MANUFACTURE AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A LOCAL COMPOST SCREENING UNIT FOR MAXIMUM PRODUCT QUALITY

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Grad. St., Agric. Eng. Dept., Fac. of Agric., Tanta Univ., Egypt.

2 Sen. Res., Ag. Eng. Res. Inst., Ag. Res. Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.

3 Assoc. Prof. and Head of Agric. Eng. Dept., Fac. of Agric., Tanta Univ., Egypt.

4 Prof. and Vice Dean for Environment Sector, Fac. of Agric., Tanta Univ., Egypt.

Abstract

Experiments were carried out to manufacture and evaluate the performance of a small scale screening unit suitable for compost cleaning. The machine performance was studied as a function of change in material feed rate, sieve speed, sieve inclination angle and compost moisture content. Performance evaluation of the manufactured machine was carried out in terms of machine productivity, separating efficiency compost losses, cleaning efficiency, required power, energy requirements and criterion cost.
The experimental results reveal that compost losses as well as criterion costs were minimum while separating and cleaning efficiencies were maximum under the following conditions:
-        The use of the developed compost cleaning unit.
-        Operate the developed machine at a sieve speed of between 30 to 40 rpm (1.57 to 2.1 m/s).
-        Operate the developed machine at a sieve inclination angle of between 10 to 15 degrees.
-        Clean compost at a moisture content of about 40%.
-        Operate the developed machine at a feed rate of between 3.0 to 4.5 Mg/h.

Main Subjects


Awady, M. N. (1978). Tractor and farm machinery . Txt bk., Col. Ag., Ain Shams U.: 146-167.
Awady, M.N.; E. Y. Ghoneim and A.I.Hashish (1982). Asritical comprison between wheat combine harvesters under Egyptian conditions. R. S. No.1920, Ain-ShamsUniv. Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO.).
Klenin, N.I.; I.F. Popov and V.A. Sakon (1985). Agricultural machines. Theory of operation, computation of controlling parameters and the conditions of operation. Amerind publishing Co. PVT. Ltd., New Delhi.
Kurt,G. (1979). Engineering formulas. Third Ed. Mc Graw-Hill book Company. New York St. Lous San Francisco Montreal-Toronto.
Page, N.; J. Leonard and G. Clark (2005). Comparison of screening methods to refine MSW compost . Alberta Environment, Edmonton, Canada. BioCycle, 46(4): 57-58.
Robert R., K. Maarten ; B. W. George ;E. S. Mark ; L. R. Tom ; J. K. John ; R. G. Francis ; L. J. Lucien ; K. David ; W. M. Dennis ; A. J. Harry and F. B. William (1992). On-farm composting handbook. Northeast Regional Agricultural Engineering Service, 152 Kiley-Robb Hall, Cooperative Extension, Ithaca, NY14853-5701, USA.
Roth,L.O.; F.R. Crow and G.W.A. Mahoney (1975). An introduction to agricultural engineering. The AVI Pub. Co., Inc., West PortConn.
William F. B. (2000). Compost quality standards & guidelines. New YorkState Association of Recyclers. Woods End Research Laboratory, Inc. P: 1 – 42.