Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Pexa Author-Workplace-Name: Department for Quality and Dependability of Machines, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Cindr Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Vehicle and Ground Transport, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: K. Kubín Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: V. Jurča Author-Workplace-Name: Department for Quality and Dependability of Machines, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Measurements of tractor power parameters using GPS Abstract: Understanding of the power parameters of an agricultural energy device (tractor) is very important in relation to the final outcome. This understanding is necessary to achieve high performance in combination with low economic costs and favourable ecological conditions. Monitoring the progress of power parameters (torque and engine power) is possible mainly by dynamometer, which is not affordable for common undertaking. The option of using GPS receiver to determine the torque of the engine and its backup torque seems to be an appropriate option. The data thus collected will contribute to the timely detection of defects, and thus prevent the emergence of economic and ecological consequences that are related to the tractor engine. Keywords: engine torque, acceleration of the tractor, torque backup, GPS Journal: Research in Agricultural Engineering Pages: 1-7 Volume: 57 Issue: 1 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/18/2010-RAE File-URL: http://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/18/2010-RAE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/rae-201101-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlrae:v:57:y:2011:i:1:id:18-2010-RAE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M.R. Alizadeh Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Rice Research Institute of Iran, Rasht, Guilan, Iran Author-Name: A. Allameh Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Rice Research Institute of Iran, Rasht, Guilan, Iran Title: Threshing force of paddy as affected by loading manner and grain position on the panicle Abstract: Threshing force, which is the force that separates a grain from the panicle, has a great importance in evaluating losses over design and application of harvesting and threshing machines. In addition, it is important to know the shattering habit of rice varieties in rice breeding program. In this study, the threshing force of two improved rice cultivars Dorfac and Kadous (long-grain), and three local cultivars of Hashemi, Alikazemi (long-grain), and Binam (medium-grain) was determined. The threshing force was measured at three portions of upper, middle, and lower of the panicle and three loading manners as tension, bending perpendicular to the front of the grain (type 1) and bending perpendicular to the side of the grain (type 2). The results revealed that cultivars, loading manners and the grain position on the panicle significantly (P < 0.01) affected the threshing force. The highest threshing force of 0.887 N was obtained from the lower portion of the panicle under tension loading; while the least threshing force of 0.267 N was determined for grains from the upper portions of the panicle under bending force of type 2. In the case of tension loading, the highest threshing force value pertained to long-grain cultivars. Keywords: rice, harvesting machines, shattering habit, threshing force Journal: Research in Agricultural Engineering Pages: 8-12 Volume: 57 Issue: 1 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/13/2010-RAE File-URL: http://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/13/2010-RAE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/rae-201101-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlrae:v:57:y:2011:i:1:id:13-2010-RAE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: D. Herák Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: A. Kabutey Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: A. Sedláček Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: G. Gűrdil Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Machinery, Faculty of Agriculture, Ondokuz Mayis University Samsun, Samsun, Turkey Title: Tangent curve utilization for description of mechanical behaviour of pressed mixture Abstract: This article is focused on the utilization of tangent curve for description of mechanical behaviour of pressed mixture under compression loading. The aim of this experiment was to determine the general equation describing deformation characteristics of pressed mixtures under compression loading and to verify this equation. The experiment was carried out using mixture of seeds of common sunflower (Heliantus annuus L.), jatropha ( Jatropha curcas L.), garden pea (Pisum sativum L.), common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), and also mixture of spruce wood chips and waste paper chips. The results from the experiment showed that mechanical behaviour of the pressed mixtures under compression loading can be described by tangent curve function. From the determined coefficients of determination R2 it was clear that fitted tangent curve functions described the measured amounts exactly for all pressed mixtures. It can be therefore assumed that this tangent curve function is appropriate for use in pressing any pressed mixtures during linear compression. Keywords: compression, loading, jatropha, sunflower, bean, pea, wood, paper, chips, deformation, Levenberg, Marquardt Journal: Research in Agricultural Engineering Pages: 13-18 Volume: 57 Issue: 1 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/12/2010-RAE File-URL: http://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/12/2010-RAE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/rae-201101-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlrae:v:57:y:2011:i:1:id:12-2010-RAE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A.A. Hassanain Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agriculture Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez-Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt Title: Drying sage (Salvia officinalis L.) in passive solar dryers Abstract: Sage plants (Salvia officinalis L.) were dried in the passive dryers in different times of the year. Different passive solar dryers were used to achieve the socio-economical benefits from drying the medicinal plants growing in Sinai area. Drying sage plants might be a source to increase the Bedouin income instead of cannabis or marijuana, especially if it is exported abroad. Four drying methods were used in this investigation to dry sage in two seasons, namely August 2009 and March 2010 before flowering stage. Plants were dried in an Unglazed transpired passive solar dryer with 100% exposure to direct sun-rays, in a greenhouse dryer covered with shading cloth with 50% exposure to direct sun-rays, and with 0% sun-rays while the medicinal plants were protected from sun i.e. in shaded barn. Investigations were carried out under the environmental weather conditions of Ismailia, Egypt. The study revealed that sage can be dried at different times of the year even before the flowering stage of the plants. Keywords: sage, passive solar dryers, temperature, relative humidity, drying rate, constant Journal: Research in Agricultural Engineering Pages: 19-29 Volume: 57 Issue: 1 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/14/2010-RAE File-URL: http://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/14/2010-RAE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/rae-201101-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlrae:v:57:y:2011:i:1:id:14-2010-RAE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: K. Hrich Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Civil Engineering, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: B. Groda Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Content changes of adsorbable organically bound halogens during sludge centrifugation and drying Abstract: A wastewater treatment plant in Brno may be one of the wastewater treatment plants in the Czech Republic using a dryer for dewatering the sludge. The results of an adsorbable organically bound halogens balance analysis measured on the sludge dryer at the waste water treatment plant in Brno are demonstrated in this work. The aim of this work was to calculate the material balance in the treatment process (centrifugation and drying). Control places were chosen and then samples of water and sludge (at the inlet and outlet of the system) were collected. The adsorbable organically bound halogens concentration was detected in these samples by the coulometric method. Keywords: wastewater treatment plant, anaerobically stabilized sludge, water from centrifuge, dried solid content, waste water Journal: Research in Agricultural Engineering Pages: 30-36 Volume: 57 Issue: 1 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/16/2010-RAE File-URL: http://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/16/2010-RAE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/rae-201101-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlrae:v:57:y:2011:i:1:id:16-2010-RAE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: editors Title: LIST OF REVIEWERS 2010 Journal: Research in Agricultural Engineering Pages: X1 Volume: 57 Issue: 1 Year: 2011 File-URL: http://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/rae-201101-0006_list-of-reviewers-2010.php File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlrae:v:57:y:2011:i:1:id:2818-RAE