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Agricultural Engineering (Moscow)

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Vol 24, No 6 (2022)

FARM MACHINERY AND TECHNOLOGIES

4-8 207
Abstract

Cow’s body condition scoring (BCS) based on neural network algorithms is necessary to monitor the health and productivity of the animals. To develop an algorithm for assessing the physiological fatness of dairy cows according to the parameters of the fermur heads, the sacrum and the hunger hollow, the authors studied eighty animals on a farm of the state unitary enterprise “Grigorievskoe”, which were divided into fatness groups (from 1 to 5). The studies were carried out in November 2021 during the morning milking. Data were collected using a 3D ToF camera O3D303. Previously, the installation of a three-dimensional camera on the farm was simulated, and an algorithm was developed that takes into account the cow height and the distance from the highest point of the spine to the three-dimensional camera. An algorithm for assessing the physiological fatness of dairy cows (BCS) has been developed to take into account the condition of the fermur heads, the sacrum, the hunger hollow, which determines the highest point of the withers, the proportions between the body length and width, as well as the depth of the hunger hollows and the severity of the caudal ligament. Software has been developed to register the unique number of a cow and determine the BCS, as well as show the dynamics of changes in the animal’s fatness. Data were processed in accordance with the developed algorithm. The image was processed using the regression method. Comparison results of the BCS of cows, obtained according to the developed algorithm, and the experts’ assessment showed that the algorithm error in the fatness range of 2…4 points averaged 10%. When determining the BCS of cows with borderline and limit fatness state (1 and 5 points), the measurement error by the proposed algorithm increased to 25%. Based on the results obtained, the authors recommend pre-setting a neural network for further research; determine the correction factor for fatness points 1 and 5; finalize the software, develop customized software and an automatic system for body condition scoring, and conduct tests.

9-14 147
Abstract

The productivity of cows depends on the temperature and humidity of the environment. On farms with the loose-box keeping of cows with local forced ventilation, it is advisable to control the environemnt according to the clinical and physiological indicators of the cows’ conditon. For this purpose, the authors conducted experimental studies to analyze the dependence of the heart rate and respiratory rate of animals on overtemperature and relative air humidity. The study focused on the dynamics of changes in the clinical and physiological parameters of animals under the influence of thermal and humidity factors in the form of a single step impact. To prevent heat stress in animals, it is proposed to control local ventilation according to the combined principle, where the animal acts as the object of control, and the controlled values are the heart rate and respiratory rate. In this system, the role of disturbing influences belongs to air temperature and humidity in the livestock building. At the same time, the temperature and humidity control circuit performs a safeguard function. The command factor making the control action in the steady state is proposed to be considered the product of the scaled deviations of the actual values of the heart rate and the respiratory rate from their normalized values. Based on the analysis results of the dynamic properties of the control object, the authors propose to form the control action according to the proportional-differential law, which requires a periodic rotation of the fans.

15-19 106
Abstract

Taking into account the prices of energy resources, one of the ways to solve the problem of energy saving is to reduce heating costs by introducing regenerative heat recovery units. These units reduce heat loss and optimize the operation of climate control systems. To develop a control method and design of a recuperative unit providing defrosting of frozen condensate without using a recirculation damper system, the authors propose a design of a recuperative heat recovery unit with reversible defrosting recuperators and the reverse operation of a supply fan. They also consider design parameters of a recirculation opening in an exhaust air duct. The functioning of the proposed system will create a certain aerodynamic drag, which in the “defrosting” mode should not exceed 20…30 Pa. Theoretical calculations of the recirculation opening parametres based on the specified values of aerodynamic drag and the exhaust duct size of 800 × 800 mm show that the opening area should be range between 0.32 and 0.512 sq.m. This corresponds to a height of 400 to 640 mm with a channel width of 800 mm. The results of theoretical research confirmed the efficiency of the unit operation in the regeneration and defrosting modes with recirculation when the recirculation opening sized ranges between 80 and 50% of the area of an exhaust duct, and the resistance to air movement (back pressure) amounts to 10…25.7 Pa. With the selected geometric dimensions of the recirculation opening and the system’s minimum airflow of 20%, a positive air back pressure of 1.0…0.4 Pa is generated.

20-24 107
Abstract

Remote diagnostics of vehicles is currently becoming increasingly widespread. The application of this concept will allow analyzing data from pre-installed sensors, without interfering with the vehicle design, doing it remotely and displaying only the necessary information to maintain the proper level of the vehicle’s technical condition. To develop an algorithm for remote diagnostics carried out during the operation of machinery without installing additional sensors on the engine, using diagnostic indicators, the retardation method, and monitoring fuel consumption rate, the authors carried out the engine diagnostics at the idling speed. To analyse the technical state of the engine and to test the developed algorithm, two faults were intentionally sequentially introduced: air inlet resistance (“Clogged filter”) and no fuel supply into the cylinder (“Faulty injector”). The developed algorithm aims at distinguishing faults in the internal combustion engine associated with mechanical losses and the deterioration of its technical and economic performance. An experimental installation on the basis of the diesel engine of internal combustion IVECO F4HE9687P*J101 was used for approbation of the developed algorithm. This installation can examine the operation of technically serviceable engines having intentionally introduced defects. The experimental results have proved the adequacy of the developed diagnostic algorithm and the feasibility of its introduction.

25-31 156
Abstract

The uninterrupted use of agricultural machinery performing field operations is ensured by maintaining their working condition through timely maintenance and prompt elimination of operational failures. The period of inoperative state of machines can be reduced if there is a certain inventory stock of spare parts in the warehouse of the operating company. When determining the stock, taking into account the feasibility of the reservation and the calculation of the required number of the reserved parts, the methods of artificial intelligence are to be sufficiently studied. To justify the method of reserving spare parts for agricultural machinery and determine the effect of its industrial implementation, the authors developed a genetic algorithm and software. The developed reservation method was tested at an agricultural enterprise to determine seasonal reserves of spare parts for Don-1500B and TORUM combine harvesters. The designers of the information data model took into account the cost and quantity of consumed spare parts by year, the number of machines consuming spare parts in a particular work season, the time values for installing spare parts on a machine, etc. The use of the genetic algorithm made it possible to identify sixty-six of the most significant items out of 2,500 spare parts that need to be reserved for the harvesting season. It has been established that the method of reserving spare parts for agricultural machinery based on the use of the genetic algorithm in combination with a database containing information on the actual consumption of spare parts by machines for at least three previous years, can reduce the idle time of combines waiting for the delivery of spare parts by 37%, increase the daily productivity of combines by 11.4%, and increase the coefficient of the operational availability of combines by 4.38%.

32-37 127
Abstract

To reduce the chemical load on the soil, plants and fruits, it is important to use alternative methods of soil and plant cultivation, which include irradiation with non-ionizing radiation. To establish the range of technological parameters and operating modes of the developed machines for tillage with non-ionizing radiation, the authors developed a technique and an experimental installation capable of providing infrared and ultraviolet radiation. To study the soil intended for use as protected greenhouse ground, standard methods for determining the physical, microbiological, and qualitative properties of the soil were applied. In the course of research, five modes of soil cultivation were implemented: infrared radiation for three hours with and without the mechanical mixing of the soil; ultraviolet radiation for one hour; exposure for one hour to one infrared and one ultraviolet emitters with the mechanical mixing of the soil; processing for one hour with three infrared emitters and one ultraviolet with the mechanical mixing of the soil. Microbiological studies of the soil treated at the experimental unit were carried out within one hour after the selection of the material according to the presented method. It has been experimentally established that, depending on the modes of soil cultivation, the number of microorganisms decreases by 14…98%. The combination of infrared and ultraviolet radiation with a simultaneous threefold increase in the thermal power of radiation for one hour helps to reduce the number of microorganisms up to 98%. The decrease in the content of microorganisms in the soil due to non-ionizing radiation is the first step to establish the design and technological parameters and operating modes of the developed machines used for tillage in protected greenhouse conditions.

38-42 147
Abstract

Lack of small-sized maneuverable serial discator samples for shallow contour areas of mountain meadows and pastures contributed to the development of mini-discator sample to operate on mountain slopes on soils of different texture. The authors analized the constructive parameters of working elements – discs (the distance between adjacent discs, the curvature radius of discs, and the disc diameter) and their location on the frame of a mini-discator. Based on the Feng Shou-180 mini-tractor, they developed a laboratory prototype of a small-sized modular unit of a mini-discator for soil cultivation (discing). The machine is applicable to soils of different mechanical composition located in the mountain zone of the North Caucasus on the hillside areas of forage lands with a slope of up to 12°. The designed laboratory prototype of a mini-discator is a hinged construction with single-row arrangement of nine spherical disks mounted on individual racks at an angle to the movement axis. There is a device to prevent clogging of the cutting discs and a device to adjust the pressure on the ground. The machine can also be fitted with press rollers. The design can be switched from the right-left-hand to left-right-hand slope operation when turning. The technical tests of the laboratory prototype were carried out at the SKNIIGPSKH mountain facilities in the village of Dargavs, RNO-Alania, at the altitude of 1540 m above sea level and a slope inclination of up to 15°. The performance tests of the laboratory sample modular unit of the mounted mini-discator for meadow and pasture soil treatment in the mountain zone and technical examination of the scientific documentation were carried out in accordance with GOST 33687-2016 and GOST 33687-2015. The developed and manufactured laboratory sample gives prerequisites for designing a serial sample of the machine. The application of the modular unit of the minidiscator will ensure the reduction of degradation processes of sloping areas, increase the yield of forage lands, enhance the resistance to water and wind erosion, and increase the environmental sustainability and efficiency of grassland farming.

43-46 127
Abstract

Due to the lack of theoretical studies of modelling potato separation on the rod elevator, the authors conducted research of potato separation completeness on the elevator of potato harvester type KPK-3. The research resulted in designing a mathematical model of separating potato impurities on the potato harvester elevator that can help determine the completeness of separation on the elevator. As a result, the authors derived equations of the distribution of separating fineness over the elevator apron length; proved equations of connection between the elevator length and separating fineness. It was established that separation fineness depends functionally on the length of the elevator apron section and two coefficients, each of which can be determined according to the experimental data of separation fineness at two sections of the elevator’s operating flight. It is established that when using the KPK-3 type potato harvester, 90% separation is reached when increasing the length of the rod elevator to 1800 mm with a given proportion of separated impurities of 50% at the length of 600 mm and 75% at the length of 1000 mm.

47-53 221
Abstract

In variable-rate application of solid mineral fertilizers (SMF), working units of centrifugal fertilizer distributors can regulate precisely the application rate and evenly distribute pellets over the field. To determine the most rational parameters and modes of a solid fertilizer distributor, influencing the flight path of pellets and the uniformity of their distribution over the field, the authors carried out theoretical and experimental research of a centrifugal disc of a solid fertilizer distributor equipped with a rotary acceleration chamber and a set of exchangeable U-shaped blades. The authors describe the influence of the blade length on the trajectory and the flight distance of the fertilizer pellets as well as the influence of the rotation of the dispersal chamber outlet window on the fertilizer distribution pattern. The experiment on determining aerodynamic properties of the nitroammonium phosphate pellets (60:60:60) was carried out using the developed laboratory bench of the solid fertilizer distributor. The experiment allowed determining the physical parameters of pellets influencing the range and trajectory of their flight – the winglet ratio and the critical speed. It was found that the rotation displacement of the dispersal chamber outlet window of the spreading disc leads to the displacement of the intensive coverage zone in the direction of the window rotation. This makes it possible to regulate the intensity and has a direct impact on the distribution zone of solid mineral fertilizers. The paper justifies the most rational design of the spreading disc. The research proved that the greatest uniformity of solid mineral fertilizer spreading is observed when using a disk with eight paired coaxially located blades with a length of 300, 250, 200, and 100 mm.

54-58 85
Abstract

Today, in the Krasnodar Krai, there is a need for the restoration of abandoned tea plantations and the reclamation of inefficient old ones. To develop measures for the reconstruction of tea plantations in the Krasnodar Krai, the authors analyzed foreign experience in the tea cultivation technology. In particular, they considered some cases of pruning tea plants (light, deep, heavy, and root pruning) and the algorithm for their implementation. Experimental studies conducted in 2016-2021 in the Republic of Georgia established the dependence of the tea plantation yield on the type of pruning. The research results showed that in the first year after heavy pruning, the tea plantation yield decreased by 70.6%, however, in the next 5 years, the average yield increased by 122.6%. In the second year after light-heavy and heavy pruning, tea plants came into vegetation 6-12 days earlier. Thus it can be concluded that the choice of the optimal pruning method depends on the state of a tea plant, the strategy of farmers, the technical and technological capacities of tea producers. It is noted that for old tea plantations aged 40-60 years, the most rational operation is heavy pruning at a height of no more than 10…15 cm from the root collar. In the case of using semi-heavy pruning at a height of 25…40 cm from the root collar, under the upper nodes in subsequent years, trellis pruning is recommended. When re-laying the plantation, only new varieties of seeds should be used, with an emphasis on the Kolkhida variety. An optimal technological map for establishing tea plantations has been proposed, including trench plowing and soil cultivation, the application of organic fertilizers, the plantation division into plots of 5…10 ha, and the preparation of planting pits. The use of a technological map with the introduction of promising measures for the pruning and rejuvenation of tea plants provides a high-quality restoration of tea plantations with high quality characteristics of the tea yield.

TECHNICAL SERVICE IN AGRICULTURE

59-63 129
Abstract

Multiple factors determine the reliability in the engine repair, while an important criterion is the preservation of the geometric parameters of engine parts within the specified limits. The crankshaft bearing is a highly loaded unit in an engine. If the holes for the main bearing shells are worn or deformed, the shells may rotate, which will lead to failure and unscheduled repairs. The authors found out that measuring instruments typically recommended in the normative and technical documentation are assigned without regard to the tolerances of controlled quantities and have an error that significantly exceeds the permissible measurement error. The purpose of the work is to study the degree of influence of the measurement error on the dispersion zone of the dimensions of the mainbearing journals of the engine during fault detection. The authors have theoretically proven the criteria for choosing measuring instruments for monitoring holes for main bearing shells. The limit values of the permissible measurement errors and the errors of measuring instruments for monitoring wear or deformation of the holes for the liners of main bearings that are submitted for fault detection were also determined. The paper also considers the influence of the measurement error on the probability of errors when making a decision on the suitability of parts. When comparing the measuring instruments recommended for use by the engine repair manual, the number of incorrectly rejected parts is 6.9% more, and the number of incorrectly accepted parts is 3.5% more than when using a more accurate bore gauge with an error of ±3.5 microns. Reducing the error of measuring instruments will lead to a significant reduction in the number of incorrectly accepted and incorrectly rejected parts. This, in turn, will affect both the quality of the subsequent assembly of units, and the amount of external losses resulting from faulty parts.

64-69 116
Abstract

Electric contact welding (ECW) is a promising resource-saving technology for obtaining functional coatings from the waste of tool-making and machine-building production. A clear methodology is a pre-requisite for selecting the materials, equipment, and tools used; stating the order and describing the operations (transitions) performed; and choosing technological modes (parameters). To develop a technique for obtaining, strengthening, and restoring machine parts, the authors studied functional coatings obtained by electric contact welding at the 011-1- 10 “Remdetal” installation. The duration of the welding pulse and pauses was set using the RVI-501 controller. The welding current strength was calibrated through a strip made of 5 mm thick copper grade with the welding current meter IST-02. Based on the analysis of the ECW zone resistance, he authors found that, for the steel belt U12, the optimal value of the compression force of the welding electrodes on the plowshare made of 65G steel will be 1.7 kN. To ensure the highest efficiency of the ECW process and complete overlap of welding sites, and taking into account the mutual movement of electrodes and parts, the authors present the relationships that help pre-set the main parameters of electrical contact welding for all circuits and equipment options: the strength of welding current, its flow time and the pause between pulses, the compression force of welding electrodes, welding speed, overlap coefficients of welding points flow rate of the cooling liquid and their influence on the process flow and the quality of coatings obtained. The presented algorithm can be used in machine-building production and, in particular, repair production for designing technological processes of obtaining functional coatings during the hardening and restoration of machine parts.

POWER SUPPLY AND AUTOMATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

70-75 223
Abstract

Under the conditions of growing crops in plant factories, timely information about the physiological state of plants makes it possible to maintain crop yields at a high level. In crop production, non-invasive methods of plant diagnostics are most widely used, which helps identify plant stress conditions at an early stage. In the theoretical study applied to plant factories, the authors compared electrophysical monitoring methods (the measurement of biopotential and bioimpedance), thermography methods (the method of registration of xylem sap flow and infrared thermography), optical methods (the measurement of reflective characteristics of leaves, hyper- and multispectral imaging), and the method for measuring chlorophyll fluorescence. The studied methods were classified and analyzed according to several criteria: measurable indicators, the assessment of plant parameters, the portability of the measuring instrument, the ability to scan at the canopy level. It was concluded that non-invasive methods for diagnosing the physiological state of plants are capable of signaling negative changes at an early stage, provide for indirect assessing plant stress, transpiration, photosynthesis, pigment and elemental composition, and the electrical resistance of tissues. Among the technologies for non-invasive diagnostics of the physiological state of plants for closed regulated agroecosystems, the method of spectral analysis of plant leaves, in particular, spectral visualization, and the fluorescence method are particularly effective. In further studies to evaluate photosynthesis and compose “light recipes”, the authors are planning to compare the fluorescence method and the spectral imaging method in practical conditions.

THEORY AND METHODOLOGY OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

76-79 181
Abstract

In the process of digital transformation of professional education, the leading role belongs to the development of the theory and practice of blended learning, which combines classroom work and e-learning in the online and offline formats. Searching for effective tools for the implementation of blended learning is an urgent task of the methodologists of professional education. The purpose of this study is to identify and justify the didactic opportunities of using blended learning as a mechanism for the digital transformation of professional education. A survey of 143 students showed their general positive attitude to active and interactive teaching methods, various digital technologies used in the classroom and ways of organizing independent work. A survey of 55 teachers showed an insufficiently high level of their motivation to use blended learning due to the need for a significant revision of the methods of teaching academic subjects, and ways to transform them into the online and offline formats. The main obstacle to the effective implementation of blended learning is the lack of digital and methodological competence of teachers. In this regard, systematic work is required to arm teachers with tools of modern digital technologies and innovative educational techniques implemented in the process of blended learning. Particular attention in the organization of blended learning should be given to a Flipped Classroom model, which sigmificantly improves the quality of the educational process.



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ISSN 2687-1149 (Print)
ISSN 2687-1130 (Online)