Development of a Renewable Energy Operated Paddy Thresher

Abstract

A renewable energy (solar energy) operated hold on type wire loop paddy thresher (SEOPT) was developed to carry out threshing paddy crops. It consisted of a DC motor, solar panel as the prime energy source and battery as the power storage device with intermediate components such as maximum power point tracker and motor controller. The DC motor received power from solar panel/storage battery through a motor controller for controlling the speed of motor and transmitted the same to the shaft of the thresher using a chain and sprocket transmission system. The developed thresher was evaluated at a feed rate of 260 kg/h, peripheral speed of the threshing drum as 7.30 m/s and with the average moisture content of paddy grain as 13.38% (w.b.). The developed solar photovoltaic powering system could power the thresher to carry out threshing continuously throughout the day at a peripheral speed of threshing drum as 7.30 m/s with a feed rate of 260 kg/h by simultaneous charging and discharging of battery. However, without charging the storage system, it could run the thresher for a period of 2 h. In both these conditions, the thresher had a grain output capacity of 130 kg/h with a threshing efficiency of 96.8%. As compared to the pedal operated paddy thresher, the threshing capacity and labour requirement of the developed thresher were found to be three times more and 1.85 lesser, respectively. The cost of threshing a tonne of paddy grain with the developed thresher was found to be Rs. 1462 as compared to Rs. 1925 with pedal operated thresher. Although the SEOPT had lesser output capacity compared to the IC engine operated paddy thresher (ICEOPT) but it doesn’t cause any environmental pollution like ICEOPT.