The United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of

United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture

The United States of America As Represented by the Department of Agriculture

Stuart O Nelson

Andrzej W Kraszewski

Samir Trabelsi

Kurt C Lawrence

Richard G Leffler

Venkatrkrishna S Kandala

A microwave sensor and algorithm for instantaneous and nondestructive determination of bulk density and moisture content in granular or particulate materials at a single microwave frequency, especially agricultural commodities, which uses an inexpensive microwave circuit for determining the real and imaginary parts of relative complex permittivity using an algorithm for phase correction.

Microwave sensor and algorithm for moisture and density determination

A universal calibration method and apparatus for nondestructive real time determination of moisture content in particulate or granular materials by radio-frequency sensors is described which is bulk-density and material-independent and remains valid across instruments of different designs.

Universal dielectric calibration method and apparatus for moisture content determination in particulate and granular materials

A method for simultaneously and independently measuring moisture content and bulk density of particulate materials using radio-frequency measurements allowing for on-line, real-time monitoring and control. Moisture and density are determined by measurements of complex permittivities. This method is based on the use of the dielectric properties of the materials for density and water content determination.

Method for the simultaneous and independent determination of moisture

A method for nondestructively determining the mass of arbitrarily shaped dielectric objects is disclosed. The object is inserted into a microwave resonant cavity coupled to a microwave radiation source and a measuring circuit. Measurements of shift of resonant frequency and change in the transmission coefficient due to the presence of the object in the cavity are made. The mass is determined from using this information. The process is particularly useful for determining the mass of articles that are too hot or too cold or too fragile to handle and for articles that are irregular or variable in shape.

Mass or weight determination of arbitrarily-shaped dielectric objects by

A method for the nondestructive measurement of the moisture content of single grain kernels, seeds, nuts, or fruits which is independent of their weight, thickness, and projected area. At least two independent parameters of complex electrical impedance or admittance of a single grain kernel, seed, nut, or fruit are measured at two different frequencies and the moisture content is calculated therefrom.

Single kernel, seed, nut, or fruit dielectric moisture content

A process for nondestructively determining the moisture content of single articles such as single grain kernels, seeds, nuts, fruits, or other biological or agricultural products. The article is inserted into a microwave resonant cavity coupled to a microwave radiation source and a measuring circuit. Measurements of the energy dissipated in the sample and the shift in frequency (or wavelength) due to the presence of the article in the cavity are made at each of two orientations differing by about 90 degrees with respect to the maximum electric field vector. The moisture content is subsequently determined from the ratio of the averaged values of the energy dissipated to the shift in frequency. The process is particularly useful for determining the moisture content of articles of irregular or variable shape.

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Athens, GA, United States of America

Stuart O Nelson