The fundamental characteristics of wafering of Guinea-grass hay were experimented by use of a roller-die apparatus with groove, and following results were obtained.
1. The performance of pushing hay into die hole (in this roller-die method) was generally not so good as piston type, but it was improved by close falling of the roller into the die groove, and the degree of hay crush was reduced.
2. The vertical force
V was about 3-5 times of horizontal force
H on the roller shaft, each maximum value of two compornents were about 1.47 and 1.44 times of each mean value, respectively.
3. When the experimental conditions were impertinent, the die hole was plugged or hay was discharged in pieces from die bottom.
4. Generally, the vertical force
V was reduced with the increase of hay temperature. When the moisture content of hay was same, the
V value of water added hay which was sprayed after dried down to 14% m. c. was smaller than that of hay dried from high moisture, The
V indicated, generally, the maximum value at moisture content of 20-25%, and slightly increased with the increase of compression speed that is travel speed of the roller.
5. The wet density ρ
w, the dry density ρ
d, the tensile strength
Ts and the falling shock durability
Wr of wafer were increased with the increase of hay temperature.
The maximum value of magnification of dry density of wafer to that of hay was about 62 at 80°C and 25% m. c. of hay.
6. In case of same moisture content of hay, the ρ,
Ts and
Wr values of water added hay wafer were fairly smaller than those of dried hay wafer when the moisture content was 20% and the temperature was 80°C.
7. On the dried hay at 80°C, the order of ρ,
Ts and
Wr values of wafer due to the hay moisture contents were as follows;
20-25%>30%>14%,
those values indicated the maximum at moisture content of 20-25%. On the water added hay at 120°C, the order of ρ and
Ts values were as follows;
14%>20%>25%≥30%,
that is both characteristics were increased with the decrease of moisture content, but the order of
Wr value was
20%>25%>30%>14%.
8. At the normal temperature (15-22°C), the contraction of width or thickness with taper and the extension of die length were not particularly effective on grass hay.
9. The correlation between the components of force and durability (include densities, tensile strength) was not recognized.
10. Some similarity among the densities, tensile strength and falling shock durability was recognized, but strong correlation between the densities and other two was not especially recognized. A considerable similarity between the tensile strength and falling shock durability was fund, but it was considered that the falling shock durability was most desirable as the standard of durability indication of wafer.
11. On this roller-die method, in case of dried hay, the practical wafer was obtained by heating the die up to the temperature of 80°C in the region of 20-30% m. c..
In case of the hay dried down to 14% m. c. and the hay which was added water up to 20-25% m. c., they had to be heated up to about 120°C to obtain the practical wafer.
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