The Influence of the Metering Device Arrangement to the Discharging Consistency of the Sugarcane Billet Planter

Abstract:

Sugar cane is an important economic crop of Thailand, used as a raw material to produce sugar and renewable energy. Due to a labor shortage problem, and an increase in the number of sugarcane combine harvesters, sugarcane billet planters from overseas have become more popular, because they can use seed cane prepared by combine harvesters. In order to maintain a high consistency of billet plating, the harvester discharge mechanism needs to accommodate the physical properties of sugarcane billet of Thai's variety, which vary by breed and harvesting method according to area. Thus, this study aims to find the appropriate arrangement of the metering devices within sugarcane billet planters which are suitable for Thai conditions. The stationary experiments were completed using a testing unit driven by an electric motor. At the initial stage the container of the testing unit was filled with 530 kg of Khon Kaen-3 sugarcane billets. The cleated conveyor belt was placed at the container wall, to act as a metering device for the testing unit. There were 3 arrangements of cleats: (1) a full width cleat, with 150mm cleat space, (2) a full width cleat, with 300mm cleat space, and (3) a half width cleat, with 300mm cleat space each side and 150mm displaced, and all were set and tested at a constant linear conveying speed of 0.2 m/s. The effects of each arrangement for discharge rates and consistency were analyzed. The results showed that the 3rd arrangement gave the best discharge consistency, with a precision index of 51.04%.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 931-932)
• Pages: 1561-1567
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.931-932.1561
• Online since: May 2014
• Authors: Titinai Thienyaem, Khwantri Saengprachatanarug*, Saree Wongpichet, Taira Eizo, Prakarn Thongrak
• Keywords: Cleated Belt Conveyor, Discharging Consistency, Sugarcane Billet Planter

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