OPTIMIZING SOME DIFFERENT OPERATING PARAMETERS AFFECTING THE PERFORMANCE OF COMPOST TROMMEL SCREEN

Morad, M. M.; El-Maghawry, H. A.; Wasfy, K. I.

doi:10.21608/mjae.2014.99954

OPTIMIZING SOME DIFFERENT OPERATING PARAMETERS AFFECTING THE PERFORMANCE OF COMPOST TROMMEL SCREEN

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Prof. and Head of Agric. Eng. Dept., Fac. of Agric., Zagazig Univ., Egypt.

² Lecturer of Agric. Eng., Fac. of Agric., Zagazig Univ. , Egypt.

10.21608/mjae.2014.99954

Abstract

Experiments were carried out to evaluate the performance of a trommel screen for compost cleaning to increase product quality. Theoretical analysis was conducted for optimizing sieve speed and sieve inclination angle. The machine performance was studied as a function of change in material feed rate, screen opening size and compost moisture content. Performance evaluation of the trommel screen 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 the performance of the trommel screen during compost cleaning was in the optimum region under the following conditions:
-        Operate the trommel screen at a sieve speed of 30 rpm (2.5 m/s).
-        The slope angle of the cylindrical sieve on the horizontal plane
      (sieve inclination angle) should be lower than 27 degrees.
-        The screen opening size should be of about 13 mm.
-        Clean compost at a moisture content of about 40 %.
-        Operate the trommel screen at an average feed rate of 10 Mg/h.

References

Awady, M. N. (1978). Tractor and farm machinery. Txt bk., Col. Agric., Ain Shams Uinv.: 146-167.

Awady, M. N; E. Y. Ghoneim and A. I. Hashish (1982). Asritical comparison between wheat combine harvesters under Egyptian conditions. R. S. No.1920, Ain-Shams Univ. Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO).

Bosoi, E. S; O. V. Verniaev, I. I. Smimov and E. G. Sultan-Shakh (1991). Theory construction and calculations of agricultural machines. Vol.(2), Mec. Pub. , Moscow.

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.

Mariam, M. M; A. F. Abdel Mottaleb, A. A. Derbala and T. Z. Fouda (2010). Basic requirements for the design and construction of a local compost screening unit. Misr J. Agric. Eng. 27(4): 2059-2085.

Mariam, M. M; A. F. Abdel Mottaleb, A. A. Derbala and T. Z. Fouda (2011). Manufacture and performance evaluation of a local compost screening unit for maximum product quality. Misr J. Agric. Eng. 28(2): 538-555.

Morad, M. M; A. F. Abdel Mottaleb and T. Z. Fouda (2008). Manufacture and performance evaluation of a self-propelled compost turning machine. Misr J. Agric. Eng. 25(4): 1478-1492.

Page, N; J. Leonard and G. Clark (2005). Comparison of screening methods to refine MSW compost . Alberta Environment, Edmonton, Canada. Bio-cycle, 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, NY 14853-5701, USA.

Roth, L. O; F. R. Crow and G. W. A. Mahoney (1975). An introduction to agricultural engineering. The AVI Pub. Co., Inc., West Port Conn.

William F. B. (2000). Compost quality standards & guidelines. New York State Association of Recyclers. Woods End Research Laboratory, Inc. P: 1 – 42.