Aerodynamic Characteristics of Unshelled and Shelled Sunflower Seeds: Significance of Moisture and Cultivars

Figures & data

Figure 1 Set up for terminal velocity measurement (all dimension in mm); a: vertical transparent column, b: ventilator, c: Supporting frame, d: regulating device, e: pan, f: collecting interceptor, g: hopper, h: vibrator, i: lid, j: knob screw, k: frame, l: aspirating mouth.

Figure 2 Effect of moisture and cultivars on terminal velocity of unshelled sunflower seeds.

Figure 3 Effect of moisture and cultivars on terminal velocity of shelled sunflower seeds.

Table 1 Regression equations and R ² (coefficient of determination) for various aerodynamic characteristics of unshelled and shelled sunflower seeds

		Unshelled seeds		Shelled seeds
Aerodynamical characteristics	Cultivar	Regression equation	R ^2	Regression equation	R ^2
Terminal velocity, ms^−1	NSFH-36	0.448 M + 2.615	0.958	0.096 M + 1.658	0.894
	PSFH-118	0.119 M + 10.01	0.919	0.119 M + 10.02	0.919
	GKSFH-2002	0.085 M + 1.979	0.953	0.105 M + 1.505	0.991
	SH-3322	0.074 M + 2.499	0.947	0.108 M + 1.575	0.978
Drag coefficient,	NSFH-36	−0.006 M + 0.263	0.976	−0.008 M + 0.248	0.971
dimensionless	PSFH-118	−0.119 M + 10.01	0.919	−0.007 M + 0.228	0.988
	GKSFH-2002	−0.013 M + 0.345	0.985	−0.003 M + 0.185	0.986
	SH-3322	−0.027 M + 0.506	0.922	−0.007 M + 0.242	0.976
M = moisture content (% dry basis).

Figure 4 Effect of moisture and cultivars on drag coefficient of unshelled sunflower seeds.

Figure 5 Effect of moisture and cultivars on drag coefficient of shelled sunflower seeds.

Table 2 ANOVA to examine effect of moisture and cultivars on aerodynamic properties of unshelled sunflower seeds

Aerodynamical properties	Source	SS	DF	MS	Fcalculated
Terminal velocity, ms^−1	Cultivar	1.159	3	0.386	67627.72*
	Moisture	1.481	4	0.370	64814.96*
	Moisture × Cultivar	0.154	12	0.013	2245.13*
	Error	1.142E-4	20	5.711E-6
	Total	364.049	40
Drag coefficient, dimensionless	Cultivar	0.015	3	0.005	2597.51*
	Moisture	0.078	4	0.019	10245.94*
	Moisture × Cultivar	0.027	12	0.002	1196.65*
	Error	3.816E-5	20	1.908E-6
	Total	2.164	40
*Significant at p ≤ 0.05; Moisture × Cultivar = interaction of moisture and cultivar.

Table 3 ANOVA to examine effect of moisture and cultivar on aerodynamic characteristics of shelled sunflower seeds

Aerodynamical characteristics	Source	SS	DF	MS	Fcalculated
Terminal velocity, ms^−1	Cultivar	0.037	3	0.012	10.46*
	Moisture	3.653	4	0.913	767.38*
	Moisture × Cultivar	0.121	12	0.010	8.45*
	Error	2.380E-2	20	1.190E-3
	Total	279.024	40
Drag coefficient, dimensionless	Cultivar	0.002	3	0.006	195.45*
	Moisture	0.014	4	0.004	1110.49*
	Moisture × Cultivar	0.001	12	0.001	33.95*
	Error	6.410E-5	20	3.205E-6
	Total	1.014	40
*Significant at p ≤ 0.05; Moisture × Cultivar = interaction of moisture and cultivar.