Research on Energy Intensity of Wheat Harvesting at Different Ripeness Phases with a New Stripping–Threshing Unit

Abstract

Cereal grain crops are used as main food and raw feed materials all over the world. Among cereal crops, wheat occupies a leading place as the most valuable crop. Harvesting is the most energy-intensive stage in wheat cultivation. Therefore, improving technologies and tools to reduce energy costs in this process is an urgent task. A new stripping and threshing unit for harvesting cereal crops has been developed, allowing the harvesting of grain at both full maturity and in the early stages of maturity, when the grain has an increased content of protein and amino acids and is a valuable raw feed material. The new unit consists of a stripping and threshing unit. The stripping unit consists of a stripping drum and stripping combs. The threshing unit contains replaceable decks that collide with the grain, separating it from the ear; an auger for transporting the heap to the unloading device; and a blade beater with a cut-off shield. Wheat grain in the early stages of maturity has a strong connection with the ear, as a result of which harvesting such grain can be energy-intensive and impractical. In this regard, the purpose of this research was to study the dynamics of changes in the energy intensity of the wheat grain harvesting process during ripening and to compare the energy intensity of the harvesting process with the new unit with the energy intensity of a combine harvester. The methodology is based on measuring torque on the shaft of the stripping and threshing unit. The results show that the power required for stripping by the new unit is reduced from 8–10 kW to 2–4 kW, which is 2.5–4 times lower. The difference in power values between harvesting at the hard wax ripeness stage and full ripeness is only 1–1.5 kW, indicating the feasibility of harvesting grain at this stage.