Application of adaptive neuro-fuzzy simulation system for elucidation of water absorption process of lentil seeds

Abstract

Adaptive neuro-fuzzy simulation of engineering phenomena can be a supportive manner for integrated realization of compound trends of involved parameters. This paper deals with applying of adaptive neuro-fuzzy simulation system for elucidation of hydration kinetics of lentil seeds in water absorption process with thermic and ultrasonication approaches. The simulation system was implemented based on various types and numbers of input membership functions, defuzzification methods, types of output membership functions, and numbers of training cycles. Promising performance of the simulation system guaranteed its reliability for elucidation of hydration kinetics on the basis of numeral variables of soaking period and temperature (20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 °C), and nominal variable of soaking approach (thermic and ultrasonication (25 kHz, 360 W)). The simulation results elucidated that applying both approaches of thermic and ultrasonication (thermo-ultrasonication approach) was more effective than individual approach of thermic and ultrasonication in order to proliferate water absorption into the seeds. However, contributory influence of the ultrasonication on water absorption was less apparent at higher soaking temperatures and it was more dominant, when soaking period increased. It can be asserted that adaptive neuro-fuzzy simulation results obtained in this study can be practically utilized for augmentation of dehulling efficiency in industrial processing of lentil seeds.