SOME PHYSICAL, MECHANICAL AND AERODYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF QUINOA SEEDS (Chenopodium quinoa Willd)

The aim of the present study is to study some physical, mechanical and aerodynamic properties of quinoa seeds (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), to help in designing and developing of specific machine and their operations such as harvesting, cleaning and milling processes. The properties were determined at moisture content of quinoa seed 11.60% d.b. Three principal dimensions (length, width and thickness) of quinoa seeds were measured using image-processing technique. The highest value of seed length, width and thickness were 2.91, 2.68 and 1.10 mm respectively, while the lowest value of seed length, width and thickness were 1.38, 1.12 and 0.49 mm respectively. The highest value in dynamic angle of repose 30.0° for plastic while the lowest value in dynamic angle of repose 26.3° for galvanized sheet. The lowest values of static coefficient of friction was 0.46 with plywood while the highest value was 0.65 with glass. The seeds gave values of 0.79 m/s and 88.25for average terminal velocity and average Reynolds number respectively, so, the flow was laminar.