Parameters of crushing process of fibrous plant raw material: experimental results

Abstract

Abstract The energy-efficient crushing of dried fibrous plant materials is usually hampered when the sieve holes of the crushing unit are clogged with not-grinded particles. The purpose of the study was to investigate the crushing process of dried plant raw material and determine the effect of the operating modes of a crushing unit on the crushing quality and energy consumption. The experimental tool was a rotary crushing unit with alternate knives and hammers. The objects of crushing were dried leafy mass of grass. There has been found that when the linear speed of the rotor knives rises, the fractional composition of the crushed product changes, namely, the proportion of fine fraction (less than 1.3 mm) increases and the proportion of large particles (more than 1.3 mm) reduces. The rise of the knives speed results in productivity improvement, but increases energy consumption of crushing as well. The optimal range of changing the knives’ speed was 55…65 m·s-1 to obtain a product of the required fractional composition. The use of the method of crushing dried fibrous plant materials and a rotary crushing unit will allow organizing energy-efficient crushing of dried leafy stem mass.