IMPROVING THE HARVESTING AND TRANSPORT OF WHOLE CROP HARVESTED SUGAR CANE

WHOLE CROP (WC) HARVESTING involves the collection and transportation of the entire sugar cane crop including trash/extraneous matter to the sugar mill. The sugar cane and trash are then separated and the trash used for other revenue streams such as an additional fuel source for cogeneration. Harvesting whole crop results in a significant increase in the total mass of product to be harvested and transported. Additionally and more significantly, it also results in a considerable decrease in the bulk density of the transported material. Strategies to improve the WC harvesting and transportation efficiency have been identified, tested and costed. These strategies included trash particle size reduction (shredding), billet length reduction, vibration, compaction/compression and crop topping. Shredding trash resulted in good increases in transportation bulk density. However, because of harvester extractor cane losses, the cost of this strategy was very high. A modified fan and hood arrangement was tested and reduced the losses. Billeting losses were significant when reducing billet length. Compaction is a promising strategy because there is no cane loss and topping erect crops where possible was a simple way of improving bulk density and trash fuel quality.