Automatic control of moisture in agricultural products by methods of microwave aquametry

Abstract

This paper describes the results of the elaboration of the microwave moisture meter for continuous control of moisture of grain, sugar and dry milk in the technological processes of their production. Dielectric properties of these materials and high technological requirements on the accuracy determine the choice of investigation methods. Unlike the known microwave moisture meters, used in the case of grain for the flour-milling industry, we offer a two-sensor device using two algorithms with the second algorithm taking into account the influence of the refraction factor of the electromagnetic energy in the surface layer of the freshly moistened grain. The increase in the accuracy of moisture control in the production of sugar and dry milk is obtained at the expense of the influence of the material density placed into the volume resonator. In this case two parameters of the electromagnetic wave in the resonator are controlled. These parameters are connected with material moisture and density.