Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov • Vol.

2 (51) - 2009
Series II: Forestry • Wood Engineering • Agriculture and Food Engineering

INFLUENCE OF PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF

CHIVES BULBS ON CHOOSING THE SIEVE TYPE
FOR CALIBRATION

Gheorghe BRĂTUCU1

Abstract: The paper presents a research method for the settlement of necessary sieves
orifices dimensions which are used at an installation for chive calibrating 2 sorts of chives
(spherical and oblong) and 3 types of sieves were experimentally researched. The
researchers observed that that the sieve which best satisfies the calibration demands of the
chive is the sieve with circular improved orifices, which has a double sieving capacity as
compared to the one with circular simple orifices. The sieve with bars has an increased
sieving capacity, but it doesn’t meet the demands regarding the product purity. For a flow
of 1000 kg/h there were calculated the necessary surfaces of the sieves for standard sorts of
chives, and then there was established the share of these sorts in the total quantity of
product.

Key words: chives, conditioning, calibration, sieves with orifices.

1. Introduction operation is difficult. In this purpose it is

At harvest time the chive represents a blend of
bulbs with diameters ranging from 3 to 35 mm
and the different vegetal impurities, stones, soil
etc. In the sight of delivery to the production
units, of hectare norm settlement, as well as for
mechanization of the planting operation, this
must be separated on dimension groups. In
compliance with STAS 5910 the chive is
classified as follows (after the bulbs dimension):
the sort I - bulbs with the diameter between 7…
14 mm; the sort II - bulbs with the diameter
between 14…20 mm; the sort III - bulbs with the
diameter between 20…25 mm. The first two sorts
are destined for the onion production and the sort
III for the bunch onion. They are admitted bulbs
from one sort to another in proportion of 5% [1].
Because the chives bulbs have round or
oblong forms and they are covered with leaves
that have weak adherences to the seed surface, as
well as because the terminations at the two
extremities are roots and tails, the calibration
1
Dept. of Food Products Engineering, Transilvania University of Braşov.
necessary to determine the physical
characteristics of the bulbs and depending on
these to subsequently assure the enforced
accuracy of calibration, a satisfying productivity
on the optimum processing period and minimum
damage of the product[2].
2. Material and Method
The researches ware done on two sorts of
chives, i.e. Stuttgarter Riesen and Auxonne, for
which the specialist literature provides data that
may be compared with the research results in this
paper. In view of choosing the right sieves and
the dimensions in order for the chive calibration
to be done according to the demands, they ware
determined through measurements the
characteristic dimensions of the bulbs,
respectively the diameter and the length to those
two kinds of chives. The measurements were
accomplished with the caliper on 1000 of bulbs
from a medium sample, the data obtained being
 Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov • Vol. 2 (51) - 2009 • Series II
2

allocated on intervals of class and writhed in Q = q F ⋅ F [kg/s], (2)

tables.
The class interval size it was established where: qf - is the admissible flow, in kg/m2·s; F -
depending on the eldest and the most little value the surface of the sieve, in m2.
measured, using the relation [3]:
3. Results and Discussions.
d − d min L −L
λ = max ; λ = max min , (1)
i0 i0 The measurements results on the chive bulbs
from the kind Stuttgarter Riesen are presented,
where: λ is the class interval (λ = 3); dmax,dmin - after remaking, in Figure 1 and for the kind
the maximum and minimum diameters of the Auxonne, in Figure 2.
chive; Lmax, Lmin - the maxim and minimum
lengths of the bulbs; i0 - the number of measured
bulbs.
Analyzing the form of the curves depending
on the dimensions distribution, there was
established the dimension after which the chive is
more homogeneous, in view of choosing the
sieve type for separation.
Because of the very varied forms and
dimensions of bulbs chives, there were analyzed
many type of sieves, establishing their sieving
capacity for chive. There was followed the Fig. 1. The experimental distribution curves (a)
behavior of some sieves with circular simple and theoretical (b) for the sort Stuttgarter
orifices, with circular improved orifices and with Riesen: 1- according to diameter; 2 - according
bars, the distance between bars being equal with to length
the diameter of the circular orifice. These sieves
ware mounted on a sifted laboratory machine
(Petkus K-294) adjusted for chive.
The orifices form was chosen by taking into
consideration that the sieve should have a big
working capacity and should assure the enforced
separation purity. The orifices dimensions ware
selected depending on the separation sorts
specified in standards.
In order to establish the material constitution
on sorts from the samples made there was traced
the curve of the cumulate frequencies, from Fig. 2. The experimental distribution curves (a)
which result directly the percents for those 3 sorts and theoretical (b) for the sort Auxonne: 1-
chives (7…14 mm; 14…20 mm; 20… 25 mm). according to diameter; 2 - according to length
If the structure of the material is known there
can be determined the working surface of the The analysis of the measurements result
separation sieves for an enforced flow, using the shows that the sort of chive Stuttgarter Riesen is
relation: characterized through oval bulbs, with diameters
ranging from 6 to 25 mm, and the length ranging
Gh. Brătucu.: Influence of physical charact. of chives bulbs on choosing the sieve type for calibr.
3

from 14 to 40 mm. The diameter with the highest orifices the orifices are improved downwards so
frequency is of 15 mm, and the length with the superior surface of the sieve forms a frustum
maximum frequency is of 27 mm; the result is cone with the base straightened upside what
that the average length of the bulbs is almost two improves the vertical placement of the bulbs on
times higher than the diameter. sieves. The obtained results abaft researches
Likewise, it results as the sort Auxonne is made with three types of sieves are presented in
characterized through bulbs of more oblong Table 1.
form, the average diameter being of 11 mm, and Table 1
of the length of 33 mm. From these values results The sieving capacity of the sieves with orifices of
as the average length to this kind is of 3 times different forms
bigger than the diameter, the class intervals of the Chive quantity, g
Crossing
length being contained between 16…58 mm. Orifices Crossed Remained Probe
capacity,
By analyzing the distribution curves on type trough on the time, s
g/s
account of these considerations there result that the sieve sieve
the distribution curve of the diameter at those two Normal
950 50 60 15,8
sorts of chives has a more oblong form, the circular
dimensions interval is smaller, therefore the Improved
955 45 30 31,8
separation is can be accomplished satisfactorily circular
after this dimension. With
The dimensions of the separation sieves, as parallel 1000 - 3 333,0
well as the orifices dimensions of the active bars
surfaces of this are established depending on the
chive structure for each one of the three It is noticed that in the time unit through the
separation categories. These dimensions are circular improved orifices passes a double
enforced by the specified demands, that is: for amount of product against the circular simple
the separation sort III the orifice dimension must orifices, and through the sieve with parallel bars
be of 20 mm; for the sort II of 14 mm, and for the passes an amount of 10 times bigger than through
sort I of 7 mm. the improved orifices. The sieve with parallel
The main forms of used orifices at the sieves bars separate also after the minimum dimension
for ablution and assortment are circular and of the bulbs diameter, having this way a bigger
oblong. Because the chives bulbs form is very crossing, only that to a distance between bars
different, and the diameter is in equable to the equal with the diameter of the circular orifice
same type of seed the circular orifices, which are don't assured the necessary separation accuracy.
characterized trough one single dimension their This drawback can be partial removed through
stop the crossing of bulbs which are borne off choosing a much little distance between the sieve
from the selected diameter. bars, depending on the diameter in uniformity.
To the separation through circular orifices the Having established the form and the sieve
chive must be situated vertically against the sieve orifices dimensions it was determined her surface
surface. Because this condition presents some for an enforced flow. Because the material which
difficulties, especially to the sorts with big will be sorted on three sorts, those three sieves
differences between dimensions (Auxonne), it ware dimensioned depending on the amount of
was studied the possibility of using two types of material that shall come back from the blend for
sieves with circular orifices and a sieve with every sieve. That amount of material was
parallel bars. The circular orifices were in the established by percents through the initial
first case normal and in the second case measurement.
improved. To the sieve with circular improved
 Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov • Vol. 2 (51) - 2009 • Series II
4

Considering as the separation is done with an q ⋅Q

ascertainable equipment, for instance the L= [m], (4)
B ⋅ qF
winnower VM - 4, whereat is known the sieves
width B, it was calculated there length L and, by
default, the surface using the relation: in which: B = 0, 85 m (the sieve width for the
winnower VM - 4); q - the blend percent what
q ⋅Q comes back on a sieve; qF - the admissible
F = B⋅L = [m2], (3) shipment of a sieve: qF = 0,3 kg/m2·s.
qF In Table 2 are specified the values of the
from were: lengths and sieves surfaces determined for a
flows Q = 1000 kg/h, taking into consideration
that the sieves width is of 0, 85 m.

Sieves parameters for chive calibration Table 2

Sieve Chive kind VM – 4
for the Stuttgarter Riesen Auxonne L, m F, m2
sort q,% q·Q, kg/s L, m F, m 2
q,% q·Q, kg/s L, m F, m2
I 100 0,28 1,1 0,94 100 0,28 1,1 0,94 0,88 0,75
II 95,5 0,26 1,0 0,85 9 0,27 1,06 0,90 0,88 0,75
8,7
III 43,8 0,12 0,47 0,40 8 0,23 0,9 0,76 1,76 1,50
2,8

The table shows that in the case of chive
separation from the Auxonne kind the sieves
dimensions must be bigger than for the
Stuttgarter Riesen kind, this confirming the
previous conclusions, respectively the fact as the
Auxonne kind is more difficult to be separated,
on account of the fact that bulbs have an oblong
shape.
4. Conclusions
• The chive calibration on groups of
dimensions is necessary because the
harvested blend has varied dimensions
and forms, and for the drilling
mechanization and for the settlement of
seed norm per hectare the material is
required to be homogeneous.
• For the chive separation according to
bulbs dimensions there were analyzed the
diameter and the length variations on two
kinds of chive, resulting that the
corresponding calibration dimension is
the diameter.
• The use of a parallel bars sieve doesn’t
assures the proper purity, and the sieve
with circular simple orifices has a reduced
sieving capacity.
• In view of choosing the sieve type for
separation there were fallowed three kinds
of orifices: circular simple, circular
improved and with parallel bars, which
led to the conclusion that a precise and
efficacious separation can be obtained by
using the sieve with circular improved
orifices.
References:
1. Berceanu, D., Chira, A.: Condiţionarea
produselor horticole (Horticultural Product
Conditioning). In: Horticultura, Bucureşti,
No. 9 (2003), p. 17-24, România.
2. Segărceanu, M.: Studiul sistemelor de
separare a seminţelor prin sitele plane
Gh. Brătucu.: Influence of physical charact. of chives bulbs on choosing the sieve type for calibr.
5

(Study of Seeds System Separation trough 3. Rus, F.: Operaţii de separare în industria
Plane Sieves), Institutul Politehnic Bucureşti alimentară (Separation Operation in Food
Publishing House, România, 1978. Industry), Braşov Transilvania University
Publishing House, România,2007.