Studies on Crop and Machine Parameters Influencing the Performance of Sugarcane Cleaner

Three varieties of sugarcane (COJ64, COJ84 and CO1148) were selected to study the effect of machine variables on the performance of experimental sugarcane cleaner. The machine had the provision for the variation of speeds of main-rollers, blower and the flap roller. The feeding was manual by feeding one sugarcane at a time. The performance indices were: topping efficiency, mill trash, stripping efficiency and cane loss. The mill trash was higher than 2 per cent for COJ 64 and COJ84 at all the treatments under study. However, minimum mill trash percentage of 0.16 was achived in case of C01148. The recommended combination of parameters for the operation of sugarcane cleaner to attain mill trash percentage and cane loss percentage of less than 3 and 2 respectively for COJ64 and COJ84 was: main roller speed - 3.67 m/s (260 rpm); blower air velocity -17.5 m/s (1400 rpm); and flap roller speed -11.77 m/s (600 rpm). For the cleaning of CO 1148, the recommended combination of parameters was: main roller speed - 3.67 m/s (260 rpm); blower air velocity -12.0 m/s (900 rpm) and flap roller speed - 7.85 m/s (400 rpm). The topping achieved by the main rollers did not result In any cane loss. Topping by the flap roller was accompanied by cane loss.