The objectives of the present study are to evaluate and to select the most proper header for harvesting rape-seed crop. Field experiments were conducted at Sakha Agricultural Res. Center, Kafr El-Sheikh Govermorate during the winter season of 2005 using rape-seed crop (Darakar). Experiments were carried out by using two different types of reel namely: (tine and bat reels) to determine the effect of reel speed index, seed moisture content and drum speed on combine performance (header, drum, shoe, rake losses & total losses, and total seed damage), field capacity, machine productivity, energy requirement, operating and criterion function costs were estimated.The minimum values of energy requirements reached 325.17 and 343.27 MJ/fed at drum speed of 15.36 m/s, seed moisture content of 12.63% and reel speed index of 1.57 for tine and bat reels, respectively. On the other hand, the criterion function cost showed that tine reel recorded the lowest values compared with bat reel under all conditions. The minimum values of criterion function cost was 573.20 L.E./ton which obtained at reel speed index of 1.57 and combine forward speed of 3.54 km/h.The results showed that tine reel was strongly recommended for its good performance. However, it gives the lowest values of header loss, total losses, energy requirements and criterion function cost. The optimum operating conditions are at reel speed index of 1.57, drum speed of 19.20 m/s and seed moisture content of about 15.27%.
The objective of the present study is to construct and evaluate a prototype screw pelleting machine to be used for sugar beet tops. Pelleting machine was fabricated on a private workshop in Dosuq City and tested at Sakha Animal Production Research Station Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate during summer season of 2010. The effect of screw revolving speeds, raw material moisture content and die hole diameters on machine productivity, power requirement, energy consumed and pelleting cost. Also, the effect of tested parameters on pellets quality such as stiffness, durability and pellets bulk density were taken into consideration. Hence the pellets were subjected to heated air at 70 oC, during their treatment in the drying unit. Results indicated that, the optimum operating conditions of the proposed prototype was at screw revolving speed of 180 rpm, raw materials moisture content of 25.74 % (w.b) and die hole diameter of 16 mm. Whereas, it gave machine productivity of 0.098 Mg/h, power requirement of 3.10 kW and energy consumed of about 31.71 kW.h/Mg. Moreover, the optimum operating conditions gave the best pellets quality as well as pellets stiffness of 135.5 N, durability of 95.43 % and pellets bulk density of about 2.136 g/cm 3 . However, the cost calculations proved that, the pelleting cost by using the proposed prototype was reached about 105.20 EGP/Mg. INTRODUCTION ugar beet is an important crop, not only for sugar production, but also for producing fodder and organic matter for the soil. The cultivated area of sugar beet were 104,525 hectare gave 5,138,190 of sugar beet roots and 1,493,226 tons tops, respectively (ASMOA, 2009). Beet tops consist of about one third crown and two thirds leaves.
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