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The most common errors of capacitance grain moisture sensors: effect of volume change during harvest

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the inaccuracy of a capacitance moisture sensor mounted on a combine harvester based on the datasets of six consecutive years. Variation of sensed volume is a major cause of measurement error for a capacitive sensor. The percentage of the sensed volume occupied by grain changes continuously by filling and emptying of the grain bin, which causes a large fluctuation in sensor output during on-the-go moisture sensing. At the beginning of the bin filling process when the grain bin is empty, under-measures were recorded and when it is approximately 60 % full, large over-measures are observed compared to the actual moisture values. This effect mainly influences the precision of the recorded site-specific moisture values and causes inaccurate yield maps. To assess the effect of varying sensed volume content during harvest operation, a bin level transmitter sensor was mounted on the top of the grain bin to continuously measure the height of the grain. A clear correlation between the actual amount of material (available space) in the grain bin to the bias from the standard moisture was demonstrated. The coefficient of determination was R2 = 0.86 for corn (Zea mays L.) and R2 = 0.87 for winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). By using equations generated from the datasets of consecutive years (2008, 2009 and 2010), an effective post-correction method for the recorded data is proposed.

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Abbreviations

d :

Distance (m)

U :

Voltage (mV)

s:

Grain bin fill (%)

C h :

Grain bin coefficient

ξ nmin :

The highest difference from standard in negative range

ξ nmax :

The highest difference from standard in positive range

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Acknowledgments

The research was financed in the framework of the TÁMOP-4.2.2. B-10/1-2010-0018 project entitled “Talentum-Improvements in the conditions available for encouraging talented students at the University of West Hungary” with funds from the European Union and the European Social Fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Institute of Biosystems Engineering, University of West Hungary, Vár 2, 9200, Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary

    M. Csiba, A. J. Kovács, I. Virág & M. Neményi

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  1. M. Csiba
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  2. A. J. Kovács
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  3. I. Virág
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  4. M. Neményi
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Correspondence to M. Csiba.

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Csiba, M., Kovács, A.J., Virág, I. et al. The most common errors of capacitance grain moisture sensors: effect of volume change during harvest. Precision Agric 14, 215–223 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-012-9289-y

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