MODELING AND ANALYSIS OF THE TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF CORN COMBINE FORWARD SPEED CONTROL
Abstract
The processing loss of corn while combining reduces farmers' profits. An automatic control which varies the forward speed of the combine to maintain a constant flowrate of material into the combine is proposed to increase profitability. The development of appropriate models and three years of field testing showed that such a system was technically and economically feasible. The financial advantage of constant flowrate operation over constant speed operation was shown to be $408 per year for an example 1200 acre farm. Additional results and conclusions were achieved while proving feasibility. Exponential models of an axial-flow combine's processing loss were developed. The feeder drive torque and engine speed were shown to indicate flowrate and controllers based on these indications were successfuly demonstrated. Methods of combine forward speed controller evaluation were developed and applied. Economic models of corn combining were formulated. Simulation analyses indicated the important effects of economic model components upon profitability.
Degree
Ph.D.
Subject Area
Agricultural engineering
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