Syllabus - Farm Power sources & Tractor Systems (AT801)

Agriculture Technology

Farm Power sources & Tractor Systems (AT801)

VIII

Unit - 1

Study of sources of farm power –conventional & non-conventional energy sources

Energy requirement for crop production. Energy equivalents for direct and indirect source of energy. IC engines. Review of thermodynamic principles of IC (CI & SI) engines and deviation from ideal cycle. Study of mechanical, thermal and volumetric efficiencies. Study of engine components their construction, operating principles and functions. Study of engine strokes and comparison of 2-stroke and 4-stroke engine cycles and CI and SI engines. Study of Engine Valve systems, valve mechanism, Valve timing diagram, and valve clearance adjustment, valve lift and valve opening area.

Unit - 2

Study of types of air cleaners and performance characteristics of various air cleaners

Study of fuel supply system. Study of fuels, properties of fuels, calculation of air-fuel ratio. Study of tests on fuel for IC engines. Study of detonation and knocking in IC engines. Study of carburetion system, carburetors and their main functional components. Study of fuel injection system – Injection pump, their types, working principles. Fuel injector nozzles – their types.

Unit - 3

Engine governing – need of governors, governor types and governor characteristics

Study of ignition system of SI and CI engines. Study of electrical system including battery, starting motor, battery charging, cut-out, etc. Comparison of dynamo and alternator. Engine cooling system – need, cooling methods and main functional components. Study of need and type of thermostat valves. Additives in the coolant. Study of radiator efficiency. Study of lubrication system: need, types, functional components. Study of lubricants: physical properties, additives and their application. Familiarization with the basics of engine testing with reference to BIS code.

Unit - 4

Introduction about tractor: History Classification of tractors

Study of power transmission system: clutch, gear box, differential unit and final drive mechanism. Familiarization with Steering System: Ackerman and hydraulic steering, Brake mechanism, Hydraulic control system and Hitching. Tractor power outlets: PTO, belt, pulley, drawbar, etc.

Unit – 5

Importance and significance of testing and types of testing

Test equipment, usage and limitations. Test procedures and various test codes: National and International. Laboratory and field testing of tillage and sowing machinery: laser land leveler, m.b. Plough, disc plough, rotavator, cultivator, disc harrow, seed cum fertilizer drill & planter. Laboratory and field testing of manual & power operated intercultural machinery and plant protection machine. Laboratory and field testing of reaper, thresher and chaff cutter.Laboratory and field testing of tractor, straw combine & combine harvester. Review and interpretation of test reports. Importance and need of standardization of components of agricultural equipment.

Practicals

  • To study about working principle of biogas plant and solar power plant.

  • To study about various functional components of an IC engine and identification of its.

  • To study about thermodynamics cycle of an IC engine with PV and TS diagram.

  • To study of functional components of valve mechanism and valve timing diagram.

  • To study about working principle of an IC engine (two stroke and four stroke).

  • To study about types of materials used for manufacturing of engine components.

  • To study about air cleaning system in IC engine and types of air cleaners.

  • To study about fuel supply system and properties of fuels.

  • To study about Working principle of carburetor and its functional components.

  • To study about working principle of governing system of an IC engine.

  • To study about working principle of injector nozzle and their types.

  • To study about different lubrication system and properties of lubricants.

  • To study about different cooling system and thermostats valve, types of coolants.

  • To study about electrical system including battery, dynamo, and alternator of tractor.

Reference Books

  • Barger EL, Liljedahl JB &McKibben EC. 1967. Tractors and their Power Units. Wiley Eastern.

  • Indian Standard Codes for Agril. Implements. Published by BIS, New Delhi.

  • Inns FM. 1986. Selection, Testing and Evaluation of Agricultural Machines and Equipment. FAO Service Bull. No. 115.

  • Mehta ML, Verma SR, RajanPardeep and Singh S K. 2019. Testing and Evaluation of Agricultural Machinery.Daya Publishing House, Delhi.

  • Nebraska Tractor Test Code for Testing Tractor, Nebraska, USA.

  • Smith DW, Sims BG & O’Neill D H. 2001. Testing and Evaluation of Agricultural Machinery and Equipment - Principle and Practice. FAO Agricultural Services Bull. 110.