Design and Development of a Solar Energy-Powered Sugarcane Detrasher

Abstract

This research article focuses on the design and development of a solar energy-powered sugarcane detrasher to improve the efficiency of sugarcane harvesting and reduce manual labor. Sugarcane is a globally significant crop, and its manual harvesting involves labor-intensive tasks such as removing dry and green trash from the harvested stalks. While various mechanical detrashers have been developed, many of them rely on fossil fuels, which can be problematic due to their environmental impact and limited availability. To address this issue, the researchers designed and built a solar energy-powered detrasher to enhance the efficiency of sugarcane detrashing while promoting the use of renewable energy. The developed detrasher consists of a solar panel, a battery, a DC motor, and a pair of counterrotating rollers with detrashing rubber. The rollers grip the sugarcane stalks and remove the trash through friction. The solar panel provides power to the DC motor, allowing the detrasher to function efficiently. The study also includes a detailed analysis of the power requirements for detrashing, the selection of solar photovoltaic components, and the performance evaluation of the developed system. Results indicate that the solar-powered sugarcane detrasher achieved substantial detrashing efficiency, ranging from 70.8% to 84.91%, and an output rate of 0.67 to 0.89 tons per hour. The developed system demonstrated its capability to enhance efficiency, reduce labor, and decrease operational costs compared to traditional manual methods.