AI3601 Post Harvest Technology Syllabus:

AI3601 Post Harvest Technology Syllabus – Anna University Regulation 2021

COURSE OBJECTIVE:

 The students would be exposed to fundamental knowledge in engineering properties of agricultural materials, different Post Harvest operations and processing methods of harvested crops and storage of crops

UNIT I FUNDAMENTALS OF POST HARVESTING

Post harvest technology – introduction –objectives –post harvest losses of cereals, pulses and oilseeds – importance – optimum stage of harvest. Threshing – traditional methods mechanical threshers – types-principles and operation-moisture content –measurement –direct and indirect methods – moisture meters – equilibrium moisture content.

UNIT II PSYCHROMETRY AND DRYING

Psychrometry – importance – Psychrometric charts and its uses – Drying – principles and theory of drying – thin layer and deep bed drying – Hot air drying – methods of producing hot air – Types of grain dryers – selection – construction, operation and maintenance of dryers – Design of dryers

UNIT III CLEANING AND GRADING

Principles – air screen cleaners – adjustments – cylinder separator – spiral separator – magnetic separator – colour sorter – inclined belt separator – length separators – effectiveness of separation and performance index.

UNIT IV SHELLING AND HANDLING

Principles and operation – maize sheller, husker sheller for maize – groundnut decorticator – castor sheller – material handling – belt conveyor –screw conveyor – chain conveyor – bucket elevators – pneumatic conveying.

UNIT V CROP PROCESSING

Paddy processing – parboiling of paddy – methods – merits and demerits – dehusking of paddy – methods – merits and demerits – rice polishers –types – constructional details – polishing –layout of modern rice mill – wheat milling – pulse milling methods – oil seed processing – millets processing.

TOTAL: 45 PERIODS
TEXTBOOKS:

1. Chakraverty, A.Post harvest technology for Cereals, Pulses and oilseeds. Oxford & IBH publication Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, Third Edition, 2000.
2. Sahay, K.M., and Singh, K.K. Unit operations of Agricultural Processing. Vikas publishing house Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 1994.

REFERENCES:

1. Pande, P.H. Principles of Agriculture Processing. Kalyani Publishers, Ludhiana, 1994.
2. Henderson, S.M. and R.L. Perry. Agricultural Process Engineering. John Wiley and Sons, New York. 1955.

COURSE OUTCOMES:

CO1 Understand the importance of post harvest processing and determine moisture content of products
CO2 Perform drying of agricultural products and analyze performance of dryers
CO3 Recognize the working principles of grain cleaning and grading devices and able to select suitable equipment for cereal grains, oilseeds, and pulses
CO4 Understand the operation of post harvest equipment like shellers, conveyors
CO5 Different Post Harvest operations and processing methods of harvested crops.