Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #151098
Title: USE OF MICROSTRIP PATCH ANTENNAS IN GRAIN AND PULVERIZED MATERIALS PERMITTIVITY MEASUREMENT

Author
item SABBAGH, MAHMOUD - UNIV OF MARYLAND
item RAMAHI, OMAR - UNIV OF MARYLAND
item TABELSI, SAMIR - UNIV OF GEORGIA
item Nelson, Stuart
item LATIF, K - UNIV OF MARYLAND

Submitted to: Antennas & Propagation Society Symposium Digest Institute Electrical.......
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2003
Publication Date: 6/23/2003
Citation: SABBAGH, M.A., RAMAHI, O.M., TABELSI, S., NELSON, S.O., LATIF, K. USE OF MICROSTRIP PATCH ANTENNAS IN GRAIN AND PULVERIZED MATERIALS PERMITTIVITY MEASUREMENT. ANTENNAS & PROPAGATION SOCIETY SYMPOSIUM DIGEST, 20th IEEE CONFERENCE, VAIL, COLORADO. 2003. p. 42-45. 2003.

Interpretive Summary: Measurement of the dielectric properties of materials in agriculture is important because those properties, which are electrical characteristics of the materials, are useful in the rapid sensing of moisture content in grain and other products. The dielectric properties at microwave frequencies offer advantages compared to the lower frequencies currently used for existing grain moisture meters, but costs of conventional microwave antennas have been an economic factor inhibiting the development of microwave moisture meters. Microstrip patch antennas can be designed and manufactured very inexpensively. Therefore, the work reported, which shows that such devices can be used successfully for these measurements, is an important step in the research and development necessary to realize practical microwave moisture meters. The eventual commercialization of the technique will provide instruments useful in the reliable monitoring of grain moisture content and the maintenance of quality in grain and grain products for the benefit of producers, grain handlers, processors and the consuming public.

Technical Abstract: Microstrip patch antennas were designed for a resonant frequency of about 4.4 GHz, constructed, and used with a sample-holding fixture and a vector network analyzer for measurements to determine the permittivity of wheat grain and pulverized coal samples. The calibration procedure for the measurements and the calculation of permittivity are described, and sample results are presented for each material, which agree with permittivity data obtained by other microwave measurement techniques.