed overlap between this article and the following article published in the Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Sciences, “Analysis of ginger drying inside a natural convection indirect solar dryer: An experimental study” by S. K. Sansaniwal and M. Kumar, Volume 9, pp. 1671–1685.

Experimental investigation of the comparison of compound parabolic concentrator and ordinary heat pipe-type solar concentrator:

In this research study, we have compared between the two different concentrators with the flat absorber plate receiver of the compound parabolic concentrator heat pipe solar concentrator and ordinary heat pipe flat plate solar concentrator. For the reproduction of solar radiation in the experiment, iodine tungsten lamp was used. Thermal performance comparison of the two types of solar concentrator under different simulating radiation intensity conditions was carried out with including the fluid temperature, instantaneous efficiency, average efficiency, and average heat loss coefficient. The results of the experiment indicate that the compound parabolic concentrator heat pipe-type solar concentrator not only increased the fluid temperature and instantaneous efficiency but also decreased the average heat loss coefficient as compared with the ordinary heat pipe flat plate solar concentrator. It was noticed from the experimental results that the efficiency of compound parabolic heat pipe solar concentrator was higher than ordinary heat pipe solar concentrator up to 6 and 10°C with the light intensity, that is Iu2009=u2009679 W/m2 and Iu2009=u2009892 W/m2, respectively. From the results, it was concluded that the using of compound parabolic heat pipe solar concentrator increased the thermal performance of solar concentrator.

Effect of Irrigation Methods and Plastic Mulch on Yield and Crop Water Productivity of Okra

Abstract: A field experiment was conducted during 2014-15, aiming to observe the efficiency of irrigation methods and plastic mulch on the yield and crop productivity of Okra. Okra seeds (cv. Subzpari) were grown on ridges with plastic under two different irrigation methods i.e. Every Furrow Irrigation (EFI) and Alternate Furrow Irrigation (AFI). The soil physical properties of ridges being affected by plastic mulched were analyzed before sowing and after harvesting. The results revealed that dry density of soil decreased by 0.03 g cm -3 and 0.04 g cm -3 for AFI and EFI methods, respectively. The total volume of irrigation water applied under AFI method (2169.70 m 3 ha -1 ) was calculated to be half of the total irrigation water applied to EFI method (4340.91 m 3 ha -1 ). Yield obtained under EFI method was 8518 kg ha -1 which was 10.5% greater than yield obtained under AFI method (7621 kg ha -1) and 31.40% when compared with traditional method. The crop water productivity (CWP) for AFI method (3.51 kg m -3 ) was calculated to be greater than CWP obtained under EFI method (1.96 kg m -3 ). The study concluded that both EFI and AFI methods, under plastic mulched ridges practices were beneficial to increase the crop yield with improved crop water productivity.Â