NOPR Collection:

Forced convection flat plate solar air heaters with and without thermal storage

2010-11-23T16:30:32Z

Title: Forced convection flat plate solar air heaters with and without thermal storage Authors: Saravanakumar, P T; Mayilsamy, K Abstract: This paper presents thermal performance of flat plate solar air heater (SAH) with and without thermal storages. A forced convection solar collector (FCSC) integrated with different sensible heat storage material has been developed and tested for its performance for solar collector under meteorological conditions of Aliyar, Pollachi Taulk, India. System consists of a flat plate SAH with heat storage unit, and a centrifugal blower to increase collector outlet temperature and efficiency (10-20%). Gravel with iron scraps gives better efficiency than other storage materials. FCSC is more suitable for drying high quality dried product even in a cloudy climate like Pollachi. Page(s): 966-968

A new approach for jute industry to produce fancy blended yarn for upholstery

2010-11-28T16:30:30Z

Title: A new approach for jute industry to produce fancy blended yarn for upholstery Authors: Sengupta, Surajit; Debnath, Sanjoy Abstract: This study presents a new approach to make jute based yarn by blending polypropylene in jute (30:70) in jute finisher drawing. Fabric has been made in specially modified handloom. Developed fabric showed higher area density, thickness, and weft crimp, tenacity and rigidity and it was cheap than commercial fabric. It was dimensionally and quality wise stable after wash, and showed no visible deterioration or deformation including surface texture, when used as table cloth and bed cover for two months. Page(s): 961-965

**Formulation and quality assessment of instant dhokla mix with incorporation of pumpkin flour**

2010-11-20T16:30:36Z

Title: Formulation and quality assessment of instant dhokla mix with incorporation of pumpkin flour Authors: Ravi, Usha; Menon, Lakshmi; Anupama, M Abstract: This study presents an instant dhokla mix with incorporation of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) flour at 10, 20 and 30% levels in instant mix. Incorporation of pumpkin powder in instant dhokla mix resulted in a significant increase in nutrients (threefold increase in protein and twofold increase in fiber). Beta-carotene levels of dhokla mix increased by 8.4% in 20% pumpkin flour incorporated dhokla mix when compared to standard. Page(s): 956-960

**Potential of thermophilic bacteria as microbial inoculant for commercial scale white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) compost production**

2010-11-19T16:30:39Z

Title: Potential of thermophilic bacteria as microbial inoculant for commercial scale white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) compost production Authors: Ahlawat, O P; Vijay, B Abstract: Thermophilic bacteria (9), isolated from button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) compost samples, were evaluated for temperature requirement, extracellular lignocellulolytic enzymes activity assay and potential for white button mushroom compost production. Optimum growth in different bacteria was between 43-55°C. Highest activity of exoglucanase and endoglucanase was recorded in Staphylococcus sp., while that of b-glucosidase in Bacillus brevis and B. megaterium, and xylanase as well as laccase in B. stearothermophilus. Staphylococcus sp. also exhibited second best activity of xylanase. Compost prepared with Staphylococcus sp. exhibited highest colony forming units of bacteria, numbers of mushroom pinheads and mushroom yield.Compost prepared with extraneous inoculation of two potential bacteria (Staphylococcus sp. and B. megaterium-I) at commercial scale did not show much variation in physico-chemical properties, however, compost prepared with Staphylococcus sp. supported early mushroom harvest by 1.5 - 2.0 days and significantly higher mushroom yield in two cultivation trials Thus Staphylococcus sp. has potential to convert agro wastes into selective and productive compost for white button mushroom cultivation. Page(s): 948-955