DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY APPARATUS FOR CASHEW NUT

Experiments were conducted for determination of various physical properties of Vengurla - 4 variety of cashew nut. The diameter or size and sphericity of cashew nut were found to be 21.92 mm and 0.68 respectively. The average gravimetric properties such as b ulk density were found to be 533 kg/m 3 , true density were 663.3 kg/m 3 and porosity were 19.6%. Angle of repose for cashew nut were found as 30.5 0. Thermal conductivity of cashew nut were determined at different moisture contents of 8.7%, 13.6%, 19% and 25%(d.b). Thermal conductivity at 8.7% were found to be 0.109 W/m 0 k, at 13.6% were 0.125 W/m 0 k, at 19% is 0.142 W/m 0 k and at 25% is 0.155 W/m 0 k. Thus thermal conductivity of cashew nut were found to be increase with increase of moisture content.