Determining Properties of Agricultural Straw forEquipment Design and as Feedstock for theBiofuel Industry

Information on the physical and mechanical properties of the wheat stem could be greatly helpful in
effective harvesting of the crop biomass as well as feedstock preparation (post-harvest processing)
for the biofuel industry. Appropriate design of the harvesting systems or post-harvest processing
equipment which is energy efficient depends on the access to physical properties and strength as well
as lignocelluosic material characteristics. In the proposed project, experiments will be conducted
based upon independent variables such as crop genotype, moisture content, type of cutting knife, and
loading rate and the bending and shearing properties and other mechanical and physical properties of
straw will be measured. Finally, dependent variables will be analyzed using regression modeling to
find out and express the importance of abovementioned factors on energy requirement of the
equipment.

Faculty Supervisor:

Lope Tabil

Student:

Partner:

CNH Industrial;University of Saskatchewan

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Other

University:

University of Saskatchewan

Program: