Determination of Engineering Properties of Jatropha Curcas L.

作者：Sharma S C^*; Singh M P; Singh Jayant

来源：AMA-Agricultural Mechanization in Asia Africa and Latin America, 2013, 44(1): 19-26.

Handling losses during threshing and mechanical conveying of Jatropha are affected by the size, shape and engineering properties of Jatropha seed. These parameters were studied for 5 varieties of Jatropha Shu 03001, Shu 03002, Shu 03004, Shu 03005 and Shu 04004. Physical measurements of the size along three perpendicular axes were made. The average size of the Jatropha seed varied according to variety. The average length was maximum for Shu 03005 and the average width and average thickness was maximum for Shu 03001. Overall dimensions were minimum for Shu 03004 and maximum for Shu 03001. Equivalent diameter was minimum for Shu 03002 and maximum for Shu 03001. Specific surface area was minimum for Shu 03001 and maximum for Shu 03004. Sphericity was minimum for Shu 03004 and maximum for Shu 03001. Average value of angle of repose for Jatropha was 33.824 degrees. The test weight was maximum for Shu 03005 and was minimum for Shu 04004. The average value of bulk density of Jatropha seed was minimum for Shu 03001 and was maximum for Shu 03004. True density was minimum for Shu 03001 and maximum for Shu 04004. Porosity was minimum for Shu 03004 and maximum for Shu 04004. Angle of internal friction with wooden and smooth mild steel surface was maximum for Shu 03001 and for corroded mild steel surface it was maximum for Shu 03005. Weight of a single seed was maximum for Shu 03005 and minimum for Shu 03001. A reverse trend was observed for hardness. It was concluded that the cylinder concave clearance for design of a thresher depended on the overall dimension of seed. This clearance should not be less than 13.489 mm for a Jatropha thresher. Impact force should be less than 6.026 kg for threshing without damage of Jatropha seed with the thresher. These results provided the necessary information for designers of equipment for handling, sorting, grading and threshing machinery of Jatropha seed. From this study it was recommended that the minimum cylinder-concave clearance should be 13.489 mm to avoid breakage of seed during threshing and the impact force should be less than 6.026 kg for threshing of Jatropha without damage.

• 出版日期2013