Thermo-physical properties of rubber seed useful in the design of storage structure

Article. Published in Int. J. Agric and Biology Engeneering. — 2012. — vol. 5 — №2 — 5 p.This study was carried out to determine the thermo-physical properties of rubber seed in the moisture range of 9.1% to 14.8% (w.b.). The length, width, thickness, measured surface area, bulk density and true density increased with increasing moisture content with high coefficients of determination (significant at p 0.05). Their optimum values at 14.8% moisture content were 17.00 mm, 11.94 mm, 8.26 mm, 285.20 mm², 295.00 kg/m³ and 470.67 kg/m³, respectively. The angle of repose increased as moisture content increased with low coefficient of determination and has optimum value of 28.81°at 14.8% moisture content. The specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity decreased linearly while thermal diffusivity varied exponentially with an increase in moisture content (significant at p 0.05). The optimum values of specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity and diffusivity at 14.8% moisture content were 55.84 kJ/kg.K, 0.032 W/m.K and 1.93×10^-9 m²/s, respectively. The data obtained are essential in the design of storage structure for the seed.Keywords: thermo-physical properties, rubber seed, storage, specific heat capacity, bulk density