It is feasible to process secondary fruit, berry, and vegetable raw materials (squeezes) to maximize the extraction of biologically valuable vitamins, trace elements, dietary fiber and essential amino acids. To shred dry squeezes, use can be made of the same equipment that is suitable for grain milling. The main disadvantages of the existing shedders include their bulkiness, energy consumption and high labor intensity of maintenance. The need to design advanced shredders is due to different characteristics of processed objects and various technological requirements to the initial and finished products. To develop a promising design of a unit for shredding secondary fruit and berry raw materials in the form of dry squeezes, the authors conducted a patent search and analyzed the methods of shredding. Having completed theoretical research, they developed a shredder containing a cylindrical shredding chamber communicating in its upper part with a loading hopper and a discharge cavity of the finished product in its lower part. When testing the developed unit, dry squeezes of cranberries, cranberries, blueberries, black currants, honeysuckle, and sea buckthorn berries with a moisture content of 10% were shredded to obtain powders with a fineness of less than 1 mm. The fineness degree was evaluated on the RL-4 sieve. The experimental study has established high efficiency of the developed unit. The fineness degree of secondary fruit and berry raw materials amounted to 98.3 to 98.8%. The estimated amount of actually consumed energy for shredding berry squeezes with a moisture content of 10% to a fraction of less than 1 mm was 4.40 kWh/t. The next stage of research is the modernization of the shredder to optimize the energy consumption of shredding secondary plant materials of different moisture content and chemical composition with different physical and mechanical characteristics (pulp, seeds, pits, etc.).

The control of complex biomachinery systems in livestock farming is possible with the help of artificial intelligence technologies. The ‘conscious artificial intelligence’ function for adaptive interaction with biological objects (animals) can take into account more accurately their neurocognitive abilities, reflexes, intentionality of behaviour, occurrence of ‘machine fear’ at the initial stage of accustoming to the technology and others. The research aim is to improve the quality of controlling complex biotechnical systems in livestock farming based on artificial intelligence technologies. The author considered the controversial problem of the need for strong artificial intelligence in future machines. An assumption was made that physical (lever, wheel, mechanism, and machine) and cognitive (calculator, smartphone, and computer, etc.) ‘boosters’ of human functionality should unite again in a new smart machine in the form of strong intelligence and universal physical capabilities (robot + strong AI = artificial human). The paper presents a principal diagram of evolutionary development of physical (mechanization, automation, and robotization) and cognitive (informatization, algorithmicization, digitalization, and artificial intelligence) ‘boosters’ of a human being. The author proposes a structural and functional chart of livestock farm management as a complex biomass system ‘Man-Machine-Animal-Product-Environment’ with the use of AI. Three criterion groups of quality assessment of this biosystem functioning have been identified: 1) quality indicators of technological process control in local biosystems of milking, feeding, etc.; 2) indicators of genomic evaluation, productivity and physiological state of animals; 3) economic and ecological indicators of farm management quality as a whole. Logic algebra helped obtain the corresponding structural and functional models of their construction.

Indoor climate has a significant impact on health and productivity of personnel and animal performance. An optimal indoor climate depends on the ventilation rate, and the method of air supply and distribution. In industrial enterprises with spacious rooms and large air exchange, jet ventilation is the most common method, which still features uniform distribution of the supply air. The study aimed to optimize the indoor climate system by adjusting the inclination angle of the supply airflow. To ensure the required indoor climate parameters in the entire service area, the authors proposed to change the characteristics of the supply jets, using an aerodynamic nozzle on the outlet of the supply system. It was found out that the inclination angle of the supply air jet is determined by its temperature. The authors carried out mathematical modeling of the flow trajectories of supply air jets that were different in configuration and temperature. They obtained the relationship between the current value of the inclination angle and the supply air temperature for a guide nozzle with the dynamic control system. The criterion for determining the optimal value of the inclination angle for static aerodynamic nozzles was also determined. For the heating period, they calculated the optimal inclination angles of the aerodynamic nozzle guides for three different regions of the country. The performance adequacy of the aerodynamic nozzles was evaluated on a laboratory installation. The results of experimental studies confirmed the possibility and efficiency of regulating the supply airflow vector. The research results will be applicable to further implementation of indoor climate control systems in pig breeding facilities.

Temperature stress affects cows’ physiological condition and productivity indicators. The experimental studies revealed the relationship between cows’ heart rate and the temperature and humidity of the environment. Local airflow contributes to the stability of animals’ physiological state indicators against the effects of high temperature and humidity. The authors prove the necessity of controlling the airflow rate for blowing on animals when environmental parameters change. For this purpose, they propose to design an algorithm for controlling local airflow to treat animals. The algorithm was developed after experimental studies of the relationship between the cow heart rate and ambient temperature and humidity at different airflow rates. The experiment was conducted on black-motley cows with an average age of 3.5 years and a weight of 590 kg. To provide a mathematical description of the analyzed relationship it was proposed to use the method of nested functions and linear multiple regression. The article presents numerical values of the parameters of mathematical models obtained from the condition of minimum sum of standard deviations of experimental and theoretical values of the heart rate for both methods. The greatest efficiency of the three-factor linear model has been determined, and the algorithm of the airflow rate control has been made based on the results of its transformation. Practical use of the algorithm consists in substituting the required value of the animal heart rate, current values of temperature and relative humidity of air with the subsequent calculation of the airflow rate. The processor-based implementation of the obtained algorithm for smooth control of the airflow rate is possible by changing the supply voltage frequency of the asynchronous electric motor.

Improving the quality of seed material by selecting the best seeds for sowing, we can increase gross harvests. At the Department of Agricultural Machinery of Lugansk State Agrarian University, the author previously developed and assembled an experimental model of a pneumatic separator for seeds of vegetable and melon crops, the advantage of which is an increase in the quality of separation of flat seeds due to their positioning on a cylindrical support surface. In order to improve the quality of the new separator, a new vacuum chamber was developed, capable of increasing the uniformity of vacuum over the entire working surface. The authors performed a simulation of airflows and vacuum pressure distribution in the original and proposed sample of air chambers using SolidWorks Flow Simulation software. The aerodynamic calculation clearly demonstrated the advantages of the developed chamber. The developed model of the vacuum chamber was printed on a 3D printer from PETG plastic. In order to confirm the simulation results, an experiment was conducted to measure pressure drops in the new and original air chambers. Using the Testo 510i device, the author monitored the differences in vacuum pressure with a measurement frequency of once per second at a linear rotation speed of 0.5 cm/s with three retakes of the experiment. While processing the experimental data, the author took into account the averaged indicators for five possible trajectories of the seed movement in relation to the air chamber. According to the experiment results, it was found that when using the developed vacuum chamber, the average deviation of the vacuum pressure boundaries decreased from 11.70 Pa to 7.56 Pa. The overall accuracy of the experiment was 0.53%. Based on the research results, the developed rarefaction chamber will be integrated into the separator design.

Wheat grains are a valuable and most consumed food product, therefore, their enrichment with iron ions will make up for the deficiency of this trace element in the human body. In order to enrich wheat grains with non-heme iron (Fe³⁺), they were ultrasonically treated in an iron sulfate solution. Grain was saturated with iron on a Vilitek VBS-6D ultrasonic unit at a frequency of 40 kHz. Wheat grains were immersed in a bath with an iron sulfate solution in a ratio of 1 to 3. The treatment duration varied from 10 to 30 minutes in 5-minute increments. Thus, five samples were obtained. The sample with the shortest ultrasonic treatment time was selected as a control. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the grain after its cavitation treatment involved physical analysis methods such as electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and electrical impedance. The spectra were obtained on a Bruker Elexsys E580 spectrometer in the X-band. To make further analysis of the dissolution of iron ions in grain, the authors used the method of impedance spectroscopy in the frequency range between 1 Hz and 100 MHz. Based on the data obtained, they found that the introduction of iron ions leads to the greatest change in the real and imaginary components of the electrical impedance in the frequency range above 1000 Hz or in the β-dispersion region. This fact indicates good permeability of iron ions into the cell from the intercellular region through their insulating membrane. Further research will make it possible to develop an express method for determining the presence of iron ions in cereals.

Jerusalem artichoke is a hygrophilous (moisture–loving) crop. If irrigation works are impossible in fields with Jerusalem artichoke plantings, it is feasible to apply an improved technology of Jerusalem artichoke cultivation. The aim of the study was to identify the effect of Jerusalem artichoke cultivation technology using moisture–retaining superabsorbent polymers (SAP) “Aquasin-Agro” in combination with doses of mineral fertilizers on the yield of Jerusalem artichoke tubers of the Omsk White variety. The experiment was conducted at A.G. Lorch Potato Research Center in the period between 2017 and 2019. on sod-slightly podzolic sandy loam soil in accordance with the requirements of B.A. Dospekhov’s field experience methodology and methods of conducting research on Jerusalem artichoke crops. The experiment included four backgrounds of local application of mineral fertilizers during planting (from 0 kg/ha to 562.5 kg/ha) and five doses of SAP during row-to-row mechanized treatment (from 0 to 200 kg/ha). No mineral fertilizers or SAP were applied during the control (0 kg/ha). As a result of the research, the authors have a technology for sandy loam soil. The technology includes the following basic operations: autumn winter plowing; spring disking with a heavy harrow and cutting ridges; planting with simultaneous local application of mineral fertilizers at a dose of 375 kg/ha to 562.5 kg/ha; three row–by–row mechanized plantings; during the first mechanized care, local application of superabsorbent polymers (SAP) Aquasin (Agro) in dry weather to a depth of 4-6 cm at a dose of 150-200 kg/ha; visual inspection of plantings for diseases and pests, followed by their elimination if found; mowing of the green mass five months after planting, and the harvesting of tubers two weeks after mowing of the green mass. The implementation of the proposed technology elements makes it possible to obtain a yield of Jerusalem artichoke tubers of more than 38.7 to 39.9 t/ha with a control of 18.9 t/ha and a conditional net income ranging between 250.6 and 267.8 thousand rubles/ha. It is necessary to carry out further research to study of the effects of a combination of technological effects of SAP and mineral fertilizers, including simultaneous local application.

Fatigue failure is the most common type of failure of agricultural machinery parts. When designing parts of agricultural machinery, some scientists suggest using metal multilayer structures. In order to justify the use of metal multilayer structures, as well as to determine the possible ways to increase their fatigue strength, the authors conducted an analytical review of scientific literature on fatigue failure of metal multilayer structures. They considered some specific features of the implementation of the additive technology of sheet lamination using the case of manufacturing agricultural machinery parts. As a result, they have determined the influence of thickness, number and properties of layers and interlayer boundaries on the fatigue strength of metal samples with a multilayer structure, obtained using the conventional technologies by explosion welding or hot packet rolling, and parts with similar multilayer structure, obtained using the additive sheet lamination technology. The authors considered an example of fatigue failure of a part with mechanical and adhesive bonding of layers. Based on the analysis results, they proposed technical approaches to the additive manufacturing of metal parts with a multilayer structure, providing an increase in their fatigue resistance. They have offered recommendations on the selection of initial metal sheets for cutting out sheet patterns, on determining thickness and total number of the patterns, on making holes in the patterns serving to connect them with mechanical fasteners, as well as to reduce weight to ensure topological optimization. The task of further research of strength properties of metal multilayer structures is the experimental determination of the relationship type between the fatigue failure of a part and the number of its composition layers.

The deficit of effective domestic lubricants with high performance properties urges the need to develop the technology of producing solid lubricants. The mill drawing technology requires solid lubricants to prevent the contact of rubbing surfaces and localization of shear deformations in the lubricant layer. The authors carried out research to develop a technology of producing competitive lubricant with high adhesive properties, capable of continuous separation of the rubbing surfaces, preventing the formation of scoring, ricks and wire breaks. Calcium soap, modified graphite GS-1 and calcium hydroxide were selected as lubricant components. Graphite was modified with a fluorine-containing surfactant. The quantity of components in the grease composition was adjusted depending on the results of tribological studies on the ChMT-1 friction machine. The produced grease for drawing was compared with the Italian prototype Panlube. The authors used a designed lever system to apply the grease to the rotating roller. A modernized friction machine of “Amsler MI-1 type was used for synchronous measurement of wear rate and moment of friction forces according to GOST 23216-84. The results showed that the obtained grease based on modified graphite has higher tribological characteristics than its foreign counterpart: at the same wear spots, the welding load for the tested sample amounted to 700 kgf, while for the foreign one – 400 kgf. Industrial tests of the lubricant on the drawing mill confirmed its compliance with the requirements of the technical specifications. At the drawing speed of more than 5 m/s, it was possible to obtain high quality products with the predictable wear reduction of the drawing die channel.

According to research, up to 35% of camshafts are rejected as unrepairable, of which 50% are due to wear of cams (2/3) and bearing journals (1/3). The remaining defects are distributed relatively evenly. These statistics are collected based on the processing of a large data set and may not correspond to a particular enterprise, so it is not possible to make a universal model. Notations can graphically represent the process and provide its simulation modelling to identify vulnerabilities. A typical example of notations of BPMN. In order to increase the productivity of the camshaft fault inspection, the authors have made two models in the BPMN notation: uniform distribution of probability of defect detection by operations and non-uniform distribution of probability, according to statistics. Simulation modelling of the fault inspection of 100 camshafts of the YaMZ-236 engine built in the BPMN notation was carried out in the Business Studio software. In the real process, the parameters of 100 shafts were controlled in the conditions of the specialized repair enterprise AB-Engineering by universal and specialized measuring instruments. After comparing the real process and its model, closer results were obtained with non-uniform distribution, which was taken into account during the optimization. The input inspection procedure was optimized based on the percentage of rejected products and the operation duration. The time spent on fault inspection after optimization was reduced in 1.35 times, the discrepancy between the model and the real process data did not exceed 5%, which indicates a correct approach to modelling processes associated with a high degree of uncertainty.

Rural power supply networks feature two-phase and two-phase zero-conductor short-circuits in in case of crossed uninsulated wires or damaged insulated wires. It is practically impossible to detect the parameters of these modes, so they should be calculated. However, normative documents and literature sources do not provide dependencies to identify these modes along the entire length of the transmission line, including at the point of installation of sectionalizing devices. In order to determine the electrical parameters characteristic for the modes of two-phase and two-phase zero-conductor short circuits in rural 0.4 kV power supply networks, the authors used the method of physical simulation. The physical model of a rural power supply network contained a transformer TT-0.16-380/38 Y/Yn-0. The phase-to-phase voltage ratio was 38/22 V. The authors used a nichrome wire of the X20H80 alloy with a cross-section of 0.5 mm² and a resistance of 5.6 Ohm/m. The transformer neutral grounding resistance was taken as 4 Ohm, and that of 30 Ohm – for two repeated neutral wire grounding. As a result, it was found that in a two-phase short circuit in a 0.4 kV network, the currents in the damaged phases are equal, and the ratio of voltages on the undamaged and damaged phases was 1.3 to 1.9. In the case of a two-phase short circuit to the neutral conductor in one of the phases, the current value is equal to the algebraic sum of the neutral current and the current flowing in the other phase. At the same time, the voltage ratio of the undamaged phase to the damaged phases changes depending on the proximity to the fault point. The revealed dependencies can be used to identify these modes by microcontroller control units of sectionalizing devices, which will provide the network dispatcher with information about their occurrence and reduce the time for search and identification of the causes of damage.