• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.381-390
• /
• 2002

Direct seeding of rice-seed pellets is expected to be an alternative for solving problems in current direct seeding cultivation of rice. but mass production of rice-seed pellets is prerequisite for practical application. Design. construction and performance evaluation of an experimental rice seed pelleting machine were carried out for mass production of rice-seed pellets. The pelleting machine intended to make a ball type rice-seed pellet, which have 3∼5 rice seeds and diameter of which is 12 mm. Pellet materials ; rice seeds, soil, and binder were mixed and kneaded by the mixer. The designed rice seed pelleting machine fed pellet materials by screw conveyor to forming rolls and made rice-seed pellets. Capacity, ratio of perfect rice-seed pellets, seed and pellet material loss were investigated as mixing ratio of soil to rice seed and feeding rate of pellet materials. The pelleting machine showed up to 37,000 pellets/h of pelleting rate, 61∼71% of weight ratio of perfect rice-seed pellets to pellet materials supplied, 17∼48% of seed loss ratio. Average weight and average diameter of the pellets were 1.66 g and 12.0 mm. respectively. More than 3 rice seeds were included in most pellets at 6 : 1 of mixing ratio of soil to rice seed. And compression strength of the pellets was in the range of 88-130 N. To improve performance of the pelleting machine, improvements of the forming rolls, feeding mechanism, and discharging mechanism for reducing loss of pellet materials and seeds damage are needed.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.115-122
• /
• 2001

An impact-type seed-metering device was developed for the planting of rice-pellets. In this study, new design of pellet-metering device focused on simplicity and precision seeding for the planting of rice-seed pellets. In addition of seed-metering device, several devices were also developed such as seed-guiding device, seed-supplying tube and furrow opener for precision pellet planting. Field test was conducted to estimate the planting performance of the developed metering device. As a cam rotates, the impact bar of the metering device pushes a rice-seed pellet so that the seed can be discharged from the seed-supplying tube in the impact-type seed-metering device. Results of the tests showed that mean seeding spacing was 12cm at the traveling speed of 1.0m/s, corresponding to a target spacing for planting of rice-seed pellets. Also, both miss-seeded rate and damaged-seed rate were less than 2.0%, indicating acceptable levels for the precision planting. The developed mechanism of the impact-type metering device can be directly applied to the design of metering devices for the precision pellet planting of other crops.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.403-410
• /
• 2003

To enhance the performance of a rice seed pelleting machine and the quality of rice-seed pellets made, improvement of the rice seed pelleting machine developed previously(Park, 2002) was tried and its performance was evaluated. As compared with the previous pelleting machine, a feeding mechanism of pellet materials to the forming rolls was changed from screw conveyor to hydraulic cylinder for proper feeding, rings were installed among rows of semi-spherical forming grooves on the forming rolls for reducing pellet materials loss and seeds damage, and discharging air nozzles were added for complete discharging of the pellets made. Through performance tests, capacity, pelleting ratio, and seed loss ratio of the pelleting machine were investigated at the mixing ratios of soil to rice seed of 6 : 1, 7 : 1, and 8 : 1, and rotating speeds of the forming rolls of 7 rpm, 10 rpm, and 13 rpm. As results of performance evaluation, pelleting ratios were in the range of 77 ∼ 89 ％, and maximum pelleting ratio increased by 18 % in comparison with that of the previous machine. Maximum capacity was about 110 kg/h(about 63,000 pellets/h), which was increased by 70 % in comparison with that of the previous machine. But, ratios of seed loss were in the range of 24 - 49 ％, which were not improved.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.411-420
• /
• 2003

Physical and cultural properties were investigated on the rice-seed pellets made by the pelleting machine(Yu, 2003) as the changes with mixing ratios of soil to rice seed of 6 : 1, 7 : 1, and 8 : I, and rotating speeds of forming rolls of 7, 10, and 13 rpm. Average weight, average diameter, and average sphericity of the pellets were 1.70 g, 12.0 ㎜, and 99.1 ％, respectively. Average number of seeds per pellet was more than 3, and almost all pellets had more than 3 seeds in the cases of mixing ratios of 6 : 1, and 7 : 1 at the forming rolls' speed of 7 rpm. Gradual drying was needed because rapid drying caused cracks on surface of the pellets. Compression strength of the pellets dried in shady room was in the range of 132 ∼ 152 N, which was enough for handling. Comparing with the previous pellets(Park, 2002), average number of seeds per pellet, ratio of pellets including more than 3 seeds, and compression strength increased due to the effects of pressure feed of pellet materials, and improvements of the forming rolls. Emergence ratio of the pellets made at the mixing ratio of 6 : 1 and the forming rolls' speed of 7 rpm, was 100 % on dry paddy and was 97 % on flooded paddy surface. Good growth characteristics, and yield except number of seedling stand and ratio of missing plant were shown in planting of the pellets made at the mixing ratio of 7 : 1 and the forming rolls' speed of 7 rpm on flooded paddy surface field. Considering the cultural results, the mixing ratio of 6 : 1, and the forming rolls' speed of 7 rpm seems to be optimum operating condition for the improved pelleting machine.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2010.06a
• /
• pp.252.2-252.2
• /
• 2010

Biomass is considered to be a major potential fuel and renewable resource for the future. In fact, there is high potential to produce the large amount of energy from biomass around the world. In this study, to obtain basic data for practical application of wood pellet and wood pellet boiler system as heating system in agriculture, agricultural biomass resources were surveyed, pellet was made of agricultural by-product such as stem of rape, oat and rice, ricehusk and sawdust and wood pellet boiler system with capacity of 116 kW was manufactured and installed in greenhouse of $38.5m{\times}32m$. High heating value, bulk density and ash content of pellet made of agricultural by-product and efficiency and heating performance of this system was estimated. Rice straw was the largest agricultural biomass in 2005 and the total amount of rice straw converted into energy of $131.71{\times}10^{11}$ kJ. And in 2005, total amount of forest' by-product converted into energy of $29,277.05{\times}10^{11}$ kJ. High heating values of pellets made of agricultural by-products of stem and seed of rape, stem of oat, rice straw and rice husk were 16,034, 16,026, 16,089, 15,650, 15,044 kJ/kg respectively. High heating values of pellets made of agricultural by-products were 83.6% compared to that of wood pellet. Average bulk density of pellets made of agricultural by-products of stem and seed of rape, stem of oat, rice straw and rice husk was 1,400 $kg/m^3$. Ash contents of the pellets were 6.6, 7.0, 6.2, 5.5, 33% respectively. Ash content of rice husk pellet was the largest compared to other kind of pellets. To increase efficiency of agricultural pellet boiler, the boiler adopted secondary heat exchanger. The agricultural pellet boiler designed and manufactured in this study had high efficiency of 84.2% compared to the conventional agricultural pellet boiler, when water flow rate, exhaust gas temperature and average combustion furnace temperature were 39L/min, $180^{\circ}C$, $680^{\circ}C$ respectively. And pellet supplying and pausing time were 13, 43 seconds respectively. In March of 2010, prices of wood pellet, agricultural tax free diesel, diesel, kerosene were 350 won/kg, 811 won/L, 1,422 won/L, 976 Won/L respectively. Also in terms of energy, prices per same heating value were 77.8, 90.1, 158, 108.4 Won/Mcal. Energy saving rate of wood pellet was 16, 50, 39% compared to agricultural tax free diesel, diesel and kerosene respectively.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.41 no.6
• /
• pp.678-684
• /
• 1996

Seed pelleting have successfully been used in many crops for better crop estab-lishment and for mechanizing seeding process for small crop seeds in developed countries. In this experiment various pelleting materials and binders were tested to get basic information on the shape, hardness and germination of pelleted seesds of cabbage (cv. Seoul Beachoo) and rice (cv: Ilpoom). PLL-11, paper clay, lime and coal ash were good materials to make smooth shape of the pellets with pel gel and AG-11 as binders, and PLL-ll as material and pelgel and AG-11 as binders were the best among them in consideration of shape and hardness together. The hardness of the pelleted seeds were differed with each other depending on both of the pelleting materials and binders. Pelleted cabbage seeds coated by pelgel as binder with different materials showed lower germination percentge than control in general, but the seeds pelleted by PLL-11 with different binders showed no restraint effects. When the cabbage seed pelleted by PLL-11 with pelgel as binder showed almost same germination percentage as control. The pH and electrical conductivity of the extract from bentonite and zeolite were very higher than other materials tested and germination percentage showed a little lower than control when the cab-bage seed planted on the filter paper damped with the extract. As a result, PLL-11 as pelleting material and pel gel and AG-11 as binder appeared the good materials to make pellets of cabbage seeds and rice in consideration of shape, hardness and germination.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
• /
• v.53 no.2
• /
• pp.61-65
• /
• 2011

Biomass is considered to be a major potential fuel and renewable resource for the future. In fact, there is high potential to produce the large amount of energy from biomass around the world. In this study, to obtain basic data for practical application of agricultural and forest by-products as fuel of heating system in agriculture, agricultural and forest biomass resources were surveyed, the pelletizer with capacity of $50\;kg{\cdot}h^{-1}$ was designed and manufactured and pellets were made by the pelletizer. High heating value, ash content, etc. of pellets made of agricultural and forest by-products were estimated. Straw of rice was the largest agricultural biomass in 2009 and the total amount of rice straw converted into energy of $299{\times}10^3$ TOE. And in 2009, amount of forest by-product converted into energy of $9,579{\times}10^3$ TOE. High heating values of pellets made of stem and seed of rape, stem of oat, rice straw and rice husk were 16,034, 16,026, 16,089, 15,650, $15,044\;kJ{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ respectively. High heating values of pellets made of agricultural by-products were average 83.6% compared to that of wood pellet. Average bulk density of pellets made of stem and seed of rape, stem of oat, rice straw and rice husk was $1,400\;kg{\cdot}m^{-3}$ ($1.4\;g{\cdot}cm^{-3}$). Ash contents of the pellets were 6.6, 7, 6.2, 5.5, 33% respectively. Rice husk pellet produced the largest ash content compared to other kinds of pellets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.15 no.7
• /
• pp.968-973
• /
• 2002

To evaluate the chewing activity of ruminant feeds, four Holstein steers (average body weight $742{\pm}15kg$) were employed. Experimental feeds were four roughages ($NH_3$-treated rice straw, alfalfa hay, corn silage, orchard grass hay) and four concentrate ingredients (cotton seed hull, beet pulp pellet, barley grain, oat grain). Regarding palatability for each experimental feeds which was overviewed during the adjustment period, animals were fed roughages alone, but with 50% $NH_3$-treated rice straw ($NH_3$-RS) for concentrate ingredients. Therefore, all the data for concentrate ingredients was derived by extracting the result per unit obtained from steers fed $NH_3$-RS alone. The experiment was conducted using a 4${\times}$4 Latin square designs for roughages and concentrate ingredients. Experimental feeds were fed during a 10 d adaptation and 2 d chewing data collection during each experimental period. Animals were gradually adjusted to the experimental diet. Dry matter intake (DMI) was restricted at a 1.4% of mean body weight (10.4 kg DM/d). Time spent eating and eating chews per kilogram of DMI were greatest for beet pulp pellet, and lowest for barley grain (p<0.05). Time spent rumination per kilogram of DMI was greatest for $NH_3$-RS, cotton seed hull and orchard grass, but rumination chews were greatest for cotton seed hull and orchard grass except $NH_3$-RS (p<0.05). Roughage index value (chewing time, minute/kg DMI) was 58.0 for cotton seed hull, 56.1 for beet pulp pellet, 55.5 for $NH_3$-RS, 53.1 for orchard grass hay, 45.9 for corn silage, 43.0 for alfalfa hay, 30.0 for oat grain, and 10.9 for barley grain. The ratio of rumination time to total chewing time (eating plus ruminating) was about 72% for the roughages except corn silage (66.9%), and followed by cotton seed hull (69.5%), and ranged from 49.5% to 52.9% for other feeds. Higher percentages of rumination in total chewing time may be evidently indicate the characteristics of roughage. Therefore, this indicate that the chewing activity of concentrate ingredients can be more fully reflects by the ruminating time than total chewing time (RVI), although it is reasonable to define the RVI for roughages.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
• /
• 1999.07a
• /
• pp.65-70
• /
• 1999

벼 재배의 생력화를 위하여 현재 국내에는 벼 직파 재배 기술이 확대 보급되고 있다. 기존 벼 직파 재배 기술은 직파유형에 따라 차이가 있지만 발아율 및 입모율, 도복, 잡초방제, 종자손실 및 유동, 포장준비 및 재배관리에 많은 문제점들이 있어 이를 획기적으로 개선할 수 있는 방안이 절실한 실정이다. 벼 펠렛 종자를 이용한 파종은 현행 직파 재배의 여러 문제점들을 해결할 수 있을 뿐만 아니라 입모율 향상, 초기생육촉진 및 초기 병충해 방제, 시비기술의 혁신을 기할 수 있어 안정적 직파 재배 기술을 확립할 수 있을 것으로 보인다. (중략)

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.305-312
• /
• 2007

It is crucial to develop a miniaturized cultivation method for large and rapid screening of high-yielding mutants of monacolin-K, a powerful anti-hypercholesterolemic secondary metabolite biosynthesized by the fungal cells of Monascus ruber. In order to investigate as many strains as possible in a short time, a miniaturized fermentation method especially suitable for the cultivation of the filamentous Monascus mutants was developed using $50m{\ell}$ culture-tube ($7m{\ell}$ of working volume) instead of the traditional $250m{\ell}$ flask ($50m{\ell}$ of working volume). Generally, in filamentous fungal cell fermentations, morphologies in growth and production cultures should be maintained as thick filamentous and compact-pelleted (usually less than 1 mm in diameter) forms, respectively, for enhanced production of secondary metabolites in final production cultures. In this study, we intended to induce the respective optimal morphologies in the miniaturized culture system for the purpose of rapid screening of overproducers. Miniaturized growth culture system was successfully developed due to the mass production of spores in the statistically optimized solid medium. When large amounts of spores were inoculated into the growth cultures, and brown rice flour (20 g/L) was also supplemented to the growth medium, dense filamentous morphologies were successfully induced in the growth cultures performed with the 50 ml culture tubes. It was implied that the amounts of spores inoculated into the growth tube-cultures and the growth medium components should be the key factors for the induction of the filamentous forms in the growth fermentations. Furthermore, in order to statistically optimize production medium, multiple experiments based on Plackett-Burman design and response surface method (RSM) were carried out, resulting in more than 2 fold enhanced production of monacolin-K in the final production cultures with the optimized production medium. Notably, under the production culture conditions with the statistically optimized medium, optimal pellet sizes below 1 mm in diameter were reproducibly induced, in contrast to the thick and viscous filamentous morphologies observed in the previous production cultures.