Cutting energy characteristics of Miscanthus x giganteus stems with varying oblique angle and cutting speed

Phillip C. Johnson; Clairmont L. Clementson; Sunil K. Mathanker; Tony E. Grift; Alan C. Hansen

doi:10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2012.02.003

Cutting energy characteristics of Miscanthus x giganteus stems with varying oblique angle and cutting speed

Phillip C. Johnson, Clairmont L. Clementson, Sunil K. Mathanker, Tony E. Grift, Alan C. Hansen

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Previous studies highlighted the need to develop efficient harvesting and size reduction equipment for miscanthus. This study investigated the effect of blade oblique angles and cutting speeds on cutting energy. Cutting blade speed, before and after severing a single miscanthus stem, was used to calculate the cutting energy. The cutting energy was determined at three oblique angles and three cutting speeds. A 60° oblique angle cut required the least energy to cut miscanthus stems averaging about 7.6 J whilst a 30° oblique cut averaged 8.7 J and a straight cut averaged 10.1 J. In general, the 60° oblique cut performed best since it required average lowest specific energy (energy per unit of stem diameter) of 741.9 J m^-1 at an average cutting speed of 12.9 m s^-1. The specific cutting energy was directly proportional to the cutting speed and cutting energy was proportional to the stem diameter. The results indicate that optimisation of cutting speed and blade oblique angle will result in significant energy savings and increased efficiency of miscanthus harvesting machinery.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	42-48
Number of pages	7
Journal	Biosystems Engineering
Volume	112
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2012.02.003
State	Published - May 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Food Science
Agronomy and Crop Science
Control and Systems Engineering
Soil Science

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10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2012.02.003

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title = "Cutting energy characteristics of Miscanthus x giganteus stems with varying oblique angle and cutting speed",

abstract = "Previous studies highlighted the need to develop efficient harvesting and size reduction equipment for miscanthus. This study investigated the effect of blade oblique angles and cutting speeds on cutting energy. Cutting blade speed, before and after severing a single miscanthus stem, was used to calculate the cutting energy. The cutting energy was determined at three oblique angles and three cutting speeds. A 60° oblique angle cut required the least energy to cut miscanthus stems averaging about 7.6 J whilst a 30° oblique cut averaged 8.7 J and a straight cut averaged 10.1 J. In general, the 60° oblique cut performed best since it required average lowest specific energy (energy per unit of stem diameter) of 741.9 J m-1 at an average cutting speed of 12.9 m s-1. The specific cutting energy was directly proportional to the cutting speed and cutting energy was proportional to the stem diameter. The results indicate that optimisation of cutting speed and blade oblique angle will result in significant energy savings and increased efficiency of miscanthus harvesting machinery.",

author = "Johnson, {Phillip C.} and Clementson, {Clairmont L.} and Mathanker, {Sunil K.} and Grift, {Tony E.} and Hansen, {Alan C.}",

note = "Funding Information: This study was funded by BP p.l.c. through the Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI) within a program titled “Engineering Solutions for Biomass Feedstock Production”. The authors would like to thank Ms. Amanda Valentine and Mr. Kent Valentine for help in fabricating the test apparatus. The authors would also like to thank Mr. Tim Mies and Mr. Chris Rudisill for providing the M. x giganteus stems and Mr. Zhanyuan Wu for help during the execution of the experiment.",

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AU - Clementson, Clairmont L.

AU - Mathanker, Sunil K.

AU - Grift, Tony E.

AU - Hansen, Alan C.

N1 - Funding Information: This study was funded by BP p.l.c. through the Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI) within a program titled “Engineering Solutions for Biomass Feedstock Production”. The authors would like to thank Ms. Amanda Valentine and Mr. Kent Valentine for help in fabricating the test apparatus. The authors would also like to thank Mr. Tim Mies and Mr. Chris Rudisill for providing the M. x giganteus stems and Mr. Zhanyuan Wu for help during the execution of the experiment.

PY - 2012/5

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N2 - Previous studies highlighted the need to develop efficient harvesting and size reduction equipment for miscanthus. This study investigated the effect of blade oblique angles and cutting speeds on cutting energy. Cutting blade speed, before and after severing a single miscanthus stem, was used to calculate the cutting energy. The cutting energy was determined at three oblique angles and three cutting speeds. A 60° oblique angle cut required the least energy to cut miscanthus stems averaging about 7.6 J whilst a 30° oblique cut averaged 8.7 J and a straight cut averaged 10.1 J. In general, the 60° oblique cut performed best since it required average lowest specific energy (energy per unit of stem diameter) of 741.9 J m-1 at an average cutting speed of 12.9 m s-1. The specific cutting energy was directly proportional to the cutting speed and cutting energy was proportional to the stem diameter. The results indicate that optimisation of cutting speed and blade oblique angle will result in significant energy savings and increased efficiency of miscanthus harvesting machinery.

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Cutting energy characteristics of Miscanthus x giganteus stems with varying oblique angle and cutting speed

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