INFLUENCE OF INERTIA MOMENTUM OF CYLINDER ON POWER CONSUMPTION DURING CORN EAR THRESHING.

Experimental research was performed in 2010-2012 at the testing ground of the Department of Agricultural Machinery using the stationary single-cylinder tangential threshing unit with additional ballast bars being attached in the gaps between rasp bars of the threshing cylinder in order to vary the moment of inertia of the cylinder from 8.34 kg.m2 to 15.73 kg.m2. The operating parts of the stationary threshing unit were rotated by a 15 kW electric motor. The active power required for rotation of the threshing cylinder was measured using the electric power system analysis devices Metrel MI2492 and Almemo 2890-9. Rotation of the threshing cylinder with no load requires 4.6 ± 0.1 kW, and of the back beater - approximately 0.6 kW of power. The power consumption for rotation of no-load cylinder remained almost constant by increasing a moment of inertia from I = 8.34 kg.m2 (cylinder mass m = 204.2 kg) to I = 15.73 kg.m2 (m = 320.2 kg). The experimental research of corn ear threshing showed that increase in the corn feed rate from 4 kg.s-1 to 12 kg.s-1, results in increase in the amount of the power required for threshing from 8.1 kW to 18.7 kW (I = 8.34 kg.m2) and from 7.6 kW to 17.5 kW (I = 15.73 kg.m2), respectively. In the result of the research of the power consumption during corn ear threshing, the effect of increased moment of inertia of the threshing cylinder on the course of the threshing process was found to be positive. Moreover, operation of the threshing cylinder with a moment of inertia of 15.73 kg.m2 at inconsistent corn feed rate was found to be the most stable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]