Thermal conductivity of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seeds

The thermal conductivity of agricultural seeds has been used as engineering parameter in the design of processes and machines for drying, storing, aeration and refrigeration. The thermal conductivity of safflower seeds was determined and its changes with moisture content, bulk density and cultivar investigated. The thermal conductivity values of cv. Remzibey-05 increased from 0.105 to 0.132 W m(-1) K(-1) and from 0.108 to 0.137W m(-1)K(-1) for low and high (loose and dense) bulk densities, respectively, as the moisture content increased from 5.79 to 20.38% db. Likewise, the thermal conductivity values of cv. Dincer increased from 0.106 to 0.137W m(-1) K(-1) and from 0.110 to 0.140W m(-1) K(-1) for low and high bulk densities, respectively in the moisture range of 5.07 to 20.30% db. The thermal conductivity values obtained with the high bulk density was higher than those obtained with the low bulk density for both cultivars. The thermal conductivity value of cv. Dincer seeds was lower than that of cv. Remzibey-05 seeds.