Device and method for assessing moisture content, particularly of individual rapeseed seeds, based on their electrical permittivity and shape

Abstract

The invention aims to assess the moisture content of individual rapeseed seeds. A device for measuring the moisture content of individual seeds, particularly rapeseed, with a transmission line comprises a microwave signal source (1), which is connected via a complex reflection coefficient measurement system (2) to a connector (3). The sensor comprises a circular transmission line (4) located on two parallel PCBs terminated with a load (5). The distance between the waveguides of the transmission line (4) is between 1.1 and 1 seed diameter (6). A compressed air source (7) with a nozzle (8) is located in the center of the circular transmission line (4). The nozzles are directed towards the gap between the waveguides, causing the seeds (6) to move in a circular motion. The application also provides a method for measuring the moisture content of individual seeds, particularly rapeseed.