Research Article
Theoretical Justification of the Parameters of a Rotary Loosening Blade for Inter-row Tillage in Potato Cultivation
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 4, December 2026
Pages:
59-63
Received:
11 September 2026
Accepted:
22 September 2026
Published:
9 October 2026
Abstract: In potato cultivation, mechanical inter-row tillage plays an important role in loosening the soil, eliminating weeds, crushing soil clods, and creating favorable soil conditions for the development of the plant root system. The effectiveness of inter-row tillage largely depends on the geometric and kinematic parameters of the working tools and their interaction with the soil. The aim of this study is to theoretically substantiate the main geometric and kinematic parameters of a rotary loosening blade designed for inter-row tillage in potato cultivation. The study analyzes the principal geometric parameters of the rotary blade, including the bending angle, lateral angle, bending line angle, tangential edge height, bending radius, rotational radius, working width, and cutting-edge characteristics. For the theoretical analysis, the rotational radius of the rotary loosener was assumed to be 0.17 m, with four blades mounted on one side of the disc. The blade wing length was taken as 0.07 m, while the sharpening angle of the cutting edge was set at 30°. Based on the obtained theoretical relationships, the main kinematic parameters of the rotary loosener were determined for different operating conditions. At a rotor rotational speed of 120–140 rpm, the corresponding angular velocity was calculated as 12.57–14.66 rad/s, while the peripheral velocity of the blade tip ranged from 2.14 to 2.49 m/s. At an aggregate travel speed of 3–5 km/h, the kinematic operating mode coefficient varied from 1.54 to 2.99. The obtained results provide a theoretical basis for selecting appropriate geometric and kinematic parameters of rotary loosening blades and can be used in the design and improvement of mechanical inter-row tillage equipment for potato cultivation.
Abstract: In potato cultivation, mechanical inter-row tillage plays an important role in loosening the soil, eliminating weeds, crushing soil clods, and creating favorable soil conditions for the development of the plant root system. The effectiveness of inter-row tillage largely depends on the geometric and kinematic parameters of the working tools and thei...
Show More
Research Article
Integration of a Photovoltaic Power System and a Solar Water Heater at an Industrial Facility: Data Reconciliation, Hybrid Energy Balance, and Measurement and Verification Methodology
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 4, December 2026
Pages:
64-71
Received:
29 August 2026
Accepted:
10 September 2026
Published:
14 October 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajma.20261304.12
Downloads:
Views:
Abstract: Industrial facilities increasingly combine photovoltaic electricity and solar thermal heat, but audit reports may compare incompatible energy records or aggregate electrical and thermal savings into a single figure. This creates a risk of overstating system performance and double counting displaced energy. This study develops a data-quality-aware measurement and verification methodology for an existing 40 kW rooftop photovoltaic system and a proposed 400 L/day solar water-heating system at an industrial confectionery facility. Audit records were classified by temporal coverage, measurement source, and alternating-current/direct-current boundary; partial-period specific yields were calculated; photovoltaic performance indicators were structured in accordance with IEC 61724-1; useful thermal demand was estimated from the water mass, specific heat capacity, and temperature rise; and a 50-85% solar-fraction sensitivity analysis was integrated with separate electricity and heat ledgers. The audit reports 52.5 MWh for July-December 2025 and 36.2 MWh for January-April 2026, corresponding to partial-period specific yields of 1,312.5 and 905 kWh/kWp. These values cannot be compared directly with a separate 26.928 MWh annual forecast until meter identity, capacity boundary, period completeness, and self-consumption/export allocation are reconciled. For the 400 L load, 18.6 kWh of useful heat is required per cycle, and annual useful solar heat varies from 3.39 to 5.77 MWh over the investigated solar-fraction range. The proposed architecture prevents double counting by maintaining separate physical ledgers and integrating them only at the cost, emissions, or primary-energy layer. Data reconciliation and uncertainty disclosure are therefore prerequisites for credible technical and economic decisions.
Abstract: Industrial facilities increasingly combine photovoltaic electricity and solar thermal heat, but audit reports may compare incompatible energy records or aggregate electrical and thermal savings into a single figure. This creates a risk of overstating system performance and double counting displaced energy. This study develops a data-quality-aware m...
Show More
,
Komilov Ne’matilla Muxammadjonovich
