Browsing by Author "Madhavan, K."

Now showing 1 - 20 of 35
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    Characteristics of coconut oil blended with sunflower oil and mustard oil
    (2009) Madhavan, K.; Naresh Kumar, S.; Mathew, A.C.; John George
    The studies suggested that balanced oil can be formed by suitably blending CNO with other PUFA or MUFA oils so that it can contain all essential components required for the human health.
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    Characteristics of coconut oil blended with sunflower oil and mustard oil
    (2009) Madhavan, K.; Naresh Kumar, S.; Mathew, A.C.; John George
    The studies suggested that balanced oil can be formed by suitably blending CNO with other PUFA or MUFA oils so that it can contain all essential components required for the human health.
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    Coconut climbing methods and devices: A participatory analysis of constraints and strategies
    (2011) Thamban, C.; Mathew, A.C.; Muralidharan, K.; Subramanian, P.; Vidhan Singh, T.; Madhavan, K.
    Socio-economic characteristics, extent of knowledge about integrated management of selected pest and diseases of coconut and technical efficiency of mechanical climbing devices were analysed in a study conducted among 87 coconut climbers in Kasaragod District. Matrix scoring, one of the Participatory Rural Appraisal tools, was employed to elicit data for the participatory assessment of the climbing devices. Among the climbers 22 per cent were illiterate, 57 per cent had primary school level of education, eight per cent were landless and 64 per cent were having only 10 to 50 cents of land holding. Only 14 per cent of the climbers used mechanical devices for climbing coconut palms. Seventy four per cent of the climbers attended to plant protection measures, mainly control measures for bud rot disease and rhinoceros beetle, apart form harvesting and crown cleaning. Except one climber, none of them had attended any training on PP measures in coconut. Majority of the climbers did not possess the required level of knowledge about the control measures recommended against bud rot disease and rhinoceros beetle infestation. The average time taken to set the device on the tree was more for the Chemberi Joseph model of climbing device but it took less time for climbing up the tree. CPCRI model was assessed better on the dimension of safety for the climber and simplicity in the design of the device. Chemberi Joseph model was assessed better on the dimensions of less drudgery involved in climbing, suitability for using under all weather situations and cost of the device.
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    Coconut jaggery chips
    (2008-02) Madhavan, K.; Mathew, A.C.
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    Comparative efficiency of solar energy based dryers in relation to copra drying
    (2006) Madhavan, K.; Bosco, S.J.D.
    Three types of solar energy based dryers viz. solar cum electrical dryer, solar cum biomass dryer and solar tunnel dryer developed by Central Plantation Crops Research Institute were compared with reference to their Specific Fuel Consumption (SFC), Solar Collector Efficiency and cost ofdrying ofcoconut. These three dryers were selected because the shape and size of the drying chamber of all dryers were the same and capacity is 1500 coconuts (225 kg. copra) per batch. It was seen that SFC was better in the case of solar cum electrical dryer followed by solar tunnel dryer but efficiency of the solar collection was found to be the least in the case of solar tunnel dryer. Cost of drying was minimum for solar tunnel dryer and maximum for solar cum electrical dryer.
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    Copra Dryers
    (1994) Madhavan, K.; Bosco, S.J.D.
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    Copra dryers
    (CPCRI, 1994-05) Madhavan, K.; Bosco, S.J.D.
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    Copra dryers - Versatile machines for the monsoon periods
    (2007-02-08) Menon, A.R.S.; Madhavan, K.
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    Design and development of an auto-irrigation system - A case study in coconut plot
    (2007-02-08) Madhavan, K.; Mathew, A.C.
    An electronic tensiometcr has been developed which can automatically control all types of high frequency irrigation systems such as sprinkler irrigation etc. The user can set two levels of tensions in the instrument. Upper limit, at which irrigation is to be started and lower limit at which irrigation is to be stopped. When fitted to any high frequency irrigation system, the tensiometcr will monitor the prevailing soil moisture tension and when it reaches the upper limit of set tension, it will activate either a solenoid valve or an electric pump thereby starting irrigation. Once irrigation is started, the instrument will again monitor the soil moisture tension and when it reaches the set level of lower limit, it will stop irrigation. The auto irrigation system was installed along with a drip irrigation system in a coconut garden and performed well for two irrigation seasons.
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    Design and development of copra moisture meter
    (2007-02-08) Madhavan, K.
    For safe storage copra its moisture content should be less than 6 per cent. At about 10 per cent level serious mould damage occurs and the product is more subject to attack of insect pests. For a rapid and accurate estimation of moisture content, an electronic moisture meter was developed on the principle of electric conductivity. The instrument is calibrated against standard air oven method. It can read moisture content from 5% to 40%. The instrument is handy and useful to copra processors.
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    Design and development of small scale palm oil extraction unit
    (Central Plantation Crops Research Institute Kasaragod - 671 124,Kerala, 1997-03) Bosco, S.J.D.; Madhavan, K.; Sunil Gulati; Sebastian George, A.; Singh, T.V.
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    Design of a cashewnut moisture meter
    (2007-02-08) Madhavan, K.
    High moisture content in raw cashew nut causes deterioration of the kernel due to mould, bacteria, and enzyme action. Cashew nuts are to be dried to 6-8 % (d.b.) for storage. This paper explains the details of the Cashew nut Moisture meter designed for accurate determination of moisture content in raw cashew nuts. The Instrument works on the principle of electrolitic capacitance. Cashew acts as the dielectric of the parallel plate capacitor which is the sensor of the instrument. The moisture meter is calibrated against standard air oven method . clt can read the moisture content upto 20% (d.b).
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    Design of a low cost Cashewnut moisture meter
    (Central Plantation Crops Research Institute Kasaragod - 671 124,Kerala, 1998-04) Madhavan, K.
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    Design of a sequential irrigation system for on farm water management
    (2007-02-08) Madhavan, K.; Mathew, A.C.
    To obtain maximum crop yield out of the inputs like water, fertilizer, food, seed etc., invested in crop production, the most important single factor is the field water management. Crops should be irrigated at the proper soil wetness with just enough water to replenish the soil moisture deficit created in the root zone. Therefore a well-controlled irrigation system is one, which optimizes the spatial and temporal distribution of water, not necessarily to obtain the highest yield or to use the least amount of water possible, but to maximize the benefit-to-cost ratio. Tensiometer and gypsum block are the two basic devices that can be used as soil moisture sensors to schedule irrigation. Use of infiltrating agents and observation of moisture deficiency symptom are other methods for irrigation management. In order to control irrigation automatically by continuously monitoring soil water requirement, an electronic tensiometer and an electrical resistance sensor were developed at Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasargod and are being used. But sensitivity of a tensiometer is upto a maximum of 0.85 atmospheres beyond which it seize to function. Many times the soil moisture tension is to be measured even up to 15 atmospheres. However electrical resistance sensors are used for measurement of soil moisture up to this range. Another method of scheduling irrigation is by sequential irrigation system. This paper gives the sequential irrigation system developed at Central Plantation Crops Research Institute. It consists of a time switch and a switching circuit. According to a set time in the time switch, a control circuit operates a solenoid valve connected on the irrigation pipeline to switch on the irrigation and keep it on for a predetermined period of time and then switch it off. The heart of the time switch is a quartz oscillator vibrating at a particular frequency. This frequency is converted to a 1 Hz. pulse in an integrated circuit. This pulse drives a stepper motor, which in turn drives a gear train that is connected to a switching dial. According to a set time in the time switch, a control circuit operates the solenoid valve or the starter of the electric pump either to switch on or switch off the irrigation. This system was installed in a coconut garden and was tested for one season. It is reported that the irrigation requirement for coconut palm is 32 liters/palm/day. Accordingly the number of hours the irrigation is to be done can be calculated by knowing the operating pressure in the irrigation pipeline and discharge rate of the emitter used.Depending on the availability of electric supply the starting time, the period, and the end point of irrigation can be set in the time switch. The practical utility of this circuit is that, this can be used along with any high frequency irrigation system such as sprinkler, perfo etc. and this works automatically and so no man power is required to do the irrigation.
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    Design of an electrical dryer for plantation crops
    (1999) Madhavan, K.; Sunil Gulati; Patil, R.T.; Sebastian George, A.
    Sun drying of plantation crops becomes impossible during rainy season and so artificial drying has to be resorted to. The electrical dryer developed by CPCRI is an indirect type dryer suitable for all seasons to dry coconut, cardamom and pepper. It is tray type dryer with mixed flow and forced hot air circulation. Heating unit consits of 6 numbers of 1K W strip heaters and hot air blower with 0.5 HP motor. Themostatic / electronic temperature control is provided to set the maximum drying temperature to suit the requirement of different crops. This dryer can be used to dry 1000 coconuts / batch in 32 hours and 75 kg of cardamom (wet) in 25 hours. The cost of drying per kilogram of copra and cardamom is calculated to be Rs 1.83 and Rs 1.96 respectively.
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    Design of an electronic tensiometer and an auto irrigation system
    (Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod, 1999-06) Madhavan, K.; Mathew, A.C.
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    Development and Performance Evaluation of Virgin Coconut Oil Cooker
    (2014-01) Mathew, A.C.; Madhavan, K.; Arumuganathan, T.
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    Development of a Forced Convection Solar Cum Electrical Dryer
    (2002) Madhavan, K.; Bosco, S.J.D.
    Solar drying relies on the sun as the source of energy. It generates higher air temperature and consequential lower relative humidity, which are both conducive to, improved drying rate. But during the drying process if the sky becomes cloudy or it starts raining, the temperature comes down and the product gets spoiled. Unlike other crops, coconut endosperm is exposed while drying and so is more likely to get infected with fungus and bacteria if the drying air temperature is less than 50°C. In order to control the spoilage and to have faster drying a forced convection solar cum electrical dryer has been designed with solar energy as the main source of energy and electricity as the alternate source of energy. It consists of a semi circular parallel plate solar collector, electric heaters, blower motor and the drying chamber. Hot air is drawn from the solar collector and blown in to the drying chamber. When the temperature in the drying chamber goes below the preset value (55°C for coconut), electric heaters get switched on and the temperature is retained between 55°C and 70°C thus drying at a uniform temperature and producing quality copra. The capacity of th dryer 3 is 2000 coconuts per batch and the drying time taken is 24 hrs. The cost of the dryer is Rs.400001- and the drying cost per Kg of copra is Rs.1.05.