Determination of some engineering properties of parsley (Petroselinum crispum L.) seeds and modeling

Abstract

To design the planting, separating, threshing, sizing and packing machines for agricultural products, physical and mechanical properties of the products should be known. In this work some physical properties of parsley seeds were studied. Dimensional parameters including three principle dimensions, geometric mean diameter, equivalent diameter, arithmetic mean diameter, sphericity, volume, surface area, projected area, flakiness ratio and elongation ratio were measured using image processing technique. Also length, width and thickness distributions of parsley seeds were modeled using Gamma, Generalized Extreme Value and Weibull distributions. Gravimetrical properties including mass of single seed, thousand seed mass, bulk density, true density and porosity were measured. Effect of the container volume and fall height on bulk density and porosity were studied. Frictional properties of parsley seeds (static coefficient of friction on various surfaces and repose angle of based on bypouring, Hele-Shaw, empting and filling methods) were measured. Results showed that length, width and thickness of the seeds ranged (0.660 - 0.883mm), (0.524 - 0.752mm) and (0.490 - 0.744 mm), respectively. With increasing the container volume from 150 to 550 mL, bulk density of the seeds increased; but from 550 to 750 mL, it was decreased. True density and thousand seed mass of the seeds were 884.658 kg/m3 and 1.390 g. The values of friction coefficient on plywood, rubber, iron and galvanized surfaces were 27.35ᵒ, 24.17ᵒ, 19.31ᵒ and 14.77ᵒ, respectively. The values of filling and empting repose angles were 32.64ᵒ and 40.16ᵒ.