Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Z. Strašil Author-Workplace-Name: Crop Research Institute, Author-Name: J. Kára Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Aricultural Engineering, Prague-Ruzyně, Czech Republic Title: Study of knotweed (Reynoutria) as possible phytomass resource for energy and industrial utilization Abstract: This paper deals with the Reynoutria × bohemica and Reynoutria japonica under conditions of the Czech Republic. It evaluates the impact of soil, weather conditions and various terms of harvest (autumn, spring) on the yield, dry matter content, phytomass loss, ash content, and basic elements content change in plants. Heavy metals content was determined in soil where plants were grown and consequently in plants themselves. The average yield of dry matter at the fully closed stands of Reynoutria japonica were 9.06 t/ha in autumn, Reynoutria × bohemica from 13.23 to 21.41 t/ha, according to the site. The yield losses within the winter period were found on average 42% for Reynoutria japonica and 34% for Reynoutria × bohemica. The moisture decrease of Reynoutria japonica was found from 68% in the autumn to 24% in the spring, and of Reynoutria × bohemica from 67% to 23%, respectively. Decreased content of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium in the knotweed phytomass was found during the latter (spring) harvest periods in comparison with the earlier harvest periods. Decreased elements content in phytomass during the latter harvest period (spring) increases the phytomass quality as a fuel from both aspects - technical and emissions generation. The ash content in plants varied according to the site, on average from 3.12% in Ruzyně to 4.6% in Chomutov. None of the heavy metals monitored in knotweed plants reached the maximum admissible values determined for the food or feed purposes in the Czech Republic. From the results of combustion experiments, it is evident that Reynoutria × bohemica is a good fuel. Energy sorrel shows the extreme CO concentration in flue gases in comparison with other monitored fuels. According to the ČSN EN 12809 (2001) standard it does not meet even the third class of requirements. On the contrary, knotweed and wood bark fulfill the requirements for the first class. The surprising fact is that both of these fuels show the lower level of CO emissions, than the wooden briquettes. Concentrations of nitrogen oxids are comparable with biofuels, except of wood, and probably are related to the nitrogen content in heating material. Keywords: Reynoutria, yields of phytomass, terms of harvest, nutrients content, heavy metals uptake, combustion Journal: Research in Agricultural Engineering Pages: 85-91 Volume: 56 Issue: 3 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/46/2009-RAE File-URL: http://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/46/2009-RAE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/rae-201003-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlrae:v:56:y:2010:i:3:id:46-2009-RAE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Šístková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural, Transportation and Manipulation Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Author-Name: A. Peterka Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural, Transportation and Manipulation Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Author-Name: B. Peterka Author-Workplace-Name: Department for Quality and Dependability of Machines, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Light and noise conditions of buildings for breeding dairy cows Abstract: Check measurement of the illuminance, the uniformity ratio of illuminance and noise level was made in the selected stable building to prove quality of lightning both for service workers and the cattle. The measurement discovered that the noise level, the day lighting and artificial lighting do not satisfy valid health standards and can have harmful effect upon human and cattle organism. In the monitored stable building the permissible hygienic limit of noise was exceeded only during distribution of feed and bedding and it only for the short time. Keywords: dairy cattle breeding, lighting, noise level, animal welfare, visual comfort people Journal: Research in Agricultural Engineering Pages: 92-98 Volume: 56 Issue: 3 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/43/2009-RAE File-URL: http://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/43/2009-RAE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/rae-201003-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlrae:v:56:y:2010:i:3:id:43-2009-RAE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: S.M.T. Gharibzahedi Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Food Science and Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Technology and Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran Author-Name: V. Etemad Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forest Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resource, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Author-Name: J. Mirarab-Razi Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forest Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resource, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Author-Name: M. Fos'hat Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forest Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resource, Tarbiat Modares University, Nour, Iran Title: Study on some engineering attributes of pine nut (Pinus pinea) to the design of processing equipment Abstract: Moisture-dependent engineering properties of pine nut were studied at 6.3, 8.2, 10.8, 14.5, 18.9, and 20.1% moisture content (dry basis). The length, width, thickness, and geometric mean diameter increased significantly (P < 0.05) from 21.75 to 21.85 mm, 7.39 to 7.47 mm, 6.07 to 6.14 mm, and 9.89 to 9.98 mm, respectively, with an increase in moisture content from 6.3% to 20.1%, whereas the increase in sphericity from 45.49% to 45.69% was not significant. Similarly, thousand seed mass, true density, porosity, terminal velocity, and angle of repose increased (P < 0.05) from 0.85 to 0.93 kg, 1043.3 to 1071 kg/m3, 41.31% to 44.57%, 8.67 to 8.83 m/s, and 35.4° to 39°, respectively, with an increase in moisture content under the experimental condition. Moreover, the bulk density decreased significantly (P < 0.05) from 612.3 to 593.6 kg/m3. Coefficient of static friction increased (P < 0.05) from 0.251 to 0.292, 0.241 to 0.271, 0.227 to 0.262, and 0.218 to 0.247 on plywood, galvanized iron sheet, stainless steel, and glass surfaces, respectively, with an increase in moisture content from 6.3% to 20.1%. Keywords: pine nut (Pinus pinea), physical properties, mechanical properties, moisture content Journal: Research in Agricultural Engineering Pages: 99-106 Volume: 56 Issue: 3 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/49/2009-RAE File-URL: http://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/49/2009-RAE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/rae-201003-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlrae:v:56:y:2010:i:3:id:49-2009-RAE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Čupera Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: T. Šmerda Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Influence of top link length of three-point hitch on performance parameters of ploughing set Abstract: The target of the realized measurement was to subject the influence of top link on wheel slip and performance and economic parameters of ploughing set. To meet the objectives the set of New Holland 7050 tractor aggregated with plough Kuhn Variomaster 150 was used during field work. Parameters of internal systems were monitored via CAN-Bus, e.g. engine speed, fuel consumption, fuel temperature, atmospheric pressure, intake air temperature, time of trip, etc. Additional external measurement consisted of a signal of rear wheels rotation and signal of radar sensor for slip determination. Load cell sensor HBM was mounted into a top link. The values of slip were reduced when the top link length decreased. A change of wheel slip from 16.6% to 11.2% caused by reduction in length brought improvement in performance up to 16.5% and effective fuel consumption per hectare lowered about 18.1%. Keywords: fuel consumption, wheel slip, ploughing set, tractor Journal: Research in Agricultural Engineering Pages: 107-115 Volume: 56 Issue: 3 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/32/2009-RAE File-URL: http://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/32/2009-RAE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/rae-201003-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlrae:v:56:y:2010:i:3:id:32-2009-RAE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Š. Drabant Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Transport and Handling, Faculty of Agriculture Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: J. Kosiba Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Transport and Handling, Faculty of Agriculture Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: J. Jablonický Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Transport and Handling, Faculty of Agriculture Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: J. Tulík Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Transport and Handling, Faculty of Agriculture Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, Slovak Republic Title: The durability test of tractor hydrostatic pump type UD 25 under operating load Abstract: The results of the UD 25 hydrostatic pump durability test are presented; they were obtained in the laboratory under operating load. The test of operating load was a continuation of the hydrostatic pump durability test with a cyclic pressure loading according to the norm STN 11 9287. It lasted 300 hours, with 70°C ± 2°C of hydraulic fluid temperature. The aim of the test was to simulate the operation of the hydrostatic pump under load in laboratory and to find out its deterioration and the influence of a biodegradable fluid on its qualities. The achieved results confirmed that flow efficiency of the UD 25 hydrostatic pump decreased only to 3.6% which points to its good technical state even after the test performance. Meanwhile we can state that the used ecological hydraulic fluid on the basis of a vegetable oil "Environmentally responsible tractor transmission oil", produced by the Slovnaft company, Inc., is characterised by very good qualities. Keywords: hydrostatic pump, operation load test, simulation, flow characteristics, ecological fluid Journal: Research in Agricultural Engineering Pages: 116-121 Volume: 56 Issue: 3 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/42/2009-RAE File-URL: http://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/42/2009-RAE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/rae-201003-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlrae:v:56:y:2010:i:3:id:42-2009-RAE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A. Prošková Author-Workplace-Name: Food Research Institute Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Z. Kopicová Author-Workplace-Name: Food Research Institute Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Kučera Author-Workplace-Name: Food Research Institute Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: L. Škarková Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Lipase-catalyzed transesterification of rendering plant fat - Short Communication Abstract: Soluble lipase (Lipozyme CALB L) was immobilized by covalent bond to chitosan pellets prepared from Aspergillus niger mycelium. This immobilized enzyme was compared with commercial immobilized lipase of the same origin (Novozym 435). Novozym 435 is also lipase CALB L commercially immobilized by sorption on poly-(methyl acrylate). Novozym 435 shows much higher conversion of rendering plant fat in methanol under optimum conditions, having, at the same time, lower optimum temperature and lower stability at higher temperature. Lipozyme CALB L immobilized on chitosan leads to a low conversion, regardless its higher thermal stability. Novozym 435 gives conversion of about 50% of theoretical value, which is in good accordance with basically catalyzed transesterification of rendering plant fat described elsewhere. Lipozyme CALB L immobilized on chitosan gives conversion of about 10% of theoretical value only. The use of Novozym 435 in two-step system (enzyme-acid) seems to be more convenient compared with traditional two-step system (base-acid) Keywords: biofuel, biodiesel, rendering plant fat, transesterification, lipase Journal: Research in Agricultural Engineering Pages: 122-125 Volume: 56 Issue: 3 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/40/2009-RAE File-URL: http://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/40/2009-RAE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/rae-201003-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlrae:v:56:y:2010:i:3:id:40-2009-RAE