Optimizing Mushroom Cultivation: PV-Powered Environmental Control Systems

Muhammad Zariq Imran Abdul Manap, Hanani Abd Wahab, Winda Astuti Astuti — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0700

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) technology, which converts solar radiation into electrical energy, is increasingly used in agriculture to power farm appliances. However, maintaining optimal environmental conditions for crop cultivation remains challenging. This study addresses this issue by integrating PV technology with an environmental monitoring and control unit to create a self-sustainable greenhouse, enhancing crop breeders’ efficiency. The primary problem addressed is the difficulty in maintaining stable temperature and humidity levels in mushroom cultivation environments. The research aims to develop and simulate a PV-powered temperature control system for an oyster mushroom house, chosen due to its high market demand. Using Matlab/Simulink, a working model simulation was created to analyze the system’s performance in maintaining optimal temperature and humidity levels. The simulation, based on energy balance equations, connects a mushroom house subsystem to Simscape electrical components and a solar panel. Simulation results indicate that the system can maintain a stable temperature around 25.7℃ throughout the day, regardless of ambient temperature variations. In conclusion, the study successfully developed a solar-powered temperature control system for oyster mushroom cultivation, demonstrating its potential to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural practices.

Design and Development of Small Milling Machine for Powder Metallurgy Application

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0700

The process of powder metallurgy milling, which reduces solid metal to fine particles to improve its properties, is the subject of this study. The objective is to determine the RPM and time relationship for efficient grinding and to fabricate a small milling machine for powder applications. Particle size, time, and homogeneity requirements are examined. The milling machine is designed in SolidWorks. Aluminium chips are used for test runs. Particle sizes are evaluated at different times using an optical microscope. The Arduino control system and a 12 V DC motor are used. Longer grinding times consistently result in smaller chips. Based on the result, the average of the 5.79 mm chip size measurements made before milling was determined. Following the milling process, the sizes were 0.75 mm at two hours, 0.51 mm at four hours, and 0.27 mm at six hours. The study shows that the efficiency and particle size distribution of powder metallurgy milling can be improved using a small machine with a fixed bar and different types of grinding media. For effective milling, it is crucial to maximize mill rotation, as shown by critical speed analysis. To sum up, the study effectively creates a small milling machine for use in powder metallurgy procedures.

Semarak Journal of Thermal-Fluid Engineering

Optimizing Mushroom Cultivation: PV-Powered Environmental Control Systems

Design and Development of Small Milling Machine for Powder Metallurgy Application