Impact of Environmental Conditions on Measurement Uncertainty and Accuracy Improvement of a Paddy Hand-Help Moisture Meters

ผลกระทบของสภาวะแวดล้อมต่อความไม่แน่นอนของการวัดและการปรับปรุงความแม่นยำของเครื่องวัดความชื้นข้าวเปลือกแบบมือบิด

Abstract

This research aims to improve the measurement error from a hand-held rice moisture meter using polynomial linear interpolation. The study involved surveying stakeholders and recording the relative humidity and temperature of the environment, followed by creating a Pareto chart to analyze trends in the issues identified. Next, a Full Factorial Design experiment was designed to determine the levels of factors for calibration, including laboratory conditions at 50% RH, controlled humidity at 30% RH and 85% RH, and field conditions at 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Certified Reference Materials (CRM) with two moisture contents, 14.18% mc and 17.95% mc, were used as standards for calibrating the hand-held rice moisture meter. The measurement results from all three conditions were analyzed using Minitab 18. The study found that the uncertainty values obtained from the hand-held rice moisture meter in field conditions at 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM, using CRMs at moisture levels of 14.18% mc and 17.95% mc, showed differing results. Before the improvements, the values were -0.25% mc and -0.93% mc, respectively, while after the improvements, the values were 0.0727% mc and 1.3617% mc, respectively.