Digital Automatic Moisture Computer

Introduction

It is based on capacitance variation technique. The instrument comprises mainly an analog unit and a digital unit. The meter uses a micro-controller, for controlling complete meter functioning. The sensing system consists of a capacitive transducer that converts moisture contents into the dielectric constant variations. Presence of a very small quantity of water causes considerable change in the dielectric constant in the sensor cell. These dielectric changes cause capacitance changes and in turn frequency variations proportional to the moisture contents of the sample of the grain. The variation in the dielectric is read in mill volts scale, which is further calibrated and related to percentage moisture

Special Features

Moisture measuring range: 8% - 25%, Accuracy: ±2%
Temperature accuracy: ±1º C

Applications:

• Direct measurement of percentage moisture.
  
• Portable, rugged instrument.
  
• Procurement agencies
  
• Agriculture universities
  
• Quality control
  
• Food processing industries
  
• Mandis
  
• Storage houses
  

Present Status: Field trials not completed

Keywords: Capacitance Variation, Dielectric Constant, moisture

Contact:

VP Giridhar,
Head, BDG and S&M Centres,
Central Scientific Instruments Organisation,
Chandigarh
E-mail: vpg_bdg_csio@yahoo.co.in